FSL1 Jupiter Hammerheads

Seven-Run 7th Puts Brakes on Streaking Hammerheads

Published on July 25, 2011 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Jupiter Hammerheads News Release


Seven was anything but a lucky number for Jupiter, whose seven-game home winning streak was snapped by Dunedin thanks to a seven-run 7th inning that turned a 2-1 game into a 9-1 loss.

The Blue Jays had 10 men reach base in the fateful 7th frame, as three Hammerhead pitchers combined to give four singles and five walks, with a fielding error causing six of the seven runs to go unearned against the team.

Starter Rob Rasmussen entered the inning with a solid start under his belt, having given up three hits in six frames, including a solo home run and a double that scored one of the two batters he hit. Despite the wildness, he had only allowed one walk before issuing a pair to lead off the 7th.

What could have been a double-play ball resulted in an awkward error for second baseman Alfredo Lopez, who stumbled as he moved to step on the bag, falling backwards and allowing the batter to reach on the botched force attempt.

With the bases loaded, Rasmussen walked his third batter of the inning. It would be his last batter of the night, as he exited for reliever Collin Cargill, who had to take over with the bases still loaded.

Cargill, a 22nd round pick in this year's draft, had allowed just one run in his 7.1 innings entering the game. The right-hander continued the theme of the inning, issuing a run-scoring walk that meant Dunedin had seen its first five batters all reach base without the benefit of a hit.

A line drive back at first baseman J.L. Ortiz resulted in an easy double play, and it appeared the Blue Jays' momentum may have stalled. But Cargill finally gave up the first hit of the inning, a two-run single by A.J. Jimenez. After yet another walk, Sean Ochinko brought Jimenez home with a single of his own, ending Cargill's night.

Graham Johnson came on as the third Jupiter pitcher of the inning, but neither he nor the Hammerhead defense was able to finish it off right away. After giving up a single to load the bases, Johnson got Brian Van Kirk to pop a ball up in the infield. When the ball came down, neither third baseman Jose Torres nor shortstop Jeff Dominguez was underneath it. With two outs on the board, two runners had already come across the plate, the final two nails in Jupiter's coffin.

Johnson would then get the final out of the inning, and stay in for the final two frames, in which he kept Dunedin from piling on despite giving up two more hits and two walks.

It was a stark contrast to Dunedin's pitching, which saw big leaguer Dustin McGowan turn in his best performance of his rehab assignment, and then hand the game over to Ryan Tepera, who was even better.

McGowan went three innings for the first time in his six rehab starts. Sandwiched in between a pair of 1-2-3 innings, the Blue Jays right-hander gave up three consecutive singles in the 2nd, setting Taylor Krick up to bring Jose Duarte home on a sacrifice fly that turned out to be Jupiter's only run of the night.

As he had done in two previous games, Tepera took over for McGowan. Usually a starter, the right-hander had given up 11 runs in 10.2 innings as McGowan's tandem pitcher. The third time seemed to be the charm, as Tepera retired the first nine batters he faced, holding Jupiter to just three hits over the game's final six innings.

The last of them was a single by Marlins' rehabber Chris Coghlan. After playing nine innings in center field and going 3-for-4 a night earlier, Coghlan served as the Hammerheads' designated hitter, but that 8th inning knock up the middle was the only time he reached base.

The loss comes on the heels of Jupiter's first four-game sweep since May 2009, and marks the first time the Hammerheads have lost at Roger Dean Stadium since July 13th.

The team will try to start a new winning streak Tuesday night, in one of the better pitching match-ups in the Florida State League this season. Chad James, the Marlins' top pitching prospect and owner of the league's 11th lowest ERA, faces off against one of the few hurlers who can claim a better season. Dunedin's Nestor Molina enters the game with a 9-3 record and a 2.51 ERA, the second-lowest mark in the league.

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Florida State League Stories from July 25, 2011


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