Seven Run First Puts Cardinals Behind

Drake Hits Cardinals First Homer of the Season

By Justin Terry

April 19, 2016

Jupiter, FL - The Cardinals (8-5) gave up seven runs in the first inning to the Bradenton Marauders (6-7) to end up in defeat by a score of 11-1.

The Rundown

Jack Flaherty got the start on Tuesday night and had the worst outing of his professional career. He lasted on 1/3 of an inning, giving up 5 hits, walking two batters, striking out one, and giving up seven earned runs. The Cardinals were never able to claw their way back into the game.

Cody Schumacher came into the game to relieve Flaherty in the first inning after Bradenton scored five of the seven runs charged to Flaherty, and gave up a two run double to close the book on Flaherty. Schumacher then gave up two runs himself in the second inning and the fourth inning, making it an 11-1 game in Bradenton's favor.

Palm Beach tried to make it interesting in the bottom of the fourth as they scored three runs on three hits after Brian O'Keefe reached first on an error. All the runs were unearned in the inning.

Kevin Herget then spelled Schumacher in the fifth inning and pitched three scoreless innings not allowing a single hit to the Marauders. He did allow one batter to reach on a walk and struck out two.

The last run of the game was scored in the seventh inning off the bat of Blake Drake, as he hit a home run on a 0-2 count off Bradenton's Junior Lopez. The home run was the first for Palm Beach this season.

The ninth inning saw third baseman, Allen Staton, take the mound as he worked a scoreless inning while walking and striking out a batter. The Cardinals would not get another tunner on in the ninth as they fall 11-5 to Bradenton making them 8-5 on the season.

Stat of the Game

1 - In the seventh inning off of Junior Lopez, Blake Drake hit the first Cardinal's home run of the season over the left field fence.

Notes

Diekroeger extended his hitting streak to eleven games in the first inning as he got a single.
Diekroeger got his team leading ninth RBI in the game tonight in the fourth inning as he plated Mercado on the single.
Herget worked another three scoreless innings, giving him 11.2 scoreless innings to start the season.
Allen Staton, the everyday third baseman, came in to pitch in the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning walking one batter and striking out another.

Next Up

The Cardinals will host Bradenton once again tomorrow evening as Austin Gomber (1-1) will face off against Yeudy Garcia (0-1).