Fort Myers Miracle Walk Off in Grand Style Thanks to Juan Portes, Beat Vero Beach Devil Rays 6-2 - Box Score - Adv A, Florida State League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Box Score attached. - FORT MYERS, F.L. (June 10, 2008) – Juan Portes connected on a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth, breaking a 2-2 tie, sending his Fort Myers Miracle to a 6-2 win over the Vero Beach Rays on Tuesday night. The Miracle are now one win away from tying the franchise record for best record in a half, set back in 2003 with a 44-26 record, as this year’s edition of the Miracle improved to 43-22 on Tuesday night.

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Brian Dinkelman , pinch-hitting to lead off the ninth, was hit on the very first pitch by Rays reliever Brian Baker. After a sacrifice-bunt by Allan de San Miguel pushed Dinkelman to second, an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Whit Robbins and another hit-by-pitch, this time to Edward Ovalle , loaded the bases for Portes .

Portes then connected on his fifth blast of the season, the second grand slam in as many nights for the Miracle, for the 6-2 win. Portes ’ slam was also the fourth by the Miracle this season, which ties the franchise record in the category done on three different occasions in ’96, ’98 and ’06.

A lead-off triple from Ryan Royster in the Rays second gave the visitors the first of their two runs on the night as Nevin Ashley later plated Royster with his single to left. After Desmond Jennings’ double started the third, a sacrifice bunt by John Matulia and groundout to short by Cesar Suarez gave Vero Beach their brief 2-0 lead.

A pair of two-out runs in the fifth eventually led to Portes ’ opportunity in the ninth as Danny Santiestiban kept the inning alive with his infield-single to third. Santiestiban came around three pitches later on de San Miguel’s smashed triple to right. Ovalle would pick up an RBI-single two hitters later bringing in de San Miguel with the game-tying run.

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