Palm Beach Gardens Scores Three Late Runs In 6-1 Win Over Suncoast

James Jean was 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

Palm Beach Gardens defeated Suncoast 6-1 on Wednesday night in a game that was much in doubt until the final frame.

Through six innings, the Suncoast Chargers had surrendered 12 hits to the Palm Beach Gardens Gators, but only three runs.

Gardens came out of the gate firing with a bloop single to left field by Nick Gallo. Next up, Zion Bell hit a hard grounder to second that was misplayed and allowed him to reach base safely. Suncoast starter David Corn then settled down and retired three of the next four batters to escape the first inning unscathed.

To start the second inning for Palm Beach Gardens, catcher James Jean laid a bunt single down the third-base line. With the hit-and-run on, Nick Oberg hit a grounder to the right side of the infield that found a gap and advanced the runners to second and third with none out. Two batters later, a Zion Bell walk loaded the bases for Jean Cancio. Cancio stroked a single to left that plated James Jean for the game’s first run, but left fielder Cheine Gamonez gunned down Oberg at home as he tried to score on the play.

On the mound for Palm Beach Gardens, JJ Schwartz made his first start back from injury. Although he was on a pitch count — Schwartz threw only 27 pitches — he was efficient and effective as Gardens built a 1-0 lead through two innings. The Suncoast Chargers were able to tally two infield hits in the second from Calvin Page and Justin Walker, but a failed hit-and-run led to Page being caught stealing third. Schwartz was able to force a groundout to end the inning.

Again in the fourth, the one-two punch of James Jean and Nick Oberg set the table for the Gators with a walk and a single, respectively. After a successful sacrifice bunt, Nick Gallo hit a single down the left field line that drove in Jean from third. However, Oberg was caught in a rundown between third and home, and likewise, Gallo was caught between second and third. It was definitely not the most textbook double play, but it was good enough for the Chargers to end the threat while surrendering only one run.

Gardens added another in the top of the fifth to make it 3-0 on a JJ Schwartz sacrifice fly to right and a close play at home.

Suncoast scored its lone run in the bottom of the fifth. Calvin Page reached on an error and put himself in scoring postion by stealing second. With two out, Cheine Gamonez delivered the RBI single off Gardens reliever Rick Testa.

In the sixth, Braden Hartigan came on in relief for Suncoast starter David Corn. Hartigan worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth but gave up three runs in the seventh to the unrelenting Gators lineup.

Despite the loss, Suncoast head coach BJ Gilbert was pleased with the progress his team is making.

“I’m pretty satisfied with the outcome of [the game],” Gilbert said. “We all know Palm Beach Gardens has a pretty good team. We played them well for five innings. I’m proud of my boys in general. This is a team people are going to start having to think about. We’re not just the smart boys anymore. We’re playing ball now.”

The Chargers’ offense couldn’t get much going with only four hits and a walk on the night. However, the defense came up with two big outfield assists, two double plays, and only one error on the night. Meanwhile, Corn pitched five innings and gave up just three runs in the start.

Palm Beach Gardens head coach Joe Russo was also fairly pleased with his team’s effort.

“I thought we played a really solid game all the way around and we pitched well,” Russo said. “But I asked the guys, ‘What’s the one thing we didn’t do tonight?’ and they immediately said situational hitting. We know that’s something we can’t do.”

Fortunately for the Gators, they had ample opportunities on this night and scored enough to get the job done. James Jean was 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI.

Calvin Page led the way for Suncoast, going 1-for-3 with a stolen base, and a run. He also reached base on the Gators’ lone error.

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