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Miracle take series lead 2-1

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Special to the Daily Breeze. breezesports@breezenewspapers.com

DUNEDIN — Rene Tosoni gave the Fort Myers Miracle all the runs they would need with a one-out, two run home run in the first inning and Cole Devries pitched into the seventh inning to make the runs stand up for a 2-0 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays Tuesday night in the first game of the Florida State League division playoff series.

Devries allowed five hits in his 6 2/3 innings of work, giving way to Carlos Gutierrez, who allowed one hit. Anthony Slama earned the save despite giving up a solo homer in the ninth to Matt Liuzza. With the tying and winning runs on boase, Slama enticed Luis Sanchez to bounce into a game-inning double play.

The Miracle can wrap up the best-of-three first-round series with the Jays Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium. A third game, if necessary, would be played Thursday night.

n DIAMOND CUTTERS: The Miracle were selected to receive the Florida State League’s Municipality Award Tuesday. The award is given each season to the best city or county operated Sports Turf Crew.

It’s the ninth time since 1990 that Hammond Stadium crew manager Keith Blasingim’s staff has won the award, voted on by field managers, pitching coaches and umpires.

n ATTENDANCE MARK: As the Miracle’s season ended at Hammond Stadium Sunday, the team shattered the single-season attendance record by more than 8,000 fans.

The Miracle saw 124,749 fans file through the gates, eclipsing the previous record of 116,397 set in 2006.

The Miracle averaged 1,835 fans per game over 68 home dates. The club has drawn 1,755,101 fans in its 17 years in Southwest Florida. In six of the last seven seasons, including four consecutive years, the Miracle have topped 100,000.

Fort Myers 200 000 000 — 2 7 0

Dunedin 000 000 001 — 1 9 2

W — Devries. L — Mills. S — Slama.

HR — Tosoni (FM), Liuzza (D). LOB — Fort Myers 6, Dunedin 8.