Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Cardinals Drop Fifth Straight, 5-3

June 26, 2012
The Palm Beach Cardinals (32-41, 1-5) dropped their fifth straight game as they fell to the Clearwater Threshers (40-32, 4-2), 5-3.

The Cardinals got on the board early in second inning as they scored a run on two hits and a sacrifice fly. Geoff Klein singled to start the inning, while Rainel Rosario walked and Nick Longmire singled to load the bases with one out. Ronny Gil followed with a deep sacrifice fly to center to make it 1-0.

The Threshers came back in the fourth, connecting for five consecutive hits and scoring three runs. Zach Collier, Anthony Hewitt and Harold Martinez' singles brought in a runner a piece, pushing the Threshers to a 3-1 lead.

Cardinals Todd McInnis (0-5) breezed through the first three innings, but the fourth and the sixth became his undoing. After giving up three runs in the fourth, he gave up a solo home run to Albert Cartwright and a single to Carlos Alonzo before being lifted for the bullpen. McInnis ended the night tossing four innings, allowing five runs on nine hits.

Reliever Drew Benes came in and dazzled. He tossed four innings, scattering one hit, while holding the Threshers down through the middle innings.

In the eighth inning, the Cardinals answered with two runs on four consecutive hits. Klein and Rosario connected for RBI singles to cut the lead to 5-3 with one out and runners on second and first.

With the winning run at the plate, the Threshers summons their closer Tyler Knigge to come in closeout the ball game. He promptly came in to strikeout Nick Longmire, while inducing the inning-ending fly out by Gil.

The Cardinals did not have an answer for Knigge in the ninth as he picked up his seventh save of the year and handing the Cardinals their fifth consecutive loss. For the Cardinals, Geoff Klein went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI., while Luis De La Cruz added two hits and a run.

The Cardinals finish off their seven-game homestand against the Clearwater Threshers tomorrow night at 6:35 p.m. Ryan Sherriff will take the ball for the Cardinals as he looks to improve to 5-0.

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