Port St. Lucie has enjoyed a three-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will square off against the Westwood Panthers at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. Port St. Lucie is strutting in with some hitting muscle, as they've averaged 8.1 runs per game this season.
On Tuesday, Port St. Lucie came up short against Sebastian River and fell 8-5.
Josh Benefield was huge no matter where he played even without the win. On the mound, he pitched three innings while giving up just one earned run off one hit. Benefield was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-4 with a home run.
In other batting news, Victor Velasquez and Armani Estevez did some serious damage despite the final result: Velasquez went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, while Estevez scored two runs and stole two bases while going 2-for-2.
Even though they lost, Port St. Lucie lost a few balls and finished the game with two home runs. That's the most home runs they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Westwood came into Tuesday's matchup having lost three straight, but that streak is now in the rearview. Everything went their way against Moore Haven on Tuesday as Westwood made off with a 10-0 victory. The result was nothing new for Westwood, who have now won three games by ten runs or more so far this season.
The result came thanks to Nolan Barnes's shutout, as he gave up just zero hits and racked up 11 Ks. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two walks in three consecutive pitching appearances.
On the hitting side, Jaylyn Monds was incredible, scoring four runs and stealing four bases while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. He is on a roll when it comes to stolen bases, as he's now stolen at least one in the last four games he's played. Brandon Fillmore was another key contributor, scoring two runs and stealing a base while going 2-for-3.
Port St. Lucie has been struggling recently as they've lost five of their last six contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 5-8 record this season. As for Westwood, they now have a winning record of 5-4-1.
Port St. Lucie beat Westwood 10-7 in their previous matchup back in May of 2023. Does Port St. Lucie have another victory up their sleeve, or will Westwood turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
