MICHAEL PISTELLA Reliever Andrew Albers took over for Miracle starter Brad Stillings in the fifth inning and pitched three scoreless innings to pick up the win in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against Clearwater at Hammond Stadium.

After dropping three of four to the Clearwater Threshers at Hammond Stadium, the Fort Myers Miracle remain in a tie for first place in the Florida State League’s South Division standings with the St. Lucie Mets.

The Miracle (28-23) return from a Memorial Day off with a short four-game road trip to Lakeland that starts Tuesday. The first game with the Flying Tigers (25-25) is set for 7 p.m.

The Miracle split a doubleheader with the Threshers Sunday afternoon, winning the first game 2-0 before falling 1-0 in the final game.

On the heels of a six-game winning streak, the Miracle have dropped five of their last seven against North Division teams.

Miracle starter Brad Stillings was excellent in the first game Sunday with four shutout innings, allowing just one hit. Stillings struck out two of the 12 Threshers he retired.

Scoreless entering the bottom of the third, the Miracle got all the offense they needed with one out when shortstop Brian Dozier tomahawked a curveball down the left field line to drive in Jhon Goncalves, who walked, and James Beresford, who singled.

Andrew Albers (3-1) took over and pitched three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win.

The second game was another pitchers’ duel with Miracle starter Tom Stuifbergen going toe-to-toe with Threshers right hander Julio Rodriguez. Stuifbergen pitched six scoreless innings before the Threshers scored the game’s only run in the sixth.

Jonathan Singleton laced an RBI double to right to lift the Threshers (32-19).

The only Miracle hit came off the bat of Steve Liddle with a leadoff hit in the third.

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