JUPITER - The Fort Myers Miracle scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a tie game and defeat the Palm Beach Cardinals 8-4 Monday night.
The Miracle blew a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh. Edgar Ibarra gave up three unearned runs and Jairo Perez made three errors in a sloppy inning that evaporated the lead when Luis De La Cruz picked up a two-out, two-run single.
In the ninth, Lance Ray coaxed a leadoff walk from Cardinals reliever Logan Billbrough. Palm Beach manager Johnny Rodriguez went to his closer, Dean Kiekhefer, after Ray's free pass and Miracle manager Jake Mauer replaced him with Angel Morales at first base.
Danny Rams laid down a sacrifice bunt which Kiekhefer threw wildly to second trying to get the lead runner. Morales went to third on the error and Rams moved up to second.
After Kiekhefer issued an intentional walk to Michael Gonzales, shortstop Levi Michael served a line drive into center for the go-ahead run and a RBI; his second of the night.
Daniel Santana capped off a three-hit, three-RBI night with a base hit through the left side. Perez and Oswaldo Arcia followed with sacrifice flies to set the 8-4 lead.
Ricky Bowen, after pitching a scoreless eighth, induced a double play and a groundout to close out the game and pick up the win. Bowen (3-2) is headed to the Florida State League All-Star Game on Saturday, June 16 at Charlotte Sports Park.
The Miracle (25-36) earned a series victory over Palm Beach and now have won three of the last four and four of the last six. Fort Myers returns to Hammond Stadium to begin a three-game series with the Bradenton Marauders Tuesday night.
