Special to the Breeze, breezesports@breezenewspapers.com

Despite allowing a season-high nine walks, the Fort Myers Miracle limited the Palm Beach Cardinals to just four hits en route to a 5-3 victory Friday night at Hammond Stadium.

The Miracle offset those nine free passes, in front of 4,057 fans at Hammond Stadium, with a 10-hit night improving to 31-17, which is a franchise-record through 48 games.

Brian Dinkelman’s lead-off walk in the first led to the initial run as he later scored on Whit Robbins’ single to center. Palm Beach (29-19) bounced back with runs in the second and third for a 2-1 lead.

A two-out walk by Tony Cruz kept the inning alive for Daniel Descalso. The Cardinal second baseman then ripped an RBI-double to right squaring things at 1-1. A bases-loaded walk, one of four in the inning, to Daryl Jones in the third plated James Rapoport with the go-ahead run.

The walk marathon continued in the Miracle fifth as Yancarlos Ortiz drew one and moved to third on Dinkelman’s double to left. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Juan Portes and Danny Valencia gave the Miracle a 3-2 lead.

Three Miracle hits in seventh led to the final couple of runs when Edward Ovalle came up with the big two-run double to left.

Miracle starter Deolis Guerra issued seven walks Friday night and still pitched well enough to earn the win. Guerra (5-1) worked five innings, allowing two runs on two hits with striking out two.

The bullpen combo of Frank Mata, Anthony Slama and Rob Delaney took care of Palm Beach in the late innings. Delaney picked up his 11th save with a perfect ninth with two strikeouts.

Fireworks will follow Saturday night’s game, which starts at 7:05 p.m.