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Palm Beach Cardinals

Cardinals Squeeze By Stone Crabs, 5-4

June 18, 2012 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


The Palm Beach Cardinals (31-34) squandered away a lead late in the game, but utilized a squeeze bunt to bring across the winning run in the ninth and hold off the Charlotte Stone Crabs (27-38), 5-4.

The Cardinals got off to a good start, as they received a lucky bounce to score their first run of the game. Rainel Rosario struck out in the top of the first, which would have been the last out, but the ball trickled away and Rosario reached first. With a runner on first, Chris Edmondson tripled off of Kyle Farnsworth to bring in the first run of the game.

In the top of the second, the Cardinals scored two more runs. Luis De La Cruz reached first on a walk and was promptly tripled in by Nick Longmire to make it 2-0. Newly acquired Travis Rahmatulla made his presence felt early, hitting a sacrifice fly to score Longmire and push the lead to 3-0.

The Stone Crabs did not go away easy, scoring a run in the second and fourth to cut the lead within one. In the second, the Stone Crabs took advantage of fielding error to score on ground ball double play by Chris Murrill, while in the fourth they scored on another double play ground out, making it 3-2.

The Cardinals answered in the top of the fifth, as Starlin Rodriguez doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Mike O'Neill would drive in Rodriguez with a deep sacrifice fly to left field to make it 4-2.

Scott McGregor (0-0) was strong in his second appearance of the season, tossing five innings, allowing one earned run and striking out two. He was in line for the victory, but the bullpen let it slip away in the bottom of the eighth.

Reliever Scott Schneider gave up back-to-back singles to start the frame. The Cardinals would commit their third error of the game, allowing to load the bases for Lucas Bailey. Bailey lined out for the first out, but Murrill delivered with an RBI single. The Stone Crabs would tie it up on a sacrifice fly by Hector Guevara, before Dean Kiekhefer came in to stop the damage.

The Cardinals would not be denied in the top of the ninth, using two bunts to push a run across and take a 5-4 lead. Ronny Gil walked to leadoff and was bunted over by Longmire. After a single by Rahmatulla, Starlin Rodriguez squeezed to push across Gil. The Beach Birds had a chance to score again, but All-Star Chris Rearick held them to only one run.

It would not matter, as Kiekhefer (2-1) would close it out and pick up his second victory of the season.

Rodriguez led the Cardinals attack with a 2-for-5 night and the game winning RBI squeeze bunt. The Cardinals had contributions for everyone, as all but one starter had one hit on the night.

The Cardinals return to action tomorrow night at Charlotte Sports Park at 6:30 p.m. for game two of this three game set. Anthony Ferrara Jr. (4-4) will take the ball for the Beach Birds, as the try and make it four in a row.

For more information on the Palm Beach Cardinals, Class-A Advanced affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, please call (561) 775-1818 or visit www.palmbeachcardinals.com. For tickets and more information regarding Roger Dean Stadium, please visit www.rogerdeanstadium.com.

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