FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Palm Beach Bats Silenced in Series Opener

Published on August 9, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


Jupiter, FL - Steven Gruver, B.J. Hermsen and Brandon Peterson combined for a two-hit shutout and Adam Brett Walker clubbed his league-leading 24th home run of the year to lead the Fort Myers Miracle over the Palm Beach Cardinals 4-0 on Saturday night at Roger Dean Stadium. With a Bradenton loss to St. Lucie on Saturday, Palm Beach remains tied for first in the FSL South Division.

Walker hit a towering two-run shot to left-center field off Nick Petree in the first inning to help the Miracle jump out to a 2-0 lead. Byron Buxton singled prior to Walker's bomb, and touched home on the play.

Walker, the 2014 FSL Home Run Derby Champion, is running away with the league home run title. He has 10 more dingers (24) than the second place slugger.

The two-run cushion proved to be plenty for the Miracle (28-19, 69-47), who limited the Cardinals (29-19, 65-52) to their lowest hit total in a game since May 19 at Tampa. The Birds were one-hit in the 2-0 loss to the Yankees.

Nick Martini was the only Cardinal to get into scoring position in the entire game. The centerfielder singled and was stranded on third base in the sixth inning for what was the best run-scoring chance for Palm Beach on the night.

Ildemaro Vargas notched the only other Palm Beach hit - a single to left in the third inning.

Gruver (3-6) was credited with the win after giving up one hit over five innings to start the game for the Miracle. He walked two and fanned three.

Hermsen and Peterson combined to get the final 12 outs and fanned four in the shutout.

Petree (5-4) allowed one additional run in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Travis Harrison doubled up the middle to start the fourth and dented the plate on a Max Kepler RBI single to make it a 3-0 game.

Harrison doubled again in the sixth to bring Aderling Mejia home and pad the Miracle lead to 4-0.

Petree finished the game on a high note with three scoreless innings before Ronnie Shaban came on for the ninth. Overall, Petree allowed four runs on eight hits over a season-high eight innings and punched out a seven batters.

Shaban struck out the side in the ninth but the Cardinals didn't have a rally in them on Saturday night.

The two squads will do battle again on Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium. LH Jimmy Reed (4-0, 2.57) will start for Palm Beach against RH Aaron Slegers (1-0, 2.57) for Fort Myers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from August 9, 2014


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