Cardinals Randy Arozarena (Photo by David Conde/Legends on Deck)
Editor’s Note:
There was a mistake in the original posting that stated the Cardinals won the North Division First half Crown, when it should have been South Division Crown. Mistake corrected.
Original Post:
In 2005, the Palm Beach Cardinals won their first and only Division and League titles. On Monday, with their magic number at just two, the St. Louis Cardinals Class-A Advanced affiliate split a doubleheader against the Charlotte Stone Crabs and a loss by the Bradenton Marauders gave the Cardinals their first Division Title in 12 years.
In the first game, the Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the second, and a run in the sixth and the pitching staff shutout the Stone Crabs on four hits, as starter Jake Woodford won his fifth game on the season after tossing six shutout innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Randy Arozarena, fresh off his Florida State League Home Run Derby victory, hit an RBI double in the first inning, driving in the first run of the game, then scored the second run ahead of a sac fly to center field off the bat of Danny Diekroeger. Palm Beach took game one, 3-0.
In the second game, both teams remained scoreless until the top of the fourth when the Stone Crabs added a five spot, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Jim Haley, an RBI single from Peter Maris III, an RBI double from Angel Moreno and a wild pitch from Cards Derian Gonzalez, allowing the fifth run to score.
On the mound, Charlotte’s starter Travis Ott earned his second win on the season after tossing a two-hit shutout, allowing just two walks and striking out seven batters in five innings of work. The Stone Crabs took game two, 5-0.
Just 2.5 games behind the Cardinals, the Marauders needed to win to keep their slim chance alive, but loss to the Clearwater Threshers 3-1.
Congrats to the Palm Beach Cardinals on their South Division First Half Crown.
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