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Cardinals take down Miracle, 6-2

Five-run second inning the difference, as ninth inning Fort Myers rally falls short
July 9, 2018

FORT MYERS, Fla. -  The Palm Beach Cardinals scored five runs in the second inning and never looked back, taking the series opener from the Fort Myers Miracle, 6-2, on Monday night at Hammond Stadium.Scoreless in the second, the Cardinals sent nine men to the plate. After three straight singles loaded

FORT MYERS, Fla. -  The Palm Beach Cardinals scored five runs in the second inning and never looked back, taking the series opener from the Fort Myers Miracle, 6-2, on Monday night at Hammond Stadium.
Scoreless in the second, the Cardinals sent nine men to the plate. After three straight singles loaded the bases, Shane Billings gave the Cardinals a 1-0 advantage with a single to left. Stefan Trosclair followed with an RBI single before Danny Hudzina walked with the bases loaded to push the lead to 3-0. Then, Kramer Robertson and Dylan Carlson each knocked home a run on ground outs to cap off the big inning.
Carlson drove in his second run of the game in the fourth to make it 6-0.
The Miracle got on the board in the sixth on a Lewin Diaz sacrifice fly. A Shane Carrier RBI single in the bottom of the ninth brought the Miracle to within 6-2, but Mark Contreras grounded out with the tying run in the on deck circle to end the game.
Jake Walsh (5-1) earned the win after tossing six innings. Walsh allowed one unearned run on three hits. Three Cardinals pitchers followed and held the Miracle to one run over the final three innings.
Miracle starter Andro Cutura lasted just 1.2 innings, the shortest start by a Miracle pitcher this season. Cutura (3-4) allowed five runs on five hits. Colton Davis (3.1 innings, one run), Ryan Mason (3.1 innings, 0 runs), and Brady Anderson (0.2 innings, 0 runs) combined to pitch the final 7.1 innings while allowing just one run.
The four-game series continues Tuesday night in Fort Myers. Clark Beeker (3-6, 3.48) takes the mound for the Miracle. He'll be opposed by Evan Kruczynski (4-1, 3.83). First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.