No team in the St. Louis Cardinals’ organization is on as much of a hot streak right now as the Palm Beach Cardinals (A-Advanced). Thanks to Oscar Mercado‘s night, in which he went 2-4 at the plate, the Cardinals defeated the Daytona Tortugas 2-1 to improve to 6-1 on the season.
Jack Flaherty pitched his second start of the 2016 season on Wednesday night, and threw five innings. He gave up six hits, striking out one and walking one. He also was charged with one unearned run on the evening, but overall had a successful night on the mound.
After scoreless first and second innings, the Cardinals struck first in the bottom of the third inning. Mercado reached after a lead-off triple, bringing up Danny Diekroeger, who extended his six-game hitting streak by singling Mercado home.
Daytona came back in the fifth inning to tie up the game. Jonathan Reynoso originally laid down a bunt to the pitcher Flaherty, but it ended up being thrown down the right field line, which in turn allowed Reynoso to reach third. He would later score on a Blake Trahan sacrifice fly to make it a 1-1 game. Luckily for Flaherty, that would be the only run surrendered in both the inning, and in the game.
In the bottom half of the seventh inning, Palm Beach was finally able to break the tie. Jake Erhet first walked Nick Thompson to start off the inning. Blake Drake then stepped up to the plate, and following a pop-out, allowed Thompson to make it to second base. Mikey Reynolds then singled, putting runners on the corners, bringing up Mercado once again. And Mercado grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Thompson, and giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead, which they held onto for the remainder of the game.
Kyle Grana, Michael Heesh and Kyle Herget pitched three shutout innings, with the latter of the three getting his third save of the season.
On Thursday, Austin Gomber will get his second start of the year for Palm Beach. Daytona will send Keury Mella to the mound.
