PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (April 23, 2026) – The Palm Beach Cardinals scored in double figures for the second time in three games as they cruised to an 11-3 win over the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday at Clover Park. Palm Beach leads the series 2-1.
Yordalin Peña hit a sac fly for Palm Beach in the first inning and the Cardinals were off and running. They scored four more runs in the second inning off Mets starter Conner Ware. Christian Martin hit a RBI triple, Trevor Haskins followed with a sac fly and Heriberto Caraballo slugged a home run for a 5-0 lead.
Ware settled down and retired seven of his last nine batters but the damage was done.
JT Benson got the Mets on the board with a solo home run in the second inning. Benson finished 2 for 4 with the homer, a double and a diving catch in center field.
The Cardinals scored five runs over the last three innings against Mets reliever Joel Lara to ice the game.
Branny De Oleo hit a towering home run for the Mets in the bottom of the ninth for the game’s final run. It was his second homer of the season.
Mets reliever Christian Rodriguez pitched 1.2 innings after Ware and allowed one unearned run. It’s the only run Rodriguez has allowed in 10.1 innings this year and his ERA still sits at 0.00.
Elian Peña went 2 for 4 from the leadoff spot.
Cardinals starter Jack Martinez limited the Mets to one run over 4.2 innings. Dylan Driessan followed Martinez with a scoreless appearance over 1.1 innings to claim the win.
The Mets (9-9) and Cardinals (13-5) play the fourth game of their series at Clover Park on Friday. First pitch is 6:10 p.m. It’s Vets at the Mets. All veterans and active duty military receive free admission courtesy of LYNQ Real Estate.