FSL1 Palm Beach Cardinals

Yanks Blank Cards in Series Finale

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


Jupiter, FL - Caleb Smith made a sparkling FSL debut for the Tampa Yankees, helping the team blank the Palm Beach Cardinals 5-0 on Saturday night at Roger Dean Stadium. The loss ended the Cardinals' seven-game winning streak. Palm Beach took three of four games in the series.

Smith (1-0) scattered four hits over six scoreless innings, walked one and struck out six to earn his first win in a Tampa uniform. The Cardinals loaded the bases on him in the sixth inning, but the Tampa hurler was able to get out of the jam unscathed.

Leaving runners on base was a trend for the Cardinals (21-7, 57-40) throughout the game. Palm Beach stranded nine on the night and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Mason Katz, Bruce Caldwell and Ildemaro Vargas all recorded two hits in the contest to lead the Birds offensively. Katz smoked two doubles off the left field wall, each missing home run distance by just a few short feet. The doubles came with one out in the seventh and ninth innings, and each ended with Katz stranded in scoring position.

Coming into the game, Palm Beach hadn't been shut out since June 12 in a game played in Bradenton.

The Yankees (13-15, 46-52) got the scoring started in the fourth inning. Palm Beach starter Joe Cuda walked Cito Culver to start the inning and the Tampa shortstop scored in the next at-bat when Greg Bird lined a double into right field, making it 1-0 in favor of the visiting squad.

The Yanks put up four more runs the following inning on four hits. Bird drew a bases loaded walk to send Trent Garrison to the plate and double the lead to 2-0. With the bases still juiced, Eric Jagielo delivered a bases-clearing dagger in the form of a three-run double to deep center field. The 5-0 lead would hold until the end.

All five Tampa runs were charged to Cuda (6-7), who allowed seven hits, three walks and notched six punchouts over five innings of work.

In his first game with Palm Beach this season, Ronnie Shaban fanned four batters in two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Dixon Llorens and Chris Perry also submitted scoreless frames for the Cards.

Over the last eight games, Cardinals relievers have allowed just one run in 24.1 innings for an impressive 0.37 ERA. The group has struck out 30 batters compared to just four walks in the stretch.

The Cardinals will welcome a new FSL North opponent to Roger Dean Stadium on Saturday: the Daytona Cubs. RH Nick Petree (5-2, 1.67) will start for Palm Beach against RH Felix Pena (2-6, 3.32) for Daytona. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m.

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Florida State League Stories from July 19, 2014


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