KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Royce Lewis delivered a game-tying RBI triple with two out in the top of the ninth inning and the Miracle scored a run in the 10th to beat the Florida Fire Frogs, 4-3, on Thursday night at Osceola County Stadium.Caleb Hamilton opened the ninth inning with a single.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Royce Lewis delivered a game-tying RBI triple with two out in the top of the ninth inning and the Miracle scored a run in the 10th to beat the Florida Fire Frogs, 4-3, on Thursday night at Osceola County Stadium.
Caleb Hamilton opened the ninth inning with a single. Aaron Whitefield was summoned as a pinch runner. He advanced to second with one out on an errant pick off throw by pitcher Sean McLaughlin. Whitefield then moved up to third on a wild pitch with two out.
That set the stage for Lewis, who ripped a 2-0 pitch from Chase Johnson-Mullins into the gap in left center field. It was his first triple with the Miracle. Lewis finished the game 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, raising his batting average to .327.
The Miracle loaded the bases with two out in the 10th inning and Taylor Grzelakowski scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch by Johnson-Mullins.
Lewis helped the Miracle open the scoring in the top of the first. He started the game with an infield single, stole second, and advanced to third when the throw went into center field. Two batters later, Jose Miranda delivered an RBI single.
In the third, Miranda singled with two out and came around to score on Alex Kirilloff's RBI double.
It remained 2-0 until the sixth, when the Fire Frogs rallied to tie the game. William Contreras delivered a sacrifice-fly to put Florida on the board and Garrison Schwartz came through with a two-out RBI triple.
Florida took its first lead in the seventh. Kevin Josephina led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a wild pitch.
Ryan Mason (9-3) earned the win in relief with two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out two. Brusdar Graterol started for the Miracle and was charged with two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings. He walked one and struck out four.
McLaughlin (1-5) suffered the loss for the Fire Frogs. Tucker Davidson started and allowed two runs on six hits in five innings, walking two and striking out eight.
The series continues on Friday night at Osceola County Stadium. Right-hander Andro Cutura will start for Fort Myers. First pitch is 6:31 p.m.
