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The Jupiter Hammerheads, Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, made history on Tuesday. The team put together a pitching performance not seen before at the MiLB level.
The minor league baseball team walked 22 batters in front of a non-existent crowd during a 19-5 loss. Those that were on hand for the abysmal display left disappointed. Even the Hammerheads’ own broadcast crew disgusted.
Jupiter hosted the Dunedin Blue Jays, Single-A affiliate of Toronto. They gave fans little to cheer for over the next nine innings.
Things got ugly quick with Dunedin jumping out to an 18-2 lead over five innings. Much of that damage was a result of the Hammerheads’ inability to find the strike zone.
Jupiter pitching walked in seven runs. It added an eighth with a hit by pitch in the third frame. The staff saw five different arms walk 19 batters across the first five innings. They added three wild pitches along the way. Announcers finally got fed up.
“I’ve been in baseball a little under a decade,” said Jupiter Hammerheads broadcaster Brennan Erlandsen. “I’ve never written so many RBI walks in a book before. I know I’m supposed to be optimistic about our team but come on guys. I could go out there. Let me loosen up my shoulder. I’ll go help.”
Not only did the broadcast crew take aim at the putrid performance, but they also ridiculed the team’s lacking support. “We’re broadcasting for maybe two people right now. Those two people are thoroughly entertained.”
The squad plays at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The venue, which plays host to both the Hammerheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals, holds just under 6,900 patrons. The final attendance for the evening was 327.
The small crowd witnessed history in the seventh inning when a record-setting 22nd batter was walked by the home team. There wasn’t much else to cheer about throughout the night.