Fort Myers scored three in the ninth to tie the game, but Cole Peterson hit a walk-off single to send the Flying Tigers home with a 5-4, series-clinching win.
Fort Myers scored three in the ninth to tie the game, but Cole Peterson hit a walk-off single to send the Flying Tigers home with a 5-4, series-clinching win.
Detroit Tigers number one prospect Franklin Perez loaded the bases in the first inning with just one out, but coaxed a soft lineout from first baseman Lewin Diaz and struck out Caleb Hamilton to hold Fort Myers at bay. The Flying Tigers scratched across a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI double from catcher Kade Scivicque. Derek Hill followed suit in the second with a run-scoring double that gave Lakeland an early 2-0 lead.
Perez, Jeff Thompson, and Brandyn Sittinger combined to hold the Miracle scoreless through the first seven innings. Ahead 3-0 in the eighth with two men on, Lakeland turned to closer Eduardo Jiménez to shut the door. Hamilton promptly singled to left to cut the lead to two, but Jimenez escaped the inning, preventing further damage.
The Flying Tigers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, stretching the lead back to three when Danny Pinero scored from third on a wild pitch. Down 4-1 entering the ninth, the Miracle mounted a rally. Left fielder Taylor Grzelakowski knocked an RBI single with one out, cutting the deficit to two runs. After the Flying Tigers brought in Fernando Perez to stop the bleeding, Miguel Sanó launched a double that scored two and tied the game at four.
Lakeland's Zac Shepherd walked to begin the bottom of the ninth, igniting a rally for the home team. After a sacrifice bunt moved Shepherd to second base, Cole Peterson grounded a ball through the right side to score Shepherd and end the game.
The win moves the Flying Tigers to within 2.5 games of first place Dunedin in the Florida State League North Division.
Up Next: Eudis Idrogo (1-1, 4.85 ERA) will start for the Flying Tigers against Palm Beach in the opener of a six-game road trip Monday at 6:30.
The Flying Tigers will return to Publix Field on Monday, July 23 at 6:30 for a three-game series against the Dunedin Blue Jays, who currently hold first place in the Florida State League North Division. Get your tickets at www.lakelandflyingtigers.com/tickets or by calling the BayCare Box Office at (863) 413-4140.
