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Palm Beach takes series opener from Tampa

May 13, 2019

Palm Beach carried it's momentum from a recent 4-2 road trip back to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in a 4-3 series opening victory over the Tampa Tarpons.Palm Beach got on the board in the first inning when Scott Hurst smacked a opposite-field home run that hit the foul pole. It would

Palm Beach carried it's momentum from a recent 4-2 road trip back to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in a 4-3 series opening victory over the Tampa Tarpons.
Palm Beach got on the board in the first inning when Scott Hurst smacked a opposite-field home run that hit the foul pole. 
It would remain a 1-0 game through the sixth when Angel Rondon allowed his only run of the night. Tampa's Welfrin Mateo hit a home run far over the left field fence to knot the game up at one. 
Rondon finished the night with seven innings pitched, allowing just that one run on two hits while striking out seven. Rondon lowered his season ERA to 2.04 through 39 2/3 innings and has allowed opposing hitters to just a .142 batting average against. 
The Cardinals scored three runs in the home half of the seventh inning to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Luken Baker got the frame started with a deep double and was moved to third on Julio Rodriguez's single. Yariel Gonzalez drove home Baker on an RBI double and Rodriguez would move to third. After two shallow pop outs to first base, Rayder Ascanio came up in the clutch with a two out, two RBI single. 
Tampa scored two more runs in the eighth to cut the defecit to just one run. With the tying run on first base, Ben Yokley induced an inning-ending groundout. 
Yokley returned to the mound in the ninth and allowed a hit but was able to work around the runner en route to his second save of the young season.
Hurst and Gonzalez both had two hits for Palm Beach with six different hitters recording a base hit. 
Angel Rondon has now gone four straight starts pitching 5+ innings, allowing two or less runs, and striking out at least four batters. After allowing 16 walks over his first 32 2/3 innings pitched, the 21-year-old did not walk a single batter in his seven innings on the hill during Monday's win. 
The Cardinals and Tarpons will square off again on Tuesday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Tickets and more information can be found at Rogerdeanchevroletstadium.com.