JUPITER, Fla. – The Palm Beach Cardinals (29-13, 61-51) scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to come back and defeat
the Fort Myers Miracle, 3 – 2. The Cardinals collected back-to-back hits to start the inning, resulting in their first lead of the
game. Starting pitcher, Nick Petree, led the Beach Birds on the mound, throwing eight innings to rack up the win.
It wasn’t until the home half of the sixth inning until the Cardinals scored their first run in this matchup. After leading off the
inning with a double, Breyvic Valera advanced two bases on two wild pitches to cut the Miracle’s lead in half. Luke Voit
doubled after those wild pitches, but was left stranded to end the inning.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Beach Birds found their momentum with a leadoff single by C.J. McElroy Jr. With Valera up
next, McElroy executed a hit and run, putting him on third after Valera’s single to left field. Brett Wiley hit a sacrifice fly deep
enough into left field to tie the game at two. With Collin Radack up to bat, Fort Myers’, Trevor Hildenberger, threw a wild
pitch, giving Valera enough time to hustle all the way to third. With a man in scoring position, Radack hit the game winning
RBI to right field to put the Cardinals up 3 – 2.
Once the Cardinals took the lead, Josh Lucas was called from the bullpen to retire the last three batters of the game. Petree
pitched eight innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with one walk and one strikeout. Lucas struck out the first two
batters he faced, but issued a walk to Marcus Knecht. Ryan Walker stepped to the plate as the Miracle’s last hope but hit into a
fielder’s choice, ending the game and securing the win for Palm Beach.
Fort Myers got on the board in the top of the first scoring one run on two hits and an error. Petree found himself in a bases
loaded jam, but limited the damage to just one run. In the top of the sixth, Petree walked Aderling Mejia with two outs with
Mitch Garver up next. Garver doubled to left center field to put them ahead 2 – 0.
The Beach Birds will go on a six game road trip starting on Monday, August 10, with a three game series against the Charlotte
Stone Crabs. After that series, the Cardinals will head to Fort Myers to meet up with the Miracle for another three game series.
Palm Beach will return to Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday, August 16, to play a four game series with the Jupiter
Hammerheads.
