Jupiter's Bats Grounded in 5-1 Loss

JUPITER, Fla. - Cardinals' pitching stumped the Hammerheads' bats again Monday night, as Jupiter was held to just six hits in their 5-1 loss to Palm Beach.

And in defeat, the Hammerheads lost the three-game series to their stadium rivals two games to one, scoring four runs in 31 innings.

Kyle Hald silenced the Jupiter offense in game three Monday night, allowing just one run on six hits and a walk in seven innings to win his third straight start. The 6-foot, 190-pound left-hander threw 60 of 89 pitches for strikes (67 percent).

The only run he allowed came on a Christian Yelich base hit that skipped off the mound and into center field, scoring Brent Keys from second base in the sixth inning. Keys was one of only two Hammerheads' base runners to reach third base Monday night.

Danny Miranda pitched two scoreless innings in relief to notch his third save of the season for Palm Beach. That's not to say, however, that the Hammerheads went quietly.

Jupiter's leadoff man reached base in each of the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Keys - who led off the sixth with a double - was the only one to score.

With runners on first and second and none out in the top of the seventh, Isaac Galloway grounded into a 4-6-3 double-play. The next batter, Alfredo Lopez, struck out to leave Alex Burg stranded at third base.

After Miranda walked Ross Wilson to leadoff the eighth, Keys grounded into a 6-4-3 twin-killer, effectively ending Jupiter's threat.

And after Yelich coaxed a leadoff walk in the ninth, the Hammerheads were retired on three straight fly outs to end the game.

Jose Urena was tagged for four runs (three earned) on 10 hits and one walk in 5.2 innings. He struck out seven. Urena threw 65 of 90 pitches for strikes (72 percent).

Entering Monday night's start, Urena had held opponents to three earned runs in his previous 38 innings. He now owns an impressive 3.24 ERA in a team-high 97.1 innings this season.

Only two of Palm Beach's 10 hits off Urena went for extra bases, as the Cardinals nickel-and-dimed him by putting the ball in play and with station-to-station base running.

The Hammerheads have now lost six of the last eight games started by Urena, whose record fell to 8-4 Monday night. Despite this, the Dominican right-hander leads the team in wins.

James Nygren struck out four in 2.1 innings of relief for Jupiter. He inherited two of Urena's base runners, and allowed one of them to score on a base hit by David Popkins.

Nygren promptly retired the next seven batters, lowering his ERA to 2.82. The 24-year-old hasn't allowed an earned run since May 23, a span that covers 11 appearances and 17.1 innings.

Now 3-5 in July with an offense that has scored 2.1 runs per game in their last eight, the Hammerheads will travel to Ft. Myers tomorrow to begin a seven-game road trip.

Jake Esch (1-4, 3.48 ERA) will start game one for Jupiter. The Ft. Myers Miracle have yet to announce their starting pitcher.

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.