HAMMERHEADS END LOSING STREAK WITH TOUGH VICTORY OVER ST. LUCIE

 

May 3, 2005 - JUPITER, FL- The steady rain and thunder provided a fitting backdrop for tonight?s contest between the Jupiter Hammerheads and St. Lucie Mets, a contest Jupiter would go on to win by a score of 4-3. In what was a gritty affair, the Hammerheads ended their four game losing skid and earned their first win in the month of May. They climbed back to the .500 mark on the season, evening their record to 13-13.

 

James Russ was outstanding again in his 6th appearance of the season, but was not credited with the win. Russ pitched 7 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 8, including a strikeout of the side to end his night in the 7th. St. Lucie starter Vincent Cordova was equal to the task. Cordova allowed no runs on only 2 hits through six. He would allow 3 unearned runs in the bottom of the 7th.

 

It looked like Russ might get the win after the Hammerheads scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th. In that inning with one out, Reggie Abercrombie tripled off Cordova to right-center. Frank Moore came up next and hit a bouncing ball to first baseman Brett Harper. Harper elected to come home with the throw, as catcher Yunir Garcia was blocking the plate. Garcia fielded the throw and was steamrolled by Abercrombie who was running hard from third. Garcia could not hold on to the ball, and Abercrombie scored as Garcia was shaken up and removed from the game. He left the field on his own power, but was later taken to the hospital. His condition is unknown at this time. Randel moved to second when the ball rolled away from Garcia, and took third on a passed ball. The very next play, Lee Mitchell hit a grounder to second that looked eerily similar to the one hit by Randel, which resulted in the collision. The throw again came home to new St. Lucie catcher Tony Piazza. Though Piazza was blocking the plate, Randel elected to slide, getting around Piazza?s tag for another Jupiter run. Following a pitching change that brought in Anderson Garcia (L, 1-2), Mitchell would steal second, take third on a wild pitch, and score on an Andy Rohleder groundout.

 

Matt Overman (W, 3-0) came on to pitch the top of the 8th, an inning that saw St. Lucie tie the game on 2 infield singles, 2 walks and 2 sacrifices.

 

In the bottom of the 8th, with the score knotted at 3-3, the Hammerheads would load the bases off Garcia and bring in 1 run when Lee Mitchell drew a walk with the bases loaded. Garcia would strand the bases loaded after that, getting Rohleder and Tony Arnerich to foul out to first.

 

Kevin Cave came on to shut the door in the top of the 9th, earning his 6th save on the season. The same teams will play again tomorrow night at Roger Dean Stadium at 7:05 p.m.

 

:thumbup

ahem Malman..

 

Hammer Time refers to Josh Willingham

 

ahem Malman..

 

Hammer Time refers to Josh Willingham

 

762624[/snapback]

 

Ha! Sorry my bad...should have read Hammerhead Time!

 

:whistle