FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Washington's Late Homer Lifts Cardinals

Published on August 19, 2014 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Palm Beach Cardinals News Release


Jupiter, FL - David Washington has hit monster home runs all season long for the Palm Beach Cardinals, but none were bigger than his bomb in the eighth inning on Tuesday night. The solo shot broke a 3-3 tie with the Jupiter Hammerheads, and the Birds held on to win 4-3 in another Fins vs. Feathers Series thriller at Roger Dean Stadium.

The Cardinals (34-23, 70-56) have won seven straight games against the Florida State League South rival and lead the season series 8-4 with five games remaining.

Washington, who leads the team with 13 dingers this year, stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the eighth. On a 3-1 offering from Jupiter reliever C.J. Robinson, the 6-5, 200 pound lefty launched an opposite field missile over the left field wall to give Palm Beach the 4-3 edge.

Ronnie Shaban came on from the Palm Beach bullpen and worked around a leadoff double by Juan Avila in the ninth inning to preserve the 4-3 victory. He got Ryan Goetz to strike out looking for the final out to earn his second save of the year.

The win marks the 14th time the Cardinals have won in their last at-bat this season.

The Birds jumped on the Sharks early, building a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Bruce Caldwell and Washington hit back-to-back RBI singles in the opening frame to drive home Nick Martini and Aledmys Diaz. Martini drew a leadoff walk and Diaz was plunked by a Scott Lyman pitch to set up the run scoring plays.

Martini used his keen eyes at the plate again in the second inning to help the Cardinals pad their lead to 3-0. The center fielder reached first base on another walk and sprinted to third on an Ildemaro Vargas single. Diaz followed with a laser back to the pitcher's mound and off Lyman's foot to bring Martini the rest of the way home.

The three-run cushion looked to be plenty the way starter Tyrell Jenkins was dealing on the mound in the early-going. Jenkins allowed just one run and one hit through his first five innings and took a 3-1 advantage into the sixth.

But the Hammerheads (18-37, 45-79) connected for four straight singles in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Derek Dietrich and Matt Juengel each lined singles to left-center before Blake Barber and Cody Keefer found holes in the infield for RBI singles.

Overall, Jenkins allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings, walked two and struck out six. He has turned in three straight quality starts for the Redbirds.

Kevin Herget (1-0) was dominant in his Palm Beach debut. The newly promoted right-hander fanned two over a scoreless inning in relief of Jenkins and was credited with the win.

Robinson (0-1) took the loss for Jupiter after allowing the home run to Washington in the eighth.

The two rivals will continue on in the 2014 Fins vs. Feathers Series on Wednesday night. RH Nick Petree (6-4, 2.21) will toe the rubber for Palm Beach against RH Jake Esch (5-6, 4.35) for Jupiter. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from August 19, 2014


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