Cardinal Bats Explode Late in Win Over Jupiter

The Palm Beach Cardinals offense seamlessly added runs in the late innings of Thursday night's game against the Jupiter Hammerheads at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. They turned a run-one cushion into an eight-run margin in just the seventh and eighth innings on their way to an 8-1 victory.

Starting pitcher Trent Baker also earned his first win of the year, tossing seven shutout frames, striking out eight, and allowing just two hits and no walks on the night. The righty finished the appearance with 87 total pitches and capped his showing with a trio of strikeouts in the seventh.

Make that 8 Ks after Baker strikes out the side in the seventh! https://t.co/LNjvdV0G8f pic.twitter.com/Waw7XZy4cq

— Palm Beach Cardinals (@GoPBCardinals) April 28, 2022

The Cardinals opened the scoring with a Ryan Holgate triple in the third inning. Palm Beach would hang a five-spot in the seventh. Luis Rodriguez's RBI ground-rule double was the first run of the inning, before the catcher would score later in the frame off a Tyler Reichenborn single, a base knock that also drove home Holgate. Reichenborn and Osvaldo Tovalin also notched RBIs in the seventh.

We hang 5⃣ in inning 7⃣!

It's now 6-0 #BeachBirds as we head to the ⬇️8⃣ pic.twitter.com/TdeauIxKWZ

— Palm Beach Cardinals (@GoPBCardinals) April 29, 2022

Palm Beach then added runs in the eighth on a Reichenborn bases-loaded walk and a Tovalin line drive single. The Hammerheads would score in the ninth off a sacrifice fly.

All nine Cardinals in the starting lineup reached base on Wednesday. Tovalin went 3-5 with two RBIs. Holgate and second baseman Franklin Soto each went 2-4. Reichenborn was also 2-4 with a trio of RBIs. And Ramon Mendoza walked twice in the leadoff spot.

Palm Beach now holds a 2-1 series lead over Jupiter in the six-game series at RDCS. The teams are back in action tomorrow with Zane Mills slated to start the 6:30 p.m. first pitch.

For Thursday's final box, click here.