Miracle post 4th straight win
The Sarasota Reds demonstrated why no lead is ever safe in baseball as a six-run deficit evaporated to one in the last two innings. Blair Erickson held on to record his third straight save and the Fort Myers Miracle secured a 6-5 win in a three-game series’ opening game.
The Miracle (20-10) entered the eighth inning with a 6-0 lead thanks to a four-run second. All four runs were scored with two out, starting with Chris Cates’ bases-loaded two-RBI single. Chris Parmelee (2-for-3) took Rafael Gonzalez deep to right field to lead off the third. It is Parmelee’s second homer at Hammond Stadium and fifth of the season.
Henry Arias took the ball in the eighth inning and allowed four runs – two on a wild pitch and throwing error by catcher Jair Fernandez and one on a mammoth blast to left by Neftali Soto – before giving way to Santos Arias.
Against Erickson in the ninth, the Reds (11-19) got a run on a sacrifice fly and sent the go-ahead run to the plate before Erickson struck out Alex Buchholz on three pitches to end it.
Carlos Gutierrez (2-1) won his second straight, surrendering three hits, no runs and three strikeouts.
The Miracle have a three-game lead in the South division after Charlotte’s loss Monday night.
The Miracle and Reds go at it again Tuesday at Hammond Stadium.