PALMS ERUPT LATE, SNAP SKID WITH DOMINANT SHUTOUT

 By Vin Castillo, Palms Beat Writer

ARLINGTON — At long last, the storm broke.

After four straight losses full of crooked innings and missed chances, the Miami Palms unleashed seven runs in the ninth inning and rode a complete-game masterpiece from Blake Johnston to bury the Texas Rangers 10–0 on Wednesday night.

“We needed this one,” manager Scott Hatteberg said postgame, visibly relieved. “You could feel the whole dugout exhale in the ninth.”

JOHNSTON: HIS BEST YET
Johnston was untouchable. Three hits. Zero walks. Nine strikeouts. Efficient (79 pitches!) and fearless. Only one Ranger reached second base.

“I didn’t even look at the pitch count,” Johnston said. “I just knew I wasn’t coming out.”

It was the first complete game shutout this season—and it couldn’t have been timed better.

BIG BATS WAKE UP
The offense, quiet early, chipped away before exploding:

  • Chris Korb crushed his 7th homer.

  • Brock Holt added his 3rd.

  • Matt Koch launched his first of the season.

  • Pat Grant doubled twice and drove in a run.

  • Nick Markakis stayed scorching hot (2-for-4, RBI).

  • Encarnación? Business as usual: 2 RBIs and his 9th double.

Seven different Palms recorded an RBI.
Every starter reached base except Sohn — and even he made a key running catch in center.

THE NINTH INNING DELUGE
Up 3–0, the Palms decided they were done messing around:
Seven runs on six hits in the top of the 9th. Texas fans headed for the exits. The Rangers even had to turn to Montero, who couldn’t get an out.

“It felt like batting practice,” Korb said with a grin. “But, like, fun batting practice.”

BIGGER THAN JUST ONE WIN
This wasn’t just a victory—it was a reset.

The losing streak is over. The vibes are back. The lineup clicked from top to bottom. A starter went the distance. The bullpen rested. The swagger returned.

And maybe most importantly, the Palms finally proved to themselves that the team we saw in April is still in there.

“We remembered who we are,” Hatteberg said. “Now let’s build on it.”

NEXT UP:
Series finale in Arlington tomorrow. Momentum firmly back in Miami’s dugout.

Palm Tree of the Game:
🌴 Blake Johnston — 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K (Complete Game Shutout)

The skid is dead. The Palms are breathing again.

 Miami Palms 10, Texas Rangers 0

 Wednesday, May 13, 2020

 

 

 Miami Palms (24-21)                                      Texas Rangers (2-1)                                     

 Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      Player          AB R  H BI BB SO  P  A  E LOB   Ave      

 ------          -- -  - -- -- --  -  -  - ---   ---      ------          -- -  - -- -- --  -  -  - ---   ---      

 Sohn cf         5  0  0  0  0  1  1  0  0  0   .280      Kiner-Falefa ss 4  0  0  0  0  0  3  3  0  0   .000

 Markakis lf     4  1  2  1  1  0  0  0  0  0   .308      Solak lf        4  0  0  0  0  2  3  0  0  1   .231

 Grant rf        5  1  3  1  0  0  4  0  0  0   .263      Santana cf      4  0  0  0  0  2  4  0  0  0   .231

 Korb 3b         5  2  2  1  0  0  1  1  0  1   .278      Gallo rf        3  0  1  0  0  1  2  0  0  0   .333

 Encarnacion dh  4  1  1  2  1  1  0  0  0  3   .277      Odor 2b         3  0  1  0  0  1  0  1  0  0   .250

 Wieters c       3  0  1  1  1  1  10 1  0  0   .259      Frazier 3b      3  0  0  0  0  1  1  1  0  1   .143

 Holt 1b         5  2  2  2  0  1  8  1  0  0   .255      Guzman 1b       3  0  0  0  0  1  6  0  0  1   .182

 Koch 2b         4  2  1  2  1  0  0  6  0  0   .230      Duffy dh        3  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  0   .571

 Munoz ss        4  1  1  0  0  1  0  0  0  3   .303      Federowicz c    3  0  0  0  0  0  6  0  0  0   .375

 

                 -- -  - -- -- -- -- -- -- ---                            -- -  - -- -- -- -- -- -- ---            

 Totals          39 10 13 10 4  5  27 9  0  7             Totals          30 0  3  0  0  9  27 5  0  3  

 

 

                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10     R  H  E

                       -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -      -  -  -

 Miami Palms           0  0  0  2  0  0  0  1  7         10 13 0  

 Texas Rangers         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0         0  3  0  

 

 

 

 LOB- Miami Palms 7, Texas Rangers 3; 2B- Encarnacion(9), Grant 2(8), Duffy(2); HR- Koch(1),

 Holt(3), Korb(7); RBI- Encarnacion 2(31), Koch 2(7), Wieters(17), Holt 2(8), Korb(24),

 Markakis(15), Grant(20); SF- Wieters(1); RLSP- Encarnacion 2, Korb, Munoz 2, Solak,

 Frazier;  

   Miami Palms              IP   H  R  ER BB SO    ERA

 Johnston(W 5-3)          9.0  3  0  0  0  9    3.19  

 

 Texas Rangers            IP   H  R  ER BB SO    ERA

 Gibson(L 0-1)            6.0  6  2  2  3  5    3.00  

 Rodriguez                2.0  1  1  1  0  0    4.50  

 Montero                  0.2  6  7  7  1  0   27.00 

 Nicasio                  0.1  0  0  0  0  0    0.00  

 

 Pitches-strikes- Johnston 79-64, Gibson 93-56, Rodriguez 23-14, Montero 21-11,

 Nicasio 6-3; Batters faced- Johnston 30, Gibson 27, Rodriguez 7, Montero 9, Nicasio;

 

 Temp - 82, Sky - Mostly Clear, Wind - SE  14mph 

 

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