Thon Powers Over Cardinals
Jupiter, FL - Dickie Joe Thon hit a three run home run in the eight to give the Dunedin Blue Jays (25-30) a 3-0 victory over the Palm Beach Cardinals (26-29).
The Rundown
Jack Flaherty (1-5, 4.38 ERA) had his best outing of the year, as he went seven scoreless innings, giving up only two runs, walking two and striking seven. He lowered his ERA again from 5.08 before game time to 4.38 when he exited after seven complete. Jhonny Peralta was the major league player on the field making a rehad start and playing third, also batted third in the lineup.
Both pitchers for both team dealt in the first three inning as Flaherty and Taylor Cole went back and forth in the first few inning. The first hit of the game did not come until the start of the third inning when Orlando Olivera hit a high chopper to third base and beat out the throw by half a step. The Cardinals would not get the run across.
The next opportunity came in the fifth inning for Palm Beach as Allen Staton and Blake Drake hit back to back singles up the middle. They both advanced on a deep fly ball off the bat of Olivera. Both runners then were stranded there as the fifth came to a close with Steve Bean and Oscar Mercado striking out.
Darren Sererina started the sixth with a single as well and stole second two batters later with Peralta at the plate for his 15th stolen base of the season. Peralta then advanced Seferina to third on a ground out and Casey Grayson walked with two outs. Drake hit the first pitch he saw, but it went right at the second baseman to end the inning.
Landon Beck relieved Flaherty in the top of the eighth inning and struggled right from the get go. He gave up back to back singles to D.J. Davis and Jorge Saez. L.B. Dantzler then moved both runners up a base on a sacrifice bunt. Thon then became the hero as he took a 0-1 pitch over the left field fence to take a 3-0 lead that they would never surrender.
The Cardinals went down in order in the bottom of the eighth and they brought in Rowan Wick to pitch the ninth. Wick gave up one single, but struck out the side to show his dominance on the mound one again this season.
The bottom of the ninth was started with Peralta getting a single up the middle. The Blue Jays looked to Alonzo Gonzalez after the lead off single, he walked Casey Grayson on five pitches and Carlos Ramirez replaced Gonzalez on the mound. Ramirez then got Blake to fly out to deep centerfield as it went to the warning track. The game then ended on a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Staton.
Stat of the Game
7 - The Cardinals were 0-7 with runners in scoring position.
Notes
- Jhonny Peralta made his first rehab start in Jupiter as he played third, batted third, went 1-3 and walked one time.
- Flaherty gave up his low hit total in a game this year by only giving up two hits over his seven innings of work.
- Casey Grayson saw his seven game hit streak end as he went 0-2, but did reach twice on two base on balls.
Next Up
The Palm Beach Cardinals will play three more games against the Dunedin Blue Jays as Jhonny Peralta will continue to rehab at Roger Dean Stadium. Blake McKnight (1-4, 3.19 ERA) will take the ball for the Cardinals and Dunedin will counter with Justin Shafer (0-2, 5.58 ERA). First pitch is set for 5:30 EST.