FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Cardinals Swept by Hammerheads

Published on April 30, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


Jupiter, FL - The Jupiter Hammerheads continued to fire on all cylinders, getting production at the plate while using excellent pitching to beat the Palm Beach Cardinals 5-3 on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Stadium. The Hammerheads swept the Cardinals in the three games - the first of 18 meetings between the clubs this season. Palm Beach has lost four straight games.

The Cardinals' eight and nine hitters had great nights at the plate. David Washington and Casey Rasmus each notched two hits with one double apiece on the night. After Starlin Rodriguez smacked a triple in the ninth inning, Washington doubled off the wall in left-center to start a late rally. Rasmus cut the Jupiter lead to 5-3 on a sacrifice fly in the inning, but the Cardinals couldn't come any closer.

The Hammerheads led off the first inning with five straight singles off Cardinals starter Joe Cuda to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Blake Barber and Ryan Goetz chipped in RBI hits in the third inning to increase the Jupiter advantage to 4-0.

Breyvic Valera began the fourth inning with a single and touched home later in the frame when Washington hit a line drive into right-center field. The RBI single cut the Palm Beach deficit to 4-1.

The Hammerheads padded their lead with another run on Cuda in the fifth inning to make it 5-1. Cuda forced an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded to get out of the inning without further damage.

Cuda's day was done after five innings. The right-hander allowed five runs on 12 hits, walked a pair, and tied a season-high with six strikeouts. He took the loss for the Beach Birds, dropping his season record to 0-4.

Iden Nazario struck out one and gave up one hit in two scoreless innings of relief, following Cuda. Nazario gave way to Sam Tuivailala for the eighth inning. Tuivailala made quick work of the Fins with three straight outs to keep the Jupiter lead at 5-1.

The Birds cut into the lead with the help of Rodriguez, Washington, and Rasmus in the ninth inning, but Joseph O'Gara came in for Brian Ellington with one out in the frame to close the door on any hope of a comeback. O'Gara's fourth save of the year preserved the win and gave Jupiter the three-game sweep.

Trevor Williams (3-3) was sharp in the start for Jupiter. He went seven strong innings, scattered seven hits, struck out seven, and allowed just one run to pick up the win for the Hammerheads.

The Cardinals will look to right the ship against the Fort Myers Miracle on Thursday night in the first of a three-game series at Roger Dean Stadium. RH Thomas Lee (1-2, 4.66) will start for Palm Beach against RH Jose Berrios (1-1, 3.60) for Fort Myers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from April 30, 2014


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