Costello lifts Miracle past Bradenton with late home run

BRADENTON, Fla. - Ryan Costello launched a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth to lift the Miracle past the Bradenton Marauders, 5-4, in a seesaw affair on Sunday afternoon at LECOM Park.
Costello's eighth home run of the year came on an 0-1 pitch from Hunter Stratton. It was the first baseman's second home run of the series.
Trailing 1-0 entering the fourth, the Miracle opened the frame with three straight hits. Trevor Larnach and Ryan Jeffers each singled before Jose Miranda tied the game, 1-1, on a single to left. Later in the inning, an Andrew Bechtold RBI ground out gave the Miracle their first lead of the afternoon.
Rodolfo Castro's two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth put Bradenton back in front. The Marauders extended their lead to 4-2 an inning later on a Raul Hernandez RBI single.
Bechtold's second RBI of the game in the sixth brought the Miracle to within a run. The game stayed 4-3 in favor of the Marauders until Costello's home run in the eighth.
Bailey Ober made his first start since April 26 (right ulnar nerve subluxation) and allowed three runs in 4.1 innings. He walked two and struck out three. The three earned runs allowed by Ober were the first earned runs allowed by the right-hander this year.
Joe Record (3-2) earned the win in relief after firing two scoreless innings. Zach Neff notched his second save with a perfect ninth.
Larnach finished 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to seven games. The Miracle outfielder went 7-for-14 in the three-game series with 6 RBI.
Following a league wide off day on Monday, the Miracle open a three-game series in Fort Myers on Tuesday night against the Tampa Tarpons, the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees. First pitch is 7:00 p.m.