Miracle lose 3rd straight
DAYTONA BEACH – The Fort Myers Miracle have homered in six straight games, but starting pitching and a lack of clutch hitting let them down in the first two games of a four-game series with the Cubs, including Friday night’s 6-1 defeat.
Deolis Guerra was roughed up for six runs on six hits in four innings, but Guerra (4-6) struck out seven and walked three. The right-hander didn’t help himself with two throwing errors as the Miracle committed four total.
The Miracle (38-22) stranded nine runners and were 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. The only run was Steve Singleton’s second homer of the season with two outs in the second. After winning a season-high six straight games, it’s the third loss in a row for the Miracle, whose lead in the South Division standings dips to 5 1/2 games.
Singleton finished 1-for-4, while Evan Bigley was 2-for-4.
Ryan Searle (5-4) got the win for Daytona (28-28). He gave up one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out five.
The Miracle hand the ball to Mike McCardell, who will face James Leverton in Saturday’s third game of the series.