Melling Great In Return Despite Cards 5-2 Loss

JUPITER, FL- The Jupiter Hammerheads rode Alex Burg's 3-run blast in the 6th inning to a 5-2 victory over the Palm Beach Cardinals Saturday night at Roger Dean Stadium. The win marks a seven game win streak for Jupiter while Palm Beach has now dropped 4 of their last 5.

Cardinals' starting pitcher Tyler Melling got his first nod since being placed on the Palm Beach disabled list on 4/20 with shoulder fatigue. The left hander put together a rather impressive return outing, tossing five innings of shutout ball while giving up three hits, one walk and fanning five Hammerheads batters. Melling drops his ERA to 1.77 in 20 1/3 innings pitched on the season.

Palm Beach struck first in the fourth inning on a leadoff walk to Colin Walsh (1-4, 2R) followed by a 2-out RBI single off the bat of Danny Stienstra (1-4, RBI). The stats looked promising for the Cardinals who were 13-7 when scoring first heading into tonight, however, the Hammerheads had different plans.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the 6th, Jupiter's Alex Burg stepped up to the plate with one out and runners on first and second. The first baseman proceeded to put a charge into a fastball, sending it over the left field wall for a 3-run homer, his first of the year. Burg's homer was the spark plug the Hammerheads needed as they managed to score two more in the 7th, ultimately holding onto a 5-2 lead for their 7th straight victory.

The Cardinals have now dropped 7 of their last 10 games and 15 of their last 20. The team hopes to turn things around tomorrow afternoon, 1:05 p.m. as they will take on the Hammerheads in the last game of a 3 game series at Roger Dean Stadium. They will then hit the road on Monday to start a 4 game series with the Brevard County Manatees (22-19).

WP: Jose Urena (5-1) LP: Nazario (0-1) S: Conley (3)