Dodgers drop game one

Published on September 7, 2005 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Vero Beach Devil Rays News Release


Matt Kemp's first inning homer gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead, but the Palm Beach Cardinals came back to beat Vero Beach 4-3 in the opening game of a 3-game playoff series. The Dodgers must now win Games 2 and 3 at home to advance in the post-season. Danny Muegge (8-2, 3.38) will start for the Dodgers Wednesday night at 7:00 PM at Holman Stadium. The Dodgers took the early lead went Kemp hit a majestic home run to left-center. Jimmy Rohan and Blake DeWitt had each singled ahead of him with one out to set up the 3-run home run. However, Cardinals starter Mike Parisi settled down and allowed just four hits over his last six innings.

Two of the those hits came during his final frame in the seventh. Anthony Raglani doubled to right-center with two outs. Rohan followed with a base hit to right and Raglani tried to score. However, Palm Beach right fielder Terry Evans threw him out at the plate of the final out of the inning. Rohan turned out to be the Dodgers final baserunner as relievers Anthony Rawson and Mark Worrell each worked perfect innings.

Dodgers starter Brian Pilkington began by retiring the first nine Cardinals he faced. Tyler Greene drew a leadoff walk in the fourth to break the string, then Andy Schutzenhofer stroked a single to right. Following a pop out, Brian Martin singled in the Cards' first run and Tony McQuade's center field base hit brought in the second to pull the Cardinals within one run. Pilkington rallied to strike out the next batter and coax a fly out to end the inning.

Palm Beach took over the lead in the sixth. Martin doubled with one out and took third on a wild pitch. McQuade was intentionally walked to set up a double play, but Pilkington hit the next batter to load the bases. Mike McCoy then reached on an infield single to short that scored the tying run. One pop out later, Jarrett Hoffpauir reached on a nearly identical infield hit that brought in the lead runner.

Game Two of the series is set for a 7:00 PM start at Holman Stadium Wednesday night. If the Dodgers win, the final game of the series will also be in Vero Beach Thursday night at 7:00 PM. It would also be the Dodgers first playoff win since 1997 when the team advanced to the Florida State League Championship Series.

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Florida State League Stories from September 7, 2005


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