Cardinals Fall to Threshers 6-4 on Friday Night
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (8-5) dropped a 6-4 decision to the Clearwater Threshers (8-5) on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Cardinals were held to just one hit in the final four innings which prevented a potential comeback attempt. Jonathan Mejia went 2-for-5 at the
JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (8-5) dropped a 6-4 decision to the Clearwater Threshers (8-5) on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Cardinals were held to just one hit in the final four innings which prevented a potential comeback attempt. Jonathan Mejia went 2-for-5 at the leadoff spot while Anyelo Encarnacion drove in two runs.
Phillies top prospect Andrew Painter started the game for Clearwater in a rehab appearance and recorded four strikeouts in three shutout innings.
After a scoreless first inning, Clearwater got on the board in the top of the second inning. Braden Davis walked three to lead off the frame, Avery Owusu-Asiedu tagged a two-RBI double to left center field as the Threshers took a 2-0 lead. The Threshers tacked on another run in the third as Carter Mathison reached on a two-out walk (one of four walks issued by Davis in the game) and then Kodey Shojinaga ripped a single down the right field line to score Mathison from second to make it 3-0 in favor of Clearwater.
Palm Beach tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. They jumped on Threshers’ relief pitcher Marcus Morgan (W, 1-0) for three extra-base hits in the frame. Yordalin Pena started the inning with a double, then runs would score on a Jose Cordoba RBI triple and an Encarnacion RBI double. Morgan threw four wild pitches in the inning, one also which allowed Encarnacion to score to tie the game 3-3 after four innings.
The Threshers got an immediate response with three runs of their own in the top of the fifth inning. Palm Beach relief pitcher Sam Brodersen (L, 0-1) nearly escaped a jam after a leadoff single and walk, but a balk and two-out single from Shojinaga allowed both runners to score. Shojinaga went to second on a missed catch error, which proved to be pivotal as he came home on a Raider Tello single, and Clearwater took a 6-3 lead.
The Beach Birds rallied for another run in the bottom of the inning. They loaded the bases with one out, forcing Clearwater to turn to Jose Pena Jr. (H, 1) A run would score on an Encarnacion RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Both bullpens combined to put up zeros on the scoreboard for the final four innings of the ballgame. Joseph King, Christian Worley, and Jack Findlay got the job done for the Palm Beach pitching staff with four combined shutout frames. However, Clearwater relief pitchers Ryan Degges (H, 1) and Titan Hayes (SV, 3) each threw two scoreless innings to lock down the 6-4 win for the Threshers on Friday night.
Palm Beach and Clearwater continue this six-game series on Saturday, April 19th with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Every Saturday is a “Kids Club” Saturday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. All fans 15 and under can become part of the Kids Club membership which gets members a ticket to every Saturday game, free hot dog and soda, an official “Kids Club” T-shirt, and a chance to run the bases after the game. Click here to purchase your tickets.
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. This year-round facility can accommodate the smallest birthday party to the largest corporate outing, while never forgetting that each and every fan is our most important product.