FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Trio of Home Runs Not Enough in 6-5 Loss

Published on May 5, 2011 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Palm Beach Cardinals (10-18) hit three home runs but gave up an early lead for the third straight game as the Fort Myers Miracle (17-11) walked off with a 6-5 victory and completed a three-game sweep at Hammond Stadium Thursday night.

Closer Jorge Rondon (1-4, 2.45 ERA) gave up the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth after the Miracle had rallied to tie it an inning before. Jonathan Goncalves singled to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a wild pitch and took third base when the Cardinals failed to cover the bag during a sacrifice bunt attempt. James Beresford then delivered the decisive hit with a long single to left that gave the Miracle a 6-5 win.

The game started out well, however, as the first of three Cardinals' homers came in the second inning on a one-out solo shot from Xavier Scruggs, his second of the season. Luis Mateo followed an inning later with another one-out longball, his first since hitting a walk-off homer against the Miracle April 27 in Jupiter.

Leading 2-0 on just the two hits and riding a solid start from righty Joe Kelly, the Cardinals kept the fourth inning alive with a two-out walk from Scruggs and an infield single by Edgar Lara. That's when backup catcher Travis Tartamella, who had just six hits on the season coming into the game, launched his fifth career home run over the left-field wall to give the Cardinals a seemingly comfortable 5-0 lead.

The Miracle finally broke through off Kelly in the fifth, however, beginning with a leadoff walk and two straight singles to load the bases with none away. Goncalves then doubled to right, scoring two, and was followed by an Aaron Hicks groundout that scored another. Kelly forced the second out of the inning on a grounder but gave up a two-out single to Nick Romero, suddenly drawing the Miracle to within one at 5-4.

Kelly was relieved to begin the seventh inning in favor of lefty Tyler Lyons, who breezed through an inning of work before running into some tough luck with two outs in the eighth. A wind-blown popup evaded Mateo near second, keeping the inning alive for a game-tying double from Josmil Pinto off Rondon.

After completing the ninth-inning rally, the Miracle finished off a three-game sweep of the Cardinals and handed Palm Beach its ninth one-run loss of the season. Dakota Watts (2-1, 2.84 ERA) earned the win for Fort Myers for a scoreless ninth.

Apart from the crucial home runs from Scruggs, Mateo and Tartamella, Ronald Ramirez collected two hits and Lara went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Alan Ahmady's 19-game on-base streak and eight-game hitting streaks both came to an end with an 0-for-4 performance.

Palm Beach begins a quick two-game homestand at Roger Dean Stadium against the FSL South-leading St. Lucie Mets tomorrow night at 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Eric Fornataro (1-2, 2.63 ERA) will look to build on his eight-inning win a week ago as he and the Cardinals face righty Kyle Allen (0-0, 5.14 ERA) and the Mets for the first time since April 10.

For more information on the Palm Beach Cardinals, Class-A Advanced affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, please call (561) 775-1818 or visit www.palmbeachcardinals.com. For tickets and more information regarding Roger Dean Stadium, please visit www.rogerdeanstadium.com.

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