JUPITER The Fort Myers Miracle sent 13 hitters to the plate in a seven-run fourth inning to blow past the Jupiter Hammerheads, 11-6 Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium.
With the game tied 3-3, Dan Rohlfing began the hit parade on a 2-1 pitch with a single off of Jupiter starter Alan Oaks into right field. When Rohlfing came to the plate again later in the inning, five runs had been scored. The Miracle catcher added a sixth with a bases-loaded base hit and his second single of the inning.
When the dust settled, the Miracle had RBI hits by Daniel Santana, Levi Michael, Angel Morales and Rohlfing and two RBI walks to Jairo Perez and Michael Gonzales against three pitchers. Oaks (0-1) never recorded an out in the fourth and finished the game charged with seven runs, six earned.
Leading 11-4, the Miracle cruised to a second consecutive victory despite giving up a run in the eighth and ninth innings. Fort Myers has now won six of the last seven and four in a row versus Jupiter.
The Miracle staked starter Marty Popham to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Josmil Pinto smacked a 1-0 pitch into the left field corner. Michael came in to score from second and Morales also touched home after Daniel Pertusati misplayed the ball in the outfield.
Popham (1-0) was roughed up for three runs in the first inning, but settled down to scatter eight hits and four runs to pick up the first win for the starting rotation of the 2012 season.
Fort Myers (6-4) returns to Roger Dean Stadium Monday to take on Jupiter (2-8) for game two of a three-game set.
