McGee's Walk-Off Home Run Gives Palm Beach 11-10 Victory over Fort Myers on Sunday Afternoon

W: Samuel Fabian (1-0)

L: Hunter Hoopes (0-1, BS, 1)

Sv: None

JUPITER, FL – The Palm Beach Cardinals (2-1) take the opening series against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (1-2) thanks to Cade McGee's walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Cardinals the 11-10 victory on Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Palm Beach starting pitcher Braden Davis and Fort Myers starting pitcher Michael Ross made their professional debuts. After two scoreless innings to begin the game, the Mighty Mussels got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning thanks to a solo home run by Daniel Peña to give Fort Myers a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals answered with a solo home run of their own in the bottom of the frame with Jose Cordoba smacking his first of the season and the score was 1-1 after three innings.

Fort Myers bounced right back in the top of the fourth inning as Dameury Peña launched a solo home run which gave the Mussels a 2-1 lead.

Both pitching staffs settled into the ballgame in the middle innings as Davis finished his professional debut with a no-decision and tossed four innings and allowed two runs, walked two batters, and tallied six strikeouts.

The Palm Beach offense came to life in the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners at first and second base, Won-Bin Cho delivered a RBI fielder's choice to tie the game. Two batters later, Josh Kross smacked a two-RBI triple to give the Cardinals their first lead since Opening Night at a score of 5-2. The Beach Birds added two more runs to extend the lead thanks to a two-run home run by Cho off of the left field foul pole and made it 7-2.

However, in the top of the eighth inning, Palm Beach pitchers surrendered five walks and the defense committed four errors which led to Fort Myers regaining the lead at 8-7. The Mighty Mussels added two more runs in the top of the ninth on more walks and another.

There was no quit in the Cardinals' offense going into the bottom of the ninth inning against Hunter Hoopes on the mound for Fort Myers. After the first three batters reached base to start the frame, Jonathan Mejia drove in a run on a RBI groundout. Cordoba scored on a wild pitch to get the Beach Birds within one run. Then, McGee blasted his second home run of the season to give the Cardinals their first walk-off win of the season by a final score of 11-10.

Despite the win, the Cardinals surrendered 12 walks as a pitching staff and also committed five errors on defense. However, the offense only left two men on base and went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Angel Cuenca made his season debut on the mound for Palm Beach and tossed three shutout innings with just two walks and four strikeouts in a no-decision.

Palm Beach hits the road to take on the Bradenton Marauders for six games beginning on Tuesday, April 8th with first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m. from LECOM Park. Palm Beach will play their next home game at Holman Stadium in Vero Beach, Florida to celebrate "Jackie Robinson Day" and take on the Clearwater Threshers before finishing up that series in Jupiter.

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.