4/10/13

St. Lucie 4, Palm Beach 0


JUPITER, FL- The Palm Beach Cardinals were unable to get a run across the plate Tuesday night, falling to St. Lucie 4-0 at Roger Dean Stadium.

The Mets move to 5-0 on the year after an impressive pitching outing from the 23-year-old, Dominican native, Luis Mateo (6.2 IP, 4H, 0ER, 2BB). Despite giving up two straight singles to start the game, Mateo managed to leave the inning unscathed courtesy of a rather unorthodox triple play. The play was scored as L6-6-4-3. Stephen Piscotty hit a rope to the shortstop that appeared to bounce, causing the base runners to advance. However, the umpire saw differently, signaling a catch and St. Lucie proceeded to turn the 6-4-3 for the second and third outs of the inning.

St. Lucie scored their first run in the forth, DH Dustin Lawley (2-4 2B) lined a 1-out double down the left field line for the Mets first hit of the game. Palm Beach starter, Travis Miller, looked as if he would get out of the inning scot-free as he forced Mets LF Travis Taijeron to ground into what looked like would be the third out of the inning. Unfortunately, 3B Tyler Rahmatulla botched the grounder resulting in a 1-0 nothing lead for St. Lucie. 

The game remained 1-0 until the sixth when the Mets batters opened the flood gates on Palm Beach reliever, Jonathan Cornelius. To the apprehension of the Cardinals dugout, Cornelius gave up five consecutive singles to start the inning without recording an out. Reliever Jose Almarante was able to extinguish the threat, striking out two and inducing a fly out to end the inning.

The Mets would hold on to the 4-0 nothing lead securing the shutout for their fifth consecutive win.

Offensively for Palm Beach, James Ramsey (2-4), Colin Walsh (2-3 2B, BB) and Stephen Piscotty (2-4) had themselves multi-hit nights. Shortstop Ronny Gil (1-3) broke out of his slump, recording his first hit of the season, a sharp line-drive over the second baseman's outstretched glove in the 8th.

Starting pitcher Travis Miller threw five innings, gave up one hit, zero earned runs, walked three, and struck out two St. Lucie batters. Relievers Jose Almarante and Brandon Creath were impressive, combing for 4IP, 0ER, 0BB and three strikeouts to wrap up the last four innings.

Palm Beach will continue their series against the Mets tomorrow, 6:35 p.m. at Roger Dean Stadium.

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