Jupiter Falls to Tampa 10-5 in Series Opener on Tuesday Night

JUPITER, FL – The Jupiter Hammerheads (23-30; 60-59) fell to the Tampa Tarpons (34-19; 70-49) by a final score of 10-5 on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

The Hammerheads got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning off of Tampa starting pitcher Sabier Marte when Echedry Vargas crushed his 23^rd home run of the season, a solo home run to left field, to make it a 1-0 Jupiter lead after one inning.

PJ Morlando led off the bottom of the second inning with an opposite-field solo home run, his ninth home run of the season, to extend the Hammerheads’ lead. After Luis Cova hit a single, stole second base, and advanced to third base on a disengagement violation, Jake McCutcheon drove in Cova on an RBI groundout as the Hammerheads took a 3-0 lead after two innings.

Jupiter starting pitcher Jonas Uzcategui cruised through his first three innings on the mound. However, in the top of the fourth inning, Tampa got on the scoreboard for the first time. With one out and the bases loaded, Anthony Potestio drew an RBI walk to cut the Jupiter lead to 3-1. The Hammerheads turned an inning-ending double play to limit further damage in the inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, Tampa started to rally. With runners at first and second base and no outs, Blake Cyr hit an RBI single. Two batters later, after Uzcategui exited the game with 4 1/3 innings pitched, Luis De La Cruz allowed a single to Yostin Peña and Andres Valor committed a fielding error which allowed the tying run to score at 3-3. Jupiter escaped more trouble and left the bases loaded.

Jupiter provided a response immediately in the bottom of the fifth inning. Carlos Sanchez led off with a double to right field. Three batters later with two outs, Vargas launched his second home run of the game, his 24^th home run of the season, to give the Hammerheads a 5-3 lead after five innings. Vargas tied Marcell Ozuna’s franchise record for home runs in a season set in 2012 and recorded his fourth two-home run game of the 2026 season.

Tampa got a run back in the top of the sixth inning on a two-out, RBI double by Blake Cyr to make it a 5-4 Jupiter lead. Hamlet Garcia (L, 0-1; H, 1) entered the game for the top of the seventh inning. Garcia retired the first two outs but was pulled after issuing two walks and a hit-by-pitch. Davidxon Lara (BS, 2) entered the game for the final out but threw two wild pitches to score two runs and put the Tarpons ahead by a 6-5 score.

Tampa added one four more runs in the top of the eighth inning against Yohanfer Santana. After a wild pitch scored a run, Luke Pettitte hit a three-run home run to put the Tarpons ahead 10-5.

The Hammerheads’ offense was shut down after the fifth inning and could not overcome the late deficit as Jupiter lost 10-5 to Tampa on Tuesday night.

Vargas finished 3-for-4 with two home runs accounting for three RBIs. Yenfri Sosa pitched the final four outs for Jupiter on the mound and did not allow a run while striking out one hitter.

Game two of this six-game series between Jupiter and Tampa takes place on Wednesday, August 26 with first pitch scheduled for 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.