Palm Beach Explodes Early in 9-2 Victory over Lakeland

The Palm Beach Cardinals (8-4) scored six runs in the first inning and three runs in the sixth inning to power them to victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers (8-4) by a final score of 9-2 Thursday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

After a scoreless top of the first inning for Lakeland, the Cardinals sent 11 men to the plate in the bottom of the frame. In the inning Palm Beach hitters only had two hits but drew three walks and were hit by a pitch twice. After Kade Kretzschmar drew a bases loaded walk to score the first run of the game, Trey Paige notched a two-RBI single to make it 3-0. Later in the frame, Sammy Hernandez doubled and drove in two more runs to give Palm Beach a 6-0 lead in what was his second plate appearance of the inning.

The game would settle down offensively for both clubs thanks in large part to Palm Beach starting pitcher Jason Savacool (W, 1-0) tossing five shutout innings with only three hits allowed and striking out five batters.

Fast forward to the bottom of the sixth inning where Palm Beach would cap off their scoring on the night. With one out, Hernandez hit a double followed by a Brayden Jobert single and a Jose Cordoba walk. Then, with the bases loaded, Ross Friedrick cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to make it a 9-0 Cardinals lead.

Lakeland would score their only two runs in the top of the seventh inning on a two-RBI triple from David Smith. It was not nearly enough runs as the Cardinals claimed the 9-2 victory on Thursday night.

Paige finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and now is 4-for-6 in the series. Hernandez also went 2-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored.

The series between the Palm Beach Cardinals and Lakeland Flying Tigers on Friday, April 19th with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Quinn Mathews (No. 21 STL Prospect on MLB Pipeline) will get the start for Palm Beach on the mound after earning Florida State League Pitcher of the Week honors last week. Click here to purchase your tickets and fans can also purchase a Friday Family 4-Pack at the ticket window for $50 which gets you four tickets, four sodas, four hot dogs, and a bucket of popcorn all included.

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.