Cardinals Open 2025 with 8-2 Victory Over Mighty Mussels

W: Aaron Holiday (1-0)

L: Eli Jones (0-1)

Sv: Michael Watson (1)

JUPITER, FL – Picking up right where they left off in 2024, the Palm Beach Cardinals (1-0) find themselves in the win column with a 8-2 victory over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (0-1) on Opening Night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

After two and a half scoreless frames to begin the game, the Cardinals got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third inning. With Anyelo Encarnacion at second base with a walk and a steal, Jonathan Mejia drilled a RBI triple to centerfield for his first hit and RBI with Palm Beach. Won-Bin Cho followed that with a RBI single of his own which put Palm Beach ahead 2-0.

Fort Myers answered back in the top of the fourth inning. After Palm Beach starting pitcher Leonel Sequera, was taken out of the game, an inherited runner came into score on a RBI single by Jefferson Valladares to make it a 2-1 game. However, the Beach Birds answered back with a RBI double by Christian Martin to put the Cardinals ahead 3-1. Palm Beach added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to a Jose Suarez RBI single to extend the lead to 4-1.

Sequera finished his start with 3 2/3 innings and one earned run with two strikeouts.

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Mussels chipped away at the lead with Dameury Pena scoring on a wild pitch to make it a 4-2 game. Once again, Palm Beach responded and Luis Pino off the bench tallied an RBI single putting the Cardinals ahead 5-2. The Beach Birds added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth, led by Encarnacion's solo home run to right field, to make it 8-2. Michael Watson tossed two shutout innings to close the door on a Friday night victory in Jupiter, Florida.

Mejia, Pino, Suarez, Martin, and Cade McGee each had two hits while Encarnacion led the game with three runs scored.

Palm Beach looks for a series win on Saturday, April 5th at 6:00 p.m. The Cardinals celebrate their 2024 Florida State League Championship with the replica ring giveaway presented by Business Technology Solutions of South Florida given to the first 500 fans. 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.