Miracle dealt 6-4 defeat
JUPITER – The Palm Beach Cardinals scored six runs in three innings to beat the Fort Myers Miracle 6-4 Monday night.
The loss snaps the Miracle’s three-game win streak. Coupled with Charlotte’s doubleheader sweep of the St. Lucie Mets, the Miracle and Stone Crabs are once again tied atop the Florida State League’s South Division standings with identical 28-23 records.
Michael Tarsi of the Miracle began by retiring the first eight Cardinals hitters in order. He hit the ninth with a pitch and headed into the fifth with a no-hitter.
Cardinals catcher Blake Murphy broke up the bid with a solo homer to left, and the Cardinals went on to add two more runs in the next inning and three in the seventh. The extra cushion endured a three-run Miracle rally in the eighth.
Tarsi (3-3) struck out seven, but allowed five earned runs on seven hits in his 6 1/3 innings to take the loss.
One of those runs scored against reliever Michael Allen, who gave up one earned run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.
The two teams play the second game of the three-game series at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday night at Roger Dean Stadium. Miracle All-Star starter David Bromberg will look to even up the series.