Championship Game 3: DAY 8 FTM 7

Daytona Beach, FL - The Daytona Cubs topped the Fort Myers Miracle 8-7 in game three of the FSL Championship at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark - a thrilling battle to force game four on Sunday evening.

With Daytona trailing 6-5 with one out in the bottom of the eighth and runners on first and second, C Willson Contreras lined a three-run go-ahead home run to the scoreboard in left to put the Cubs up 8-6. Contreras also smacked a two-out RBI double down the left field line in the third to cap a two-run frame.

Fort Myers' offensive attack was consistent and resilient throughout the entire game. Scoring a run in six of the nine frames, the Miracle did not lay down in the ninth trailing by two, either.

Down 8-6, 1B Dalton Hicks launched a solo home run to right off RHP Zack Godley (S, 1), but the Cubs' closer was able to finish off the Miracle for the save.

Fort Myers jumped out in front in the first inning on a two-out, two-run double by C Stuart Turner down the left field line.

The Cubs countered with the three-run second. Daytona began the frame with three-straight singles to load the bases. After a LF Bijan Rademacher RBI groundout to first that got the Cubs on the board, SS Marco Hernandez, who turned 22 on Saturday, lined a two-run go-ahead single to right to put Daytona up 3-2.

After Fort Myers tied the game with a run in the third, the Cubs immediately recaptured the lead with the two run bottom part of the frame.

With three-straight Miracle runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth, Fort Myers went back up 6-5, just six outs from the Championship - but in stepped Contreras.

3B Ben Carhart began the eighth with a walk and RF Billy McKinney lined a single to left which led way for the Cubs heroics.

Carhart singled in the second and third innings, scoring a run in both frames and driving in DH Kyle Schwarber with his hit in the third.

Contreras finished 3-for-3 with a walk, the home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored.

McKinney went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

RHP Stephen Perakslis (W, 1-0) picked up the victory after working the eighth inning in relief of RHP Gerardo Concepcion. Perakslis improved to 6-0 with Daytona this season.

Cubs LHP Nathan Dorris started the game and worked three innings, allowing three runs on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

RHP Yao-Lin Wang also worked three, surrendering two runs (one earned) on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Miracle starter LHP Brett Lee tossed 5.2 innings and allowed five runs on eight hits with four walks and a strikeout.

The Fort Myers pitching staff entered the game having allowed just two earned runs in four postseason games. They surrendered eight on Saturday.

RHP D.J. Johnson (L, 0-1) picked up the loss after allowing the Contreras home run.

A night after leaving 12 men on base and going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, Daytona hit 5-for-8 in that situation on Saturday, leaving only four on base.

With the win, the Cubs will host the Miracle on Sunday in game four. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. at Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.