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Tigers turn back Miracle 7-5 in opener

2 min read

Special to the Daily Breeze, breezesports@breezenewspapers.com

In a game highlighted by strange plays, weird bounces and nine combined, two-out runs scored in the first innings, the Lakeland Flying Tigers defeated the Fort Myers Miracle 7-5 Tuesday at Hammond Stadium.

Lakeland used seven hurlers in the win. A doubleheader is scheduled for Wednesday.

Lakeland threw a five spot on the board in the first taking advantage of three Miracle errors. Justin Justice led the game off by reaching on Edward Ovalle’s dropped fly ball, and Johnny Woodard’s fielding mishap at first, loaded the bases with one out.

Jordan Lennerton began the run-scoring with his two-run single to right. Jeramy Laster secured an RBI and Brandon Timm’s single plated two more runs.

After the Flying Tigers offense did their damage with five unearned runs in the top of the inning, the Miracle came right back with four in the bottom half. Woodard made up for his earlier mistake with a three-run shot. Danny Lehmann capped off the frame with an RBI single to right.

Things settled down over the next handful of innings until Lakeland tallied their game-deciding runs in the sixth.

The Miracle stranded 14 runners in the loss while tying a season-high for three errors in a game.

Making up for a rainout last Friday in Lakeland, the Miracle and Flying Tigers play two, seven-inning games Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium, beginning at 5:05 p.m.