Enormous Eighth Helps Florida Eliminate Palm Beach, 5-2
June 27, 2019 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Florida Fire Frogs News Release
KISSIMMEE, FLA.: Kevin Josephina's RBI single in the eighth helped propel the Florida Fire Frogs past the Palm Beach Cardinals, 5-2, while snapping a five-game losing streak at Osceola County Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
In a 2-2 game in the bottom of the eighth, Trey Harris and Jefrey Ramos climbed aboard ahead of Josephina, who nailed a grounder past Cardinals first baseman Luken Baker into right to plate the go-ahead run. Zack Soria would add a two-run double two batters later against RHP C.J. Saylor to bump the lead to 5-2.
Harris drew two walks on Thursday, moving his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games. Ramos went 2-4, advancing his personal on-base streak to 11.
Saylor (2-3) gave up three hits and three runs in the eighth to take the loss.
Palm Beach got off to a strong start, capitalizing on a fielding miscue from Riley Delgado to bring in the first run. Baker reached on the error from Delly, enabling Chase Pinder to score for an early 1-0 Cardinals lead.
The Fire Frogs got a loud response from Jordan Rodgers in the second. He smacked a 408-foot blast off LHP Diego Cordero over the fence in left, scoring Drew Lugbauer with him, to push Florida into the lead for the first time, 2-1. That was the first homer hit by Rodgers since August 5 of last year against Fort Myers.
Lugbauer smacked two base hits and walked once. Rodgers added a single in the fourth.
The Cardinals battled back to tie the game at 2 in the fourth. Imeldo Diaz reached courtesy of a throwing error by Fire Frogs third baseman Derian Cruz, forcing Zack Gahagan across.
That was all the Fire Frogs staff would allow. RHP Matt Hartman tossed his second straight gem, yielding just two unearned runs, four hits, and two walks with 4 strikeouts across six frames. He threw 104 pitches, 63 of which were for strikes, setting a new career mark.
RHP Daysbel Hernandez (5-1) was a worthy winner, shutting out Palm Beach over two stanzas with four punchouts. RHP Kurt Hoekstra turned in a perfect ninth with two Ks to notch his fourth save.
LHP Diego Cordero didn't factor into the decision for Palm Beach, scattering seven hits and two runs in five innings of work. RHP Ramon Santos gave up two hits but no runs over six outs.
Andrew Moritz and Riley Delgado swatted four of the 12 Fire Frogs hits on the day. Florida improved to 8-2 this season when having 10-or-more hits in a contest.
NEXT UP: RHP Nolan Kingham (4-6, 4.75) hopes to start the club's longest road trip of the season off on a high note with a win against the Tampa Tarpons on Friday evening at Steinbrenner Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
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