Hammerheads Hold On to Win 11-10 Slugfest Against St. Lucie Tuesday Afternoon

JUPITER, FL - In a back-and-forth series opening game, the Jupiter Hammerheads (32-26) held on to defeat the St. Lucie Mets (19-39) by a final score of 11-10 on Tuesday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Hammerheads tallied a season-high 15 hits in the ballgame and also hit two home runs at home for the first time since Opening Night on April 5th in a 6-5 loss to the Palm Beach Cardinals in 10 innings. Jupiter trails the Palm Beach Cardinals by a half game in the FSL East Division standings.

After a brief delay due to wet grounds, the Mets got right to work offensively in the top of the first inning off of Hammerheads' starting pitcher Julio Mendez. Ronald Hernandez knocked in the game's first run on an RBI single and two batters later Colin Houck hit an RBI groundout to give St. Lucie the early 2-0 lead.

The Hammerheads provided an immediate response in the bottom of the frame. With runners at the corners and one out, Brock Vradenburg hit an RBI double down the left field line. Jesus Hernandez followed that with an RBI single of his own and Vradenburg would score on a wild pitch which gave Jupiter a 3-2 lead after one inning.

St. Lucie answered back with two more runs in the top of the second inning which was also greeted with more runs for the Hammerheads in the bottom half. After Junior Sanchez hit a leadoff triple, Colby Shade tied the game at 4-4 on a sacrifice fly. Two batters later with a man at first base, Ryan Ignoffo smacked his third home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center field, to give Jupiter the lead right back at 6-4.

After St. Lucie tallied another run in the top of the third, the Hammerheads bat kept on hammering away. With two runners on base to start the bottom of the third inning, Angelo DiSpigna launched his third home run of the season, a three-run blast to center field, to give Jupiter a 9-5 lead.

Mendez finished his start with 3 1/3 innings pitched, a season-high five earned runs on seven hits, with three walks and four strikeouts in a no-decision. Collin Lowe (W, 5-2) was the first reliever out of the Jupiter bullpen and after five batters retired in a row from the fourth and fifth innings, the Hammerheads added another run thanks to a Vradenburg RBI single which put the Hammerheads at double-digits with a 10-5 lead. Lowe finished with 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief with no hits, no walks, and four strikeouts.

Both teams would settle the offenses down through the top of the eighth inning with zeroes on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs, John Cruz hit a single to right field and advanced to second base on an error. Two batters later, DiSpigna added his fourth RBI of the game with a single to center field to give Jupiter an 11-5 lead into the ninth inning.

The Mets made it close in the top of the ninth inning as they sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs, including a two-run home run from Colin Houck, but the Hammerheads held on at the end and would win the series opener by a final score of 11-10.

Eight of the nine starters in the Jupiter lineup had at least one hit and seven of them had at least two hits. DiSpigna led the ballgame with four RBIs in a 2-for-5 day at the plate. Ignoffo also went 2-for-4 with the home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Diego Infante, who is here on a minor league rehab assignment, also went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, and two runs scored.

The series continues on Wednesday, June 12th with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for the second edition of Hope At-Bat across Minor League Baseball in partnership with the American Cancer Society to raise awareness for prostate cancer. $100 will be donated by MiLB to the American Cancer Society for every home run hit across Minor League Baseball on Wednesday, June 12th.

MEGABASH: Celebrate America’s birthday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for MegaBash on July 3^rd and 4^th when the Palm Beach Cardinals and Jupiter Hammerheads hit the diamond. Click here to purchase tickets for Wednesday, July 3^rd. Click here to purchase tickets for the July 4th game. Don’t miss the biggest bash in Abacoa with fireworks going off after both games!

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.