Cardinals use late rally to take opener, 5-4

JUPITER, Fla. - The Palm Beach Cardinals rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the series opener from the Miracle, 5-4, on Monday night at Rodger Dean Stadium.
Kramer Robertson delivered the decisive blow, a two-out two-run double, his fourth hit of the game. He also stole a base and scored two runs out of the number nine spot in the batting order. He entered the game hitting just .218.
The Miracle took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Taylor Grzelakowski off the first base bag. Mark Contreras started the rally with a two-out walk, stole second, and scored the go-ahead run.
The Miracle never trailed until the eighth. They scored an unearned run in the first and added two more in the fifth. Luis Arraez, who recorded three hits in the game, came through with an RBI triple. Travis Blankenhorn later had an RBI double.
Palm Beach answered with a pair in the bottom of the fifth, both coming on an RBI double by Shane Billings. It was Billings who delivered again in the seventh with an RBI single to tie the game, 3-3.
Neither started figured in the final decision. Tyler Watson went 5.2 innings for the Miracle and allowed two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out four. Jake Walsh tossed seven innings for the Cardinals and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits.
Robbie Gordon (2-0) picked up the win in relief. Hector Lujan (0-2) suffered the loss. Will Latcham pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his ninth save of the season.
Prior to the game, the teams concluded a suspended contest from last Thursday (June 7). The Miracle defeated the Cardinals, 4-3, in 10 innings.
The four-game series continues on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Right-hander Clark Beeker (1-4) will start for the Miracle against left-hander Austin Warner (3-1). First pitch is 6:30 p.m.