Jupiter, FL - The Palm Beach Cardinals (33-21) took advantage of a five-run second inning to propel to an 8-1 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle (26-30).Connor Jones (4-3, 3.99 ERA) got the start for the Cardinals and looked sharp early as he picked up his fourth win of the
Jupiter, FL - The Palm Beach Cardinals (33-21) took advantage of a five-run second inning to propel to an 8-1 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle (26-30).
Connor Jones (4-3, 3.99 ERA) got the start for the Cardinals and looked sharp early as he picked up his fourth win of the season for Palm Beach. He got through the first inning giving up one single, but got out of it with a strikeout. In the second inning, it looked like he was going to get into trouble as he gave up back-to-back singles to Bradley Strong and Sean Miller, but on Miller's single to right field, Strong tried to get to third from first and Austin Wilson delivered a bullet to third for the first out and to kill the rally. Jones got out of the inning unscathed by getting a ground out and a strikeout to keep it a scoreless game.
In the bottom of the second, the Beach Birds took advantage of the momentum from Wilson's throw and grabbed a 5-0 lead. Leobaldo Pina led off the inning with a walk and got to third on a Blake Drake double. Luke Dykstra hit a double of his own to drive in Pina and Drake. José Godoy singled as well to put Dykstra at third and got to second on the throw to third. Darren Seferina hit a ball to the first baseman that he misplayed and allowed Dykstra and Godoy to cross the plate. Tommy Edman hit a double through the right side and scored Seferina to give the Cardinals the early 5-0 lead.
The top of the fourth, Jones looked to be in trouble again as Zander Wiel hit a single to start the inning. The next batter in the fourth was Trey Vavra, he took a 1-2 pitch to deep left-centerfield, but Drake ran it down and caught the ball before crashing into the wall.
Palm Beach added to their lead in the bottom half of the fourth to make it 6-0. Tommy Edman hit a triple after Darren Seferina reached on a two-out walk. The triple was Edman's second extra base hit of the game.
Jones got to the fifth unscathed, but started to tire in the frame. Jones hit Alex Perez with one out, walked Daniel Kihle, and gave up a single to Justin Hazard. Jones then got Max Murphy to strike out swinging for the second out. With Nelson Molina at the plate, Jones threw a wild pitch to allow Perez to come home and make it a 6-1 game. He then got Molina to strike out to end the inning.
Brennan Leitao threw 1.2 innings of scoreless ball and gave over to Ross Vance with a left-handed batter at the plate and got a strikeout to end the top of the seventh. Dailyn Martinez pitch a scoreless eigth to keep it a 6-1 game.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Cardinals added two more runs to their lead. Edman singled and came around on a Randy Arozarena double. Arozarena came in to score on a Chris Chinea single and gave the Cardinals the 8-1 lead.
Martinez pitched a flawless ninth with two strikeouts to preserve the 8-1 victory over the Miracle.
The Cardinals and the Miracle will play game two of four tomorrow at 1:00 EST. LHP Lachlan Wells will go for the Miracle and the Cardinals will give the start to RHP Jake Woodford.
