Villarroel's Walk-Off Single Gives Palm Beach 4-3 Win over Tampa

JUPITER, FL - The Palm Beach Cardinals (28-20) win in walk-off fashion for the second consecutive day over the Tampa Tarpons (18-30) winning by a final score of 4-3 on Thursday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. It is the fourth walk-off win of the season for Palm Beach with four different players contributing the game-winning RBIs in each of those contests. The win streak extends to three games after taking the first three games of the series and Palm Beach stays in first place in the FSL East Division.

After Palm Beach starting pitcher Ixan Henderson sat down the Tarpons in order in the top of the first inning, the Cardinals got to work offensively in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Sammy Hernandez and Miguel Villarroel hit back-to-back singles. Kade Kretzschmar followed them with a two-RBI double down the left field line to give the Cardinals the early lead. Kretzschmar later scored on a wild pitch and a throwing error from Tampa catcher Edinson Duran to Palm Beach the 3-0 lead after the first.

Tampa started slowly coming back in the ballgame. The Tarpons got on the board in the top of the third inning after Tomas Frick scored on a fielder's choice and a throwing error by Villarroel to make it 3-1. Later, in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded, Willy Montero hit an RBI infield single to cut the Palm Beach lead to 3-2. In the very next inning, with runners at first and second base, George Lombard Jr. hit a long RBI single to left field to even the score at 3-3.

After Luis Gastelum (W, 3-0) came out of the Cardinals' bullpen with the bases loaded and struck out Dylan Jasso to preserve the 3-3 tie, the Cardinals went up to bat with a walk-off victory in sight. Lizandro Espinoza led off the frame with a single. Two batters later, Hernandez hit his second single of the day putting runners at first and third base. Villarroel would send the fans home happy as he hit a walk-off RBI single to right field to secure the 4-3 win on Thursday night.

Five different Cardinals hitters had at least two hits with the team finishing with 12 hits in the ballgame. Villarroel continues to lead the Florida State League in both batting average (.350) and hits (63) as he has hit in 17 of his last 18 games. Kretzschmar led the Cardinals with two RBIs.

Game four of this six-game series between Palm Beach and Tampa continues on Friday, May 31st with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Click here to purchase your tickets.

Specialty Golf Night jerseys are being auctioned now with the deadline set for June 22nd at 8:00 p.m. Click here to submit your bids with proceeds benefitting First Tee Palm Beaches.

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.