Cardinals Take Game One Against Tortugas 8-3 on Tuesday Night
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals set the tone early and never looked back as they defeated the Daytona Tortugas by a final score of 8-3 in game one of the FSL East Divisional Round on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The Beach Birds’ bats immediately got to
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals set the tone early and never looked back as they defeated the Daytona Tortugas by a final score of 8-3 in game one of the FSL East Divisional Round on Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
The Beach Birds’ bats immediately got to work in the top of the first inning off of Daytona starting pitcher Dualvert Gutierrez (L, 0-1). After Bryce Madron drew a one-out walk, JJ Wetherholt, who turned 22 years old for game one, hit a two-run home run to left field to put the Cardinals on the board first to lead 2-0.
However, Palm Beach starting pitcher Jose Davila (W, 1-0) got attacked early in the bottom of the frame. Yerlin Confidan led off for Daytona and hit a solo home run to left field to give the Tortugas an immediate response and cut the Palm Beach lead to 2-1. It was the first home run that Davila allowed all season.
The Cardinals bounced back in the top of the second inning with three runs scored on five hits highlighted by a two-RBI double by Christian Martin and an RBI single by Madron to put Palm Beach up 5-1.
The Tortugas threatened in the next two frames but got one run across in the bottom of the third when Ryan McCrystal hit a blooped RBI single to left field to drive in Confidan to cut the lead to 5-2.
Guterriez finished with just two innings in the start and David Lorduy provided three scoreless innings of relief for the Tortugas. Davila grinded through a solid start and finished with five innings pitched and allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters.
The Cardinals capped off their scoring in the game with a big inning in the top of the sixth off of new Daytona pitcher Stephen Quigley. Jose Suarez led off the frame with a walk and Ryan Campos hit a single to put runners at first and second base and no outs. Then, Joshua Baez hit a hard ground ball through the right side of the infield which split the gap and resulted in a two-RBI triple. Baez later scored on a double play which put Palm Beach further ahead with a commanding 8-2 lead.
Michael Watson went a career-high 2 2/3 innings pitched for Palm Beach out of the bullpen and allowed just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts. Nolan Sparks went out for the bottom of the ninth inning on the mound for the Cardinals as the Tortugas provided some fight to close the game. Ariel Almonte led off the ninth inning with a walk, stole second base, and tagged up to third base on a flyout. With two outs, Almonte scored on a dropped-third strike of Carlos Sanchez who reached. However, Tortugas’ comeback was not enough as Palm Beach took game one of this three-game series by an 8-3 final score.
Eight of the starting nine Palm Beach hitters had at least one hit with Madron, Baez, and Ian Petrutz each having two hits. Eight of the nine Cardinals also scored a run with Wetherholt, Martin, and Baez each having two RBIs in a balanced team offense.
Game two of the FSL East Divisional Round takes place on Thursday, September 12th with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The reigning FSL Pitcher of the Month for August Chen-Wei Lin (10-5, 2.79 ERA) starts on the mound for Palm Beach against Nick Sando (6-2, 3.24 ERA) for Daytona. Click here to purchase your tickets. Listen live to the game here.
Fans can place bids on the Palm Beach Cardinals “Diamond in the Ruff” Dog Jerseys here with the deadline on Tuesday, September 17th at 8:00 p.m. Don’t miss out on your chance to wear special game-worn jerseys and support a good cause at Furry Friends.
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.