PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (May 21, 2026) – The Palm Beach Cardinals scored eight runs in the fifth inning to take the lead and cruise to an 18-6 victory over the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday night at Clover Park. Palm Beach went up 2-1 in the series.
It was a tough night for Mets pitching, as the staff combined to walk a season-high 15 batters. The Mets entered the fifth inning holding a 3-2 lead but the Cardinals sent 14 batters to the plate against three different pitchers and scored eight runs to take a 10-3 lead.
Five batters drew walks in the inning. Yordalin Pena tied the game 3-3 with a RBI single. Later in the inning with the bases loaded Heriberto Caraballo hit a soft infield single that was picked up by pitcher Joe Charles and thrown away down the right field line. The bases cleared and the Cardinals led 6-3. Two batters later Facundo Velasquez hit a two-run double to make it 8-3. A RBI infield single and a bases loaded walk concluded the scoring.
The Mets threatened to get back in the game in the bottom of the fifth. Kevin Villavicencio hit a RBI ground out and Julio Zayas drew a bases-loaded walk with one out to make it 10-5. However, Jake Shelagowski struck out Sam Robertson and Francisco Toledo to end the threat.
Carabello put the game on ice for the Cardinals with a grand slam off Jorge De Leon in the seventh inning to make it 15-5. The Cardinals added three more in the ninth when Villavicencio was called in from left field to pitch. Villavicencio did strike out Pena to end the inning.
The Mets got a big day at the plate from designated hitter Yohairo Cuevas, who went 3 for 3 with a triple, double, single and walk. The Mets lost the DH when Villavicencio pitched and AJ Salgado entered in left field so there was not going to be opportunity for Cuevas to homer for the cycle, although that spot in the lineup never came up again.
Randy Guzman was 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and two runs.
Jamari Baylor went 2 for 4 with a homer and a double.
Charles took the loss. He was charged with six runs over 1.1 innings.
Mets starter Cam Tilly held the Cardinals to two runs over 3.0 innings but needed 76 pitches to do so.
The Mets (17-25) and Cardinals (24-18) 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 with all veterans and active duty military members receiving free admission courtesy of LYNQ Real Estate. Kids can run the bases after the game.