Miracle losing streak reaches four games

Fort Myers takes it on the chin against Jupiter

By SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS

The Fort Myers Miracle have hit their worst skid of the season, losing for the fourth straight time and eighth time in 10 Florida State League games, after 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Jupiter Hammerheads on Saturday night at the Lee County Sports Complex.

The offense struggled all night long against Hammerhead starter Jason Vargas. He went seven shutout innings allowing five hits while walking one and striking out six.

The Miracle went 15 straight batters without a hit, from Matt Moses' one-out single in the third, to Denard Span's one-out single in the eighth. In that time Fort Myers managed just one base runner, a two-out walk to Span in the fifth.

Miracle starter Glen Perkins pitched well going seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out eight, but still took the loss.

Jupiter got on the board in the fourth when Reggie Abercrombie walked, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on an infield single by Juan Figueroa. In the fifth, Tony Arnerich walked, Todd Brock doubled and Alejandro De Aza's sacrifice fly got the run home.

The Miracle got their only run of the game in the eighth when, with runners at first and second, Kyle Geiger singled to right to drove home Ben Pattee.

The same two teams meet at 1:05 this afternoon.