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Palm Beach Cardinals

Homer in ninth beats Cards; series tied at one apiece

September 8, 2005 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


VERO BEACH, FL - The immediate future of the Palm Beach Cardinals will be decided on Thursday.

With the Cardinals leading 1-0 heading to the bottom of the ninth, Blake DeWitt hit a three-run home run off Mark Worrell to give the Dodgers the win and force a decisive Game Three on Thursday night.

Worrell, who came on with two outs in the eighth, walked pinch-hitter Xavier Paul to start the ninth. Cole Bruce dropped a sacrifice bunt to third, but Mike McCoy made an errant throw, putting runners on first and third with no one out.

Worrell (0-1) then got A.J. Ellis to chase a slider in the dirt for the first out. The next batter, Jamie Hoffman, hit one on the ground to Andy Schutzenhofer at first base, who fired home to cut down the potential tying run for the second out.

DeWitt then stepped to the dish, and what ensued was a classic battle between he and Worrell. The count reached 3-2, and DeWitt proceeded to foul off seven straight pitches. On the eighth pitch, DeWitt hit a towering fly ball to right field that just kept carrying, landing a few feet passed Terry Evans who was in position to make the leaping catch against the wall if needed.

The Cardinals managed only two hits on the night against the Dodgers' staff, scoring their run on a two-out single by Brian Martin in the sixth off starter Danny Muegge. Muegge last 6 2/3 innings and struck out four while walking three.

Eric Haberer was brilliant for the Cardinals. He gave up just four hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out six. He walked four Dodgers, but was able to get the big outs when needed. Haberer left the game in the seventh with two runners on, but Rich Scalamandre came on and got the Cardinals out of the inning without any damage.

Both teams' bullpens were solid in the eighth, and that led to the dramatics in the ninth.

While the Dodgers celebrated at home plate, the Cardinals made the slow walk toward the clubhouse beyond the right field fence in disbelief. On Thursday night, they hope to reverse the roles.

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