Miranda powers Miracle in game two of twin bill

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Jose Miranda launched a home run and went 4-for-4 to lead the Miracle to a 9-2 victory over the St. Lucie Mets in game two of a doubleheader on Wednesday night at First Data Field. The Miracle dropped game one, 5-2.
It was Miranda's first four-hit game and the 11th of the season for the Miracle. His RBI single put Fort Myers up 1-0 in the top of the first. In addition to his sixth home run of the season, he added two more singles and scored three runs.
The Miracle broke open the game in the second inning when eight batters came to the plate and five scored. Yeltsin Encarnacion delivered a sacrifice fly, Aaron Whitefield had an RBI single, and Andrew Bechtold belted a two-run triple to the opposite field in right center. The fifth run scored on a wild pitch by St. Lucie starter Thomas Szapucki.
In the third, the Miracle added another run when David Banuelos drilled a triple to the wall in left center field and circled the bases after an errant relay throw by shortstop Manny Rodriguez. Miranda's home run came in the fourth, a no-doubter to left.
The only two runs for St. Lucie came in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer by Carlos Cortes. He went deep in both games of the doubleheader.
Melvi Acosta (6-3) earned the win for the Miracle with five strong innings of work in a spot-start. He allowed two runs on four hits. Moises Gomez tossed two perfect innings to close out the game, striking out five.
The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Miracle, which tied a season-high. They finished their road trip at 1-5.
In game one, the Miracle took a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Michael Davis and Gabriel Maciel delivered back-to-back sacrifice flies. Cortes, however, went deep with a three-run blast in the bottom of the fifth to put St. Lucie in front for good.
The Miracle return home for an eight-game homestand with the first of four against the Jupiter Hammerheads on Thursday night at Hammond Stadium. Right-hander Jordan Balazovic will start for Fort Myers. First pitch is 7:00 p.m.