Daytona downs Fort Myers

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

DAYTONA BEACH — It was a bad case of deja vu Sunday for the Fort Myers Miracle as they lost to the Daytona Cubs 7-6 in a Florida State League game.

Last season, the Miracle lost four games to the Cubs in Daytona Beach, and Sunday was no different. Fort Myers lost by the identical 7-6 score that the 2004 team did in its first game against the Cubs.

The Miracle, who had trailed all game Sunday, scored two runs in the eighth inning to take a 6-4 lead. With one out, Denard Span walked. One out later, Matt Moses reached on an error by shortstop Anthony Granato. Brock Peterson then doubled off the wall in right-center to give the Miracle the lead.

It didn't last long, as the Cubs scored three runs in the bottom of the inning. Chris Schutt gave up a leadoff single to Chris Dopriak, then walked Kevin Collins. One out later, he walked Paul O'Toole to load the bases. Josh Gray came out of the bullpen and struck out pinch hitter Scott Moore. He then walked Kyle Boyer to force in a run and subsequently gave up a two-run single to Robinson Chirinos.

With the Miracle trailing 4-1 in the sixth, they got three runs to tie it. JR Taylor singled with runners at second and third, scoring Ron Perodin and Matt Tolbert. After Moses singled Taylor to third, Peterson hit a broken-bat grounder to Granato at short that went through his legs and scored the tying run.

The loss wasted a chance for Fort Myers to pick up a game on FSL West leader Lakeland, which lost earlier Sunday. The Miracle stayed four games back.