Miracle settle for a split

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MICHAEL PISTELLA Fort Myers Miracle second baseman Steve Singleton watches his relay throw to first base trying to complete a double play Wednesday night. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

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MICHAEL PISTELLA Fort Myers Miracle pitcher Rene Leveret rounds third base on a double by Jair Fernandez in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

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MICHAEL PISTELLA Miracle catcher Jair Fernandez takes a swing in the second inning of Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over the Jupiter Hammerheads at Hammond Stadium. Fernandez’s RBI double in the fifth inning broke a scoreless tie. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

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MICHAEL PISTELLA Fort Myers pitcher Deolis Guerra (43) earned his first win with five-inning shutout, striking out four and giving up three hits. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

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After scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Fort Myers Miracle were in line to sweep their first doubleheader of the season.

Instead, the Jupiter Hammerheads put together a three-run rally in the seventh inning to win 4-2 and earn a split Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium.

In the first game, the Miracle shook off some early shakiness in the field to post a resounding 3-0 victory in seven innings.

Carlos Gutierrez made his first professional start for the Miracle in the nightcap. The University of Miami product earned a no-decision allowing four hits, one earned run and striking out three over five innings. Kyle Waldrop (0-1) was charged with the loss in relief.

Deibinson Romero delivered a key two-out RBI single that temporarily put the Miracle ahead in the sixth.

The highlight of the night for Fort Myers was a running catch by centerfielder Ben Revere to rob Jacob Blackwood of extra bases in the second inning.

The Miracle (4-2) slip to one game behind Palm Beach in the FSL South Division standings. The Hammerheads (2-4) slipped farther into sixth place in the South.

Jupiter’s Elih Villanueva (0-1) took the loss in the opening game after allowing three runs in 5 2/3.

Neither team scored until the bottom of the fifth inning when Miracle first baseman Rene Leveret led off with a single. After a flyout to left, catcher Jair Fernandez stepped to the plate in search of his first hit of 2009. The Colombian-born backstop delivered a sharp double over the head of centerfielder Greg Burns as Leveret charged home to make it 1-0.

The Miracle struck again for insurance in the bottom of the sixth with two more RBI doubles. Deibinson Romero drilled one to deep left-center to drive in Joe Benson, and Leveret answered with an even deeper RBI double of his own to score Romero.

All three Miracle runs were driven in by RBI doubles.

Miracle starter Deolis Guerra (1-0) shut out Jupiter for five innings before giving way to the bullpen. He gave up three hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

Santos Arias pitched a scoreless sixth, and Alex Burnett earned the first save of 2009 with one walk and two strikeouts one inning later.

The Miracle and Hammerheads play the final game of a three-game series at 7 p.m. Thursday at Hammond Stadium. Right-hander David Bromberg is expected to start for the Miracle.