News | Port St. Lucie

Palm Beach Cardinals Defeat St. Lucie Mets 6-1 at Jupiter Ballpark

August 23, 2025
10:01 pm

The Palm Beach Cardinals secured a 6-1 victory over the St. Lucie Mets on Saturday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, strengthening their position in the ongoing series. This matchup between the Cardinals and Mets is a highlight of the Minor League Baseball season in Jupiter, drawing attention from fans across the Treasure Coast.

Palm Beach Cardinals vs. St. Lucie Mets: Game Highlights

The latest game between the Palm Beach Cardinals and St. Lucie Mets was marked by strong pitching and timely defense. The Cardinals’ pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts, effectively limiting the Mets’ offense to just one run on five hits. This performance was crucial in slowing down a Mets lineup that had scored 31 runs in the first four games of the series. In a previous contest, the St. Lucie Mets fell to the Palm Beach Cardinals 3-1, showcasing the Cardinals’ ability to control the game on the mound.

Pitching Dominance by Palm Beach Cardinals

Four Cardinals pitchers contributed to the win. Tanner Franklin, a recent St. Louis competitive balance draft pick, made his professional debut with two scoreless innings and four strikeouts. Bernard Mack followed with 3.2 innings, also striking out four and earning the win. Alan Reyes pitched 2.1 innings, recording seven strikeouts for all his outs. Charles Harrison closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning, stranding two Mets runners and securing the victory in a non-save situation.

St. Lucie Mets’ Early Struggles

The Mets started with Oliver Ortega on the mound for a minor league rehab assignment. Ortega faced early trouble, loading the bases on a walk, single, and hit batter. Despite retiring the next three batters, two runs scored on a groundout by Cameron Nickens and a sacrifice fly by Christian Martin. Earlier in the series, the Mets narrowly lost 3-2 to the Cardinals at Clover Park, highlighting the competitive nature of these matchups.

Key Moments and Errors Impacting the Game

Defensive miscues played a significant role in the fourth inning. Mets reliever Daviel Hurtado and third baseman Mitch Voit each committed errors, allowing two unearned runs for the Cardinals. Nickens scored from first on a comebacker that was thrown away by Hurtado, extending the Cardinals’ lead to 3-0. Ryan Weingartner added another run with a ground out, making it 4-0.

Mets’ Response and Missed Opportunities

The Mets responded in the sixth inning when Yonatan Henriquez hit a two-out RBI double, narrowing the gap to 4-1. The Mets had runners on second and third, but Alan Reyes struck out AJ Salgado to end the inning and prevent further damage. The Mets have had several close games this series, including a 5-4 loss to the Palm Beach Cardinals that came down to the final innings.

Late Innings: Cardinals Extend Lead

The Palm Beach Cardinals added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings, putting the game out of reach. Henriquez finished the night 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and RBI for the Mets. Hurtado pitched four innings for St. Lucie, allowing two runs but no earned runs. Layonel Ovalles closed out the game for the Mets with 1.1 scoreless innings, lowering his season ERA to 1.54.

Series Standings and Next Game

Despite the loss, the St. Lucie Mets continue to lead the series 3-2. The six-game series concludes on Sunday afternoon at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 12:30 p.m. The Mets hold a 70-48 overall record (36-17 in the second half), while the Cardinals are at 57-60 (25-27 in the second half).

Location: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter, FL
Date: August 23, 2025
Final Score: Palm Beach Cardinals 6, St. Lucie Mets 1
Series Status: Mets lead 3-2

Frequently Asked Questions About Palm Beach Cardinals vs. St. Lucie Mets

What was the final score between the Palm Beach Cardinals and St. Lucie Mets?

The Palm Beach Cardinals defeated the St. Lucie Mets 6-1 on August 23, 2025, at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter.

Where do the Palm Beach Cardinals and St. Lucie Mets play their games?

The Palm Beach Cardinals and St. Lucie Mets played this game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The Mets usually play home games at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie.

How many strikeouts did Palm Beach Cardinals pitchers record?

Palm Beach Cardinals pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts during the game, holding the Mets to just one run.

Who made his professional debut for the Palm Beach Cardinals?

Tanner Franklin, a St. Louis competitive balance draft pick, made his professional debut for the Palm Beach Cardinals, pitching two scoreless innings and striking out four batters.