CLEARWATER - The Fort Myers Miracle used the long ball to halt a four-game losing streak and defeat the Clearwater Threshers Tuesday night.
Anderson Hidalgo bashed a three-run homer and Andy Leer belted a solo shot to lift the Miracle to a 6-5 victory over the Threshers in the first game of a four-game set.
After taking a 6-1 lead into the eighth inning, the Miracle had to hold off a furious rally from the Threshers, who scored four runs in the eighth with two outs. Adrian Salcedo was able to end the inning by getting Zach Collier to pop out, but not before giving up a two-run double to Pete Lavin and a two-run homer to Jim Murphy.
Michael Tonkin stifled the Threshers in the ninth by working a 1-2-3 inning to collect his first save in a Miracle uniform.
Tom Stuifbergen was nearly perfect in a start where he only went four innings. He struck out three and allowed just one hit. He retired the final 11 batters he faced before being lifted for Matt Capps in the fifth.
Capps gave up just one unearned run in the fifth in his second rehab appearance with the Miracle. He earned the win.
Adrian Salcedo, making his first appearance for the Miracle since May, gave up four runs in three innings.
The Miracle and Threshers again at 7 p.m. Thursday. Roy Halladay is expected to start for the Threshers in a rehab start for the Philadelphia Phillies.
