Fort Myers Miracle catcher Chris Herrmann rounds third in the seventh inning to score on Danny Rams’ game-tying triple Wednesday against the St. Lucie Mets. The Mets rallied to score twice in the ninth to claim a 5-3 win. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com. Photo by Michael Pistella

Quality pitching continues to be foremost in the arsenal of the Fort Myers Miracle – one bad outing in the first seven games.

Despite that, the St. Lucie Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Miracle Wednesday afternoon at Hammond Stadium with a 5-3 decision. That came on the heels of Tuesday’s Mets 3-1 win.

Two well-pitched games by the Mets overshadowed the Miracle staff.

The loss drops the Miracle to 4-3 on the season after they opened the season with a four-game sweep of the Jupiter Hammerheads. They started the series with the Mets alone in first place in the Florida State League South Division standings, but the Mets (6-1) leave town in first place with a two-game lead on the Miracle.

Kane Holbrooks pitched well enough to win – again – Tuesday night, but his first decision was a loss when the Mets prevailed 3-1.

Holbrooks (0-1) held the Mets in check for 5 2/3 innings, surrendering one earned run on five hits while walking two, striking out two and hitting two batters.

“I’ve got to throw more strikes deeper in the game,” said Holbrooks. “My body felt great today, no fatigue. I’m getting in better shape. It’s hard to put into words.”

Dan Osterbrock started Wednesday and lasted 2 1/3 innings, giving up four hits, two runs, and striking out two. Not the best of outings, but should have lasted more innings.

Matt Schuld pitched three innings in relief allowing three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Andrew Albers tossed 2 2/3 innings with three hits, a run, and two strikeouts.

Dakota Watts (0-1) was charged with the loss, giving up two hits and two runs in one inning of work.

“We had our chances to get them, but could not come up with the big hit,” Miracle manager Jake Mauer said Tuesday night. “Our bullpen has been good. It is one of our strengths this year. They held us in the game.”

The only run off Holbrooks Tuesday came in the top of the sixth. With runners on second and third and one out, Rafael Fernandez lofted a fly ball in shallow center field. Aaron Hicks made a diving catch on the ball for the second out, but Jefry Marte trotted home from third for the game’s first run.

Holbrooks faced just one batter over the minimum through three innings, but worked out of his first jam in the fourth. A leadoff walk and a broken-bat single put two runners on with no outs. Holbrooks retired the next two batters on shallow fly balls to right and left with no advance by the runners.

A walk loaded the bases, but Holbrooks retired Francisco Pena on a pop fly caught by Miracle second baseman James Beresford.

The Mets added two runs off the Miracle relievers in the eighth to open a 3-0 lead.

Juan Lagares belted a two-out, solo home run to left for the first run. A walk and a bloop single off shortstop Brian Dozier’s glove in left field with his back to the infield put runners on the corners. Rylan Sandoval then dumped a single into short right field to drive in the third and final run.

The eighth-inning runs were charged to Miracle relief pitchers Jhonathan Garcia and Bruce Pugh.

Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (2-0) was impressive, surrendering three hits and striking out seven over six innings. The Miracle went down in order the first three innings before breaking up the no-hitter on Dozier’s one-out double to the left-center field gap in the fourth.

The Miracle loaded the bases in the fifth with one out, but Harvey induced Jhonathan Goncalves to ground into an inning-ending double play to preserve the shutout.

“Harvey was very impressive,” said Mauer. “It’s early. Come June, and getting closer to the end of the first half, games will be very important.”

The Miracle wasted a leadoff single by Chris Herrmann in the seventh, but finally broke through in the ninth to avoid the shutout.

Nate Hanson singled to right with one out and scored from first on Herrmann’s RBI double to the left-center field gap. Steve Liddle singled to left to put the tying runs on with one out, but Danny Rams struck out and Beresford grounded out to second to end it.

Mets starter Jeurys Familia had a no-hitter going until the sixth inning Wednesday and the bullpen withstood the Miracle’s late-inning rallies. Familia was finished after sixth innings, surrendering one hit, one run and striking out six.

Trailing 2-0, the Miracle broke up the no-hitter on Anderson Hidalgo’s one-out double. With runners at second and third, Goncalves grounded out to second with one run scoring.

The Mets regained a two-run lead in the seventh inning. Dekker ripped a one-out double and scored on Wilmer Flores’ single to left.

The Miracle tied the game in the seventh inning with a big hit by Rams off Mets reliever Eric Beaulac, who issued a pair of one-out walks to Herrmann and Liddle. Rams cleared the bases with a blast off the top of wall in right-center tying the game at 3-3.

Watts entered the game in the ninth for the Miracle. Mets left fielder Pedro Zapata led off with a single. Cesar Puello laid down a sacrifice bunt to the mound. Watts attempted to get the lead runner, but Zapata beat the throw. Dekker bunted and Watts recorded a forceout at third base.

The Miracle had two runners in scoring position with two out in the ninth, but Mets reliever Jeffrey Kaplan shut the door on Beresford to pick up his fourth save.

Brandon Sage (1-0) picked up the win for the Mets pitching 1 1/3 innings.

The Miracle open a three-game series in Bradenton (4-2) Thursday with first pitch at 7 p.m. Tom Stuifbergen starts for the Miracle in game one.

Tuesday’s Game

St. Lucie 000 001 020 – 3 10 0

Fort Myers 000 000 001 – 1 7 1

W – Harvey (2-0). L – Holbrooks (0-1). S – Carr.

2B – Puelo (SL), Dozier (FM), Herrmann (FM). HR – Lagares (SL). LOB – Mets 11, Miracle 7.

Wednesday’s Game

St. Lucie 011 000 102 – 5 12 0

Fort Myers 000 001 200 – 3 4 1

W – Sage (1-0). L – Watts (0-1). S – Kaplan.

2B – Welch (SL), Pena (SL), Den Dekker (SL), Hidalgo (FM). 3B – Rams (FM). LOB – Mets 7, Miracle 5.