DUNEDIN, FL – It was your typical Thursday morning minor league baseball game, which started off slow. The Dunedin Blue Jays took a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning and seemed to have sucked the life out of the Jupiter Hammerheads. The Hammerheads woke up with a rally to score seven runs in the final two innings, winning 7-5.
Keyner Benitez Throws 4.1 Innings
Benitez made his third start of the season. He was pitching with ease through the first four innings, getting most of his opponent’s out, but he hit the brakes in the fifth inning.
After walking two consecutive hitters, he gave up a three-run homer to Dariel Ramon. Benitez was responsible for an additional run in the fifth.
Keyner Benitez allowed three hits, three walks, and four runs on six strikeouts. The Dominican southpaw threw 77 pitches in 4.1 innings.
Bullpen Remains Sharp
Juan De La Cruz took over for 1.2 innings and did all you could ask for, surrendering one hit on four punchouts. Franklyn Moreta earned his third win of the season, allowing one hit on three strikeouts in two innings of work. His ERA remains a perfect 0.00. Jake Faherty picked up his second save. The game ended on a double play from Dunedin in which a runner scored in the process.
Seven Runs in Final Two Innings
The Jupiter offense was dead for the first seven innings of the game. Going into the seventh, they had just two hits in the game. In the eighth, they knew something had to change to get some runs across the board.
After Abrahan Ramirez and Victor Ortega walked, Julio Henriquez got on base through a fielder’s choice. With the bases loaded and the opportunity to do permanent damage in the ballgame, Echedry Vargas did just that with a two-run double off the wall.
Top 8th
Hammerheads 2 | Blue Jays 4Echedry Vargas hits a bases loaded double but the decision for Julio Henriquez to go home comes back to bite him#HammerTime https://t.co/VRtQXV3cno
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) April 30, 2026
Unfortunately, Henriquez got a little excited and decided to go for the extra base, but the ball was already in the catcher’s mitt, ready to tag him.
The Hammerheads picked up where they left off in the previous inning. Josh Hogue walked, Andres Valor singled, and PJ Morlando got hit by a pitch to load the bases once again. Then, Ortega came up and hit a two-run line drive single to the game at four.
Top 9th
Hammerheads 4 | Blue Jays 4Victor Ortega hits a two-run single to tie this game up#HammerTime https://t.co/xtaUpmQLQj
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) April 30, 2026
Henriquez followed up by scoring the go-ahead run with his third double of the season. Somehow, you could feel since the prior inning that they would make this comeback.
Top 9th
Hammerheads 5 | Blue Jays 4Julio Henriquez gives Jupiter the go-ahead run with a double #HammerTime https://t.co/pUxnnvpYtN
— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) April 30, 2026
Jupiter wasn’t done scoring yet as a passed ball from the Jays caused Ortega to score. Moments later, Emilio Barreras singled to cap off the five-run inning, making it 7-4 at the time.
As a team, they finished with nine hits. Vargas led the team with three hits and had two RBI. Barreras had two hits in the contest while Ortega scored two runs and had two RBI.
The Hammerheads are currently second in the Florida State League East with a 12-12 record.
Final
Hammerheads 7 | Blue Jays 5Down by four, the Hammerheads rallied and scored all their runs in the final two innings of the game
Echedry Vargas had 3 hits and 2 RBI
Victor Ortega had 2 runs and 2 RBI
Franklyn Moreta gets the win
Jake Faherty gets the save#HammerTime pic.twitter.com/YFi6JG5Ysa— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) April 30, 2026
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