Cabell’s Clout Helps Cards Clip Tortugas, 5-3

September 1, 2022 – Florida State League (FSL) – Daytona Tortugas News Release

JUPITER, Fla. – 3B Braylin Minier garnered a pair of singles and drove in two in the top of the seventh to give Daytona the lead. However, DH Elijah Cabell’s three-run home run for Palm Beach in the bottom of the inning proved to be the difference, as the Cardinals withstood the Daytona Tortugas, 5-3, on Thursday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Scoreless through two, Daytona (19-36, 48-72) jumped in front first. LF Blake Dunn (1-3, 2 R, BB, SO) scorched a single to left to start the inning and, two pitches later, 1B Wendell Marrero (1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, SO) whacked a double over the leaping glove of the first baseman. Dunn chugged around to score from first, giving the Tortugas a 1-0 edge, but Marrero was thrown out trying to stretch the double into a triple.

Daytona nursed the one-run advantage until Palm Beach (33-23, 63-57) tied it up in the bottom of the sixth. Following a pitching change, Cabell (1-2, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, BB, SO) coaxed a leadoff walk, but a line drive to left and a ground ball to second only advanced the runner to second. RF Joshua Báez (2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 SO) provided a big extra-base hit for the third-straight day, keeping a double just fair down the left-field line. Cabell scored on the two-bagger to knot it at one.

In the top of the seventh, the Tortugas found an answer. Daytona had the bases empty and two out, but three-straight walks to DH Cade Hunter (0-3, R, BB, SO), Dunn, and Marrero loaded the bases and forced a call to the bullpen.

On the seventh pitch of his battle, Minier (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 SO) stung a worm burner up the middle that was corralled by the shortstop to his left. In an attempt to rush the throw, the infielder dropped the ball. Two runs scored on the 105 mph infield single, gracing Daytona with a 3-1 advantage.

The lead did not last, though. C Jimmy Crooks (1-4, R, 2B, SO) and 2B Brody Moore (2-4, R, 2B, RBI) powered consecutive doubles to start the bottom of the seventh for the Cardinals, quickly trimming the Tortugas’ lead to one, 3-2.

Following 3B Michael Curialle’s (1-4, R, 2 SO) one-out single that placed men at the corners, Cabell stepped in and jumped ahead in the count quickly, 2-0. The Florida State University alum hammered the next offering at 110 mph beyond the right-center field wall for a three-run home run. Cabell’s three-run blast – his seventh of the year – snapped an 0-for-17 slide at the plate and put Palm Beach…