Lately, the Fort Myers Miracle have played their way in – and out – of first place in the Florida State League South Division standings.

They entered Thursday’s game with the St. Lucie Mets at Hammond Stadium tied with the Charlotte Stone Crabs for the division lead.

“We don’t like to look too much at the standings,” said Rene Leveret. “We’re just trying to win as many games as we can and at the end we’ll see where we’re at.”

It took all of nine innings for the Miracle to scratch out a 1-0 victory over the Mets Thursday.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Mark Dolenc laid down a bunt attempt with Deibinson Romero charging home from third. St. Lucie pitcher Jose De La Torre fielded the ball, but threw it over the head of the first baseman, allowing Romero to score the only run of the game.

Romero started off the final inning with a sharp single to left, then stole second and moved to third on a fielder’s choice by Joe Benson.

Miracle right-hander David Bromberg took a no-hit bid into the seventh, but ended up with a no-decision.

“That was a pitcher’s duel, that’s the way baseball should be played,” Miracle manager Jeff Smith. “It came down to one run.”

The 6-foot-5 Bromberg is in his first season with the Miracle (17-10), after pitching in Beloit last season. He entered Thursday’s contest with a 2-0 record and 2.88 ERA.

It was a less-than-stellar beginning, walking the opening batter on four pitches, but things turned around after that.

He struck out five and surrendered the only hit with two outs in the seventh when St. Lucie’s Carlos Guzman drove the ball to deep center for a triple. Reliever Spencer Steedley continued to blank the Mets (15-12) over the final 1 1/3 innings for the win.

“After walking the first batter, (Bromberg) started to establish his changeup,” Smith said. “Then he started using the fastball and changeup and attacking the strike zone.”

Both Bromberg and St. Lucie starter Nicholas Waechter cruised through the early and middle innings. Though Waechter exited after only five innings, Ed Ramirez came in and kept the Miracle off the board through eight innings.

In the bottom of the second, Benson and Dolenc hit back-to-back singles, but the Miracle squandered the opportunity when Jair Fernandez hit into a 6-4-3 double play.

Fernandez had another opportunity with two outs and bases loaded in the seventh, but hit a broken bat line-out to short.

Dolenc finished 2-for-3 for the Miracle, in addition to executing the bunt attempt that resulted in the walk-off win.

The Miracle remain tied for first place with the Stone Crabs, who beat the Palm Beach Cardinals 11-5 Thursday.

The Miracle held first place in the division from April 19 through May 1, but the Stone Crabs took over the top spot with a 5-2 win over the Miracle last Friday.

The Miracle regained the outright lead winning the final two games of that series, but became tied again after a loss to Sarasota Wednesday.

The Miracle continue their series with the Mets Friday. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. at Hammond Stadium.

St. Lucie 000 000 000 – 0 1 2

Fort Myers 000 000 001 – 1 5 0

W – Spencer Steedley. L – Jose De La Torre

3B – Carlos Guzman (S).