Late Home Run Allowed Gives Jupiter 5-4 Loss to Palm Beach Thursday Night 

JUPITER, FL – Despite a late comeback for the Jupiter Hammerheads (8-10), they could not do it again as the Palm Beach Cardinals (11-7) used a Deniel Ortiz two-run home run in the top of the ninth to claim the 5-4 victory on Thursday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

The first inning of games has been the key for Palm Beach this season and struck first in Thursday’s contest. After Jonathan Mejia led off the game with a single, two batters later Cade McGee blooped an RBI double to right field to give the Cardinals the early 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning on three hits, including an RBI groundout from Luis Pino and an RBI single from Sammy Hernandez to give Palm Beach a 3-0 lead.

Jupiter starting pitcher Walin Castillo finished second with four innings pitched and allowed three runs on six hits and recorded one strikeout.

The Hammerheads finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning. Andrew Salas led off with his first professional triple and Andres Valor followed up with a walk. After Valor stole second base, Dillon Head drove in Salas after he reached on an error. Valor scored later in the frame to cut the Jupiter deficit at 3-2.

Both bullpens did their jobs as the score remained until the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out, Julio Henriquez and Nixon Chirinos hit a single and walked respectively. Then, Jesus Hernandez got them both home on his two-RBI double which gave the Hammerheads their first lead of the game at 4-3 after the eighth inning.

However, the Cardinals did not go down without a fight. With Juan Reynoso (L, 0-2; BS, 1) out of the Jupiter bullpen for the save, he issued a leadoff walk to Sammy Hernandez. Then, Deniel Ortiz smacked a go-ahead, two-run home run off of the left field foul pole to put Palm Beach on top again at 5-4. The Hammerheads could not make another comeback attempt in the ballgame and Palm Beach secured the 5-4 victory to take the 2-1 series lead.

Despite the loss, Jupiter relief pitcher Luke Lashutka tossed a perfect inning in the top of the fifth and Michael Perez followed Lashutka with three scoreless frames and four strikeouts in his return to the Hammerheads prior to the game.

On offense, Salas finished 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. Henriquez and Head each had two hits to lead the Hammerheads.

The “Fins vs. Feathers” matchup continues into the weekend as game four of this six-game series takes place on Friday, April 25^th with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. It is the first “Dog Day” of the 2025 season as all fans can bring their dog to the ballpark and enjoy the ballgame with their furry best friend. Click here to purchase your tickets.

Fans can also purchase the “Friday Family 4-Pack” for $50 which gets you four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, and a bucket of popcorn.

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.