Miracle win 4-3, open 4-game lead
PORT ST. LUCIE -Just one game after scoring a season-high 19 runs on 24 hits, the Fort Myers Miracle won with pitching and timely hitting and beating the St. Lucie Mets 4-3 Friday night.
Fort Myers (22-11) tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly from Jair Fernandez. With two outs, Chris Cates and Ben Revere struck back-to-back singles before Steve Singleton tripled to deep right. The two-out, two-run triple proved to be the difference.
After giving up two hits to the first two batters, the latter a two-run homer for Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Mike McCardell (5-2) had his best stuff of the season against St. Lucie (18-16). At one point, McCardell sat down 14 straight from the first inning to the fifth. He allowed just one more hit for a final line of seven innings, four hits, two runs (all earned), one walk, and seven strikeouts.
McCardell has won five decisions in a row after starting the year 0-2.
Blair Erickson gave up a run in the ninth for the second consecutive outing, but still held on for his fourth save in four straight opportunities. Spencer Steedley pitched a scoreless eighth.
Angel Calero (1-3) suffered the loss and is 1-2 against Fort Myers in 2009. Revere was 3-for-4 at the plate and Singleton was 2-for-4.
The Miracle enjoy a four-game lead in the Florida State League’s South Division standings.
Carlos Gutierrez (2-1, 1.25) will pitch for the Miracle Saturday in the finale against the Mets.