Hanson Crushes Home Run In 10th For Walk Off Win

FORT MYERS, FL (September 2nd, 2010) - In the final regular season game at Hammond Stadium, Nate Hanson smacked a three-run home run in the 10th inning to send the Miracle to an exciting 5-2 walk-off victory over the Cardinals. With elimination from the 2010 FSL playoffs looming in the air, Fort Myers prevailed to stay alive in the race with three games to go. After another sweep at the hands of the Miracle, Palm Beach has officially been eliminated.

First-place Bradenton beat the Mets 9-4, to set up an exciting final weekend of the season. Fort Myers heads to St. Lucie, needing a sweep over the Mets, and at the same time will hope for a sweep from Charlotte who will host the Marauders. If those two scenarios occur, the Miracle will earn a spot in the playoffs.

Dakota Watts (4-2) pitched a scoreless ninth and tenth innings, setting up the game-winner for the Miracle. He allowed only one single, and struck out two for the victory.

With one out in the bottom of the 10th, Deibinson Romero smoked a double into left-center field against Cards' reliever Joel Pichardo (3-3). Nick Romero was then intentionally walked to put runners at first and second for Hanson, who pummeled his team-leading ninth home run of the year. It was a close home run, as it just barely stayed fair down the left-field line, with the home run signal from home-plate umpire Jeff Morrow sending the Miracle crowd into a frenzy.

Allan De San Miguel broke open a scoreless game in the fourth with a two-RBI single after the Miracle loaded the bases against Cardinals starter Kevin Thomas. That was all Fort Myers would get against the right-hander, who lasted only four frames.

Up 2-0, Fort Myers cruised through the next few innings until the Palm Beach bats woke up in the sixth. With Miracle starter David Deminsky still on the mound, Ryan Jackson and Niko Vasquez led off the inning with back-to-back doubles - getting the Cardinals on the board. Alex Castellanos then moved Vasquez to third on a sac-fly, with Richard Racobaldo tying the game at two with a fly-out to left.

Deminsky picked up a no-decision in his second start with the Miracle. The left-hander from Sartell, Minnesota pitched six solid innings allowed just the two earned runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked one.

After starting the season 0-9 against Palm Beach, Fort Myers finished the season with seven consecutive wins over the Cardinals. They will send RHP Kane Holbrooks to the mound on Friday night in St. Lucie to try and keep their playoff hopes alive. First pitch from Digital Domain Park is set for 7:00 p.m.