Cardinals Battle Cubs in Arch-Rival FSL Playoff Showdown
TODAY'S MATCHUP PALM BEACH CARDINALS (75-62) VS. DAYTONA CUBS (73-59) SEPTEMBER 2, 2008 - 7:05 PM JACKIE ROBINSON BALLPARK - DAYTONA BEACH, FL
TEAM NO. THR. PITCHER W-L ERA VS. OPPONENT PALM BEACH CARDINALS 28 RHP TYLER HERRON 2-2 2.70 0-1, 2.45 ERA, 7.1 IP, 6 K
DAYTONA CUBS 13 RHP JAY JACKSON 2-0 1.59 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 4.0 IP, 9 K
SEASON SERIES: Palm Beach Leads 11-7 ALL-TIME SERIES: Daytona Leads 52-50
TODAY'S STARTING PITCHERS: Tyler Herron will make the start for Palm Beach tonight. The right-hander was the Cardinals first round pick (supplemental, 46th overall) in the 2005 first year player draft out of Wellington High School in Palm Beach County. Herron is 2-2 with a 2.70 ERA in the Florida State League, after a three month tour in Springfield from May 4-July 28. In Springfield, Herron was 5-5 with a 5.20 ERA in 15 starts. Overall, Herron is 7-7 with a 4.20 ERA in 137 innings (27 G, 24 GS), allowing 150 hits with 40 walks and 102 strikeouts. Herron faced Daytona twice this season registering a no decision on April 17 in three scoreless innings of relief and taking a loss at home on August 7, surrendering two runs in 4.1 innings.
THE PLAYOFF LOWDOWN : The 2008 season will mark the third time the Cardinals have made the playoffs in their six year history. The Cardinals won the second half in 2005 and 2006 and the first half this season. In 2005, Palm Beach defeated Vero Beach 2-1 in the opening series then went on to win a thrilling see-saw battle with Lakeland 3-2 in the championship. In 2006, the Cardinals lost to eventual champion St. Lucie 2-0 in the opening round. The Cardinals are 2-3 in division series play and 1-2 on the road. Overall in the playoff, Palm Beach is 5-5 and 3-3 on the road. In playoff opening games, Palm Beach defeated Vero Beach 4-3 in 2005 and lost to St. Lucie 6-4 in 2006.
BACK AT THE JACK, AND NOT DOING IT AGAIN: The Cardinals are enjoying the final two (if necessary) game(s) of the opening round being played at Roger Dean Stadium. Palm Beach is 17-33 when traveling to Jackie Robinson Ballpark in their franchise history. Prior to 2006, Palm Beach never won a road game in Daytona before August 20th from 2003-05. The Cardinals have never held a winning record at JRB posting 4-5 records the last three years.
HAIL TO THE CHIEF!: Palm Beach manager Gaylen Pitts is in his second season as the skipper in Palm Beach. He holds the career record for wins (146) and winning percentage (.527) at Palm Beach. Pitts was recently named to the 2008 Florida State League post-season team as a coach. He was Joe Torre's bench coach (1991-94) and third base coach (1995) for the St. Louis Cardinals, and was the Texas League Manager-of-the-Year leading Arkansas to the league title in 1989.
BIG BATS HANGING AROUND: Despite only having a few members from the opening day starting lineup, Palm Beach has a lot of guys with solid numbers against the Cubs this season. Tyler Henley is hitting .349 (15x43) with 2 home runs, 12 RBI and two stolen bases vs. Daytona. Antone DeJesus is hitting .400 (10x40), Steven Hill at .429 (9x21) with six RBI and Bryan Cartie is hitting at .296 clip. Nick Derba, who is batting .166 this season, posted a .250 average (8x32) vs. Daytona, second to his .364 against Vero Beach.
CLOSING IT OUT: Francisco Samuel tied for the league lead in saves with 29 (Adalberto Mendez, Jupiter) making him the third closer in four years to earn the FSL save title (Mark Worrell, 2005 & Mike Sillman, 2006). Both of those seasons the Cardinals made the playoffs. Samuel was also honored as a member of the 2008 Florida State League post-season team as a relief pitcher. He appeared in five games (2-0, 1.23 ERA, 1 SV) at Quad Cities (A) before being called up to Palm Beach on April 22. Samuel is the first relief pitcher to lead Palm Beach in strikeouts (85) for the season and is tied for third (Luke Gregerson, 2007) with 29 saves.
AROUND THE CARDINALS ORGANIZATION: ST. LOUIS (MLB, 74-64, 3rd) hit four home runs but lost to Arizona 8-6. Stephen Drew hit for the cycle for the Diamondbacks. Albert Pujols hit his 30th home run of the season, while Felipe Lopez (#3) was 3-for-5 and hit his first homer as a member of the Cardinals ... MEMPHIS (AAA, 75-67, 2nd) defeated Oklahoma (Rangers) 4-2. Mitchell Boggs (W, 9-3) threw seven innings allowing just three hits with six strikeouts for the win. Jason Motte picked up his ninth save and was called up to St. Louis following the game ... SPRINGFIELD (AA, 40-30, 2nd) lost to Arkansas (Angels) 3-2. Justin FIske threw 6.2 scoreless innings allowing two hits in a no decision. SEASON COMPLETE ... QUAD CITIES (A, 35-35, 5th) was shutout by Wisconsin (Mariners) 5-0. Domnit Bolivar recorded the River Bandits lone hit as Michael Pineda struck out 14 in a complete game shutout for the Timber Rattlers. SEASON COMPLETE ... BATAVIA (A-SS, 43-26, 1st) blasted State College (Pirates) 13-0. Scott Gorgen (W, 4-2) threw five scoreless innings for the win. Colt Sedbrook was 3-for-6 with an RBI while Jermaine Curtis was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. The Muckdogs hold a 1.5 game lead over Jamestown (Marlins) with five to play ... JOHNSON CITY (R-SS, 36-30, 2nd) SEASON COMPLETE ... GCL CARDINALS (17-38, 5th) SEASON COMPLETE.