Fort Myers Miracle reliever Ricky Bowen closed the door on the Daytona Cubs Friday night, escaping a bases-loaded, no-out, eighth-inning jam and pitching a perfect ninth to preserve a 5-4 win at Hammond Stadium.

Entering in the eighth inning, Bowen began with a bases-loaded walk to Michael Burgess to cut the Miracle lead to one run. Bowen then went to work, striking out Mike Brenly and inducing a double play off the bat of Dustin Harrington to get out of the inning.

Relaying the momentum into the ninth, Bowen tossed a perfect frame, striking out Rafael Valdes and Matt Szczur, and retiring Logan Watkins on a groundout to first.

Bowen’s first save of the season nailed down the win for Miracle starter Logan Darnell (7-1). Darnell held the Cubs to just three hits through the first six innings and didn’t allow a run until the seventh. He improved to 5-1 in games started after a Miracle loss.

The Miracle picked up runs in each of the middle three innings to build a 5-0 lead into the seventh. Aaron Hicks struck first in the fourth inning with a solo home run off Cubs starter Brett Wallach.

They added another run in the fifth when James Beresford singled through the right side on a first-pitch fastball from Wallach. Steve Liddle, who led off the inning with a base hit, trotted home.

In the sixth, the Miracle posted three runs on four hits while sending nine hitters to the plate. Anderson Hidalgo picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly, Beresford earned a bases-loaded walk and Jamaal Hawkins drove in a run with an infield single.

The Cubs came roaring back in the top of the seventh, stringing five two-out hits together off Darnell and reliever Brad Stillings with Rafael Valdes smashing a two-run base hit to cut the lead down to 5-3.

Wallach (3-4) was the losing pitcher for the Cubs after lasting 5 2/3 innings and giving up seven hits and five runs.

The Miracle (11-10, 45-46) host the Cubs (10-11, 57-34) for the last game of their four-game series Saturday night at Hammond Stadium.

First pitch is expected at 6:05 p.m.