FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Helisek Puts up Zeros in Palm Beach Victory

Published on May 22, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


Jupiter, FL - Kyle Helisek tossed a seven-inning gem and the Palm Beach Cardinals used a balanced attack on offense to earn a 7-1 victory over the Brevard County Manatees on Thursday morning at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals have taken all three games from the 'Tees in the series heading into Friday night's finale.

Helisek came a few short inches away from taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Brevard shortstop Orlando Arcia placed a bunt down in the fourth inning and narrowly beat the throw from Ildemaro Vargas for the only hit allowed by Helisek on the day. Vargas nearly made a sensational play to get the out, but the throw was just far enough off line to pull Luke Voit off the bag.

Helisek (2-2) finished the game with just one hit and one walk allowed over a season-high seven innings pitched. The southpaw pitched to contact, inducing nine groundouts and seven flyouts while not recording a strikeout. After Arcia's bunt single in the fourth, Helisek retired 12 straight before Kyle Barraclough relieved him for the eighth inning.

The Cardinals (21-26) spread the wealth at the plate on the afternoon as seven players combined for the team's eight hits. Seven players tallied a run in the game and Palm Beach's six RBI were split between five Cardinals. Vargas picked up two hits and Breyvic Valera drove in a pair of runs to pace the offense.

Two newcomers to Palm Beach helped the Birds jump out to a 2-0 lead after two frames. Voit and Luis Perez each smacked RBI singles to help the Cardinals score a run in each of the first two innings. Valera drew a leadoff walk in the first and Vargas singled to start the second to represent the first two Palm Beach runs.

Palm Beach broke the game open with five runs in the sixth inning to pad its lead to 7-0. The Cardinals recorded five hits in the inning, highlighted by David Washington's RBI double down the right field line and Valera's two-RBI single to the opposite field. The Redbirds also capitalized on two Manatee errors in the inning.

Barraclough allowed the only Brevard County run by allowing three hits in the eighth inning. Barraclough struck out the side before Josh Lucas entered in the ninth to close out the game.

Hobbs Johnson (4-5) was hit for six runs - four earned - on five hits over five innings and took the loss for the Manatees (23-22).

Palm Beach and Brevard County will play the final game of the four-game series on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. RH Silfredo Garcia (0-1, 5.40) will make his second professional start for the Cardinals against RH Tyler Wagner (3-2, 1.76) for the 'Tees. The game will be broadcast live on PalmBeachCardinals.com.

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Florida State League Stories from May 22, 2014


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