Miracle hit four homers, snap losing streak with 12-2 win

LAKELAND, Fla. (August 4, 2014) - The Fort Myers Miracle snapped a six-game losing streak with a 12-2 drubbing of the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Monday night at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The Miracle struck for three runs on one swing in the first inning. Flying Tigers starter Tommy Collier issued a lead-off walk to Levi Michael. After Max Kepler flew out to left, Travis Harrison lined a single to right to put runners on the corners. Adam Brett Walker then launched a 3-2 pitch from Collier (2-2) over the fence in left center for a three-run homer.

Walker's blast was his 22nd of the season. Leading the Florida State League, Walker's 22 homers also eclipsed the team record for home runs in a season previously held by Brock Peterson in 2006.

The power surge continued for the Miracle against Collier in the third. Travis Harrison sent a 1-1 pitch onto the berm in left field for a solo homer, his third of the season. After Walker struck out, Stuart Turner singled through the left side and moved to second on a wild pitch. Niko Goodrum's ground out to first moved Turner to third. Then, on a 1-1 pitch, Jason Kanzler homered to deep left center field to put the Miracle up 6-0. Kanzler's blast was his second homer with the Miracle.

Fort Myers fourth home run of the game came in the fifth inning off Flying Tigers reliever Logan Ehlers. Turner led off with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ehlers struck out both Goodrum and Kanzler, but surrendered a two-run shot to Tyler Grimes. On a 2-2 pitch, Grimes teed off and deposited a line drive to deep left, his first homer of the year, 8-0.

Aaron Slegers made his Miracle debut on the mound and delivered seven strong innings. Slegers (1-0) allowed just two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

Curt Powell had a RBI triple in the fifth and Jeff McVaney hit a solo homer in the sixth for the Flying Tigers.

In the eighth, the Miracle sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs. Harrison, Walker and Turner delivered three consecutive run-scoring singles. Harrison knocked in two while Walker and Turner each had a RBI base hit.

Walker finished 2-for-6 with four RBI. Harrison was 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored. Six Miracle hitters registered multi-hit games and seven scored at least one run.

Brandon Peterson tossed a scoreless eighth inning and Alex Muren recorded a perfect ninth to stop the six-game losing streak.

The Miracle (66-46, 25-18) are off on Tuesday, but go to St. Lucie to battle the Mets at Tradition Field on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. and fans can tune into the play-by-play action with the 'Voice of the Miracle' Brice Zimmerman beginning at 6:05 p.m. with the Head Quarters pregame show.