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Lakeland evens series with 3-1 win

Miracle fail to score after first inning, Lewis goes 0-for-3 in debut
(William Parmeter)
July 14, 2018

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Miracle took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but did not score again in a 3-1 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Saturday night at Publix Field. Aaron Whitefield opened the game with a bunt single, stole second, and eventually scored on a two-out RBI

LAKELAND, Fla. - The Miracle took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but did not score again in a 3-1 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Saturday night at Publix Field.
Aaron Whitefield opened the game with a bunt single, stole second, and eventually scored on a two-out RBI single by Taylor Grzelakowski.
Lakeland tied the game in the second inning on Zac Shepherd's sacrifice-fly. They took the lead for good in the fifth, when Dylan Burdeaux delivered an RBI single. Clark Brinkman tripled home a run in the sixth to tack on to the lead. Brusdar Graterol (0-2) started for the Miracle and suffered the loss. The right-hander allowed two runs on eight hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out two. Tom Hackimer followed and allowed one run in two innings. Adam Bray tossed a scoreless eighth inning and struck out two.
Lakeland starter Spenser Watkins (6-3) picked up the win despite walking six in six innings. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out five. Burris Warner threw two scoreless innings out of the Lakeland bullpen and Drew Carlton earned his seventh save with a scoreless ninth.
The Miracle threatened in the ninth inning with back-to-back singles from Caleb Hamilton and Ben Rortvedt, but Carlton struck out pinch-hitter Mark Contreras and Aaron Whitefield to end the game.
Fort Myers went just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base. Royce Lewis, the number one prospect in the Twins organization and the top pick in last year's draft, went 0-for-3 with a walk in his Miracle debut.
The series concludes on Sunday afternoon with the rubber game. First pitch is 1:00 p.m. Right-hander Andro Cutura (3-4) will start for the Miracle.