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Miracle take down Cubs 9-4

By Staff | Jul 18, 2010

DAYTONA – After taking down the Daytona Cubs with three home runs Friday, the Fort Myers Miracle pounded out three more long balls Saturday in a 9-4 victory.

Nate Hanson cracked his second three-run home run of the series and Evan Bigley and Brian Dozier added solo shots as the Miracle built a 9-0 lead through seven innings.

The Cubs scored four late runs against the Miracle bullpen, but the Miracle held on to take three of the four games from the Cubs (12-10) in the series.

The Miracle (10-11) scored seven of their nine runs in the fourth off Cubs starter Chris Rusin. After cruising through the first three innings, Rusin gave up Bigley’s solo home run in the third, before completely falling apart in the fourth. The Miracle scored seven runs on only one hit, with Hanson capping off the inning with a three-run shot. Rusin walked four batters, hit a batter, and the Cubs committed two errors to contribute to the other four runs.

Rusin (3-3) took the loss, allowing seven runs (four earned) on just three hits.

Daytona slugged two home runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Dakota Watts. The Cubs went back-to-back, with Rebel Ridling blasting a two-run home run, and Mark Reed following with a solo shot. Smailey Borges doubled and later scored the final run on a throwing error by Drew Thompson.

Miracle starter Santos Arias (2-2) tossed five shutout innings for his second consecutive win of the year. He allowed just two hits and two walks, and struck out three.

Joe Testa finished the final two innings, giving up four singles but no runs. He struck out four and walked none.

The Miracle finished 3-3 on the season against Daytona.

Fort Myers returns home to Hammond Stadium Sunday to start an eight-game homestand with four against Lakeland, then four against Brevard County. First pitch Sunday is 4:05 p.m