MELBOURNE - Pat Dean struck out eight batters and allowed just one run over eight innings to pick up his third consecutive wine and guide the Fort Myers Miracle to a 2-1 victory Friday night over the Brevard County Manatees.
The win snaps a four-game losing streak by the Miracle (16-25), who have two games with the Manatees this weekend.
Dean's only mistake came in the second inning when Manatees left fielder Miguel Velazquez hit an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left for a solo home run. He rebounded with a 1-2-3 top half of the third inning and proceeded to blank the Manatees hitters over the next five innings.
Dean (3-2) found a groove in the fifth inning. With the Miracle trailing 1-0, he fanned five Manatees in a row including three in the fifth and punching out the first two hitters in the sixth.
The Miracle grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth. With one out, Jairo Perez was hit by a pitch by Manatees starter Jimmy Nelson (2-4). The next pitch left the stadium. Oswaldo Arcia crushed a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right center for a two-run homer.
Miracle manager Jake Mauer went to the bullpen for the ninth inning and reliever Ricky Bowen gave up a lead-off single to T.J. Mittelstaedt before Cody Hawn grounded out.
Bowen picked up his third save and nailed down the win on a foul pop and a strikeout.
