The Palm Beach Cardinals lost 5-3 to the Jupiter Hammerheads on Aug. 4, 2026, in the Florida State League series opener at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter. The result gave Jupiter a 10-9 lead in the regular-season series. Palm Beach entered the game with a 19-17 second-half record and a 52-50 overall record, while Jupiter entered at 13-23 in the second half and 50-52 overall.
Jupiter Takes the Lead in the Third
Sebastian Dos Santos hit his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning to give the Palm Beach Cardinals a 1-0 lead. Jupiter answered against Palm Beach starter Payton Graham in the third inning, when Jacob Lombard hit his first professional home run. Cam Kozeal later scored on an error by Dos Santos, and Victor Ortega hit a sacrifice fly as the Jupiter Hammerheads moved ahead 3-1.
Palm Beach responded in the bottom of the third inning. Alex Birge reached on an error, and Yairo Padilla followed with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 3-2. Echedry Vargas restored Jupiter’s two-run advantage in the fourth inning with a two-run home run, his team-leading 15th of the season.
Palm Beach Bullpen Keeps the Game Close
Graham took the loss after pitching four innings and allowing five runs on six hits. He allowed two home runs, walked four batters and struck out one. Brian Garmon II made his professional debut in the fifth inning and pitched a scoreless frame with one strikeout.
Dallis Moran also made his professional debut, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings with one walk and two strikeouts. Liam Best followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings and allowed one hit. Palm Beach loaded the bases and brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the fifth inning but did not score.
Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short
Palm Beach mounted a late threat in the ninth inning. Dos Santos drew a walk and later scored when Padilla hit his second RBI double of the game, cutting the deficit to 5-3. Ryan Mitchell then walked to put the tying run on base, but Samuel Carpio struck out Miguel Hernandez to end the game and earn his fifth save.
The Palm Beach Cardinals and Jupiter Hammerheads will play the second game of the six-game series Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 6:30 p.m. at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Source: Original report