Cardinals Take Rubber-Match Against Jupiter Saturday Night 5-1

JUPITER, FL - In the first rubber-match of the season, the Palm Beach Cardinals (46-34, 9-5) come back to defeat the Jupiter Hammerheads (42-39, 6-9) by a final score of 5-1 on Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. After a three-game sweep to begin July 4th week, the Cardinals take two out of three games to take a 10-5 "Dual of the Dean" season series lead.

Both teams were kept off the scoreboard through the first two innings of the game. However, Jupiter would get to work on offense in the top of the third inning off of Cardinals' starting pitcher Hunter Kublick (W, 2-1). With two outs and a runner at second base, Ryan Ignoffo hit an RBI single to centerfield to score Cristhian Rodriguez from second base and the Hammerheads took an early 1-0 lead.

Palm Beach provided a response on offense in the bottom of the fourth inning off of Jupiter starting pitcher Walin Castillo (L, 1-2). The Cardinals sent nine men to the plate and scored four runs highlighted by back-to-back RBI singles from Kade Kretzschmar and Sammy Hernandez and a sacrifice fly by Lizandro Espinoza as Palm Beach exploded to a 4-1 lead. The Hammerheads helped the Cardinals with three errors committed in the frame as well.

After the fourth inning, both teams settled down on offense with zeroes on the scoreboard. Kublick finished his start by tossing a season-high five innings and allowed just one run on five hits and struck out two batters.

The Cardinals capped off their scoring later in the ballgame in the bottom of the eighth inning. After a leadoff double by Hernandez, Brayden Jobert would slap a single to left field to provide Palm Beach with another insurance run to take a 5-1 lead. Augusto Calderon (Sv, 1) came out of the bullpen for Palm Beach and tossed four scoreless innings to secure the 5-1 victory and also the series victory for Palm Beach.

Palm Beach starting pitchers combined to allow just four runs in 36 innings pitched over the two three-game series this week against Jupiter. The Cardinals are now 10-3-3 in series this season. Offensively, Hernandez finished 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Noah Mendlinger, on a rehab assignment from Double-A Springfield, went 2-for-4 at the plate. Jobert led the Cardinals with two RBIs and Espinoza has recorded six RBIs in his last three games.

After two off days, Palm Beach will stay at home to host the Clearwater Threshers for six games beginning on Tuesday, July 9th with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in a battle of the two first-half division winners in the FSL.

Silver Sluggers Program: Want to beat every early-bird special in Palm Beach County? Fans 55 and up can click here to become a member of the Silver Sluggers program which gets you a ticket to every Wednesday Florida State League game, a chance to win prizes in baseball bingo, an official Silver Sluggers T-shirt, a team store discount, and a free hot dog and soda at the ballpark.

Thirsty Thursday: All fans 21 and up can click here to become a part of Thirsty Thursdays at The Dean. For $75, fans get a reserved box seat to every Thursday Florida State League game and a special koozie which gets you access to $1, $2, and $3 drink specials.

Kids Club: Kids can click here take part in the best entertainment deal in Palm Beach County. For $30, members receive tickets to every Saturday Florida State League game, a free hot dog and soda at the game, an official Kids Club T-shirt, a team store discount, and a chance to run the bases after the game.

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.