FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Cardinals Rally to Out-Slug Blue Jays 10-9

Published on June 2, 2011 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Palm Beach Cardinals (22-32) scored three times in the top of the eighth inning to defeat the Dunedin Blue Jays (29-25) by a final of 10-9 Thursday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

The two teams ended up combining for 19 runs, 27 hits and 10 extra-base hits. The 10 runs matched a season-high for the Cardinals while 16 hits came one shy of a season-high 17 back on May 17 against the Yankees. Palm Beach now leads the four-game series 2-1.

The two clubs started off by trading runs in the first inning, with a Rainel Rosario RBI-triple for the Cardinals and a Jon Talley sacrifice fly for the Blue Jays. Palm Beach then jumped out big the next frame, scoring four times on four hits and a walk.

Xavier Scruggs led off the second with a single and advanced to second on a Luis De La Cruz sacrifice bunt, followed by a walk to designated hitter Juan Castillo. Ted Obregon, in his first at-bat with Palm Beach in 2011, then struck a single to right to load the bases for D'Marcus Ingram, who singled home the Cards' second and third runs of the game. Ingram then stole second in advance of an Adam Melker RBI-groundout, followed by a run-scoring triple from Domnit Bolivar that capped the scoring and left the Cardinals with a seemingly comfortable 5-1 lead.

The game was far from over, however, as Dunedin rallied for a two-spot in the fourth thanks to three walks, a single, a wild pitch and a passed ball. Talley, who led off the frame with a walk, scored on a wild pitch from starter Justin Smith and Justin Jackson singled later in the frame to narrow the score to 5-3.

The D-Jays took the lead in the sixth with another four-run inning, matching the earlier outburst by the Cardinals in the second. Left-hander Tyler Lyons, who had come on to replace Smith the previous inning, allowed a leadoff single to Ivan Contreras and then committed a balk to advance him to second. After recording two outs, Adam Lind, on MLB rehab assignment from the Toronto Blue Jays, knocked a RBI-double to right to keep the inning alive for Talley to strike yet again, this time with a two-run triple to center. Brian Van Kirk added a RBI-single to give Dunedin a 7-5 lead after four.

Scruggs came right back in the next half-inning with a two-run homer, his fourth of the season and second in the last five games, to tie the game at 7-7. Castillo followed with a double and Obregon walked, but the Cardinals could do nothing more with the two-on, one-out opportunity.

Aaron Terry (2-3, 5.19 ERA) came on to relieve Lyons in the bottom of the frame and quickly loaded the bases before issuing a walk to give the Jays the lead once again. Terry got the second out of the inning before issuing yet another bases loaded walk, putting the Jays on top 9-7.

It turned out the Cardinals had one more big rally left in the tank, beginning with a leadoff single from Bolivar in the top of the eighth. Niko Vasquez followed one batter later with a single and, after a pitching change, Scruggs walked to load the bases. The two normal catchers then delivered in the clutch, with De La Cruz driving home one with a single and Castillo following with his second RBI-hit of the night to tie the game. Obregon then laid down the game winning bunt, scoring a speeding Scruggs from third, to put the Cardinals on top for good 10-9.

Jorge Rondon allowed a single but struck out two in the ninth to earn his sixth save of the season, third in his last three outings. Terry ended up with the win, allowing two earned runs off a hit and three walks in an inning of work. Keith Butler also added an inning of scoreless relief.

Blue Jays reliever Scott Gracy (0-1, 2.89 ERA) suffered the loss and also picked up a blown save, allowing three hits and one earned run over 1.2 innings.

Eight-of-nine Cardinals' starters recorded at least one hit and 8-of-9 also recorded at least one RBI. Scruggs led the way by going 3-for-4 with the home run and two RBI, while Bolivar and Rosario also added three hits apiece. Rosario has now gone 6-for-8 in the last two games with two doubles, a triple and one RBI.

Palm Beach looks to take 3-of-4 from the Blue Jays tomorrow night in the series finale from Dunedin. Right-hander Chad Jenkins (3-5, 2.79 ERA) will take the hill for the Blue Jays against a yet-to-be determined Cardinals starter. The spot in the rotation was previously occupied by Shelby Miller, who is scheduled to make his first start for Class-AA Springfield Friday night.

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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Florida State League Stories from June 2, 2011


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