Crabs' seven-run first inning dooms Cardinals

Jupiter, FL - The Charlotte Stone Crabs struck early for seven first-inning runs and never looked back as they beat the Palm Beach Cardinals 10-5 on Friday night at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals won the series 2-1 and will start a three-game set in Fort Myers on Saturday.

The Stone Crabs (1-8, 32-44) scored seven runs in the opening frame on five hits, three walks and one error. The inning was highlighted by two-run doubles off the bats of Justin O'Conner and Ariel Soriano. Maxx Tissenbaum also drove in two runs in the inning on a single up the middle.

O'Conner and Soriano combined for four hits and five RBI in the game to pace Charlotte's offense.

Kyle Helisek (4-3) lasted only three innings in the start for the Cardinals - his shortest outing of the year. He allowed a season-high eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits, walked three and fanned one. It was his only game in which he allowed more than four earned runs this season.

Helisek boasted a 1.69 ERA (6ER/32.0IP) over his last five starts coming into Friday night's game. The Cardinals were 5-0 over the stretch and the loss ends the impressive streak.

The Cardinals (7-2, 43-35) battled back with three runs in the second inning thanks to three extra base hits in a row from Nick Martini, Anthony Garcia and Jimmy Bosco.

Alex Mejia walked and scored on a Martini triple down the right field line to get Palm Beach on the board. Martini trotted the remaining 90 feet on a Garcia RBI double smoked into left-center field. Bosco traded places with Garcia with an RBI double of his own to cut the Cardinals' deficit to 7-3.

 Charlotte padded its lead to 9-3 with runs in the third and fourth innings before Palm Beach tallied another run in the fifth to make it 9-4. Bosco singled, moved to second on a single from Gerwuins Velazco and scored when Bruce Caldwell launched a double over Josh Sale's outstretched glove in left field.

Martini and Bosco each recorded three hits, one RBI and scored one run apiece on the night to lead the Cardinals at the plate. Martini, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Friday, turned in two, three-hit nights in the three-game series with Charlotte. Bosco went 3-for-3 in the contest - the most hits for him in a Cardinals game this season.

The two teams traded runs in the ninth inning. Garcia and Bosco led off the bottom half with walks and Garcia touched home on a Charlie Tilson force play later in the frame.

Iden Nazario surrendered one run on one hit and two walks over three innings in relief of Helisek. The lefty fanned four on the night. Kyle Barraclough was terrific out of the Palm Beach bullpen, punching out three batters in two perfect innings.

Thomas Lee was charged with one run in the ninth inning to finish the game.

Leonel Santiago (1-6) earned the win for Charlotte by tossing 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits and striking out five. It was his first winning decision since April 30.

The Cardinals and the Miracle are set to start their three-game series on Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. in Fort Myers. RH Nick Petree (4-2, 1.90) will start for Palm Beach against RH Jose Berrios (8-2, 2.05) for Fort Myers. Follow the Cardinals on Twitter (@GoPBCardinals) for updates on the game.