Hammerheads Drop Third-Straight Game to Tarpons with 8-3 Loss Thursday Night

JUPITER, FL – The Jupiter Hammerheads (23-32; 60-61) dropped their third consecutive game against the Tampa Tarpons (37-18; 72-49) as they lost by a final score of 8-3 on Thursday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

For the second straight night, Tampa scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. Paul Contrares hit his first professional home run, a solo home run, off the Hammerheads’ starting pitcher Jake Clemente (L, 3-3), giving the Tarpons a 1-0 lead.

Jupiter responded in the bottom of the second inning. Luis Cova drew a one-out walk and stole second and third base. After Jake McCutcheon drew a walk to put runners at the corners, Eric Guevara beat out a potential inning-ending double play to plate Cova on an RBI fielder’s choice to even the game at 1-1.

In the top of the fourth inning, Tampa retook the lead. Brando Mayea led off with a single, stole second base, and advanced to third base on a groundout. With two outs, Ediel Rivera hit an RBI single to center field to put Tampa back in front. The next batter, Dax Kilby, hit a two-run home run to right field to give the Tarpons a 4-1 lead.

Clemente finished his start with five innings pitched and allowed four runs, seven hits, two home runs, one walk, and struck out six batters. For Clemente, it was the first time in his professional career he allowed two or more home runs in an appearance.

Meanwhile, Tampa’s starting pitcher Edinzo Marquez (W, 2-2) completed five innings for the first time this season with Tampa where he allowed just one run.

In the top of the sixth, Jonathan Rosario came out of the Hammerheads’ bullpen and ran into some early trouble. Mayea led off with walk and stole second base. The next batter, Tyce Armstrong, hit an RBI single to extend the Tarpons’ lead to 5-1.

The Tarpons added another run in the top of the eighth inning when Armstrong hit a solo home run to left field. After they drew three straight walks, Wilberson De Pena hit a blooped, RBI single down the right field line and Contrares hit a sacrifice fly to plate two more runs and put Tampa ahead 8-1.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Jupiter scored a second run on Luis Arana’s RBI infield single to score Angel Brachi. Jupiter later loaded the bases with two outs and Arana stole home for the second time in two weeks to make the score 8-3.

After finishing the top of the eighth inning, Engel Peralta stayed in for the top of the ninth inning as he finished 1 2/3 clean innings with two strikeouts. The Hammerheads could not overcome the five-run deficit and fell by the 8-3 final score to Tampa on Thursday night.

PJ Morlando and Echedry Vargas each had two hits in the contest and accounted for four of Jupiter’s six hits as a team. Kifraidy Encarnacion made his Single-A debut for Jupiter as he tossed a scoreless top of the seventh inning and recorded one walk and one strikeout.

The Hammerheads and Tarpons continue their six-game series into the weekend portion with game four scheduled for Friday, August 28 and first pitch at 6:30 p.m. Click here to purchase your Jupiter Hammerheads tickets

Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is “America’s Busiest Ballpark” as the only home of two full-season minor league affiliates. Enjoy the best entertainment membership packages in Palm Beach County with our staple programs like “Rockwell Hearing Center Silver Sluggers” every Wednesday for all fans 55 and up, “Thirsty Thursdays” every Thursday for all fans 21 and up, and “Code Ninjas Kids Club” every Saturday for all fans 15 and under.

New to 2026, fans can purchase tickets to the Jupiter Medical Center Champions Club down the left-field line for an elevated baseball experience. Returning for 2026, every Tuesday game is a “2-for-1 Tuesday” where fans get two reserved box tickets for the price of one ($15) and every Sunday game is a “$10 Sunday” where all tickets are just 10 dollars. For more information on tickets, schedules, promotions, and more, call the ticket office at 561-630-1828 or visit the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium website.

About Jupiter Stadium, LTD:

Opening in 1998, the 110-acre complex/stadium is specially designed to house two Major League and two Minor League Baseball Teams. The stadium is home to the Miami Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals for Spring Training. The Florida State League’s Jupiter Hammerheads (Class A Affiliate of the Miami Marlins) and Palm Beach Cardinals (Class A Affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals) make their home at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium from April through September. Branded as “America’s Busiest Ballpark,” this year-round facility can accommodate everything from birthday parties to corporate outings to tournaments, while never forgetting that every fan is our most important priority.