FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Rodriguez Powers Cardinals to Victory

Published on May 21, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


Jupiter, FL - Starlin Rodriguez belted two homers and Joe Cuda turned in his best outing of the year on the mound to lead the Palm Beach Cardinals over the Brevard County Manatees 4-3 on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals turned a rare triple play in the win.

Both teams' left fielders showed off their power early and often. Victor Roache hit a solo home run in the second inning off Cuda to give the Manatees the early 1-0 lead, but Rodriguez was quick to answer. Rodriguez took Jorge Lopez deep in the bottom half of the frame to tie the game 1-1.

With the score knotted at 3-3 in the sixth inning, Rodriguez sent a Tom Gorzelanny offering over the left field wall to put the Birds on top 4-3. Rodriguez' second solo bomb of the night came with two outs in the inning.

Rodriguez also connected for two home runs in a single game earlier this year on April 18 against Charlotte at Roger Dean Stadium. He led the Cardinals to an 8-3 victory and also notched a home run the following night in a 13-9 Palm Beach win. Rodriguez has five long balls overall this season.

Cuda (1-5) scattered five hits over a season-high seven innings pitched. The right-hander allowed three runs, walked two and fanned three en route to his first winning decision of the season. He retired nine of the first 10 batters faced in the game - the only blemish being the home run off the bat of Roache in the second.

Roache drove in another run for the 'Tees in the fourth as part of a two-run inning before Cuda finished with three strong innings for Palm Beach.

Cuda got some great defensive help behind him on the night. Bruce Caldwell made a spectacular diving catch at third in the third inning and also started a 5-4-3 triple play in the sixth.

With runners on first and second and nobody out, Cameron Garfield hit a sharp grounder to Caldwell near the bag at third. Caldwell got the force out with a quick stretch of his leg and whipped the ball to Breyvic Valera at second before the ball made the full journey around the horn for the rare triple play. First baseman Luke Voit made the final out at first for the Florida State League's second triple play this season.

Trailing 3-1 heading into the fifth inning, David Washington evened the score with a two-run single to the gap in left-center field. Nick Martini singled to lead off the inning and Caldwell drew a walk before Washington's bases-clearing knock.

Rodriguez took care of the rest with his blast in the sixth and Aidan Lucas and Danny Miranda Jr. preserved the win on the mound. Miranda closed out the game in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

In a Major League rehab assignment, Gorzelanny was charged with the loss for Brevard County after allowing one run on one hit - Rodriguez' homer in the sixth - over two innings. The lefty struck out four on the evening.

Roache went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and two doubles while Orlando Arcia also recorded three hits and scored a run to lead the Manatees offense.

Palm Beach (20-26) and Brevard County (23-21) will play game three of the four-game set on Thursday morning at 10:35 a.m. - a special start for 'Education Days' at Roger Dean Stadium. LH Kyle Helisek (1-2, 3.11) will start for the Cardinals against LH Hobbs Johnson (4-4, 2.45) for the Manatees. The game will be broadcast live on PalmBeachCardinals.com.

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Florida State League Stories from May 21, 2014


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