FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 14, 2017) - Mitchell Kranson's pinch-hit two-run single in the ninth inning supplied the Fort Myers Miracle's (33-18) tenth walk-off of the year and sixth straight win, defeating the Lakeland Flying Tigers (24-23) 6-5 on Monday night.The back-and-forth contest featured three lead changes. The Flying Tigers struck
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 14, 2017) - Mitchell Kranson's pinch-hit two-run single in the ninth inning supplied the Fort Myers Miracle's (33-18) tenth walk-off of the year and sixth straight win, defeating the Lakeland Flying Tigers (24-23) 6-5 on Monday night.
The back-and-forth contest featured three lead changes. The Flying Tigers struck for the game's first two runs in the first inning off starter LHP Lewis Thorpe. A two-out double by Will Allen brought in Jose Azocar and Joey Pankake.
LHP Austin Sodders kept Fort Myers off the board into the fifth, but allowed a Brandon Lopez two-run triple to tie the game at two. Sodders struck out nine, but could not record an out in the sixth inning after the Miracle loaded the bases. RHP Fernando Perez relieved Sodders before Jaylin Davis singled up the middle to score the go-ahead run. A wild pitch brought in Brent Rooker, making it a 4-2 game.
Lakeland clawed back with a pair of runs in the seventh against LHP Andrew Vasquez. The Tigers launched back-to-back two-out RBI-doubles off the bats of Azocar and Blaise Salter to tie the game.
Fort Myers had an opportunity to take the lead with the bases loaded again in the seventh, but RHP Jeff Thompson came out of the pen to fan Tanner English and Davis, keeping the game square.
In the top of the eighth, Allen led off with a double against Vasquez. Ariel Serrano moved him to third with a ground ball, and Luis Valdes singled him in to give Lakeland the 5-4 lead.
After LHP Alex Robinson (W, 3-0) tossed a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, the Miracle went to work in their final inning against RHP Eduardo Jiménez (L, 0-1). Chris Paul, making his first appearance since a hamate bone fracture in late May, singled to start the frame. Zander Wiel followed with a knock of his own. After Palacios bunted the pair to second and third and Rooker was walked intentionally, manager Doug Mientkiewicz grabbed Kranson from the bench to pinch hit with one out and the bags full. The lefty pulled a ball through the hole at second base to score Paul and Wiel easily, handing the Miracle a 6-5 victory.
Fort Myers looks for their seventh consecutive win on Tuesday night when LHP Anthony McIver duels RHP Kyle Dowdy at 7:05 PM ET on the final 2-for-1 Tuesday of 2017.
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