Cards take two in double header
JUPITER, FL- Palm Beach took advantage of Monday night's double header against Brevard County as they evened the four game series with back-to-back wins.
Cardinals left-handed starter, Kyle Hald (5.2 IP, 8H, ER, 6K), got the nod for the first game of the twin bill. The lefty was impressive, throwing 5.2 innings while giving up only one run (solo homer in the 3rd) on 8 hits and striking out 6.
With the scored knotted at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the 7th, Alex Mejia (1-3, R) led off the inning with a single. Catcher, Adam Lewis (0-2), was then able to execute a sacrifice bunt, advancing Mejia to second. Two batters later, Colin Walsh ripped a one-hopper to Manatee's first baseman Nick Ramirez (3-3). Fortunately for Palm Beach, the ball took an unorthodox hop, freezing Ramirez and allowing Mejia to score for a 2-1 walk-off victory.
Reliever Dean Kiekhefer (1.1 IP, BB, K) notched his second win of the year while Colin Walsh (2-3, BB, RBI, R) was the lone Cardinal with a multi-hit performance.
WP: Kiekhefer (2-1) LP: Toledo (2-2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JUPITER, FL- The Cardinals struck early in the second game, capitalizing on a David Popkins (2-3, 2B, R) double and a RBI-single from Jonathan Rodriguez (1-3, RBI) in the bottom of the first. That run would prove to be the only run of the second game as the Palm Beach pitching duo of Ryan Sherriff (5.2 IP, 2H, BB, 4K) and Ronnie Shaban (1.1 IP, H, 2K)held the Manatee's scoreless on only three hits.
With hits in the both contests of twin bill, David Popkins extended his hit-streak to 11 games.
Sherriff's solid pitching performance earned him his third win of the season while Ronnie Shaban collected his team leading 13th save.
Palm Beach will get the day off tomorrow before heading to Lakeland on Wednesday to begin a four game set against the Flying Tigers.
For more information on the Palm Beach Cardinals please visit www.palmbeachcardinals.com or call 561-799-1391.
WP: Sherriff (3-2) LP: Barnes (6-3) S: Shaban (13)