After rallying from a three-run deficit to take a 5-4 lead going into the ninth inning, the Fort Myers Miracle lost to the Palm Beach Cardinals 8-5 on a backbreaking grand-slam home run off the bat of Richard Racobaldo.

Against Billy Bullock with the bases-loaded and two outs in the ninth, Racobaldo blasted an 0-2 fastball over the left-field wall to send Fort Myers to the heartbreaking loss. It was Racobaldo’s first home run of the season.

The Miracle are now 0-6 against Palm Beach in 2010, with three of the losses taking place in the ninth inning or later. Bullock (0-4), who was charged with the loss, has now picked up three of his losses against Palm Beach this season.

Trailing 4-1 in the seventh inning, the Miracle scratched a run on an RBI groundout by Chris Herrmann to cut the deficit to two. In the eight, the Miracle loaded the bases with two-outs with Estarlin De Los Santos coming through with a huge two-RBI single to tie the game at four.

Brian Dozier then followed with the go-ahead base-hit to put the Miracle up 5-4. It should have been a glowing moment for Dozier, who snapped an 0-for-29 streak at the plate with the big knock.

Palm Beach reliever Matt Frevert loaded the bases in the inning and was charged with the three runs. David Carpenter (2-3) came in to face De Los Santos and gave up the two hits, and would have been charged with the loss, but instead pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

The Cardinals took an early lead against the Miracle as they plated single runs in four separate innings against Miracle starter Adrian Salcedo. The 19-year-old put together his longest outing of the year – tossing 6 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs (three earned) on 10 hits getting the no-decision.

Trailing 2-0, the Miracle picked up their first run of the night in the bottom of the fifth inning against Cards’ starter Brett Zawacki. With the bases loaded and one out, Brian Dozier hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield with Dan Rohlfing tagging from third.

It was the only run the Miracle would get against Zawacki, who also received a no-decision. The right-hander tossed 6 1/3 innings – allowing just five hits and walking three.

After Palm Beach scored two more runs between sixth and seventh innings, Fort Myers scored second run against Cardinals reliever Ramon Delgado. Jhonathan Goncalves walked and Estarlin De Los Santos led the inning of with a base hit to left. While standing at second and third, Delgado threw a wild pitch allowed both runners to move up a base each.

The two teams play again tonight at 7:05 at Hammond Stadium.