Costello, Baddoo launch homers in 7-4 win

JUPITER, Fla. - Ryan Costello and Akil Baddoo each went deep for the Miracle in a 7-4 victory over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Costello's homer highlighted a three-run second inning. Michael Helman and Ryan Jeffers opened the frame with consecutive doubles, before Costello launched a long two-run shot to right. Jeffers went 2-for-4 with three RBI.
After Palm Beach tied the game with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth, the Miracle came back with a pair of runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Jeffers drove in two with a single. Baddoo led off the seventh with a towering home run down the right field line. Later in the frame, Trey Cabbage delivered an RBI double.
Tyler Watson (1-3) picked up the win for the Miracle. The left-hander tossed five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. He struck out five. Tom Hackimer followed with a pair of shutout innings and four strikeouts in relief. Joe Record pitched the final two innings in his Miracle debut and allowed an unearned run.
Edgar Gonzalez (1-5) suffered the loss for Palm Beach. He allowed five runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings, despite retiring 11 in a row following the Costello homer in the second.
The Miracle out-hit Palm Beach, 11-9. They went 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Fort Myers is now in first place in the FSL South, a half game ahead of Palm Beach and Bradenton.
Game two of the three-game series is Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Left-hander Charlie Barnes will start for Fort Myers. First pitch is 5:30 p.m.