Cardinals Swept by Tortugas in Wednesday Double Header
The Palm Beach Cardinals (14-9) dropped both games of their double header against the Daytona Tortugas (14-9) losing by scores of 2-1 in game one and 1-0 in game two on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. It was the first time that the Cardinals have lost the first
The Palm Beach Cardinals (14-9) dropped both games of their double header against the Daytona Tortugas (14-9) losing by scores of 2-1 in game one and 1-0 in game two on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. It was the first time that the Cardinals have lost the first two games of a series in 2024.
In game one, the Cardinals got on the scoreboard first. In the bottom of the first inning, Sammy Hernandez was hit by a pitch with one out. After Kade Kretzschmar hit a single to put runners at the corners, Jose Cordoba drove in Hernandez with an RBI single to make it 1-0 in favor of Palm Beach.
Daytona responded immediately in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Carter Graham hit a double and Ricardo Cabrera followed up with a two-run home run to left field to take the 2-1 lead.
That would be all the scoring in game one as both pitching staffs held off the offenses giving Daytona the series opening victory. Cardinals starting pitcher Juan Salas (L, 1-1) suffered his first loss of 2024 and surrendered a season-high two earned runs over four innings. Augusto Calderon fired three scoreless innings out of the Palm Beach bullpen. Cordoba finished game one by going 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the way for Palm Beach.
Game two was a pitchers duel as both teams were held scoreless through the first six innings. Palm Beach starting pitcher Darlin Saladin pitched a season-high six innings on the mound and gave up no runs on just three hits while tying a season-high nine strikeouts in a no-decision.
Gustavo Rodriguez (L, 0-1) came in to pitch the top of the seventh inning for Palm Beach. With one out, Esmith Pineda hit a double and Carlos Sanchez drew a walk. Later, with runners at the corners, Johnny Ascanio hit a sacrifice fly to break the scoreless ballgame taking a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals had the game-tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh inning but could not get a run home and were shutout by the Tortugas 1-0 in game two. Lizandro Espinoza led Palm Beach hitters by going 2-for-3 in game two.
With both losses, Palm Beach and Daytona end the night tied for second place in the FSL East division.
The series between Palm Beach and Daytona continues on Thursday, May 2nd with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Click here to purchase your tickets. Click here to become a member of the Thirsty Thursday program.
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.