Lyons Wins Sixth Straight in 3-1 Victory
With the win the Cardinals take 2-of-3 from the Hammerheads and move to within 2.0 games of first place in the FSL South division second-half standings with 14 left to play.
Lyons (8-3, 3.76 ERA) became the first Cardinals' pitcher to reach the eight-win mark on the season in his first home start since his historical no-hitter August 8. The 6-foot-2-inch lefty allowed one earned run off six hits and two walks through seven innings while striking out four, and has now combined to allow just nine hits and two earned runs in his last 20.0 innings. The Lubbock, Texas, native was selected in the 9th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Oklahoma State University and made his professional debut this season in the Palm Beach bullpen.
Jupiter struck first Sunday night in the third inning thanks to a run-scoring single from Florida Marlins' rehabber Donnie Murphy, who finished the series 1-for-7 with two RBI. Palm Beach quickly responded, however, with back-to-back doubles by Xavier Scruggs and Alan Ahmady in the bottom of the frame to tie it at 1-1 headed to the fourth.
Both teams combined for just one hit through the next three innings before Jupiter put two on in the seventh but failed to score. The Cardinals took advantage of the opportunity in the bottom of the frame beginning with a leadoff single from Robert Stock, who was subsequently replaced at first after a failed sacrifice-bunt by Ted Obregon. The shortstop moved to second on a single from Starlin Rodriguez and then caught a break thanks to Jupiter reliever Wade Korpi's (3-2, 2.05 ERA) errant pickoff throw, which sailed past third after Obregon was stuck in a run-down.
Obregon scored the eventual game-winning run on the play and Domnit Bolivar added a RBI-groundout to give Palm Beach a 3-1 lead. Jesse Simpson replaced Lyons and held the Hammerheads at bay until the ninth, when the third-year Louisiana-native loaded the bases with a single and two walks before being pulled for Keith Butler with two outs. Dallas Poulk greeted Butler with a sharp grounder down the first-base line that was snagged on a terrific diving play from Scruggs at first, saving the Cardinals' win and giving Butler his ninth save in the process.
Rodriguez led all scores with a 3-for-4 night while Scruggs had a pair of hits to highlight the Palm Beach offense.
The Cardinals enjoy a day off tomorrow before beginning a big series against the division-leading Bradenton Marauders Wednesday night at McKechnie Field. Righty Richard Castillo (4-3, 3.74 ERA) will throw for Palm Beach against a yet-to-be-determined Marauders pitcher.
For more information on the Palm Beach Cardinals, Class-A Advanced affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, please call (561) 775-1818 or visit www.palmbeachcardinals.com. For tickets and more information regarding Roger Dean Stadium, please visit www.rogerdeanstadium.com.