Brian Holiday's Stellar Outing Not Enough in Cardinals' 2-1 Loss to Hammerheads on Wednesday Night

JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (19-18; 52-51) fell to the Jupiter Hammerheads (14-23; 51-52) by a final score of 2-1 on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

After a one-hour and 31-minute delay, the game started as a pitchers’ duel between Palm Beach starting pitcher Brian Holiday and Jupiter starting pitcher Manuel Genao. Both starting pitchers held the offenses off the scoreboard through the first five innings. In those first five innings, Palm Beach had six hits and left four men on base while Jupiter had only one baserunner thanks to a dropped third strikeout and wild pitch.

Holiday surrendered his first two hits of the game in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, Holiday was lifted and Yadiel Batista came in to pitch out of the Cardinals’ bullpen for the final out. Cam Kozeal hit his first career professional hit on a single to right field, but Ryan Mitchell threw out Jeremy Almonte at home plate trying to score the first run of the game to end the inning. For Mitchell, it was his fifth outfield assist of the season.

For Holiday, it was his best career start as he finished with a career-high 5 2/3 scoreless innings and a career-high 12 strikeouts in a no-decision.

In the top of the eighth inning, Jupiter finally broke the scoreless tie against Yadiel Batista (L, 4-3). Josh Houge walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third base on an error and later scored on an RBI single by Jacob Lombard.

The Hammerheads added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning. Andres Valor hit a one-out single and later scored on a wild pitch to give Jupiter a 2-0 lead.

Ian Medina (W, 3-1) pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings for Jupiter.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Davidxon Lara (SV, 1) returned to the mound for his second inning of work. He issued a walk and allowed a single, with one run eventually scoring on Cristofer Lebron’s sacrifice fly to left field, which cut the Jupiter lead down to one run. However, J.P. Cabrera flew out to left field to end the game and the Hammerheads a 2-1 victory.

Game three of the final “Duel of the Dean” series between the Cardinals and Hammerheads takes place on Thursday, August 6 with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. 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.