Cardinals Fall to Hammerheads 10-2 on Friday Night
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (19-20; 52-53) lost their sixth consecutive game to tie a season-long losing streak as they fell to the Jupiter Hammerheads (16-23; 53-52) by a final score of 10-2 on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. With the loss, the Hammerheads take the
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (19-20; 52-53) lost their sixth consecutive game to tie a season-long losing streak as they fell to the Jupiter Hammerheads (16-23; 53-52) by a final score of 10-2 on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. With the loss, the Hammerheads take the regular season series and win the series this week.
In the top of the first inning, Jupiter jumped out to an early lead against Palm Beach starting pitcher Gabriel Chinchilla (L, 1-1). With a runner on first base, Andres Valor sent a ball over the left-center field wall for a two-run home run for his 13th home run of the year and gave the Hammerheads a 2-0 lead.
Jupiter scored two more runs in the top of the third inning. PJ Morlando blasted a solo home run over the right field wall with one out. After a single, error and walk, the Hammerheads loaded the bases. Victor Ortega hit a single into right field as the Cardinals stranded two runners on base to prevent further damage and the Cardinals trailed 4-0 after the top of the third inning.
Chinchilla finished his first Single-A start with 2 2/3 innings pitched and allowed four earned runs, five hits, two home runs, one walk, and struck out two batters.
Liam Best finished the top of the third inning on the mound and went back out for the top of the fourth as the Hammerheads kept the hits coming. Jupiter totaled four hits in the frame highlighted by an RBI single by Morlando as Palm Beach trailed 5-0 after the top of the fourth inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, Jacob Haley made his professional debut out of the Palm Beach bullpen. Despite three walks, Haley did not allow a run and ended with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts. JR Fordham also made his professional debut out of the bullpen for Palm Beach in the seventh and eighth innings and tossed two shutout frames where he faced the minimum and struck out two hitters.
Palm Beach got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the eighth inning when Miguel Hernandez hit an RBI double down the left field line. Matthew Miura followed to drive in another with an RBI groundout. However, Jupiter pitcher Jonawel Valdez was able to work his way out of the jam, strand two runners, and keep the Palm Beach deficit at 5-2 through eight innings.
The Hammerheads blew the game open in the top of the ninth inning as they sent all nine hitters to the plate and scored five runs to take a 10-2 lead. The biggest blow came from Josh Hogue’s three-run home run and an RBI groundout from Cam Kozeal which was his first career RBI. Gerinton Mendez pitched a perfect top of the ninth inning for Jupiter as the Cardinals suffered the 10-2 loss on Friday night.
Game five of this six-game “Duel of the Dean” series between the Cardinals and Hammerheads takes place on Saturday, August 8 with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The Cardinals will become their alternate identity “Palm Beach Frozen Iguanas” for the 11th time this season Click here to purchase your Palm Beach Cardinals tickets.
For select Saturdays in 2026, the Palm Beach Cardinals take on the alternate identity of the “Palm Beach Frozen Iguanas!” You can join the cold front and purchase an “Ice Cold 6-Pack” ticket package to get a ticket for all Frozen Iguanas games, exclusive benefits, and access to special events as part of this season-long membership.
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.