Miracle waste 6-0 lead, fall at Daytona

Cubs score two runs in bottom of ninth to win

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

DAYTONA BEACH — Like a bad dream, the Fort Myers Miracle are seeing ghosts of teams past as they wasted a 6-0 lead and lost 8-7 to the Daytona Cubs Monday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

The Miracle, who watched a 6-0 lead after two innings disappear, looked as though they were handed the game in the ninth.

With one out Ben Pattee singled to center. Denard Span's infield single moved Pattee to second. After a fly ball by Taylor moved Pattee to third, Matt Moses stepped to the plate.

Moses never had to take the bat off his shoulder to get the run home. Cubs catcher Tony Richie had a pitch go off his mitt and through his legs that scored Pattee from third.

In the bottom of the ninth, however, the Cubs did what they do best at home — come back against the Miracle.

Closer Jay Sawatski retired the first two hitters. He then walked Kevin Collins and gave up a game-tying double to J.J. Johnson.

On the very next pitch, Kyle Boyer, a .192 hitter and 0-for-3 on the night, singled up the middle. Span's throw to the plate was a little high and Johnson slid in safely for the win.

The Miracle were cruising at the beginning, exploding for six runs in the first two innings.

After scoring a run in the first, Fort Myers hammered Cub starter Andreson Tavarez for five in the second. Three singles by Kyle Phillips, Scott Whitrock and Pattee loaded the bases with one out. Span's RBI groundout got the first run of the inning home. J.R. Taylor followed with an RBI single and Moses ripped a two run double. Brock Peterson finished the scoring with an RBI single.