Miracle drop 3rd straight
The Fort Myers Miracle came up empty with the bases loaded in the fourth inning and with the tying runs on base in the ninth and lost their third straight game Friday night 3-1 to the Sarasota Reds at Hammond Stadium.
The loss, coupled with the Charlotte Stone Crabs’ doubleheader split with Palm Beach, dropped the Miracle (25-22) into a tie for first place in the South Division with Charlotte.
Joe Benson was 2-for-3 to notch the only multi-hit game for the Miracle, while Jair Fernandez had the only RBI on a run-scoring double in the seventh. After Justin Reed dropped what would have been an inning-ending fly ball, Fernandez doubled over the third base bag for the only run of the night.
Tyler Robertson (6-8) pitched well enough to win in his six innings. He gave up two earned runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
The Miracle and Reds (19-28) meet for the final time in 2009 at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Hammond Stadium before moving to Sarasota for a doubleheader Sunday.