Lakeland Tigers Turn Back Miracle

FORT MYERS -- The Lakeland Tigers continued to show little respect for the FSL's best teams, whipping the first-half West Divison champion Fort Myers Miracle, 7-5, in their own ballpark on Friday night.

It was Fan Appreciation night at Bill Hammond Stadium, but a lively crowd couldn't have appreciated the drubbing its homeboys took on the verge of the playoffs.

On the brink of being mathematically eliminated from postseason play themselves, the Tigers treated Fort Myers the same way they played first-place Dunedin earlier this week when Lakeland swept two games from the team likely to be the Miracle's first-round opponent.

Fort Myers jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Tiger starter Kevin McDowell, but the Pittsburgh southpaw's teammates bounced right back in the top of the third with six runs.

Lakeland paraded 11 men to the plate in its big inning with five of the six runs scoring before a single Tiger was retired. Michael Woods singled twice, while Juan Tejeda and David Mattle both delivered RBI doubles. Alex Trezza, Curtis Granderson, and Anderson Hernandez also singled.

Kevin McDowell (5-12), who was 0-2 with a 10.05 ERA against Fort Myers in three previous starts, limited the Miracle to two runs and five hits in five innings. Lee Rodney pitched two shutout innings out of the Tiger bullpen while closer Mike Kobow squelched a rally in the ninth and earned his 15th save.

Lakeland will play host to the Miracle tonight at 7 in the last home game of the season. The first 1,000 fans who turn out at Marchant Stadium will receive a free travel mug. Everyone will be treated to a fireworks show after the game, and hundreds of area Boy Scouts will camp out overnight, a popular tradition begun at Bill Hammond Stadium several years ago.

Lakeland will complete its 52nd FSL season in Sarasota Sunday.