Cardinals Minor League Notebook: 8/29/17

photo: Breyvic Valera (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

In a 5-2 Monday across the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system, Player of the Day Breyvic Valera delivered a walk-off single for Memphis. Adolis Garcia went deep twice for Springfield. Standout pitchers include Kevin Herget, Pedro Echemendia, Sam Tewes, Anthony Shew and Evan Guillory.

Results from games played Monday, August 28.

Memphis Redbirds 4, Iowa Cubs 3

Breyvic Valera (USA TODAY Sports Images)

After Iowa tied the score in the top of the ninth, Redbirds left fielder Breyvic Valera came through for the third time in the game to win it for Memphis.

Valera, our Player of the Day, legged out his sixth triple of the season and drove in three runs: one in the fifth on the triple, another in the seventh on a sacrifice fly, and the third on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. Catcher Jesse Jenner had two hits and scored as many runs, and right fielder Tyler O’Neill launched his 27th home run of the season.

Redbirds starter Kevin Herget was solid in his outing, although he did not factor in the final decision. Herget fanned eight batters and allowed one run over 5 1/3 innings before Memphis’ bullpen took over. Franklin Morales allowed a run in the seventh, Miguel Socolovich recorded two scoreless outs, and Mike Mayers posted a zero in the eighth inning. Reliever Mark Montgomery allowed the Cubs to knot the game at 3-3 in the ninth, but he ultimately finished the game with his fifth win against just one loss.

Tuesday’s game: Matt Pearce (3-3, 6.00) vs. Iowa Cubs, 6:35 PM Central time.


Springfield Cardinals 8, Tulsa Drillers 0

Pedro Echemendia (St. Louis Cardinals)

Just about everything that could go right did for the Cardinals in their Monday battle for first place – an 8-0 shutout win over the Drillers.

The Cardinals enjoyed eight runs, including five in the opening inning. Right fielder Adolis Garcia hit two long balls, driving in three. Backstop Andrew Knizner doubled twice with a run batted in, and first baseman John Nogowski plated a pair. The Cardinals went 4-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and five runs scored with two outs.

Springfield starter Pedro Echemendia logged six scoreless innings, allowing just four base hits. Corey Littrell, Sandy Alcantara, and Landon Beck followed with a scoreless inning each to seal the win.

The Cardinals have reclaimed sole possession of first place in the Texas League North Division second half standings, one game ahead of the Drillers.

Tuesday’s game: TBA vs. Arkansas Travelers, 6:30 PM Central time.


Palm Beach Cardinals 8, Daytona Tortugas 3

Sam Tewes (Palm Beach Cardinals)

With timely hitting throughout the batting order and quality pitching, Palm Beach defeated the Tortugas by an 8-3 final score.

Catcher Jose Godoy led the way offensively, going 3-for-4, including a double and four runs batted in. First baseman Chris Chinea had three hits to plate a pair, while shortstop Jose Martinez and right fielder Thomas Spitz each scored twice. The Cardinals combined to go 8-for-18 at the plate with runners in scoring position.

Sam Tewes was superb in his start, with six innings of one-run ball to complement 11 strikeouts. Derian Gonzalez allowed two runs in the seventh before Hector Mendoza and Ross Vance logged a scoreless eighth and ninth respectively.

Tuesday’s game: TBA vs. Daytona Tortugas, 5:30 PM Central time.


Peoria Chiefs 2, Kane County Cougars 1

Anthony Shew (State College Spikes)

With timely hitting from third baseman Danny Hudzina and excellent pitching from Anthony Shew, the Chiefs squeaked by the Cougars for a 2-1 win.

Shew was masterful, holding the Cougars to one unearned run over eight dominant frames, during which he punched out seven batters to improve to 4-0 as a Chief. Max Almonte posted a zero in the ninth for his second save.

Hudzina drove in both runs, on a fourth inning single and a ground out in the sixth. Shortstop Kramer Robertson went 2-for-3 with the club’s only double, and right fielder Dylan Carlson tallied two base hits. The team went just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Peoria cut its magic number to clinch the Western Division wild-card spot to three over Beloit, and two over Wisconsin and Clinton.

The Chiefs are off Tuesday and will pick back up on Wednesday when they host the Quad Cities River Bandits.


State College Spikes 10 at West Virginia Black Bears 6

Brandon Benson (State College Spikes)

Behind a big performance from the lower third of the batting order, the Spikes were 10-6 winners over the Black Bears.

The Spikes seven-, eight-, and nine-hole hitters – second baseman Zach Kirtley, designated hitter J.D. Crowe, and right fielder Brandon Benson (4-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI) – combined to go 8-for-11 with two walks, two doubles, six runs scored, and six driven in. The rest of the lineup: a 6-for-27 (.222) performance with four runs scored and two batted in.

Starter Daniel Castano earned his eighth win of the year despite five runs allowed over six innings. Levi MaVorhis followed with a scoreless seventh, Jason Zgardowski allowed a run in the eighth, and Noel Gonzalez wrapped it up with a clean ninth.

Tuesday’s game: Paul Balestrieri (3-3, 6.40) at West Virginia Black Bears, 6:05 PM Central time.


Princeton Rays 8, Johnson City Cardinals 7

Evan Guillory (Johnson City Cardinals)

With seven unanswered runs from the seventh inning on, the Rays came back to stun the Cardinals with an 8-7 win.

Starter Evan Guillory turned in 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball, but the bullpen did not deliver. The Rays scored three runs against Juan Alvarez, one vs. Thomas St. Clair, and the game-winning run against Jacob Patterson. Patterson was charged with his third blown save and second loss of the year.

First baseman Luis Bandes and designated hitter Stanley Espinal each hit a two-run homer as part of Johnson City’s five-run fifth inning. Catcher Julio Rodriguez was credited with the other run batted in. Right fielder Jonathan Rivera and center fielder Carlos Talavera were the only starters in the Cardinals’ lineup to not score a run.

Johnson City fell into a tie with Greeneville for the final playoff spot in the Appalachian League Western Division. The Cardinals do not hold the tiebreaker.

Tuesday’s game: Alvaro Seijas (4-2, 4.87) vs. Bluefield Blue Jays, 6:00 PM Central time.


GCL Nationals 11 at GCL Cardinals 1

Michael Brdar (St. Louis Cardinals)

With the help of sloppy Cardinals defense, the Nationals pounded Cardinals pitching for an 11-1 win on Monday. It is the Gulf Cards’ eighth consecutive loss.

The Cardinals committed six errors, including two each by third baseman Elehuris Montero and shortstop Luis Flores. The subpar play led to nine runs scored in five innings against starter Junior Gonzalez, with only four earned. Gonzalez took the loss and dropped to 2-2 this season.

There wasn’t much action from the Cardinals’ offense. Second baseman Michael Brdar had two of the team’s four hits, including an RBI double in the third inning to drive in right fielder Sanel Rosendo.

Tuesday’s games: two at/vs. GCL Marlins, 9:00 AM Central time.



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