FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Big First Inning Propels Cards to Series Sweep

May 4, 2014 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


Jupiter, FL - The Palm Beach Cardinals struck quickly with five first-inning runs and never looked back, beating the Fort Myers Miracle 10-3 on Saturday night at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals took all three games in the series to claim their first three-game sweep of the season.

David Washington started the run rampage in the first with a two-RBI double off the wall in deep center field. Alex Mejia reached on an error and Jacob Wilson slapped a single through the left side of the infield to get into position for Washington. Breyvic Valera and Casey Rasmus each recorded RBI singles and Starlin Rodriguez capitalized on an Alex Wimmers wild pitch to make it 5-0 before all was said and done in the inning.

Rasmus, Valera, and Wilson combined to go 6-for-12 at the plate with two RBI and five runs scored on the night.

The five-run cushion proved to be more than enough for Palm Beach starter Kyle Helisek. The lefty earned his third quality start of the year by scattering five hits and allowing two runs over six innings of work. Helisek (1-1), who owns the seventh best ERA in the league at 1.88, walked four and fanned three on his way to his first winning decision of the season.

Fort Myers (16-13) got on the board with one run in the third and fifth innings, but the Cardinals (13-16) answered each time. Ildemaro Vargas sent a rocket to the right field corner for a double in the bottom of the third inning to plate Rasmus and make it 6-1. Rodriguez connected for an RBI groundout in the sixth to pad the Cardinals' lead to 7-2.

The Miracle cut their deficit to 7-3 in the eighth inning but Anthony Garcia was quick to respond for the Cardinals yet again. With two outs in the frame, Valera and Rodriguez both beat out infield singles to extend the inning and give Garcia a chance at the dish. Garcia rewarded them for their hustle with a line drive home run to left field on the first pitch he saw from Madison Boer. The three-run blast was Garcia's sixth long ball of the season and second in as many days.

A new face to the Palm Beach roster, William Anderson, was able to preserve the 10-3 victory for the Birds. Anderson who was just called up to Palm Beach on Saturday, made a great debut with three solid innings to finish the game. He allowed one run on four hits in three innings and struck out four to close the door on the sweep and earn the three-inning save.

Wimmers (2-1) was hit for six runs - three earned - over 3.2 innings and got pegged with the loss for Fort Myers.

The Cardinals and Jupiter Hammerheads start round two of the 2014 Fins and Feathers Series at Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Palm Beach will look to right the ship after being swept in the first three-game series from April 28-30. LH Marco Gonzales (1-1, 1.90) will start for the Cardinals against RH Austin Brice (2-2, 5.24) for the Hammerheads. The game will be broadcast live on PalmBeachCardnials.com and first pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.

Check out the Palm Beach Cardinals Statistics



Florida State League Stories from May 4, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central