Cardinals Literally Walk Off to Victory over Hammerheads 8-7 in 10 Innings Tuesday Night

JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (15-13) literally walk-it-off against the Jupiter Hammerheads (13-15) as Anyelo Encarnacion walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in the tenth inning in the series opener on Tuesday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. For Palm Beach, they snapped a season-high five-game losing streak and earn their second walk-off victory of the season.

The Cardinals scored first in the bottom of the first inning. Jonathan Mejia led off the inning with a ground-rule double off of Hammerheads starting pitcher Eury Perez. Josh Kross followed him two batters later with a single to put runners on the corners. Then, a passed ball committed by Jupiter catcher Victor Ortega allowed Mejia to score. Later, a pair of walks loaded the bases for Christian Martin who hit a ground ball to Hammerheads first baseman Julio Henriquez who threw to home plate. However, his throw pulled Ortega off the plate which allowed Kross to score to stretch the Cardinals lead to 2-0 after the first inning.

Perez finished his major league rehab start with just 1/3 of an inning and two runs allowed on two walks and two hits with no strikeouts in a no-decision.

After a scoreless second inning, the Hammerheads got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning. Ian Lewis started the inning with a hard-hit double off the left field wall. Later in the inning, Abrahan Ramirez hit a slow grounder towards Mejia at second base. Mejia’s throw to first went wide and the error brought Lewis home to cut the Palm Beach lead to 2-1 after the top of the third inning.

Palm Beach starting pitcher Drew Rom finished his second rehab appearance by allowing just unearned run over three innings and allowed two hits with four strikeouts in a no-decision.

The Cardinals got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two runners on, Mejia smacked an RBI single to left field to score Martin to extend the Palm Beach lead to 3-1.

Meanwhile, Braden Davis came out of the Palm Beach bullpen and provided bulk innings. However, he ran into trouble in the top of the sixth inning. After a leadoff walk to Andrew Salas, Dillon Head launched his second home run of the season, a two-run home run to right field, to tie the ballgame at 3-3.

Jupiter took their first lead of the game in the top of the seventh inning aided by five walks by Palm Beach pitching and eventually led 5-3.

However, the Beach Birds showed resiliency in the bottom of the frame. Aided by two errors, Jose Suarez drove in Mejia on an RBI single and Cade McGee smacked a two-RBI double to put Palm Beach back on top 6-5.

In the top of the eighth, the pendulum swung back in favor of the Hammerheads. With Andres Valor at third base, Ortega hit an RBI single to tie the game 6-6.

After no one scored in the ninth inning, the game went to extra innings. For Palm Beach, it was their second extra-inning game while it was the first for Jupiter.

In the top of the tenth inning off of Sam Broderson (W, 1-3), Head was the placed runner and scored thanks to a wild pitch and a passed ball to make it 7-6. That was the only base runner Jupiter had in the frame.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, Martin drove in the placed-runner Suarez to tie the game. Later, with bases loaded and one out, Encarnacion challenged strike two and the call was overturned to draw a walk to give the Cardinals the 8-7 victory in 10 innings. It is the second walk-off win of the year for Palm Beach.

The “Dual of the Dean” continues with game two on Wednesday, May 7^th with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Click here to purchase your tickets.

All fans 55 and up and become a member of the “Silver Sluggers” package which gets members a ticket to every Wednesday Florida State League game, an official “Silver Sluggers” T-shirt, a free hot dog, a free soda, and a chance to win prizes in baseball bingo. Click here to purchase the “Silver Sluggers” membership.

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.