FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Dunedin Edges Palm Beach in Series Opener

Published on May 12, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


Jupiter, FL - Michael Mayers tossed seven strong innings but the Palm Beach Cardinals couldn't keep up with the Dunedin Blue Jays, falling 4-2 on Monday night at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals have lost four straight games.

Mayers got off to a shaky start in the series opener with the Jays, but the right-hander got better and better as the night went on. Mayers allowed two runs in the first inning - created by an RBI double off the bat of Matt Newman and another RBI hit from Emilio Guerrero - to go up 2-0.

The only other Blue Jay runs in the game came on a throwing error by David Washington in the fourth and a Dalton Pompey solo home run off the right field foul pole in the fifth.

Mayers finished strong with nine straight outs following the home run. Overall, he went seven innings, scattered eight hits, surrendered four runs (three earned), walked one and struck out two. Mayers (2-4) notched his fourth quality start of the year in the loss.

The Cardinals (16-21) answered the Blue Jays' two-run first with a run of their own. Charlie Tilson and David Washington each singled before a Starlin Rodriguez RBI double down the left field line brought in the first Palm Beach run and cut the Dunedin lead to 2-1.

The call and answer pattern continued in the fourth inning. After the Blue Jays went up 3-1 in the inning, Bruce Caldwell drove a double to right field and touched home when Casey Rasmus snuck a single through the left side of the infield.

The 3-2 score didn't hold long as Pompey's blast in the fifth made it 4-2 which was good enough for the Jays to get the victory.

Corey Baker did his part in relief of Mayers, tossing two scoreless innings with only one walk allowed.

But the league's best pitching unit flexed its muscles on Monday night and kept the Palm Beach bats quiet the rest of the way.

Kendall Graveman (1-1) earned the win after going five innings with two earned runs. Graveman scattered six hits, walked one and struck out two in the game.

Efrain Nieves, Wil Browning, and Arik Sikula combined for four scoreless innings out of the Dunedin bullpen to preserve the victory. Sikula notched his league-leading 11th save with a perfect ninth.

The Cardinals had chances to even the score throughout the game but stranded eight runners - four more than the Blue Jays - despite equaling Dunedin's hit total (8).

Palm Beach will look to end the losing skid on Tuesday night in game two against Dunedin. RH Nick Petree (1-0, 1.29) will start for the Cards opposite RH Taylor Cole (3-0, 2.50) for the Jays. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. The game will broadcast live on PalmBeachCardinals.com.

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Florida State League Stories from May 12, 2014


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