Cardinals Split Series with Threshers after 4-2 Defeat Sunday Afternoon

JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (9-5) could not win their third-straight series to begin 2025 as they fell to the Clearwater Threshers (9-6) by a final score of 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The Cardinals are now 2-0-1 in series to start the season.

In a rematch of Tuesday’s game which took place at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, Brandt Thompson made the start on the mound for Palm Beach against Luke Gabrysh for Clearwater.

Palm Beach got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning as Josh Kross launched his league-leading 5^th home run, a solo home run to left field, and the Cardinals led 1-0 after two innings.

But Clearwater responded with two runs on three hits in the top of the third inning against Thompson to give the Threshers a 2-1 lead.

After the top of the third inning, both pitching staffs settled into the ballgame with a bunch of zeroes on the scoreboard. Thompson finished his start with four innings pitched and two runs allowed while he tallied three strikeouts and earned a no-decision.

For Clearwater, Gabrysh went just two innings with just the one run allowed. Clearwater relief pitcher Jake Eddington provided 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Gabrysh.

With Clearwater ahead 2-1, the Cardinals finally broke through on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh inning. With Jonathan Mejia on first base with a single and two outs, Nathan Church smacked an RBI double down the right field line to tie the ballgame at 2-2.

However, like earlier in the game, the Threshers answered immediately in the next half inning. With two runners on base and one out against Palm Beach relief pitcher Samuel Fabian (L,0-1), Joel Dragoo hit a two-RBI double to put Clearwater ahead with a 4-2 score.

The Cardinals could not come complete the comeback and fell to the Threshers by the 4-2 score on Sunday afternoon and settled for the series split.

Kross ended Sunday leading the Florida State League in home runs (5), RBIs (19), hits (16), and several other offensive categories.

The Palm Beach Cardinals stay in Jupiter as the road team against the Jupiter Hammerheads in the first “Dual of the Dean” of the 2025 season. The six-game series begins on Tuesday, April 22^nd with first pitch at 6:30 p.m. Every Tuesday is a “2-for-1 Tuesday” where all fans can enjoy two reserved box tickets for the price of one ($15). 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.