Hammerheads Come Back Against Cardinals with 6-4 Win to Split Series

In a back and forth ballgame, the Jupiter Hammerheads (21-12) would finish the come back to earn a series split with the Palm Beach Cardinals (18-15) with a 6-4 victory in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. With the win, Jupiter maintains its first place position in the FSL East Division.

The Cardinals got the scoring started in the ballgame against Jupiter starting pitcher Jake Brooks. With one out, Johnfrank Salazar hit a double followed by Brayden Jobert reaching on an error charged to Brock Vradenburg at first base. Chase Adkison drove in the game's first run on an RBI groundout and then Trey Paige hit an RBI single to give Palm Beach the early 2-0 lead. Both of those runs were unearned for Brooks.

Jupiter responded two innings later in the bottom of the fourth inning off of Palm Beach starting pitcher Chen-Wei Lin. With one out, Ryan Ignoffo hit a double. Later in the frame with two outs and the bases loaded, Yeral Martinez drew a bases loaded walk to cut the deficit to 2-1.

However, the Cardinals would get the run back in the top of the fifth inning with Lizandro Espinoza scoring from third base on a wild pitch from Brooks to make it 3-1 in favor of Palm Beach.

It was not long before Jupiter would climb their way back into the ballgame. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Vradenburg drew a walk and would come in to score thanks to a Colby Shade RBI double to knock Lin out of the ballgame and make it a 3-2 deficit. After a passed ball allowed Shade to advance to third base, John Cruz would hit an RBI groundout to tie the ballgame at 3-3 for his 12th RBI of the season.

Palm Beach was able to get the run back in the top of the seventh inning after Jordan McCants was charged with an error on a fielder's choice with Miguel Villarroel later coming into score on a passed ball charged to Ignoffo.

The bottom of the seventh inning proved to be the pivotal inning for Jupiter in the finale. Tony Bullard led off the inning being hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a balk. With one out, McCants hit a ground-rule double in right field off of Augusto Calderon (L, 1-4; BS, 3) to tie the ballgame once again at 4-4. The very next batter Jesus Hernandez hit an RBI single to give Jupiter its first lead at 5-4 scoring McCants. Two batters later with runners at the corners, Vradenburg provided the insurance run on a sacrifice fly to give the Hammerheads the 6-4 lead.

Jack Sellinger (Sv, 1) would come out of the Jupiter bullpen for the eighth and ninth innings and not allow a run earning his first save of the season and securing the series finale victory.

Brooks finished his start with 5 2/3 innings pitched, three runs but only one earned, and struck out five batters. Patrick Murphy (W, 2-0) went 1 1/3 innings pitched and allowed just one unearned run to earn the win. McCants finished his day 2-for-5 at the plate with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. It was his first multi-hit game since April 18th at Fort Myers and just his fourth multi-hit game of the season.

After the off day on Monday, Jupiter hits the road for the start of a six-game series beginning on Tuesday, May 14th against the Dunedin Blue Jays. The Hammerheads will return home on May 21st when they welcome the Tampa Tarpons for six games.

About Jupiter Stadium, LTD:

Opening in 1998, the 110-acre complex/stadium is specially designed to house two Major League and two Minor League Baseball Teams. The stadium is home to the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals for Spring Training. The Florida State League’s Jupiter Hammerheads (Class A Affiliate of the Miami Marlins) and Palm Beach Cardinals (Class A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals) make their home at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium from April through September. This year-round facility can accommodate the smallest birthday party to the largest corporate outing, while never forgetting that each and every fan is our most important product.