Cardinals Sweep Away Stone Crabs, 7-4
The Palm Beach Cardinals (11-13) finish the series sweep, as they pound out 14 hits in route to a 7-4 victory over the Charlotte Stone Crabs (11-13) on Monday night at Charlotte Sports Park.
With a chance of capturing their first sweep of the season, the Cardinals got going early, as they utilized five hits to score four runs in the top of the second inning. The first three hitters of the frame, Jonathan Rodriguez, Geoff Klein and Nick Longmire each reached safely to open the inning. Longmire's ground rule double plated Rodriguez. Later in the frame, Neal Pritchard, Mike O'Neill and Vance Albitz drove in a runner a piece to make it 4-0.
Down by four, the Stone Crabs answered in the bottom of the frame, as they tagged starter Carlos Martinez for two runs on three hits. After scoring on a miscue by the catcher, the Stone Crabs added another on a sacrifice fly by Cody Rogers to get within two runs.
The Cardinals answered with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth. Pritchard started the rally in the fourth, as he singled to start the frame. After two walks and two groundouts, which loaded the bases, Rodriguez delivered with two-run single. His third hit of the game, gave the Cardinals a 6-2 lead. However, they were not done there, as they scored another in the fifth, on an RBI single by Mike O'Neill.
With a five run lead, starter Carlos Martinez (1-1) grinded out one of his shakiest outings of the season, as he went five innings, allowing a season-high six hits, while striking out a season-low three batters. He gave way to the bullpen in the sixth, as Zach Russell relived him for two strong innings, allowing one hit and striking out a batter.
The Stone Crabs made some noise in the bottom of the eighth, as they scored two unearned runs in the frame. After a fielding error by Albitz, which allowed a runner to get on base, Riccio Torrez delivered an RBI single to cut the lead to four. After a wild pitch by reliever Ricky Martinez, the right-hander settled down t set the next two batters down. However, Keith Castillo's groundout pushed one across to make it 7-4.
The Cardinals then turned the ball over to Logan Billbrough, who recorded his second save in as many days, as he got Phil Wunderlich to groundout into the inning-ending double play.
On the night, Jonathan Rodriguez led the Cardinals as he went 3-for-5 with two RBI, while O'Neill and Pritchard had three hits each.
The Beach Birds return to the 'Dean' tomorrow night, as they try to make it five-in-a-row as they open a seven game home stand against the Fort Myers Miracle at 6:35 p.m. Seth Maness will take the ball in game, as he hopes to improve his FSL leading 0.67 ERA.
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.
With a chance of capturing their first sweep of the season, the Cardinals got going early, as they utilized five hits to score four runs in the top of the second inning. The first three hitters of the frame, Jonathan Rodriguez, Geoff Klein and Nick Longmire each reached safely to open the inning. Longmire's ground rule double plated Rodriguez. Later in the frame, Neal Pritchard, Mike O'Neill and Vance Albitz drove in a runner a piece to make it 4-0.
Down by four, the Stone Crabs answered in the bottom of the frame, as they tagged starter Carlos Martinez for two runs on three hits. After scoring on a miscue by the catcher, the Stone Crabs added another on a sacrifice fly by Cody Rogers to get within two runs.
The Cardinals answered with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth. Pritchard started the rally in the fourth, as he singled to start the frame. After two walks and two groundouts, which loaded the bases, Rodriguez delivered with two-run single. His third hit of the game, gave the Cardinals a 6-2 lead. However, they were not done there, as they scored another in the fifth, on an RBI single by Mike O'Neill.
With a five run lead, starter Carlos Martinez (1-1) grinded out one of his shakiest outings of the season, as he went five innings, allowing a season-high six hits, while striking out a season-low three batters. He gave way to the bullpen in the sixth, as Zach Russell relived him for two strong innings, allowing one hit and striking out a batter.
The Stone Crabs made some noise in the bottom of the eighth, as they scored two unearned runs in the frame. After a fielding error by Albitz, which allowed a runner to get on base, Riccio Torrez delivered an RBI single to cut the lead to four. After a wild pitch by reliever Ricky Martinez, the right-hander settled down t set the next two batters down. However, Keith Castillo's groundout pushed one across to make it 7-4.
The Cardinals then turned the ball over to Logan Billbrough, who recorded his second save in as many days, as he got Phil Wunderlich to groundout into the inning-ending double play.
On the night, Jonathan Rodriguez led the Cardinals as he went 3-for-5 with two RBI, while O'Neill and Pritchard had three hits each.
The Beach Birds return to the 'Dean' tomorrow night, as they try to make it five-in-a-row as they open a seven game home stand against the Fort Myers Miracle at 6:35 p.m. Seth Maness will take the ball in game, as he hopes to improve his FSL leading 0.67 ERA.
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.