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Miracle register 30th victory, 4-3

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Special to the Daily Breeze, breezesports@breezenewspapers.com

JUPITER — Kevin Randel belted a two-run shot in the eighth inning to make things interesting, but Fort Myers Miracle closer Rob Delaney shut the door and nailed down the save in Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over the Jupiter Hammerheads.

The win is the 30th of the season for the Florida State League Western Division-leading Miracle (30-16), who also own the best record in the league.

A string of four straight one-out hits in the first inning led to a couple quick runs for the Miracle. Yangervis Solarte and Danny Valencia lashed doubles early and Edward Ovalle drove in Valencia with an RBI-single to right. Wilson Ramos’ solo home run to right, his third of the series and sixth of the season, put the Miracle up three in the third.

Jupiter (22-24) scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third. After one-out singles by Bryan Peterson and Smelin Perez, Randel’s one-out grounder to short was misplayed by Yancarlos Ortiz allowing Peterson to score from second.

Valencia doubled in the Miracle fifth, leading to the eventual game-winning run. Ovalle followed Valencia’s double with his own two-base hit to right and a 4-1 lead. Ovalle’s RBI ended up being the difference after Randel’s eighth-inning blast.

Delaney finished off the Hammerheads to hand starter Cole Devries his third win of the season.

The Miracle, winners of 17 of their last 22 games, begin a four-game showdown series with the Eastern Division-leading Palm Beach Cardinals (28-18) Thursday at Hammond Stadium.