FSL Palm Beach Cardinals

Cardinals Steal Lead in Eighth to Defeat St. Lucie

June 22, 2022 - Florida State League (FSL)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


Down to their final six outs, the Palm Beach Cardinals scored three runs in the eighth inning to take a 4-2 lead over the St. Lucie Mets Wednesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

But relief pitcher Hayes Heinecke was forced to strand the tying runners in scoring position one frame later before the Cardinals could celebrate their second straight win this series, after a Gregory Guerrero two-out ground-rule double kept the 1,136 fans at the edge of their seats in Jupiter. The southpaw retired leadoff batter Alex Ramirez an at-bat later, however, and the Cardinals clinched their fourth consecutive win over the Mets dating back to May.

Center fielder Matt Chamberlain was the tying run in the penultimate inning for Palm Beach, scoring from third base on a wild pitch. First baseman Brady Whalen would give the home team the lead in the exact same fashion later in the inning to tie the game, before the Beach Birds claimed an insurance run off the bat of Sander Mora with two outs.

Chamberlain was also Palm Beach's first run, when designated hitter Aaron McKeithan singled in the sixth to cut St. Lucie's initial 2-0 lead in half. For the second straight night, McKeithan led Palm Beach offensively, going 2-3 with an RBI.

One week after the Cardinals no-hit Clearwater on the road, the Palm Beach pitching staff put together a combined two-hitter against the Florida State League East Division leaders on Wednesday. Tink Hence allowed one hit and two runs over two and 2/3 innings, while Alfredo Ruiz, Griffin Roberts, Chris Holba and Jack Ralston teamed up to keep the Mets otherwise hitless through the sixth. Heinecke struck out five Mets across three frames batters while allowing the other hit on his way to earning the win.

The Cardinals will look to win their third in a row Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. It will be Thirsty Thursday at RDCS, with $1, $2 and $3 beer specials! Former NFL running back Terry Kirby will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, alongside cornhole partner Rosie Streker!

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Florida State League Stories from June 22, 2022


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