Jupiter's Bats Fall Silent in 2-1 Loss

JUPITER, Fla. - RHP Nathan Eovaldi pitched well on Major League rehab assignment, but the Hammerheads' offense came up short as Jupiter fell 2-1 to the Palm Beach Cardinals Saturday night at Roger Dean Stadium.

In his first rehab appearance since being placed on the disabled list in late March with right shoulder inflammation, Eovaldi pitched five four-hit innings, allowing just one run while striking out five. Acquired in the Hanley Ramirez trade with Los Angeles last July, the 23-year-old Eovaldi mixed his pitches and changed speeds well while touching 97 mph on the stadium radar gun.

RHP Josh Hodges pitched the remaining four innings, allowing just one run on four hits and two walks, striking out three.

Despite the fantastic pitching performances from Eovaldi and Hodges, Palm Beach's LHP Jonathan Cornelius stole the show. Cornelius tossed eight shutout innings, yielding just four hits one a walk. He threw 50 of 81 pitches (62 percent) for strikes. In his last three starts (22 innings), Cornelius hasn't allowed an earned run, while holding opponents to just seven hits and two walks. Saturday night's gem lowered his season ERA to 2.66.

The Hammerheads got to RHP Ronnie Shaban in the ninth, nearly stealing the game. After a Brent Keys leadoff double and Austin Nola strikeout, Logan Morrison drove in Jupiter's first run on a soft line drive to center field. Alex Burg followed with a walk, putting the tying run in scoring position with one out. But Shaban got Isaac Galloway to pop out to the catcher before Ryan Rieger flied out to left to end the game.

Rieger went 2-for-4, extending his multi-hit game streak to four. He's batting .588 (10-for-17) during that stretch.

The Hammerheads tallied just six hits in defeat, only one of them-a Keys double-for extra bases. 

Jonathan Rodriguez followed up his 0-for-4, two strikeout performance Friday night with a three-hit game for Palm Beach.

Saturday night marked just the sixth win for Palm Beach in 23 games this month. Jupiter's loss dropped them to 17-6 in May.

The rubber match of this three-game series is set for Sunday at Roger Dean Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Fresh off his first Hammerheads start, 2012 first-round pick LHP Andrew Heaney (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will take the mound for Jupiter. RHP Corey Baker will make his first start of the season for Palm Beach.

For more information on the Jupiter Hammerheads, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins, please call (561) 775-1818 or visit JupiterHammerheads.com. For tickets and more information about Roger Dean Stadium, visit RogerDeanStadium.com