Cardinals Fall Short 8-6
JUPITER, Fla. - The Palm Beach Cardinals plated three runs in the ninth, but their late rally fell short in an 8-6 loss to the Bradenton Marauders at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday night. The Cardinals are now just three games ahead of Bradenton in battle for the Florida State League South 2nd Half title with 11 games remaining.
Palm Beach (70-57) entered the ninth inning trailing Bradenton (67-60) 8-3 with Blake Drake, Robelys Reyes and Andrew Sohn due up in the seven, eight and nine spots respectively. Drake was hit by pitch and Reyes singled to start the frame. With one out, C.J. McElroy was then hit by a pitch as well to load the bases. Casey Turgeon then drove in the first run of the inning with a single to score Drake. After a pitching change, back-to-back wild pitches allowed the Cardinals to pull within two runs at 8-6 with a runner at third and the tying run at the plate. The threat came to an end, though, with a diving catch from Bradenton center fielder Austin Meadows on a ball hit by Luke Voit.
The Marauders led from start to finish on Monday night as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead after just two innings by scoring three in the first and one in the second. Bradenton used four consecutive singles to plate the first two runs of the game. A sacrifice fly from Wyatt Mathisen scored the final run in the first. In the second, Bradenton manufactured its run with two singles and a sacrifice bunt.
The Cardinals cut the 4-0 deficit in half in the fifth inning when they put two runs on the board on just two hits. Carson Kelly reached with the courtesy of a Bradenton error then scored two batters later on a RBI double from Robelys Reyes. The next batter, Andrew Sohn, then singled to score Reyes and make it a 4-2 game through five innings.
Bradenton added its next two runs in the seventh inning with the help of a walk and three singles. Michael Fransoso walked to lead off the inning and was followed by a bunt single from Junior Sosa. After a fly out, Harold Ramirez and Jordan Steranka put together back-to-back RBI singles to score Fransoso and Sosa.
Trailing 6-2, the Beach Birds answered with a run just after stretch time. Reyes reached on a fielder's choice then stole second to move into scoring position for Sohn. Sohn was then able to collect his second RBI of the night with a bloop single to right field as the Cardinals made it 6-3.
The Marauders added their final two runs, which came to be important insurance runs, in the eighth inning. Bradenton needed a single, double, walk and ball hit to the right side, which was turned into a double play, to plate its final runs.
McElroy, Reyes and Sohn each finished with two-hit games to pace the Cardinals offensively. McElroy also added a run scored, while Reyes scored three runs and drove in one. Sohn finished with two RBIs to go with his two hits.
Cody Dickson (11-6) earned the win for Bradenton to remain a perfect 3-0 against Palm Beach this season. Montana DuRapau recorded his eleventh save for the Marauders as well. Blake McKnight (3-1) suffered the loss after giving up four earned runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts in his five innings pitched.
The Palm Beach Cardinals and Bradenton Marauders return to Roger Dean Stadium on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. for the rubber match of this three-game series. To purchase tickets, please call (561) 630-1828 or visit RogerDeanStadium.com. Also follow the Palm Beach Cardinals on Facebook and Twitter (@GoPBCardinals) for updates and news around the ballpark.