CHARLOTTE – Fort Myers rallied for five runs in the ninth inning, but fell short of a comeback in an 8-6 loss to the Charlotte Stone Crabs Thursday night.

The Miracle pushed across their first three runs in the top of the ninth on two errors, an RBI single by Jhonathan Goncalves, and three walks by Charlotte reliever Michael Jarmon. With the bases loaded and out out, Marquis Fleming came in and struck out Nick Romero, but gave up a two-run single to Nate Hanson. He then induced a game-ending fly out by Chris Herrmann.

Leading 5-1 in the eighth, the Stone Crabs added three runs which proved to be the difference. Miracle reliever Shooter Hunt issued six walks and also uncorked two wild pitches. He threw 30 pitches, only four for strikes. He recorded two outs before giving way to Blake Martin, who finished the inning.

Greg Sexton smashed a first-inning three-run home run against Miracle starter Dan Osterbrock, capping a big four-run burst for the Stone Crabs. Osterbrock gave up a hit to the first four batters, all coming around to score before an out was recorded. The left-hander eventually gave up a season-high 12 hits to Charlotte (23-24).

Osterbrock (5-8), who carried an FSL-best 2.53 ERA into the game, had his worst outing in nearly two months when he gave up five runs and 11 hits to the Yankees on May 13. He worked seven innings for the Miracle, giving up five earned runs, striking out two in the loss.

The Miracle (20-25) took a 1-0 lead, but did not pose much of a threat the rest of the night against Charlotte starter Frank De Los Santos (9-8), who scattered eight hits over seven innings, striking out six batters.

Angel Morales and Brian Dozier opened the first with consecutive singles, with Morales scored on an RBI ground out by Nick Romero.

The Miracle look to rebound Friday night in the second game off the three-game series with the Stone Crabs.