Aaron Hicks has a big day.  Daniel Santana has a bigger day.  Fort Myers scores more than the Twins score in a week.

PORTLAND 3, NEW BRITAIN 1 IN NEW BRITAIN

Batting stars:  Aaron Hicks was 3-for-4.  Chris Colabello was 2-for-4 with a double.

Pitching star:  Brett Jacobson struck out three in two perfect innings.

Opposition stars:  Billy Buckner struck out eight in six innings, giving up a run on five hits.  Aaron Kurcz struck out three while allowing only a walk in two innings.

Key inning:  The sixth.  In a 1-1 tie, Jeremy Hazelbaker led off for the SeaDogs with a double and scored on a pair of fly balls to give Portland the lead.  In the bottom of the inning, Pedro Florimon led off with a single, stole second, and took third on a balk with none out.  There he stayed, as the next three batters struck out.  The Rock Cats were never as close again.

FORT MYERS 13, LAKELAND 3 IN FORT MYERS

Batting stars:  Daniel Santana was 5-for-5 with a double.  Anderson Hidalgo was 3-for-5 with three RBIs.  Jairo Perez was 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles.

Pitching star:  Cole Nelson struck out six in three shutout innings, allowing four hits.

Opposition stars:  James Robbins was 3-for-4 with a double and a home run.  Hernan Perez was 2-for-4.

Key inning:  The third.  With the score tied at one, the Flying Tigers used two walks and a double to take a 3-1 lead.  In the bottom of the inning, two singles, a double, two more singles, and another double plated five runs to give the Miracle a 6-3 lead they would never relinquish.

Other:  Tomorrow’s Miracle game will start at 10:35 a.m. local time to celebrate Fort Myers Education Day.  Apparently, they celebrate education day by letting the kids out of school to go to the ballgame.  This is an idea of which this reporter heartily approves.

BELOIT 5, KANE COUNTY 3 IN BELOIT

Batting stars:  Tyler Grimes was 2-for-3 with a double and a homer.  Rory Rhodes was 2-for-3 with a two run homer.  Eddie Rosario was 2-for-4 with a double.

Pitching stars:  Jason Wheeler worked six shutout innings, giving up five hits and a walk.

Opposition star:  Aaron Brooks allowed two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out nine in six innings.

Key inning:  The seventh.  Already leading 2-0, the Snappers used a single, a double, two errors, and a passed ball to go ahead 4-0.  The Cougars would never get closer than two runs.

TODAY’S TILTS

9:35  Lakeland at Fort Myers                       Alex Burgos v. Pat Dean
5:15  Rochester at Pawtucket                      Daryl Thompson v. Daisuke Matsuzaka
5:35  New Britain at Binghamton                  TBA v. TBA
6:30  Kane County at Beloit                         TBA v. TBA