All posts by Marilyn Green

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – September 2, 2023

photo: Ramon Mendoza (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-4 on Friday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, 3B Ramon Mendoza, was 3-for-4 with four RBI in Peoria’s win. Other standouts include Matt Koperniak, Tekoah Roby, Pete Hansen and Augusto Calderon.



Results for games played on Friday, September 1.

Memphis 4, Gwinnett 6 (10 innings)

On Friday, the Memphis Redbirds lost to the visiting Stripers in extra innings for the second consecutive night. Starter Connor Thomas pitched 3 2/3 innings, gave up four runs on six hits, struck out six and walked two.

Kyle Leahy threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Dalton Roach hurled two scoreless innings. James Naile surrendered two runs, one earned in the final two innings to take the loss.

Memphis took a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run home run by Matt Koperniak. Gwinnett added a run in the third to cut the lead in half.

Matt Koperniak

The Stripers added three runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. The Redbirds scored one run in the sixth. Nick Dunn walked and came home on a single by Juniel Querecuto.

Memphis tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh. Kramer Robertson walked and later scored on a single by Koperniak.

The game went into the 10th and Gwinnett pushed two runs across to lead 6-4. The key blow was an RBI double surrendered by Naile. The Redbirds loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but Irving Lopez struck out looking to end the game.

Koperniak was 2-for-5 with three RBI. Querecuto was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Moises Gomez was 2-for-5.

On the base paths, José Fermin stole his first base. Koperniak was picked off first.

The Memphis Redbirds (24-31) are nine games out of first place in the International League West.

Saturday’s games:  vs. Gwinnett, RHP Michael McGreevy vs. LHP Jared Shuster 6:35 CT.

Springfield 3 at NW Arkansas 6

The Springfield Cardinals were defeated by the Naturals in a three run road decision on Friday. Starter Tekoah Roby pitched three innings, gave up one run on one hit and struck out six.

Tekoah Roby

Logan Gragg surrendered five runs in 4 2/3 innings of relief and took the loss.  Roy Garcia got the final out of the eighth.

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Victor Scott II and Noah Mendlinger singled. Scott II later came home on a force out by Pedro Pages. Mendlinger scored on a balk.

NW Arkansas cut the lead to 2-1 in the home half of the first. They added three runs in the third to lead 4-2.

Springfield added one in the sixth to make it 4-3. Pages singled and later scored on a ground out by Wade Stauss. The Naturals increased the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth and made it 6-3 in the eighth.

Scott II was 2-for-5. Mike Antico was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Scott II stole his 34th base for Springfield and 84th overall. Mendlinger stole his fifth base. Chandler Redmond was caught stealing.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (27-28) are in third place, four games out of first.

Saturday’s game:  at NW Arkansas, Wilfredo Pereira RHP (7-8, 5.08) vs. Chandler Champlain RHP (4-4, 3.58) 6:05 CT.

Peoria 9 at Quad Cities 8

The Peoria Chiefs topped the River Bandits in 9-8 road win on Friday. Starter Zane Mills pitched five innings, gave up five runs, four earned, on six hits, struck out two and walked three and received his seventh win of the season.

Edgar Manzo relieved Mills and threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning. Nathanael Heredia surrendered two runs in one inning pitched. Edwin Nunez relinquished one run in the final 2 1/3 innings to earn his fourth save.

Peoria went up 5-0 in the top of the first inning. Ramon Mendoza blasted a three-run home run. Chris Rotondo shortly followed with a two-run long ball.

Ramon Mendoza

Quad Cities scored one in the home half of the first to cut the lead to 5-1. They added four runs in the third inning to tie the game at 5-5.

In the sixth, the Chiefs regained the lead at 8-5. Brody Moore doubled and was driven in by a single from Francisco Hernandez. Nathan Church walked. Hernandez crossed the plate on a sac fly by Jimmy Crooks. Church came home on a single by Mendoza.

Peoria added a ninth run in the top of the seventh on a solo home run by Thomas Francisco. The River Bandits rallied for two runs in the home seventh to shrink the lead to 9-7.

Quad Cities added one more run in the ninth, but the Chiefs held on for the 9-8 win.

Mendoza was 3-for-4 with four driven in. Rotondo was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Hernandez was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Francisco was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Moore was 2-for-5.

On the base paths, Mendoza stole his second base of the season. Moore was caught stealing. In the field, Crooks and Hernandez each made a throwing error.

In the Midwest League West, the Chiefs (34-24) are in second place, four games ahead of third. If Peoria finishes in second, they will clinch a playoff spot because the first place Cedar Rapids Kernels won the division in the first half. Peoria’s Magic Number to clinch is four.

Saturday’s games:  at Quad Cities, Inohan Paniagua RHP (0-2, 4.24) vs. Steven Zobac RHP (1-3, 4.25) 6:30 CT.

Palm Beach 1 at Bradenton 2 (seven innings, Game 1)

The Palm Beach Cardinals were edged by the Marauders in a one run loss in Friday’s opener of the twin bill. Starter Pete Hansen pitched four innings, gave up one run on four hits and struck out five.

Pete Hansen

Hunter Hayes relieved Hansen and threw a scoreless fifth. Henry Gomez surrendered one run in the sixth and took the loss in the seventh.

Bradenton took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Palm Beach tied the score in the sixth. Graysen Tarlow drew a walk and later came home on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the seventh with no outs, the Marauders walked off the win on an inside the park home run against Gomez and the Palm Beach defense.

The Cardinals were held to just one hit, a single by Won-Bin Cho. The offense was 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left two men on base.

Leandro Espinoza made a fielding error.

Palm Beach 2 at Bradenton 4 (seven innings, Game 2)

Palm Beach lost the second game of the twin bill to the Marauders on Friday. Starter Benjamin Arias pitched three innings, gave up four runs on six hits, struck out three and walked one. Arias took the loss.

Augusto Calderon threw three perfect innings of relief with five strikeouts.

Augusto Calderon

Bradenton scored twice in the second inning and again in the third to go up 4-0. In the fifth, the Beach Birds cut the lead to 4-1. Tre Richardson singled and later scored on a sac fly by Trey Paige.

Palm Beach made it 4-2 in the sixth. William Sullivan singled and later came home on a sac fly by Brayden Jobert.

Richardson was 2-for-3 and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.

In the field, Richardson made a throwing error.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (25-29) are in second place in the Florida State League East, one game out of the lead, but clinched a playoff spot in the first half.

Saturday’s game:  at Bradenton, TBA vs. TBA 5:30 CT.


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Memphis Redbirds Notebook – 2023 Week 22


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 31, 2023

photo: Matt Koperniak (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-0 on Wednesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, RF Noah Mendlinger, was 4-for-5 including a two-run home run in Springfield’s win. Other standouts include Adam Kloffenstein, Matt Koperniak and Nick Dunn.



Results for games played on Wednesday, August 30.

Memphis 7, Gwinnett 1

The Memphis Redbirds beat the Stripers, 7-1, on Wednesday at AutoZone Park. Starter Adam Kloffenstein pitched five scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked one to earn his second Triple-A win.

Adam Kloffenstein

Grant Black relieved Kloffenstein and threw two scoreless innings. Dalton Roach surrendered one run in the eighth. James Naile tossed a scoreless ninth.

Memphis scored six of their seven runs in the second inning. Nick Dunn singled. Juniel Querecuto walked. Dunn and Querecuto came home on a double by Irving Lopez. Matt Koperniak plated Lopez on a single. César Prieto reached on an error. Koperniak scored on a wild pitch. Prieto crossed the plate on a single by Lars Nootbaar, who was in his first game rehabbing in Memphis. Dunn’s second single of the inning brought in Nootbaar.

Nick Dunn

In the top of the eighth, the Stripers scored their only run. The Redbirds added a seventh run in the home eighth. Irving Lopez walked and later was forced in by a Chase Pinder walk.

Koperniak and Dunn were each 3-for-5 with an RBI. Nootbaar was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Lopez had two RBI.

On the base paths, Koperniak was caught stealing.

The Memphis Redbirds (24-29) are 7.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Thursday’s games:  vs. Gwinnett, RHP Sem Robberse (0-1, 8.40) vs. RHP Michael Soroka 6:45 CT.

Springfield 6 at NW Arkansas 5

The Springfield Cardinals topped the Naturals by one run on Wednesday. Starter Brandon Komar pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up three runs on seven hits, struck out six and walked one.

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson surrendered one run in 2 1/3 innings of relief to earn the win. Matt Svanson relinquished one run in the ninth for his second save.

NW Arkansas scored first in the second inning to lead 1-0. Springfield tied the game in the top of the sixth. Chandler Redmond doubled and later came home on a fielder’s choice by Jose Alvarez.

The Naturals answered with two runs in the home half of the sixth to lead 3-1. The Cardinals put up five runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead 6-3. Jacob Buchberger walked. Victor Scott II and Mike Antico singled. Thomas Saggese hit a bases-clearing triple. Noah Mendlinger followed with a two-run home run.

Thomas Saggese

NW Arkansas added single runs in the seventh and ninth to bring them to within one at 6-5.

Noah Mendlinger

Mendlinger was 4-for-5 with two RBI. Scott II was 3-for-4. Saggese had three RBI while crossing over the 100 mark for the season.

On the base paths, Scott II stole his 33rd base for Springfield and 83rd overall in 2023.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (27-26) are in second place, three games out of first.

Thursday’s game:  at NW Arkansas, Tink Hence RHP (2-3, 5.70) vs. Noah Cameron LHP (2-9, 6.02) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 3 at Quad Cities 2

The Peoria Chiefs edged the River Bandits in a one run win in Davenport on Wednesday. Starter Ian Bedell pitched four scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out three and walked one.

Ian Bedell

Edgar Manzo relieved Bedell and surrendered two runs in 1/3 of an innings. Joseph King tossed the final 4 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.

Joseph King

Peoria took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. R.J. Yeager singled and later scored on a Chris Rotondo hit by pitch.

The Chiefs increased the lead to 2-0 in the second. Jeremy Rivas walked and was driven in by a Yeager single. Peoria added their third and final run in the fourth on a solo home run by Thomas Francisco.

Quad Cities scored their two runs in the fifth.

Francisco was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Yeager was 2-for-5 with an RBI.

On the base paths, Rivas stole his 20th base of the season. Brody Moore swiped his sixth bag. Yeager was caught stealing.

The Peoria Chiefs (32-24) are in second place in the Midwest League West, five games back of first. Their Magic Number to reach the playoffs is six.

Thursday’s games:  at Quad Cities, Zane Mills RHP (6-5, 5.07) vs. Ryan Ramsey LHP (0-1, 20.25) 6:30 CT.

Palm Beach at Bradenton (postponed)

This game was postponed for weather due to Hurricane Idalia. It is scheduled to be made up on Saturday, September 2.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (24-27) are in second place in the Florida State League East, 1.5 games out of first.

Thursday’s games:  at Bradenton, LHP Pete Hansen (10-3, 3.32) vs. TBA 4:00 CT (Game 1), RHP Benjamin Arias (3-3, 3.43) vs. TBA (Game 2)


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Peoria Chiefs Notebook – 2023 Week 21


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All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 30, 2023

photo: Connor Lunn (Springfield Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-2 on Tuesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield starter Connor Lunn, pitched six one-run innings with six strikeouts. Other standouts include Arquimedes Gamboa, Victor Scott II, and R.J. Yeager.



Results for games played on Tuesday, August 29.

Memphis 3, Gwinnett 8

The Memphis Redbirds fell to the Stripers in an 8-3 home loss on Tuesday. Matthew Liberatore, in his first rehab start for Memphis, pitched 3 2/3 innings, gave up five runs on four hits, struck out five and walked five. Liberatore took the loss.

Logan Sawyer relieved Liberatore and threw 1/3 of a scoreless inning. Another St. Louis rehabber, Jake Woodford, surrendered one run in 3 1/3 innings. Kyle Leahy relinquished two runs in the final 1 2/3 innings.

On a three-run home run, Gwinnett took the lead in the first inning, and added two more runs in the top of the fourth. In the home fourth, Memphis cut the lead to 5-3. Ivan Herrera doubled. Juan Yepez singled. Herrera scored on a single by Nick Dunn. Yepez and Dunn came home on a sac fly by José Fermin and a throwing error.

The Stripers added three insurance runs in the eighth to increase the lead to 8-3.

The Redbirds scored three runs on five hits. No player had multiples.

Juniel Querecuto stole his 12th base of the season.

The Memphis Redbirds (23-29) are 8.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Wednesday’s games:  vs. Gwinnett, RHP Adam Kloffenstein (1-0, 3.32) vs. RHP AJ Smith-Shawver 6:45 CT.

Springfield 5 at NW Arkansas 3

The Springfield Cardinals edged the Naturals in a two-run road win on Tuesday. Starter Connor Lunn pitched six innings, gave up one run on seven hits and struck out six to earn his fifth win of the season.

Connor Lunn

Ryan Shreve relieved Lunn and surrendered two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Matt Svanson tossed the final 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first save.

Springfield went up 2-0 in the third inning. Mike Antico singled and scored on a double by Thomas Saggese. Saggese later came home on a ground out by Noah Mendlinger.

NW Arkansas cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth. The Cardinals made it 4-1 in the sixth. Mendlinger and Arquimedes Gamboa singled. Victor Scott II plated both runners on a triple.

Victor Scott

Springfield increased their lead to 5-1 in the seventh. Pedro Pages reached on an error and later crossed the plate on a double by Aaron Antonini.

The Naturals added two runs in the ninth to shrink the final score to 5-3.

Gamboa was 2-for-4. Scott II had two RBI.

On the base paths, Scott II stole his 32nd base for Springfield and 82nd this season. Antico stole two bases, setting a new single season team record with 47. Pages swiped his second bag.

In the field, Gamboa made a throwing error.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (26-26) are in second place, four games out of first.

Wednesday’s game:  at NW Arkansas, RHP Brandon Komar (3-6, 5.04) vs. William Fleming RHP (1-0, 5.46) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 5 at Quad Cities 7 (10 innings)

The Peoria Chiefs were walked off by the River Bandits in the 10th inning on Tuesday. Starter Max Rajcic pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up two runs on four hits, struck out four and walked three.

Max Rajcic

Edwin Nunez relieved Rajcic and surrendered two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Andrew Marrero relinquished one run in two innings. Gustavo Rodriguez yielded a two-home run with one out in the 10th to end it. Rodriguez took the loss.

Peoria scored first with a run in the second inning. Chris Rotondo walked and later came home on a sac fly by Alex ladisernia.

The Chiefs added two in the top of the sixth to lead 3-0. Rotondo and Darlin Moquete singled. Rotondo and Moquete came home on a double by R.J. Yeager.

R.J. Yeager

Quad Cities answered in the home half of the sixth with four runs and added one more in the eighth for a 5-3 lead.

Peoria tied the game in the ninth. Yeager and Nathan Church singled. Yeager scored on a single by Ramon Mendoza. Osvaldo Tovalin plated Church on single.

The game went into the 10th. The Chiefs failed to score before the River Bandits scored two in the bottom of the 10th to win in a walk off.

Yeager was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Tovalin was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Church was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Church stole his 21st base of the season. Rotondo swiped his fifth bag. Brody Moore stole his second base.

In the field, Rajcic made an error on a pickoff. Rotondo had an outfield assist at home plate. Rajcic picked a runner off first base.

The Peoria Chiefs (31-24) are in second place in the Midwest League West, 4.5 games back of first.

Wednesday’s games:  at Quad Cities, Ian Bedell RHP (4-2, 2.45) vs. Shane Panzini RHP (0-0, 0.00) 6:30 CT.

Palm Beach at Bradenton (postponed)

This game was postponed due to weather related to Hurricane Idalia and is scheduled to be made up on Thursday, August 31.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (24-27) are in second place in the Florida State League East, one game out of first.

Wednesday’s game:  No game due to weather. To be made up on Saturday, September 2.


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

The Cardinal Nation Prospect Interview 2023 – Zach Levenson


Now Available – 2023 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation 2023 Prospect Guide is back for its sixth year. It includes 292 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of all-new player scouting reports. Order your PDF or printed book copy today!

All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!

Order TCN’s 2023 Cardinals Prospect Guide


Not yet a member?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Follow Marilyn Green on Twitter @Marilyncolor.

© 2023 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

St. Louis Cardinals Major League Notebook – August 21-27

photo: Richie Palacios (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals sink deeper, losing five of six in Pennsylvania while being outscored 43-13. Filling in as the center fielder, Richie Palacios has performed well. Our history feature on underperforming Cards teams looks back at the 76-86 squad from 1988.



Game Recaps

Monday, August 21, 2023 – Cardinals 1 at Pirates 11

The St. Louis Cardinals were walloped by the Pirates by 10 runs on Monday. In his MLB debut, starter Drew Rom pitched 3 2/3 innings, gave up eight runs, six earned, on eight hits, struck out four and walked four. Rom took the loss.

Casey Lawrence surrendered three runs in 4 1/3 innings of relief.

The Pirates took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Pittsburgh continued to score, putting up two in the third and four in the fourth to lead 8-0.

The Cardinals scored their only run in the fifth on a solo home run by Andrew Knizner.

The Pirates added three additional runs in the eighth for the final margin of 11-1.

St. Louis had one run on five hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. The offense was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

In the field, José Fermin made a throwing error.

Tuesday, August 22, 2023 – Cardinals 3 at Pirates 6

The Cardinals lost to the Pirates in the second game of the road series on Tuesday. Starter Adam Wainwright pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up six runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked one. Wainwright suffered his ninth loss of the season and remains two short of 200 for his career.

John King threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Jacob Barnes hurled 2/3 of a scoreless inning. Andre Pallante tossed a scoreless eighth.

The Pirates scored one run in the fourth to lead 1-0. The Cardinals tied the game in the top of the fifth on a solo home run by Richie Palacios.

The Pirates put up five runs in the home fifth to go up 6-1. The Cardinals made it 6-2 in the sixth as Paul Goldschmidt walked and scored on a double by Willson Contreras. St. Louis added a third and final run in the seventh. Jordan Walker singled and later came home on a single by Alec Burleson.

Burleson was 2-for-4 with an RBI. He was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023 – Cardinals 6 at Pirates 4

The Cardinals avoided being swept by winning the final game of the series from the Pirates on Wednesday. Starter Zack Thompson pitched five innings, gave up two runs on six hits, struck out five and walked one to earn his third win.

Zack Thompson

Andre Pallante surrendered one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Drew VerHagen threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning. JoJo Romero relinquished one run in the final two innings.

The Cardinals took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Alec Burleson singled and advanced to second on an error. Burleson came home on a single by Paul Goldschmidt. Nolan Arenado drew a walk. Richie Palacios doubled to plate Goldschmidt and Arenado.

Richie Palacios

The Cardinals added two runs in the second inning. Burleson and Goldschmidt walked. Both came home on a double by Nolan Arenado.

The Pirates came back with single runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings to cut the lead to 5-3.

In the top of the ninth, the Cardinals made it 6-3. Andrew Knizner singled and crossed the plate on a force out by Masyn Winn. The Pirates made it 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth.

Palacios was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Arenado was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Goldschmidt was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

On the base paths, Masyn Winn stole his first base of his MLB career.

Thursday, August 24, 2023 – Off day

Friday, August 25, 2023 – Cardinals 2 at Phillies 7

The Cardinals fell to the Phillies in the first game of a weekend series in Philadelphia on Friday. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched six innings, gave up five runs on eight hits and struck out three.

Andrew Suarez surrendered two runs in the final two innings.

In the top of the first inning, Paul Goldschmidt launched a two-run home run. These were the Cardinals’ only runs all evening.

The Phillies put up three runs in the second and a fourth run in the third. In the sixth the Phillies added one and followed that with two more in the seventh for a 7-2 lead.

The Cardinals offense scored two runs in five hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Goldschmidt had two RBI.

Nolan Arenado made a fielding error.

Saturday, August 26, 2023 – Cardinals 1 at Phillies 12

The Cardinals suffered their second humiliating blow out loss of the week on Saturday. Starter Dakota Hudson pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up five runs on six hits, struck out one and walked five. Hudson took the loss.

Andre Pallante relieved Hudson and surrendered three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Giovanny Gallegos relinquished four runs while securing just one out. Andrew Suarez tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Cardinals scored their lone run in the top of the third inning on a solo home run by Luken Baker, his first in the majors. From then on it was a Phillies slugfest.

The Phillies scored twice in the home third. They followed with one run in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, and capped it off with a seven-run seventh.

The Cardinals managed just three hits. Tommy Edman and Tyler O’Neill singled in addition to the Baker long ball.

In the field, Alec Burleson had an outfield assist at second base.

Sunday, August 27, 2023 – Cardinals 0 at Phillies 3

The Cardinals were blanked and swept by the Phillies in the final game of the series on Sunday. Starter Drew Rom pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up two runs on five hits, struck out six and walked one. Rom took his second loss of the season.

Jacob Barnes relieved and surrendered one run in 2/3 of an inning. John King threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning and James Naile tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the first. They increased their lead to 2-0 in the fifth, and to 3-0 in the seventh.

The Cardinals offense managed just two hits. Both were doubles, by Edman in the first inning, and Goldschmidt in the ninth inning. They were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

Richie Palacios made a fielding error.

The Big Picture

The Cardinals had a terrible time in Pennsylvania, going 1-5 for the week while being outscored 43-13. Their one win was against the Pirates on Wednesday. They were swept by the Phillies over the weekend. The Cardinals maintain their last place position in the Division and are a season worst 19 games under .500. They are a highest 17 games back of first place.

The poor performance is a group effort between the offense and the pitching. Zack Thompson was the lone starter with a win. Newcomer Drew Rom had two starts. The first one was poor and the second one was much better. The other starters were not good at all.

Thompson was the only starter with an ERA under 4.00 for the week. Adam Wainwright’s ERA was 11.57. Dakota Hudson was significantly worse in his last start than previous ones.

John King

The bullpen was no better. Only John King, Drew VerHagen (now away from the team), and James Naile (just back from Triple-A) performed well. The performance of Giovanny Gallegos has declined significantly. Andre Pallante has also been worse of late.

The offense was just not there during the road trip. They scored a total of 13 runs spread over six games. Only two players had an OPS for the week over .800 and neither are full time starters. They were Richie Palacios (1.043 in five games), and Luken Baker (1.000 in three games). Paul Goldschmidt fell just short of the .800 mark with a .798 OPS.

At the bottom was basically half the team: Nolan Arenado (.498), Jordan Walker (.451), Willson Contreras (.407), Tommy Edman (.407), Masyn Winn (.278), Taylor Motter (.250), and Nolan Gorman (.143 in three games).

This week felt like the lowest point of the season. There remains just over one month of games in which to have the possibility of being worse.

There is not much else left to say. With the exception of the 1978 club, this team is the worst in this writer’s memory. The 1978 team had a winning percentage of .426 as compared to the current .427 for the 2023 team. There is no farther to fall and not be the worst team since the 1920s.

The team returns to St. Louis for a six game homestand against the Padres and the Pirates.

NL Central Standings

Team W L PCT GB WCGB
Milwaukee 73 57 0.562
Chicago 69 61 0.531 4 0.5
Cincinnati 68 64 0.515 6 1.5
Pittsburgh 58 73 0.443 15.5 11
St. Louis 56 75 0.427 17.5 13

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.

Transactions

  • 8/21 The Cardinals recalled LHP Drew Rom from the Memphis Redbirds
  • 8/21 The Cardinals optioned RHP Guillermo Zuñiga to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/22 The Cardinals selected the contract of RHP Jacob Barnes from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/22 The Cardinals placed LHP Matthew Liberatore on the 15-day injured list retroactive to August 19. Lower back tightness.
  • 8/23 The Cardinals sent RHP Jake Woodford on a rehab assignment to the Springfield Cardinals.
  • 8/25 The Cardinals optioned SS José Fermin to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/25 The Cardinals recalled RHP Guillermo Zuñiga from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/25 The Cardinals activated 2B Nolan Gorman from the 10-day injured list.
  • 8/25 The Cardinals placed RHP Drew VerHagen on the bereavement list.
  • 8/27 The Cardinals placed RHP Guillermo Zuñiga on the 15-day injured list retroactive to August 25. Right forearm strain.

James Naile

  • 8/27 The Cardinals recalled RHP James Naile from the Memphis Redbirds.

Injury Report

  • RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder strain) went on the 60-day injured list after May arthroscopic surgery.
  • LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 17. Naughton underwent season ending surgery on June 26.
  • RHP Ryan Helsley (right forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on July 24. Helsley is currently on a rehab assignment with the Springfield Cardinals. Helsley’s return to the roster is unknown at this time because of his ongoing forearm discomfort.
  • RHP Jake Woodford was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 30. Right shoulder strain. Woodford is currently on a rehab assignment with the Springfield Cardinals and is expected to return to the roster soon.
  • INF/OF Brendan Donovan (right elbow) had season ending surgery on August 2 to repair a damaged ligament. Donovan had pain in his throwing arm and had been participating in games as a DH only for weeks. With the Cardinals selling at the deadline, the decision to have the internal brace surgery was made. Donovan is out for the remainder of the season but is expected to be fully ready for Spring Training in 2024. He is on the 10-day injured list for now but could be moved to the 60-day when a 40-man spot is needed.
  • CF Dylan Carlson (left oblique strain and left ankle sprain) was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 12, retroactive to August 10. Carlson is dealing with two injuries at the moment, as his earlier ankle injury which occurred in May has never healed completely. Prior reports had him contemplating season ending ankle injury, but since that report Carlson has indicated he hopes to play again this season. Carlson received a pain injection in his ankle and may be able to return to light drills within a week. No update have been given on the oblique injury. No expected return date has been announced.
  • 2B Nolan Gorman was activated from the 10-day injured list for the weekend series in Philadelphia.
  • OF Lars Nootbaar was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 18, retroactive to August 17. Nootbaar suffered a right groin injury from a foul ball off his bat during the August 16 game with Oakland. After a trip to the ER where no significant damage was found, the OF went on the IL to recover. Nootbaar has been doing running drills, shagging fly balls, and taking batting practice. All signs indicate a return is imminent.
  • LHP Matthew Liberatore (lower back tightness) was placed on the 15- day injured list on August 22, retroactive to August 19. Liberatore experienced back discomfort after lifting weights.

Guillermo Zuniga

  • RHP Guillermo Zuñiga was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday, August 27, retroactive to August 25. Right forearm strain. Zuñiga was recalled when Drew VerHagen was placed on the Bereavement List. The right hander then felt pain in his right arm during a bullpen session.
  • 3B Nolan Arenado was kept out of the lineup for Friday and Saturday’s games with the Phillies with lower back tightness. He was back in the lineup as the designated hitter for Sunday’s game.

Looking Ahead

The month of August ends with three games with the Padres in Busch Stadium. Adam Wainwright is scheduled to make the start on Monday. Zack Thompson has been announced for Tuesday. Miles Mikolas is listed as the starter on Wednesday.

September begins with a three-game set at Busch Stadium against the Pittsburgh Pirates to conclude the six game homestand.

After a travel day on Monday, September 4, the team plays the Braves in Atlanta for three. Next will be three games in Cincinnati against the Reds. The road trip ends with three in Baltimore.

After a travel day on Thursday, September 14, the Cardinals return to St. Louis for a seven game homestand – three with the Phillies and four against the Brewers.

Blast from the Past

The Cardinals are having one of their worst seasons in 50 years. The Cardinals have been one of the most consistent franchises in terms of winning seasons over the history of major league baseball. Nevertheless, St. Louis had had periods of underperforming.

This week’s Blast from the Past is the 11th installment in the series showcasing the worst seasons in the franchise’s long history.

The current Cardinals are 56-75 with a win percentage of .427.   The teams that ended in worst shape than the current Cardinals with at least 154 games played have almost been exhausted (the exceptions are a few teams within a year or two of teams already covered). We continue with looking at below .500 teams that finished with a better record than the current Cardinals now have.

The 1988 Cardinals finished the season with a record of 76-86 and a winning percentage of .469. They finished in fifth place in the NL East, 25 games back of the Mets and 10.5 games up on the Phillies.

The owner of the 1988 team was Gussie Busch. The general manager was Dal Maxvill and the manager was Whitey Herzog. The 1988 team had just come off a World Series appearance in 1987 in which they lost to the Minnesota Twins.

The primary starting position players for the 1988 team were C Tony Pena, 1B Bob Horner, 2B Luis Alicea, SS Ozzie Smith, 3B Terry Pendleton, LF Vince Coleman, CF Willie McGee, and RF Tom Brunansky.

The best offensive performer was Brunansky, who slashed .245/.345/.428 with 22 home runs and 79 RBI. Horner and Alcea played in only 60 and 93 games, respectively. Infielder Jose Oquendo played in 148 games. Utility players Tom Pagnozzi and Curt Ford played in 81 and 91 games respectively.

The starting rotation was Jose DeLeon, Joe Magrane, John Tudor, Danny Cox, and Greg Matthews. The best ERA belonged to Magrane (2.18). DeLeon had the best FIP (2.84).

The 1988 squad spent no days in first place and never led the NL East. They spent six days with an over .500 record, with the last day being June 8.

The team’s longest winning streak was seven games and their longest losing streak was eight games. They had 29 comeback wins, 32 blown leads, eight walk off wins, and seven walk off losses.

The 1988 Cardinals were shut out by opponents 16 times and shut out their opponents 14 times.

The team had winning records against three teams – the Braves, Cubs, and Phillies. They were tied with the Reds, Astros, and Padres.

The 1998 team outperformed their Pythagorean Expectation, which was 74-88.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 26, 2023

photo: Thomas Saggese (Springfield Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-1 on Friday as Palm Beach won two. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, 2B Thomas Saggese, hit two home runs with four RBI in Springfield’s win. Other standouts include Jose Alvarez, Hancel Rincon and Gerardo Salas.



Results for games played on Friday, August 25.

Memphis at Charlotte – Off

The Memphis Redbirds (21-27) are 8.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Saturday’s games:
at Charlotte, RHP Michael McGreevy vs. LHP Garrett Davila 12:05 CT (Game 1)
at Charlotte, TBA vs. RHP Chase Solesky 6:04 CT (Game 2)

Springfield 8, Corpus Christi 7 (11 innings)

Playing as the Cashew Chickens, the Springfield Cardinals defeated the Hooks in an 11 inning walk off victory on Friday. Starter Tink Hence pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up one unearned run on four hits, struck out five and walked three.

Tink Hence

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson surrendered three runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Ryan Shreve relinquished three runs in two innings pitched. Matt Svanson hurled two scoreless innings. Logan Sawyer tossed a scoreless 11th to receive the win.

The Cardinals took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Noah Mendlinger walked. Mike Antico singled. Thomas Saggese walked. Chandler Redmond was hit by a pitch and Mendlinger was forced in.

Springfield increased the lead to 2-0 in the third on a solo home run by Saggese. In the fifth, Corpus Christi scored one run to cut the lead to 2-1.

The Hooks added three runs in the sixth to take the lead, 4-2. They scored two more in the seventh and one in the eighth to make it 7-2.

The Cardinals roared back with five runs in the home half of the eighth to tie the game 7-7. Saggese hit a three-run home run. Redmond and Pedro Pages singled. Jacob Buchberger pinch ran for Pages. Redmond and Buchberger later scored on a single by Jose Alvarez.

Thomas Saggese

The game went into extra innings. After neither team scored in the 10th, and Corpus Christi was shut down in the top of the 11th, the Cardinals scored in the bottom of the inning to win in an 8-7 walk off. With Arquimedes Gamboa on second base, Victor Scott advanced him to third on a sac bunt and Gamboa came home on a wild pitch.

Saggese was 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored. Alvarez was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Redmond was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Scott II and Antico were each 2-for-5. Pages was 2-for-4.

Jose Alvarez

On the base paths, Scott II stole his 30th base for Springfield and 80th overall in 2023. In the field, Hence and Saggese each made a throwing error. Scott II had an outfield assist at home plate.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (24-25) are in third place, three games out of first.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Corpus Christi, Tekoah Roby RHP (Cardinals debut, 2-3, 5.05) vs. RHP Rhett Kouba (7-5, 3.27) 6:35 CT.

Peoria 1, West Michigan 9

The Peoria Chiefs were thrashed by the Whitecaps in a 9-1 home loss on Friday. Starter Trent Baker pitched four innings, gave up five runs, four earned, on nine hits, struck out four and walked two. Baker took the loss.

Jack Ralston relieved Baker and threw two scoreless innings. Matt Hickey surrendered three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Edgar Manzo relinquished one run in the final 2 1/3 innings.

West Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Whitecaps added two runs in the third and two in the fourth to lead 5-0.

Peoria scored their only run in the sixth. Alex ladisernia doubled and was driven in by a double from Ramon Mendoza.

West Michigan increased their lead to 8-1 in the seventh and then 9-1 in the ninth.

Alex Iadisernia

The Chiefs scored one run on nine hits. ladisernia was 3-for-4. Jeremy Rivas was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, ladisernia was caught stealing. In the field, Rivas made a fielding error.

The Peoria Chiefs (29-23) are in second place in the Midwest League West, four games back of first.

Saturday’s games:  vs. West Michigan, Zane Mills RHP (6-5, 5.35) vs. Troy Melton RHP (3-1, 1.82) 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 3 at Tampa 0 (seven innings, Game 1)

The Palm Beach Cardinals blanked the Tarpons in the opener of a twin bill on Friday. Starter Hancel Rincon pitched six scoreless innings, allowed three hits and struck out eight to earn his ninth win of the season.

Hancel Rincon

Tanner Jacobson relieved Rincon and tossed a scoreless seventh.

The game was scoreless until the sixth inning, when the Beach Birds put up two runs on a home run by Kade Kretzschmar to lead 2-0.

Kade Kretzschmar

Palm Beach added one run in the seventh. Won-Bin Cho singled and scored on a double by Zach Levenson.

Levenson was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Cho was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. William Sullivan was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Cho stole his 28th base of the season. In the field, Tre Richardson made a fielding error.

Palm Beach 2 at Tampa 1 (seven innings, Game 2)

The Cardinals were the victors in the second game of the twin bill on Friday. In his Palm Beach debut, starter Gerardo Salas pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up one run on three hits, struck out seven and walked one.

Gerardo Salas

Tyler Bradt threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.

The Tarpons scored first with one run in the second inning. The Beach Birds tied the game in the sixth. Sammy Hernandez drew a walk and later came home on a wild pitch.

Palm Beach took a 2-1 lead in the seventh. Joshua Baez hit a ground-rule double and scored on a single by Brayden Jobert.

Joshua Baez

The Cardinals scored two runs on four hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Baez’ double was the only extra base hit.

In the field, Baez had an outfield assist at home plate.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (24-27) are in second place in the Florida State League East, just 1/2 game back.

Saturday’s game:  Off


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 24, 2023

photo: Chandler Redmond (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-2 on Wednesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, 1B Chandler Redmond, hit three solo home runs in Springfield’s win. Other standouts include Ramon Mendoza, Jimmy Crooks, and Jake Woodford.



Results for games played on Wednesday, August 23.

Memphis 3 at Charlotte 4 (10 innings)

The Memphis Redbirds were topped by the Knights in an extra inning walk off on Wednesday. Starter Adam Kloffenstein pitched four innings, gave up two runs on three hits, struck out two and walked three.

Ryan Loutos threw two scoreless innings of relief. Guillermo Zuñiga surrendered one run in two innings. Dalton Roach relinquished one unearned run in the final 1 1/3 innings and took the loss.

Charlotte took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then added a run in the third. Memphis tied the game in the sixth. Matt Koperniak singled. Ivan Herrera grounded into a force out, eliminating Koperniak. Juan Yepez singled. Nick Dunn singled to plate Herrera. Yepez came home on a single by Moises Gomez.

Moisés Gómez

On a solo home run by Gomez, the Redbirds took the lead in the top of the eighth. Charlotte re-tied the score in the bottom of the inning.

As the game went into the 10th, the Redbirds failed to score. The Knights won on a walkoff single in the bottom of the inning.

Gomez was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Koperniak, Dunn, and César Prieto were each 2-for-5.

On the base paths, Herrera stole his 10th base of the season. In the field, Dunn made a throwing error.

The Memphis Redbirds (21-26) are 7.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Thursday’s game:  at Charlotte, RHP Sem Robberse vs. RHP Johan Dominguez 6:04 CT.

Springfield 4, Corpus Christi 2

The Springfield Cardinals defeated the Hooks, 4-2, at Hammons Field on Wednesday. Starter Jake Woodford, on a rehab assignment, pitched five scoreless innings, allowed one hit and struck out six. Woodford earned the win.

Jake Woodford

Regular starter Connor Lunn relieved Woodford and surrendered two runs, one earned, in the final four innings.

Springfield took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Chandler Redmond led off with a solo home run. Victor Scott II hit a ground-rule double, stole third base, and came home on an error.

The Cardinals added a run in the fifth on a second solo home run by Redmond. Corpus Christi scored their first run in the sixth to cut the lead to 3-1.

Springfield made it 4-1 in the seventh on Redmond’s third solo home run of the night and his 27th of the season. The Hooks added one more run in the eighth for the final score of 4-2.

Chandler Redmond

Redmond was 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. Scott II was 3-for-4.

On the base paths, Scott II stole his 29th base with Springfield and 79th overall. Mike Antico swiped his 44th bag, two short of a share of the team record. In the field, Thomas Saggese made a throwing error. Jacob Buchberger had a fielding miscue.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (22-25) are in third place, three games out of first.

Thursday’s game:  vs. Corpus Christi, RHP Brandon Komar (3-6, 4.60) vs. RHP Aaron Brown (5-1, 3.83) 6:35 CT.

Peoria 8, West Michigan 7 (10 innings)

The Peoria Chiefs walked off the Whitecaps in a 10-inning contest at Dozer Park on Wednesday. Starter Max Rajcic pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up two runs on six hits, struck out five and walked one.

Max Rajcic

Edwin Nunez relieved Rajcic and surrendered three runs, two earned, in 2 2/3 innings. Andrew Marrero relinquished two runs, one earned, in the final two innings and received the win.

West Michigan took the lead with one run in the first inning. Peoria scored three runs in the third to go up 3-1. Thomas Francisco doubled. Ramon Mendoza singled. Francisco and Mendoza came home on a double by Jimmy Crooks. Crooks scored on a single by R.J. Yeager.

The Whitecaps cut the lead to 3-2 in the sixth and tied the game in the top of the seventh. The Chiefs scored one in the home half of the seventh to regain the lead 4-3. Mendoza doubled and scored on a single by Crooks.

Jimmy Crooks

The lead changed again in the eighth, with two runs scored by West Michigan to make it 5-4. Peoria sent the game into extras on a ninth inning solo home run by Mendoza.

Ramon Mendoza

In the 10th, the Whitecaps added two runs to lead 7-5. In the home 10th, a three-run home run by Alex ladisernia ended the game in an 8-7 walk off.

Alex Iadisernia

Mendoza was 4-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Crooks was 3-for-5 with three RBI. Osvaldo Tovalin was 2-for-5. ladisernia had three RBI.

On the base paths, Tovalin was caught stealing. In the field, Crooks made a throwing error. Darlin Moquete had an outfield assist at third base.

The Peoria Chiefs (28-22) are in second place in the Midwest League West, four games back of first.

Thursday’s games:  vs. West Michigan, Ian Bedell RHP (4-2, 2.23) vs. Jackson Jobe RHP (2-1, 5.50)

Palm Beach 1 at Tampa 4 (seven innings)

The Palm Beach Cardinals lost to the Tarpons in Tampa by the score of 4-1 on Wednesday. Starter Benjamin Arias pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up four runs, one earned, on three hits, struck out four and walked two. Arias took the loss.

Cade Winquest relieved and threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning. Tanner Jacobson tossed a scoreless sixth.

Palm Beach scored their only run in the first inning. Zach Levenson doubled and came home on a single by William Sullivan.

Zach Levenson

Tampa took a 3-1 lead in the third and made it 4-1 in the fifth.

The Beach Birds offense had just four hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. They were 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

On the base paths, Dakota Harris stole his third base of the season. In the field, Lizandro Espinoza made two errors. Sullivan had a fielding miscue.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (22-26) are tied for second place in the Florida State League East, two games back.

Thursday’s game:  at Tampa, TBA (PB) vs. Sean Hermann RHP (6-6, 5.63) 5:30 CT.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 23, 2023

photo: Dakota Harris (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-3 on Tuesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day is SS Dakota Harris, who was 2-for-3 with four RBI in Palm Beach’s win. Other standouts include Moises Gomez, Juan Yepez, Matt Svanson and Pete Hansen.



Results for games played on Tuesday, August 22.

Memphis 9 at Charlotte 5

The Memphis Redbirds were victorious over the Knights on Tuesday by the score of 9-5. Starter Gordon Graceffo pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits, struck out four and walked four.

Kyle Leahy surrendered one run in 2 1/3 innings of relief to earn the win. James Naile relinquished one run in the final two innings.

Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Ivan Herrera, Juan Yepez, and Nick Dunn each drew a walk. Herrera scored on a sac fly by Juniel Querecuto.

Charlotte took the lead 3-1 in the fifth but Memphis answered with four runs in the sixth to lead 5-3. Herrera singled and scored on a double by Yepez. Yepez came home on a double by Dunn. Moises Gomez hit a two-run home run.

Juan Yepez

Nick Dunn

The Redbirds added four runs via an error and three bases-loaded walks in the top of the seventh to increase the lead to 9-3. Dunn singled. Querecuto and Gomez walked. Chase Pinder reached on an error and Dunn scored. Kramer Robertson walked, forcing Querecuto in. Gomez came home on another bases-loaded walk, by Matt Koperniak. Pinder crossed the plate on yet another free pass, taken by César Prieto.

The Knights scored single runs in the bottom of the seventh, and the eighth to shrink the lead to 9-5.

Gomez was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Yepez was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Dunn was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

On the base paths, Dunn was picked off first base. Querecuto committed a fielding error. Herrea made an error on a pickoff.

The Memphis Redbirds (21-25) are 7.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Wednesday’s game:  at Charlotte, RHP Adam Kloffenstein (1-0, 3.00) vs. RHP Jose Urena (1-4, 6.08) 5:35 CT.

Springfield 4, Corpus Christi 10

The Springfield Cardinals were thrashed by the Hooks in a six-run loss at Hammons Field on Tuesday. Starter Wilfredo Pereira pitched five innings, gave up six runs on 10 hits, struck out four and walked three. Pereira took the loss.

Matt Svanson threw three scoreless innings of relief. Ryan Shreve surrendered four insurance runs in the ninth.

Matt Svanson

Corpus Christi took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and added a run in the top of the third to lead 2-0. The Cardinals answered in the home half of the third with one run. Jacob Buchberger doubled and came home on a fielder’s choice by Errol Robinson.

Corpus Christi scored four runs in the fifth to widen the lead to 6-1. Springfield responded with three runs in sixth to shrink the lead to 6-4. Robinson singled. Victor Scott II walked. Thomas Saggese singled. Robinson came home on a passed ball. Mike Antico plated Scott II on a single. Saggese scored on a sac fly by Pedro Pages.

The Hooks pulled away with four in the ninth to win 10-4.

Saggese was 2-for-4. Buchberger was 2-for-3.

On the base paths, Buchberger was caught stealing. Antico made a fielding error. Jose Alvarez had an outfield assist at second base.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (21-25) are in third place, three games out of first.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Corpus Christi, St. Louis rehabber RHP Jake Woodford followed by RHP Connor Lunn (4-6, 5.14) vs. RHP Angel Macuare (1-1, 4.66) 6:35 CT.

Peoria 3, West Michigan 14

At Dozer Park, the Peoria Chiefs were walloped by the Whitecaps in a 14-3 blowout on Tuesday. Starter Inohan Paniagua pitched four innings, gave up four runs on six hits, struck out five and walked two. Paniagua took the loss.

Edgar Manzo surrendered eight runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Nathanael Heredia relinquished two runs in the final 3 1/3 innings.

West Michigan went up 3-0 in the first inning and added one run in the top of the fourth.

Peoria scored one in the home half of the fourth via doubles by Chris Rotondo and Osvaldo Tovalin. The Chiefs made it 4-2 in the fifth on a solo home run by Jimmy Crooks.

Jimmy Crooks

West Michigan put up eight runs in the sixth to take control at 12-2 and made it 14-2 in the top of the ninth. Peoria scored their third and final run in the bottom of the ninth. Darlin Moquete doubled and later came home on a force out by Ramon Mendoza.

Tovalin was 2-for-4 with an RBI. R.J. Yeager was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Francisco Hernandez stole his eighth base of the season. In the field, Yeager and Alex ladisernia each committed a throwing error. Paniagua made an error on a pickoff. Rotondo had an outfield assist at home plate.

The Peoria Chiefs (27-22) are in second place in the Midwest League West, four games back of first.

Wednesday’s games:  vs. West Michigan, Max Rajcic RHP (2-3, 2.98) vs. Garrett Burhenn RHP (4-6, 3.99) 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 8 at Tampa 4

The Palm Beach Cardinals beat the Tarpons by four runs on Tuesday. Starter Pete Hansen pitched five innings, gave up two runs on six hits, struck out four and walked four to earn his 10th win of the season.

Pete Hansen

Angel Cuenca threw three scoreless innings of relief. Hunter Hayes surrendered two runs in the ninth.

In the first inning, Tampa went up 1-0. The Cardinals answered with three runs in the second. Joshua Baez singled. Kade Kretzschmar was hit by a pitch. Baez and Kretzschmar executed a double steal. Dakota Harris doubled to plate Baez and Kretzschmar. Harris came home on a single by Lizandro Espinoza.

The Beach Birds increased their lead to 4-1 in the fourth. Kretzschmar singled and later came in on a sac fly by Harris. Palm Beach added three more runs in the top of the fifth to lead 7-1. Zach Levenson hit a solo home run. Michael Curialle doubled. Kretzschmar walked. Chase Adkison singled to score Curialle. Kretzschmar came home on a double by Harris.

Dakota Harris

The Tarpons responded with one in the home half of the fifth to cut the lead to 7-2. The Cardinals made it 8-2 in the seventh. Brayden Jobert walked and later crossed the plate on a sac fly by Adkison.

Tampa scored two final runs in the ninth that did not affect the outcome.

Harris was 2-for-3 with four RBI. Kretzschmar was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Adkison had two RBI.

On the base paths, Curialle stole his 10th base of the season. Baez swiped his 23rd bag. Kretzschmar stole his third base. Espinoza purloined his 12th base.

In the field, Hansen made an error on a pickoff.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (22-25) are in second place in the Florida State League East, two games back.

Wednesday’s game:  at Tampa, TBA vs. TBA 5:30 CT.

FCL Cardinals 0, FCL Mets 2 (seven innings)

The rookie Cardinals closed their season with a whimper, blanked by the Mets in a 2-0 loss on Tuesday. Starter Alexander Beltre pitched one inning, gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits and struck out two. Beltre took the loss.

Samuel Fabian relieved Beltre and tossed a scoreless second. Randel Clemente, Antoni Cuello, Chandler Arnold, Omar Yanez, and Yonael Dominguez each contributed a scoreless inning.

The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. These were the only two runs in the game.

The Cardinals managed only one hit, a single by Samil De La Rosa. The offense was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

On the base paths, Raul Guzman stole his second base. Javier Bolivar was caught stealing. In the field, Guzman and Bolivar each made a fielding error.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (17-33) finished in last place, 15 games back of first place.

Wednesday’s game:  Season has ended.

DSL Cardinals, DSL Guardians Blue (canceled)

This game was cancelled due to inclement weather. It will not be made up as the regular season is over.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (17-36) finished in seventh place, 24 games back of first.

Wednesday’s game:  Season has ended.


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St. Louis Cardinals Major League Notebook – August 14-20

Max Lanier, Jose Oquendo, Terry Lanier (front row) (St. Louis Cardinals photo)

Behind inconsistent starting pitching and hitting, the last place Cardinals went 3-4 at home vs. the A’s and Mets. Jose Oquendo and Max Lanier entered the Cardinals Hall of Fame. Our history feature on underperforming Cards teams looks back at the 72-82 squad from 1932.



Oquendo, Lanier Enter Cards Hall of Fame

On Sunday morning, August 20, two men were inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame. Infielder and long-time coach Jose Oquendo and pitcher Max Lanier entered the Hall, welcomed by other members of the Red Jacket Club. Former Cardinals coach Hal Lanier and Terry Lanier represented their late father, with Hal accepting the honors.

Game Recaps

Monday, August 14, 2023 – Cardinals 7, Athletics 5

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Athletics in a two-run home victory on Monday. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched 6 1/3 innings, gave up four runs on five hits, struck out four and walked three.

Giovanny Gallegos surrendered one run in 2/3 of an inning of relief. Drew VerHagen threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning. JoJo Romero tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his third win.

The Cardinals scored their first run in the second inning. Jordan Walker singled and later came home on a single by Tommy Edman.

Oakland took a 2-1 lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. The Cardinals in the home half of the fifth on a two-run long ball from Paul Goldschmidt to regain the lead 3-2.

The Athletics took the lead a second time with three runs in the top of the seventh. St. Louis responded again with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to lead 7-5. Paul Goldschmidt, Andrew Knizner, and Tyler O’Neill walked. Lars Nootbaar walked to score Goldschmidt. Jordan Walker tripled to plate Knizner, O’Neill and Nootbaar.

Jordan Walker

Walker was 2-for-3 with three RBI. Goldschmidt was 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Tommy Edman was 2-for-5 with an RBI.

On the base paths, Goldschmidt stole his 10th base of the season. Walker swiped his third bag. O’Neill stole his third.

In the field, Willson Contreras was charged with catcher interference. Romero made a throwing error.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023 – Cardinals 6, Athletics 2

The Cardinals took the second game and won the Oakland series on Tuesday. Starter Dakota Hudson pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up two runs on five hits, struck out three and walked one to earn his fourth win of the season.

Dakota Hudson

Drew VerHagen and John King threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning each. JoJo Romero tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals went up 4-0 in the first inning. Lars Nootbaar singled and scored on a double by Paul Goldschmidt. Nolan Arenado followed with a two-run home run. Jordan Walker thumped a solo home run.

Nolan Arenado

St Louis increased the lead to 5-0 in the fourth. Walker drew a walk and came home on a double by Andrew Knizner.

The Athletics finally got on the board with two runs in the seventh. The Cardinals added their final run in the eighth on a solo home run by Tommy Edman.

Arenado was 4-for-5 with two RBI. Goldschmidt and Knizner each had two hits with an RBI. Nootbaar was 2-for-4.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 – Cardinals 0, Athletics 8

The Cardinals ended the series with a shutout loss to the Athletics. Starter Matthew Liberatore pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up six runs, five earned, on 10 hits, struck out five and walked three. Liberatore took the loss, his fifth.

Casey Lawrence relieved Liberatore and surrendered two runs in the final 4 2/3 innings.

Oakland scored four runs in the first inning and added to their total with one run in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to lead 7-0. The final run came in the ninth for a commanding win over St. Louis.

The Cardinals scattered nine hits but could not get a run home. Doubles by Alec Burleson and Andrew Knizner were the only extra base hits.

Burleson and Taylor Motter were each 2-for-4.

In the field, Walker made a fielding error and Burleson had an outfield assist at home plate.

Thursday, August 17, 2023 – Cardinals 2, Mets 4

Remaining at home, the Cardinals fell to the Mets by a 4-2 score on Thursday. Perhaps pitching for his rotation future, Adam Wainwright pitched six innings, gave up three runs on four hits, struck out two and walked three. Wainwright suffered his eighth loss of the season.

Adam Wainwright

Andre Pallante threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Drew VerHagen followed with 2/3 of a scoreless inning. John King surrendered a Mets insurance run in the ninth.

The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the fourth, then added a run in the fifth. The Cardinals scored two runs in the seventh to cut the lead to 3-2. Tyler O’Neill hit a solo home run. Jordan Walker walked and later came home on a sac fly by Alec Burleson.

The Mets added their final run in the ninth.

Andrew Knizner was 2-for-4 as the only Cardinal with multiple hits. The offense was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

In the field, Walker had an outfield assist at second base.

Friday, August 18, 2023 – Cardinals 1, Mets 7

The Cardinals were thrashed by the Mets by six runs on Friday. Starter Zack Thompson pitched five innings, gave up two runs on six hits, struck out five and walked one. Thompson took the loss.

Zack Thompson

Andrew Suárez relieved Thompson and surrendered one run in the sixth. James Naile relinquished four runs in the final three innings.

The Mets went up 1-0 in the first inning and added a second run in the third. In the seventh, the Mets scored five to lead 7-0.

The Cardinals were held scoreless until the ninth inning, when they managed to scratch one run across the plate to avoid the shutout. Alec Burleson walked and later crossed the plate on a double by Richie Palacios.

The Cardinals scored one run on six hits. Tyler O’Neill was 2-for-3 as the only Cardinal with multiple hits. The offense was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.

Saturday, August 19, 2023 – Cardinals 2, Mets 13

The Cardinals took an even bigger thrashing on Saturday compared to Friday with a 13-2 loss. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up seven runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked two. Mikolas took his ninth loss of the season.

Andrew Suárez surrendered five runs, three earned, in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Guillermo Zuñiga relinquished one run in the ninth.

The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then added a run in both the third and fourth to lead 3-0. The Cardinals got on the board in the home half of the fourth on a solo home run by Nolan Arenado.

In the top of the fifth, the Mets posted four to blow past St. Louis 7-1. Two runs in the seventh and three runs in the top of the eighth made it 12-1.

The Cardinals added their final run in the bottom of the eighth. Andrew Knizner was hit by a pitch and later was driven in on a single by Tommy Edman.

The Mets scored their last run in the ninth for the 13-2 drubbing.

St. Louis’ slumping offense scored two runs on five hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. They were 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

In the field, Edman and Taylor Motter each made a throwing error.

Sunday, August 20, 2023 – Cardinals 7, Mets 3

The Cardinals salvaged one win from the four-game home series with the Mets on Sunday. Starter Dakota Hudson pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up two runs on five hits, struck out seven and walked two to earn his fifth win of the season.

John King relieved Hudson and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Andre Pallante surrendered one run in one inning pitched. Giovanny Gallegos hurled 1/3 of a scoreless inning. JoJo Romero tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Mets took a 1-0 lead the top of the third. The Cardinals quickly tied the game in the home half. Tommy Edman singled and later came home on a single by Paul Goldschmidt.

The Mets responded with one run in the fourth to regain the lead, 2-1. In the fifth, a two-run home run by Goldschmidt put St. Louis on top, 3-2.

Paul Goldschmidt

In the seventh, the Cardinals took command of the game with four runs. Goldschmidt singled. Nolan Arenado walked. Willson Contreras singled to bring in Goldschmidt. Jordan Walker plated Arenado on a double. Richie Palacios’ single drive in Contreras and Walker.

The Mets scored one run in the eighth to cut the lead to 7-3.

Goldschmidt was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Walker was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tommy Edman and Masyn Winn were both 2-for-4. Alec Burleson was 2-for-3.

On the base paths, Edman stole two bases. In the field, Tyler O’Neill made a fielding error and had an outfield assist at home plate.

The Big Picture

The Cardinals finished a full week of games with a record of 3-4. They took 2 of 3 from the Athletics but won only 1 of 4 with the Mets. The Cardinals remain mired in last place, 13 games back of the Brewers.

Both the pitching and the offense had issues during the week. Miles Mikolas made two starts and had the most trouble. He gave up 11 runs over two starts. Adam Wainwright had his first quality start in months, but still lost. Matthew Liberatore was just a mess in his start, giving up six runs and 10 hits. Zack Thompson had a decent start. Dakota Hudson performed the best of all the starters.

The bullpen produced decent performance from five pitchers, JoJo Romero, Drew VerHagen, John King, Casey Lawrence and Andre Pallante. Not performing well were Andrew Suárez, Giovanny Gallegos, and James Naile. Guillermo Zuñiga was called up and made one appearance that wasn’t great.

As for the offense, it was good for the first two games, then disappeared for the next four. It showed signs of life again in the final game on Sunday.

Andrew Knizner

The best offensive performers by OPS over the last 7 days were Andrew Knizner (1.150), Paul Goldschmidt (1.068), Jordan Walker (1.017), Tyler O’Neill (.923), and Lars Nootbaar (.817). Nootbaar only appeared in the Oakland series and got hurt (from a batted foul ball in a bad place) in the final game and went on the IL.

At the bottom were José Fermin (.347) and Luken Baker (.266).

The defense had some issues during the week, especially during the Mets series (the caveat being that two primary outfielders are on the IL). Base running was fine.

Masyn Winn

Hit hard by injuries, the team appears to be focusing now on seeing what some younger players can do. The team’s top prospect Masyn Winn was called up for the Mets series. The starting lineups of late have featured call ups from Memphis in the form of Winn, Luken Baker, and Richie Palacios. While not mathematically eliminated as of now, the team has virtually no chance at the playoffs and can only realistically hope to get out of last place.

The Cardinals open a Pennsylvania road trip, playing three games in Pittsburgh and three games in Philadelphia. They are fighting with the Pirates to stay out of the Division cellar. The Pirates are currently ahead of the Cardinals by a half-game.

NL Central Standings

Team W L PCT GB WCGB
Milwaukee 68 57 0.544
Chicago 64 59 0.520 3
Cincinnati 64 61 0.512 4 1
Pittsburgh 55 69 0.444 12.5 9.5
St. Louis 55 70 0.440 13 10

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.

Transactions

  • 8/14 The Cardinals placed LHP Steven Matz on the 15-day injured list retroactive to August 13. Left lat strain.
  • 8/15 The Cardinals selected the contract of RHP Casey Lawrence from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/17 The Cardinals recalled INF/OF Richie Palacios from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/17 The Cardinals sent RHP Jake Woodford on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/17 The Cardinals placed 2B Nolan Gorman on the 10-day injured list retroactive to August 14. Lower back strain.
  • 8/18 The Cardinals selected the contract of SS Masyn Winn from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/18 The Cardinals placed OF Lars Nootbaar on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to August 17. Right groin injury.
  • 8/18 The Cardinals sent RHP Ryan Helsley on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/19 The Cardinals recalled RHP Guillermo Zuñiga from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/19 The Cardinals optioned RHP James Naile to the Memphis Redbirds.

Injury Report

  • RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder strain) is on the 60-day injured list after May arthroscopic surgery. There may be a slight possibility of a late-season return.
  • LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 17. Naughton underwent season ending surgery on June 26.
  • RHP Ryan Helsley (right forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on July 24. Helsley is currently on a rehab assignment with the Memphis Redbirds and is expected to return to the roster this month.
  • RHP Jake Woodford was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 30. Right shoulder strain. Woodford is currently on a rehab assignment with the Memphis Redbirds and is expected to return to the roster this month.
  • INF/OF Brendan Donovan (right elbow) had season ending surgery on August 2 to repair a damaged ligament. Donovan had pain in his throwing arm and had been participating in games as a DH only for weeks. With the Cardinals selling at the deadline, the decision to have the internal brace surgery was made. Donovan is out for the remainder of the season but is expected to be fully ready for Spring Training in 2024. He is on the 10-day injured list for now but could be moved to the 60-day if a 40-man spot is needed.
  • CF Dylan Carlson (left oblique strain and left ankle sprain) was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 12, retroactive to August 10. Carlson is dealing with two injuries at the moment, as his earlier ankle injury which occurred in May has never healed completely. At this time, season ending surgery on the ankle is being considered. The oblique injury is likely to keep Carlson out for at least six weeks which would take him to the end of the season in any event.
  • 2B Nolan Gorman was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 17, retroactive to August 14. Lower back strain. Gorman received a pain injection, and the team is hopeful Gorman will be able to return by the end of the road trip to Pennsylvania.
  • OF Lars Nootbaar was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 18, retroactive to August 17. Nootbaar suffered a right groin injury from a foul ball off his bat during the August 16 game with Oakland. After a trip to the ER where no significant damage was found, the OF went on the IL to recover. As in the case of Nolan Gorman, the team is hopeful Nootbaar will return by the end of the Pennsylvania road trip.
  • LHP Matthew Liberatore has been scratched from his scheduled Monday start due to some lower back tightness. His start has been rescheduled for Wednesday. The Cardinals announced that Drew Rom, who was acquired from the Orioles in the Jack Flaherty trade, will make the Monday start.

Drew Rom

Looking Ahead

Following the homestand, the Cardinals go on another road trip to start on Monday, August 21 with three games in Pittsburgh and three games in Philadelphia.

The month of August ends with three games with the Padres in Busch Stadium. September begins with three against the Pittsburgh Pirates to end the six game homestand.

After a travel day on Monday, September 4, the team plays the Braves in Atlanta in a three-game set. Next will be three games in Cincinnati against the Reds. The road trip ends with three games in Baltimore.

After a travel day on Thursday, September 14, the Cardinals return to St. Louis for a seven-game homestand, three with the Phillies and four against the Brewers.

Blast from the Past

The Cardinals are having one of their worst seasons in 50 years. St. Louis been one of the most consistent franchises in terms of winning seasons over the history of major league baseball. Nevertheless, St. Louis had had periods of underperforming.

This week’s Blast from the Past is the 10th installment in the series showcasing the worst seasons in the franchise’s long history.

The current Cardinals are 55-70 with a win percentage of .440.  The teams that ended in worse shape than the current Cardinals with at least 154 games played have almost been exhausted (the exceptions are a few teams within a year or two of teams already covered) This week we jump to a team that ended with a better record than the current Cardinals but still significantly below .500.

The 1932 Cardinals finished the season with a record of 72-82-2 and a win percentage of .468. The team was owned by Sam Breadon and the general manager was Branch Rickey.

The manager of the 1932 team was Gabby Street. It was the first season in which numbers appeared on the back of uniforms.

The 1932 squad finished in sixth place in the National League, tied with the New York Giants. Both teams were 18 games back of the Chicago Cubs. The Cincinnati Reds finished in last place, 30 games out of first.

Ripper Collins

The primary starting position players in 1932 were C Gus Mancuso, 1B Ripper Collins, 2B Frankie Frisch, SS Charlie Gelbert, 3B Jake Flowers, OF Pepper Martin, OF George Watkins, and OF Ernie Orsatti.

The best overall offensive player was Watkins, with a slash line of .312/.384/.461. Collins had the most power, with 21 home runs and 91 RBI. Orsatti had the highest average (.336).

The starting rotation consisted of Dizzy Dean, Paul Derringer, Bill Hallahan, and Syl Johnson. Tex Carleton is listed as a relief pitcher but made 22 starts.

Dizzy Dean

Hallahan had the best ERA (3.11). Dean had the best FIP (3.22).

The 1932 Cardinals spent three days in first place, last on April 14. The biggest lead was 0.5 games on April 13. The most games over .500 were two, which occurred on July 2.

The longest winning streak for the team was six games and the longest losing streak was eight games. They had 29 comeback wins, 38 blown leads, seven walk off wins, and 11 walk off losses.

They shut out their opponent six times and were shut out by opponents 13 times.

The 1932 Cardinals had winning records against two teams, the Reds and the Phillies.

The 1932 squad underperformed their Pythagorean Expectation which was 74-80, a win percentage of .480.


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Walton’s Cardinals Florida News Items – August 2023


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 19, 2023

photo: Darlin Saladin (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 0-6 on Friday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day is FCL Cardinals starter Darlin Saladin, who pitched five scoreless innings with three hits allowed and six strikeouts. Other standouts include Juan Yepez, L.J. Jones, Max Rajcic, and Brayen Jobert.



Results for games played on Friday, August 18.

Memphis 6, Norfolk 9

The Memphis Redbirds fell to the Tides in a 9-6 home loss on Friday. Starter Sem Robberse pitched 3 2/3 innings, gave up one run on two hits, struck out three and walked five.

Kyle Leahy surrendered five runs in two innings of relief. Ryan Helsley, on a rehab assignment from St. Louis, threw 1/3 of a scoreless inning, but allowed a hit and a walk in his nine pitches. Grant Black relinquished three runs in 2 1/3 innings and took the loss. Dalton Roach got the final two outs of the ninth.

Memphis took a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Nick Dunn singled. Tres Barrera walked. Matt Koperniak singled to score Dunn. Chase Pinder followed with a three-run home run.

Chase Pinder

Norfolk scored one in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 4-1. The Redbirds added two runs in the bottom of the fourth to widen the lead to 6-1. Kramer Robertson walked. César Prieto singled. Juan Yepez plated Robertson and Prieto on a single.

Juan Yepez

The Tides came back with three runs in the fifth, two in the sixth, and three in the ninth to win 9-6.

Yepez was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Prieto was 2-for-5. Pinder homered and drove in three.

In the field, Dunn made a throwing error.

The Memphis Redbirds (20-23) are 7.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Norfolk, RHP Michael McGreevy vs. RHP Garrett Stallings 6:35 CT.

Springfield 4 at Wichita 5

The Springfield Cardinals were topped by the Wind Surge in a one run road loss on Friday. Starter Tink Hence pitched four innings, gave up five runs on six hits, struck out five and walked two. Hence took the loss, his third.

Bryan Pope threw two scoreless innings of relief. Jose Martinez tossed the final two scoreless innings.

Wichita went up 2-0 in the first inning. The Cardinals scored one run in the top of the third to cut the lead to 2-1. L.J. Jones singled and later scored on a sac fly by Noah Mendlinger.

The Wind Surge made it 3-1 in the home half of the third, then increased the lead to 5-1 in the fourth, all against the slumping Hence, whose Double-A ERA is up to 6.54.

In the seventh, Springfield’s Aaron Antonini hit a solo home run. The Cardinals shrunk the lead to 5-4 in the eighth on a two-run home run by Jones.

LJ Jones IV

Jones was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Mike Antico was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Antico stole two bases. Victor Scott II swiped his 27th bag with Springfield and 77th overall. In the field, Hence picked a runner off first base.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (20-23) are in third place, three games out of first.

Saturday’s game:  at Wichita, LHP Alex Cornwell (1-1, 2.90) vs. RHP David Festa (2-3, 4.56) 6:05 CT.

Peoria 3 at Lake County 4

The Peoria Chiefs were edged by the Captains in a one run road loss on Friday. Starter Max Rajcic pitched five innings, gave up one run on six hits, struck out seven and walked two.

Max Rajcic

Nathanael Heredia threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Andrew Marrero relinquished three runs, one earned, in 1 1/3 innings. Marrero took the loss.

Lake County went up 1-0 in the first inning, but Peoria took a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Nathan Church was hit by a pitch. R.J. Yeager singled. Jimmy Crooks grounded into a force out, eliminating Yeager, Church scored. Crooks came home on a double by Chris Rotondo.

The Chiefs increased the lead to 3-1 in the eighth. Rotondo walked and stole second base. He crossed the plate on an error.

The Captains rallied in the ninth with three runs to win in a walk off, 4-3.

The Peoria offense scored three runs on four hits. No Chief had multiple hits.

On the base paths, Rotondo stole his third base. Darlin Moquete swiped his fifth bag. In the field, Church, Osvaldo Tovalin, and Jeremy Rivas each made a throwing error.

The Peoria Chiefs (25-20) sit in second place in the Midwest League West, 3.5 games back of first.

Saturday’s games:  at Lake County, Trent Baker RHP (6-7, 3.30) vs. Ethan Hankins RHP (0-7, 6.83) 3:00 CT (Game 1); at Lake County, Ian Bedell RHP (4-2, 2.23) vs. Ryan Webb LHP (2-3, 3.18) (Game 2)

Palm Beach 8, Fort Myers 13

The Palm Beach Cardinals suffered a ninth inning meltdown at the hands of the visiting Mighty Mussels in a 13-8 drubbing on Friday. Starter Brycen Mautz pitched three innings, gave up six runs, five earned, on seven hits and struck out six.

Angel Cuenca relieved Mautz and threw three scoreless innings of relief. After a clean eighth, Tanner Jacobson surrendered five runs to open the ninth and took the loss. Tyler Bradt yielded two more unearned runs before Ixan Henderson finally completed the final, seven-run inning.

Fort Myers took the lead with one run in the top of the first. The Beach Birds answered with three runs in the home half to pull ahead, 3-1.  Zach Levenson walked and scored on a double by William Sullivan. Sullivan came home on a single by Brayden Jobert. Chase Davis plated Jobert on a double.

Brayden Jobert

Palm Beach added a run in the second Chase Adkison singled and later came home on a double play by Kade Kretzschmar.

The Mighty Mussels scored two runs in the third to cut the lead to 4-3. The Cardinals answered with four runs in the bottom of the third to increase the lead to 8-3. Sullivan walked. Jobert singled. Dakota Harris was hit by a pitch. Lizandro Espinoza singled to bring in Sullivan. Joshua Baez’ double plated Jobert, Harris and Espinoza.

Joshua Baez

Fort Myers fought back with three runs in the fourth and later seven in the ninth to flip an 8-6 Palm Beach lead into a 13-8 loss.

Jobert was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. He was the only Cardinal with multiple hits. Baez had three RBI.

On the base paths, Jobert stole two bases. Sullivan stole one. In the field, Cuenca made a throwing error. Harris and Baez each had a fielding error.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (21-23) are in second place in the Florida State League East.

Saturday’s games:  vs. Fort Myers, TBA (PB) vs. John Klein RHP (0-1, 7.15) 5:00 CT.

FCL Cardinals 2, FCL Marlins 5

The Florida Complex League Cardinals were defeated by the Marlins in a 5-2 home contest on Friday. Starter Darlin Saladin pitched five scoreless innings, allowed three hits, struck out six and walked one.

Darlin Saladin

Chandler Arnold relieved Saladin in the sixth and surrendered four runs to open the seventh. Arnold took the loss. Randel Clemente finished the seventh with no more runs scored. Omar Yanez relinquished one run in the eighth. Antoni Cuello tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals went up 1-0 in the second inning. Samil De La Rosa singled and later came home on a ground out by Miguel Vargas. The Cardinals added a run in the sixth. Luis Pino walked, stole second base, and came home on a single by Maikel Hernandez.

The Marlins came back with four runs in the seventh and one run in the eighth to win the game 5-2.

Hernandez was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

On the base paths, Pino stole his fifth base of the season. In the field, Jonathan Mejia made a throwing error. Saladin had a fielding miscue.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (17-31) are in last place, 13 games back of first. They have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Saturday’s game:  at FCL Astros, TBA vs. TBA 9:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals 1 at DSL Mets Orange 2 (six innings)

The Dominican Cardinals lost to the Mets Orange by one run in a shortened road contest on Friday. Starter Ronny Oliver pitched four innings, gave up one unearned run on three hits, struck out seven and walked one.

Ronny Oliver

Jefferson Moran threw a scoreless fifth. Jose Suriel surrendered one run in 1/3 of an inning and took the loss. Emisael Carrera secured the final two outs of the sixth and final inning.

The Mets Orange took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. The Cardinals tied the game in the fourth. Arfeni Batista doubled and scored on a single by Hancel Almonte.

The Mets Orange added one in the bottom of the sixth for the 2-1 win.

The Cardinals scored one run on three hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Batista’s double was the only extra base hit.

In the field, Luis Atocha and Batista each made a throwing error. Atocha picked a runner off third base.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (16-35) are in seventh place, 23 games back of first. The Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL Tigers 1, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.


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Memphis Redbirds Notebook – 2023 Week 20


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 17, 2023

photo: Juan Yepez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-4 on Wednesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day Juan Yepez hit two three-run home runs in Memphis’ shutout win. Other standouts include Gordon Graceffo and Luis Pino.



Results for games played on Wednesday, August 16.

Memphis 10, Norfolk 0

The Memphis Redbirds blanked the Tides in a 10-run home blowout on Wednesday. Starter Gordon Graceffo pitched five scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out six and walked three. Graceffo earned his fourth win of the season.

Gordon Graceffo

Connor Thomas relieved Graceffo and threw four scoreless innings.

Connor Thomas

Memphis struck in the first inning on a three-run home run by Juan Yepez. The Redbirds added six runs in the second for a 9-0 lead. Juniel Querecuto and Kramer Robertson singled. Querecuto scored on a throwing error. Masyn Winn drew a walk. Richie Palacios singled to plate Robertson. Winn came home on a single by Ivan Herrera. Yepez followed with another three-run home run.

Juan Yepez

Memphis added a final run in the sixth. Kramer Robertson walked and later scored on a double by Herrera.

Yepez was 2-for-4 with six RBI and two runs scored. Herrera was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Palacios was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

The Memphis Redbirds (19-22) are 6.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Thursday’s game:  vs. Norfolk, RHP Adam Kloffenstein vs. RHP Justin Armbruster 6:45 CT.

Springfield 1 at Wichita 5

The Springfield Cardinals lost at the Wichita Wind Surge by the score of 5-1 on Wednesday. Starter Connor Lunn pitched six innings, gave up four runs on six hits, struck out six and walked two. Lunn took the loss.

Ryan Shreve relieved Lunn and threw a scoreless seventh. Matt Svanson surrendered an insurance run in the eighth.

Wichita took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. They added two runs in the second and one in the third to go up 4-0.

Springfield was held scoreless until the seventh, when Thomas Saggese hit a solo home run to shrink the lead to 4-1. The Cardinals had been no hit before the long ball.

Thomas Saggese

The Wind Surge made it 5-1 in the eighth.

The Cardinals offense scored one run on four hits. Saggese’s home run was the only extra base hit. They were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left four men on base.

On the base paths, Mike Antico was caught stealing for the fifth time. Errol Robinson was picked off first base.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (20-21) are in third place, 1.5 games out of first place.

Thursday’s game:  at Wichita, RHP Brandon Komar (3-6, 4.70)  vs. Aaron Rozek LHP (2-3, 6.11) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 1 at Lake County 5 (seven innings, Game 1)

The Chiefs fell to the Lake County Captains in the opener of a twin bill on Wednesday. It was required to make up for Tuesday’s rainout.

Starter Inohan Paniagua pitched five innings, gave up four runs on six hits, struck out six and walked two. Paniagua took the loss.

Edwin Nunez relieved Paniagua and surrendered one run in the sixth.

Peoria scored their only run in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by R.J. Yeager. Lake County tied the game in the home half of the fourth.

R.J. Yeager

In the fifth, the Captains took the lead with three runs to go ahead 4-1. They scored their fifth and final run in the sixth.

The Chiefs scored one run on two hits. In addition to the Yeager long ball, Jimmy Crooks singled. The offense was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left three men on base.

On the base paths, Jeremy Rivas stole his 16th base of the season. Tyler Reichenborn was caught stealing.

In the field, Brody Moore made a fielding error. Paniagua picked a runner off second base.

Peoria 0 at Lake County 2 (seven innings, Game 2)

The Chiefs were blanked by the Captains by a 2-0 score in Wednesday’s nightcap. Starter Edgar Manzo pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up two unearned runs on one hit, struck out one and walked one. Manzo took the loss.

Edgar Manzo

Joseph King relieved Manzo and tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Lake County scored their two runs in the fifth inning. The Peoria offense was held scoreless and scattered four hits, all singles. The offense was 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

Nathan Church and Brody Moore were both 2-for-3.

On the basepaths, Alex ladisernia stole his 11th base of the season. Church was picked off second base.

In the field, R.J. Yeager had a missed catch error. Francisco Hernandez made a throwing error.

The Peoria Chiefs (25-19) sit in second place in the Midwest League West, 2.5 games back of first place.

Thursday’s games:  at Lake County, Max Rajcic RHP (2-3, 3.12) vs. Parker Messick LHP (1-3, 5.03) 6:00 CT.

Palm Beach vs. Fort Myers (suspended)

This game at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches against the Mighty Mussels (MIN) was suspended due to heavy rain in the top of the fifth with the Cardinals leading 5-4. It will be completed on Thursday afternoon August 17 as part of a doubleheader.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (19-22) are in second place in the Florida State League East.

Thursday’s games:  vs. Fort Myers, TBA vs. TBA 2:45 CT (Game 1, completion of suspended game), vs. Fort Myers, TBA (PB) vs. Jack Noble RHP (0-2, 3.26) (Game 2, seven innings)

FCL Cardinals 7, FCL Nationals 9 (seven innings)

The Florida Complex League Cardinals were defeated by the Nationals by two runs on Wednesday at home. Starter Gerardo Salas pitched four innings, gave up three runs, one earned, on six hits, struck out four and walked one.

Wilmer Ortega relieved Salas and surrendered five runs, one earned, in two innings and took the loss. Samuel Fabian relinquished one unearned run in the seventh.

The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. They added a run in the top of the third.

The Cardinals put up five runs in the home half of the third to take a 5-3 lead. Adari Grant singled. Felix Taveras walked. Jose Cordoba singled to score Grant. Taveras and Cordoba came home on a double by Luis Pino. Samil De La Rosa hit a two-run home run.

Samil De La Rosa

The Cardinals increased their lead to 7-3 in the fourth. Taveras tripled and scored on an error. Cordoba doubled and came home on a single by Pino.

Luis Piño

The Nationals came back with four runs in the fifth to tie the game. They added one run in the sixth and one in the seventh to win 9-7.

Pino was 2-for-3 with three RBI. De La Rosa was 2-for-2 with two RBI. Cordoba was 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

On the base paths, De La Rosa was caught stealing.

In the field, the Cardinals had a rough day. De La Rosa and Fabian each made a throwing error. Raul Guzman and Grant had fielding miscues. Luis Rodriguez made an error on a pick off. Cordoba had an outfield assist at home plate.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (17-30) are in last place, 12 games back of first. They have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Thursday’s game:  at FCL Nationals, RHP Darlin Saladin (2-4, 3.19) vs. TBA 9:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals – Off

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (16-33) are in seventh place, 23 games back of first. The Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Thursday’s game:  vs. DSL Giants Orange, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 16, 2023

photo: Drew Rom (Bill Vaughn)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-4 on Tuesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day Drew Rom pitched six scoreless, one-hit innings with eight strikeouts in Memphis’ shutout win. Other standouts include Thomas Saggese and Matt Koperniak.



Results for games played on Tuesday, August 15.

Memphis 5, Norfolk 0

The Memphis Redbirds blanked the Tides in a 5-0 contest at AutoZone Park on Tuesday. Starter Drew Rom pitched six scoreless innings, allowed one hit, struck out eight and walked two to earn his ninth win of the season and second with Memphis.

Drew Rom

Guillermo Zuñiga relieved Rom and threw a scoreless seventh. Ryan Loutos hurled a scoreless eighth and Jacob Barnes tossed a scoreless ninth.

Memphis took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Kramer Robertson singled and later scored on a triple by Masyn Winn. The Redbirds increased their lead to 4-0 in the sixth. Ivan Herrera and Nick Dunn walked. Juan Yepez singled. Matt Koperniak doubled to plate Herrera and Dunn. Yepez was thrown out at home on a ground out by Robertson. Koperniak came home on a single by Richie Palacios.

Matt Koperniak

Memphis made it 5-0 in the eighth. César Prieto doubled and later scored on a walk by Dunn.

Prieto and Yepez were each 2-for-5. Koperniak had two RBI.

The Memphis Redbirds (18-22) are 6.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Norfolk, RHP Gordon Graceffo vs. LHP Cade Povich 6:45 CT.

Springfield 2 at Wichita 5

The Springfield Cardinals were defeated by the Wind Surge in a three-run road loss on Tuesday. Starter Wilfredo Pereira pitched five innings, gave up five runs on seven hits, struck out five and walked two. Pereira took the loss.

Roy Garcia relieved Pereira and threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Logan Sawyer tossed a scoreless eighth.

Wichita went up 2-0 in the first inning and widened their lead to 5-0 in the third.

Springfield scored their two runs in the sixth. Jose Alvarez singled. Victor Scott II ground into a force out, eliminating Alvarez. Scott II stole second. Arquimedes Gamboa walked. Both runners came home on a triple by Thomas Saggese.

Thomas Saggese

Saggese was 2-for-4 with two RBI and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.

On the base paths, Scott II stole his 25th base with Springfield and 75th overall.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (20-20) are in second place, 0.5 games out of first.

Wednesday’s game:  at Wichita, RHP Connor Lunn (4-5, 5.09) vs. Travis Adams RHP (2-8, 6.24) 7:05 CT.

Peoria at Lake County (postponed)

Peoria’s series opener at Lake County was postponed due to inclement weather. It will be made up on Wednesday, August 16 as part of a doubleheader.

The Peoria Chiefs (24-16) are in second place in the Midwest League West, 0.5 games back of first.

Wednesday’s games:  at Lake County, RH Inohan Paniagua (0-0, 2.25) vs. LH Steve Hajjar (1-3, 4.33) 3:00 CT (Game 1); at Lake County, Max Rajcic RHP (2-3, 3.12) vs. Parker Messick LHP (1-3, 5.03) (Game 2).

Palm Beach 2, Fort Myers 9

The Palm Beach Cardinals home series against the Mighty Mussels opened with a seven-run loss on Tuesday. Starter Pete Hansen pitched five innings, gave up three runs on six hits, struck out five and walked two. Hansen took the loss, his third of the season.

Jason Savacool surrendered two runs in the sixth. Ixan Henderson threw a scoreless seventh. Angle Cuenca hurled a scoreless eighth. Cade Winquest yielded four runs, one earned, in 2/3 of an inning. Tyler Bradt got the last out of the ninth.

Fort Myers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Mighty Mussels added two runs in both the fifth and sixth to lead 5-0.

The Beach Birds finally scored in the eighth, putting up two runs to cut the lead to 5-2. Chase Adkison doubled and came home on a double by Lizandro Espinoza. Espinoza later crossed the plate on a double play by Kade Kretschmar.

Chase Adkison

Fort Myers widened their lead to 9-2 in the ninth.

Zach Levenson, Michael Curialle, and Joshua Baez were each 2-for-4. Adkison was 2-for-3.

On the base paths, Levenson stole his second base of the season. Curialle swiped his ninth bag. In the field, Chase Davis and Dakota Harris each made two fielding errors.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (19-22) are in second place in the Florida State League East.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Fort Myers, TBA (PB) vs. Ben Ethridge RHP (2-5, 2.34) 5:30 CT.

FCL Cardinals 3, FCL Mets 12 (seven innings)

The Florida Complex League Cardinals fell to the Mets in a nine-run loss on Tuesday. Starter Yonael Dominguez pitched one inning, gave up seven runs on five hits, struck out one and walked two. Dominquez took the loss.

Luis Gastelum surrendered two runs in two innings of relief. Dionys Guerrero relinquished two runs, one earned, in 1 1/3 innings. Randel Clemente yielded one unearned run in the final 1 2/3 innings.

The Cardinals scored first with one run in the top of the first. Jonathan Mejia singled and later came home on a ground out by Luis Pino. The Mets put up three runs in the bottom of the first to lead 3-1.

The Mets made it 9-1 in the second. The Cardinals scored again in the fourth to cut the lead to 9-2. Anyelo Encarnacion tripled and crossed home on a ground out by Yancel Guerrero.

Anyelo Encarnacion

The Mets scored twice more in the fifth to widen the lead to 11-2. The Cardinals made it 11-3 in the top of the seventh. Luis Rodriguez reached on an error and later came in on a sac fly by Raul Guzman.

The Mets scored their final run in the home seventh.

The Cardinals offense scored three runs on five hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Encarnacion’s triple was the only extra base hit.

On the base paths, Jose Cordoba stole his fourth base. In the field, Dominquez made an error on a pickoff. Justin Guerrero and Encarnacion each made fielding errors. Y. Guerrero made two errors, one throwing and one fielding. J. Guerrero had a passed ball.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (17-29) are in last place, 12 games back of first. They have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. FCL Nationals, TBA vs. TBA 9:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals 0 at DSL NYY Yankees 6

The Dominican Cardinals were blanked by the Yankees in a 6-0 loss on Tuesday. Starter Yadiel Batista pitched five innings, gave up two runs on four hits, struck out three and walked one. Batista took the loss.

Yadiel Batista

Jovi Galvez surrendered four runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Kener Perez tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Yankees scored first with one run in the third inning. They followed with one run in the fourth, and two runs in each of the sixth and seventh for a 6-0 lead.

The Cardinals were held scoreless with only one hit, a single by Hancel Almonte. The offense was 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

In the field, Almonte had an outfield assist at third base.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (16-33) are in seventh place, 23 games back of first. The Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Wednesday’s game:  Off


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St. Louis Cardinals Major League Notebook- August 7-13

photo: Matthew Liberatore (Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports)

In their 3-2 week, the revamped St. Louis Cardinals rotation made four quality starts. Matthew Liberatore had his best outing yet, but skidding Adam Wainwright had his worst. Our history feature on underperforming Cards teams looks back at the 71-83 squad from 1959.

Game Recaps

Monday, August 7, 2023 – Off day

Tuesday, August 8, 2023 – Cardinals 2 at Rays 4

The St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Rays in the first of a three-game series in St. Pete. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched seven-plus innings, gave up two runs on eight hits and struck out five. Still, Mikolas took the loss, his eighth of the season.

Miles Mikolas

Andre Pallante relieved Mikolas and surrendered two runs in just 1/3 of an inning. Drew VerHagen secured the final two outs of the eighth.

The Cardinals scored first on a second inning solo home run by Nolan Arenado. In the seventh, the Rays tied the game at 1-1.

Tampa Bay scored three runs in the eighth to take a 4-1 lead. The Cardinals cut the lead to 4-2 on a solo home run by Willson Contreras but the scoring ended there.

The Cardinals offense scored two runs on five hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Extra base hits included a triple by Lars Nootbaar and a double by Alec Burleson.

On the base paths, Tommy Edman was caught stealing for the second time. In the field, Jordan Walker had an outfield assist at second base.

Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – Cardinals 6 at Rays 4

The Cardinals bounced back to defeat the Rays 6-4 in the second game of the series. Starter Dakota Hudson pitched seven innings, gave up three runs on seven hits, struck out two and walked one to earn his third win of the season.

Dakota Hudson

John King relieved Hudson and threw a scoreless sixth. Drew VerHagen surrendered one run in 2/3 of an inning. JoJo Romero hurled 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Giovanny Gallegos tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Nolan Gorman singled. Jordan Walker doubled. Gorman came home on a ground out by Alec Burleson.

In the home half of the second, the Rays went up, 2-1. The Cardinals answered in the third to regain the lead at 3-2. Lars Nootbaar singled and later scored on a single by Nolan Arenado. Arenado later came home on a single by Jordan Walker.

In the top of the fourth, St. Louis increased the lead to 5-2. Dylan Carlson walked. Tommy Edman singled. Both crossed the plate on a single by Paul Goldschmidt. The Rays cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the inning.

In the seventh, Lars Nootbaar’s solo home run made the score 6-3. The Rays scored a run in the bottom frame for the final score of 6-4.

Lars Nootbaar

Nootbaar was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Walker was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Goldschmidt had two RBI.

On the base paths, Nootbaar stole his eighth base of the season.

Thursday, August 10, 2023 – Cardinals 5 at Rays 2

The Cardinals won the rubber game of the series with the Rays. Starter Matthew Liberatore was brilliant against his former team, pitching eight scoreless innings with only two hits allowed and seven strikeouts. Liberatore earned his second win of the season.

Matthew Liberatore

JoJo Romero relieved Liberatore and surrendered two runs in the ninth.

The Cardinals went up in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Andrew Knizner. The Cardinals added to their lead with one in the sixth. Nolan Arenado singled and later scored on a single by Alec Burleson.

St. Louis made it 4-0 in the seventh. Taylor Motter singled and later came in on a force out by Lars Nootbaar.

The Cardinals scored their sixth and final run in the top of the ninth on a solo home run by Tommy Edman. The Rays finally got on the board with two runs in the home half of the ninth.

Knizner was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Edman was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Arenado was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Nootbaar was 2-for-5.

In the field, Liberatore picked off a runner at second base.

Friday, August 11, 2023 – Cardinals 8 at Royals 12

The Cardinals lost a Friday slugfest with the Royals in the first of a two-game road series. Starter Adam Wainwright pitched only one full inning, gave up eight runs on nine hits.

Zack Thompson

Zack Thompson relieved Wainwright with no outs in the second inning and surrendered one run in four innings. James Naile hurled a scoreless sixth. Andre Pallante relinquished three runs, two earned, in the final two innings.

The Royals scored four times in the first and five in the second to lead 9-0. The Cardinals cut the lead to 9-3 in the third. Lars Nootbaar singled. Nolan Arenado reached on an error. Nolan Gorman drew a walk. Willson Contreras cleared the bases with a double.

Willson Contreras

St. Louis cut the lead further to 9-5 in the fifth on a two-run home run by Tyler O’Neill. The Cardinals made it 9-6 in the sixth. Tommy Edman doubled and scored on a double by Nootbaar.

The Royals added one run in the seventh and two in the eighth to widen their lead to 12-6. The Cardinals plated two in the ninth on a two-run home run by Contreras.

Contreras was 3-for-3 with five RBI and two runs scored. O’Neill was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Nootbaar was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Edman was 2-for-4.

In the field, Gorman made a fielding error. Jordan Walker had an outfield assist at second base.

Saturday, August 12, 2023 – Cardinals 5 at Royals 4

The Cardinals edged the Royals to win the second game and split the series in Kansas City. Starter Steven Matz pitched six innings, gave up two runs on four hits and struck out five to win his fourth game of the season.

Steven Matz

Drew VerHagen relieved Matz and threw a scoreless seventh. Giovanny Gallegos surrendered one run in 1/3 innings. JoJo Romero relinquished one run in 1 2/3 innings.

The Cardinals took the lead in the second inning on a two-run home run by Tommy Edman. St. Louis made it 3-0 in the top of the third. Andrew Knizner walked and later came home on a double by Nolan Arenado.

Tommy Edman

The Royals cut the lead to 3-2 in the home half third. The Cardinals responded with one run in the fifth to increase the lead to 4-2. Lars Nootbaar walked and later crossed the plate on a single by Willson Contreras.

In the top of the eighth, Edman homered again to make it 5-2. The Royals put up one run in the bottom of the eighth then added a final run in the ninth for the final score of 5-4.

Edman was 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Arenado was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Paul Goldschmidt was 2-for-5.

Sunday, August 13, 2023 – Off day

The Big Picture

The Cardinals had a record of 3-2 in the short week, taking two of three from the Rays and splitting the two games with the Royals. The Cardinals remain in last place in the NL Central Division.

Most crucial is the situation with Adam Wainwright who continues to struggle terribly. His last start ended in the second inning of Friday’s game after nine runs were relinquished. While there was some talk briefly of a change, the recent news is that Wainwright will make his next start.

On the other hand, others have surprisingly stepped up. Matthew Liberatore, who up until recently was not producing, threw a gem against his former team this week. Steven Matz continues to show he has improved over his early season problems that sent him to the bullpen for a time. Dakota Hudson has also demonstrated some improvement since his return from Triple-A.

The bullpen has changed some and with the absence of Ryan Helsley, others have had to step in for the end of games. Giovanny Gallegos and JoJo Romero have spent time in the ninth inning with mixed results. New addition John King has been good so far. Andre Pallante has been inconsistent in his role. Zack Thompson has evolved into the role of fill in starter and top long relief man with better results. Drew VerHagen has been okay.

The offense has been fine for the most part, though there have been a few players whose production needs improvement. One is Dylan Carlson, who is now on the IL with an oblique strain. Paul Goldschmidt has not been his normal self. Several others have been hit and miss.

Andrew Knizner

The top offensive performers for the week by OPS are Tommy Edman (1.533), Willson Contreras (1.367), Lars Nootbaar (1.220), Andrew Knizner (1.089), and Nolan Arenado (.980). At the bottom are Dylan Carlson (.286), Alec Burleson (.364), Jordan Walker (.435), Paul Goldschmidt (.477) and Nolan Gorman (.485).

The defense and base running have been good.

The Cardinals begin a homestand this week with the Athletics and the Mets. Both teams have struggled, as have the Cardinals.

NL Central Standings

Team W L PCT GB WCGB
Milwaukee 65 54 0.546
Chicago 61 57 0.517 3.5 0.5
Cincinnati 62 58 0.517 3.5 0.5
Pittsburgh 53 65 0.449 11.5 8.5
St. Louis 52 66 0.441 12.5 9.5

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.

Transactions

  • 8/6 The Cardinals sent RHP Ryan Helsley on a rehab assignment to the Springfield Cardinals.
  • 8/8 The Cardinals activated RHP Miles Mikolas from his five-game suspension.
  • 8/9 The Cardinals sent RHP Jake Woodford on a rehab assignment to the Springfield Cardinals.
  • 8/12 The Cardinals recalled 1B Luken Baker from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/12 The Cardinals placed CF Dylan Carlson on the 10-day injured list. Left oblique strain.

Injury Report

  • RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder strain) went on the 60-day injured list after May arthroscopic surgery. There is a possibility of a late-season return.
  • LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 17. Naughton underwent season ending surgery on June 26.
  • RHP Ryan Helsley (right forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on July 24. Helsley is currently on a rehab assignment with the Springfield Cardinals and is expected to return to the roster sometime this month.
  • RHP Jake Woodford was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 30. Right shoulder strain. Woodford is currently on a rehab assignment with the Springfield Cardinals and is expected to return to the roster by late August.
  • INF/OF Brendan Donovan (right elbow) had season ending surgery on August 2 to repair a damaged ligament. Donovan had pain in his throwing arm and had been participating in games as a DH only for weeks. With the Cardinals selling at the deadline, the decision to have the internal brace surgery was made. Donovan is out for the remainder of the season but is expected to be fully ready for Spring Training in 2024. He is on the 10-day injured list for now but could be moved to the 60-day when a 40-man spot is needed.
  • CF Dylan Carlson (left oblique strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 12, retroactive to August 10. Carlson felt something after his first at bat against the Rays on August 9 and had been kept out of the lineup since. Imaging revealed a strain in his left oblique. Carlson is likely to be out at least a couple of weeks.

Dylan Carlson

Looking Ahead

Beginning on Monday the team starts a six game homestand with the Athletics and the Mets. Miles Mikolas is scheduled to make the Monday start, with Dakota Hudson and Matthew Liberatore to follow on Tuesday and Wednesday. Pitchers for the Mets series have not been announced, but Adam Wainwright’s next turn would be on Thursday.

Following the homestand, the Cardinals go on a Pennsylvania road trip starting on August 21 with three games each in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

The month of August ends with three games with the Padres in Busch Stadium. The homestand continues into September with three against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After a travel day on Monday, September 4, the team plays the Braves in Atlanta and the Reds in Cincinnati for three games each.

Blast from the Past

St. Louis is having one of the worst seasons in 50 years. The Cardinals have been one of the most consistent franchises in terms of winning seasons over the history of major league baseball. Nevertheless, St. Louis had had periods of underperforming.

This week’s Blast from the Past is the ninth installment in the series showcasing the worst seasons in the franchise’s long history.

The current Cardinals are 52-66 with a win percentage of .441.  The teams that ended in worst shape than the current Cardinals with at least 154 games played have almost been exhausted in this series (the exceptions being a few teams within a year or two of teams already covered).

This week we jump to a team that fared a little better than the 2023 squad, the 1959 Cardinals, which ended the season with a record of 71-83 and a win percentage of .461.

The 1959 Cardinals team was owned by Gussie Busch. The general manager was Bing Devine. The team was managed by Solly Hemus.

The 1959 Cardinals finished in seventh place in the National League, 16 games back of the first place Los Angeles Dodgers. They were seven games ahead of the last place Philadelphia Phillies.

The primary starters for the 1959 squad were C Hal Smith, 1B Stan Musial, 2B Don Blasingame, SS Alex Grammas, 3B Ken Boyer, LF Bill White, CF Gino Cimoli, and RF Joe Cunningham.

Ken Boyer

A key offensive performer that season was Cunningham, who slashed .345/.453/.478 with seven home runs and 60 RBI. Cunningham finished second to Hank Aaron for the NL batting title. Boyer also led the way with a slash line of .309/.384/.508 with 28 home runs and 94 RBI. Legend Stan Musial was on the tail end of his career and did not perform as well.

Other notable players on the 1959 team were Curt Flood and Tim McCarver.

The rotation for the 1959 team was Larry Jackson, Vinegar Bend Mizell, Ernie Broglio, and Bob Miller. Listed as a relief pitcher, Gary Blaylock made 12 starts that season.

The 1959 team also included 23-year-old rookie Bob Gibson, who made nine starts.

Bob Miller

The starting pitcher with the best ERA was Jackson, at 3.30. Miller’s ERA was 3.31. Miller also had the best FIP of 2.63.

The 1959 Cardinals never led in the standings and never had a record over .500. They did have a 40-30 run between early May and late July.

The team’s longest winning streak was four games and the longest losing streak was seven games. They had 34 comeback wins, 36 blown leads, 10 walk off wins and 10 walk off losses.

The 1959 squad was shut out by opponents 14 times and shut out their opponents eight times.

The team had a winning record against two teams, the Cubs and the Phillies. They tied the Reds.

The 1959 Cardinals outperformed their Pythagorean Expectation, which was 68-86.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 12, 2023

photo: Brandon Komar (Springfield Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 4-3 on Friday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield’s Brandon Komar, pitched a seven-inning complete game, with one run on six hits. Other standouts include Luken Baker, Irving Lopez, and Francisco Hernandez.



Results for games played on Friday, August 11.

Memphis 8 at Durham 4

The Memphis Redbirds defeated the Bulls in an 8-4 road victory on Friday. Starter Adam Kloffenstein pitched five innings, gave up two runs on three hits, struck out five and walked four to earn his first win as a Redbird.

Adam Kloffenstein

Ryan Loutos relieved Kloffenstein and threw two scoreless innings. Guillermo Zuñiga surrendered two runs in the final two innings.

Memphis took the lead in the first inning on a grand slam by Luken Baker. The Redbirds added two more runs in the third on a long ball by Ivan Herrera.

Luken Baker

Durham cut the lead to 6-1 in the fourth. In the top of the fifth, the Redbirds scored two runs to widen the lead to 8-1. César Prieto drew a walk. Masyn Winn singled. Prieto came home on a fielder’s choice by Herrera. Winn crossed the plate on a double play by Baker.

The Bulls shrunk the lead to 8-2 in the home half of the fifth. Durham added two final runs in the eighth.

Winn was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Richie Palacios was 2-for-5. Herrera had two RBI.  Baker drove in four.

In the field, Herrera had a passed ball.

The Memphis Redbirds (17-20) are 6.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Saturday’s game:  at Durham, RHP Sem Robberse (0-1, 16.20 with Mem) vs. TBD 5:35 CT.

Springfield 5, San Antonio 15 (seven innings, Game 1)

The Double-A Cardinals were walloped by the Missions, in a 10-run loss on Friday. Starter Tink Hence pitched 3 1/3 innings, gave up nine runs on nine hits and walked three. Hence took the loss.

Jose Martinez threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Bryan Pope surrendered six unearned runs in 2/3 innings. Irving Lopez got the final out of the seventh.

San Antonio took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and two runs in each of the second and third innings.

Springfield got on the board with three runs in the home half of the third. Errol Robinson singled and later scored on a single by Thomas Saggese. Jacob Buchberger singled. Pedro Pages plated Saggese and Buchberger on a double.

Pedro Pages

San Antonio added two runs in the top of the fourth to lead 9-3. The Cardinals answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 9-5.

In the ninth, the Missions tacked on six more runs to win 15-5.

Pages was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Buchberger was 2-for-3. Saggese had two RBI.

Saggese and Robinson each made a fielding error.

Springfield 4, San Antonio 1 (seven innings, Game 2)

The Cardinals beat the Missions in the second game of the twin bill on Friday. Starter Brandon Komar pitched a complete game of seven innings, gave up one run on six hits, struck out three and walked one.

Brandon Komar

San Antonio took the initial lead of 1-0 in the first inning. Springfield took the lead on a three-run home run by Irving Lopez.

Irving Lopez

The Cardinals scored their final run in the fifth. Thomas Saggese singled and later came home on a sac fly by Chandler Redmond.

The Springfield offense scored four runs on four hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Lopez had three RBI.

On the base paths, Saggese stole his ninth base. Mike Antico made a fielding error. Komar picked a runner off first base.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (19-13) are in second place, 0.5 games out of first.

Saturday’s game:  vs. San Antonio, Alex Cornwell LHP (0-1, 2.81) vs. Jairo Iriarte RHP (0-0, 1.86) 6:35 CT.

Peoria 5 at Beloit 0

The Peoria Chiefs blanked the Sky Carp in a five-run road win on Friday. Starter Ian Bedell pitched three scoreless innings, allowed one hit, struck out four and walked two.

Edgar Manzo

Edgar Manzo relieved Bedell and threw four scoreless innings to earn his third win. Andrew Marrero tossed the final two scoreless innings.

Peoria went up 4-0 in the third inning. Tyler Reichenborn and Brody Moore singled. Francisco Hernandez tripled to plate Reichenborn and Moore. Hernandez came home on a double by R.J. Yeager.

Francisco Hernandez

The score remained 4-0 until the ninth when the Chiefs added a final run to win 5-0. Hernandez reached an error and advanced to third. He scored on a wild pitch.

Hernandez was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored and was the only Chief with multiple hits.

On the base paths, Yeager stole his seventh base of the season. Reichenborn was caught stealing.

The Peoria Chiefs (24-16) sit in second place in the Midwest League West, 0.5 games back of first.

Saturday’s game:  at Beloit, Trent Baker RHP (6-7, 3.41) vs. Karson Milbrandt RHP (0-2, 5.09) 6:05 CT.

Palm Beach 3 at St. Lucie 6

The Palm Beach Cardinals fell to the Mets in a 6-3 road loss on Friday. Starter Brycen Mautz pitched five innings, gave up four runs on seven hits, struck out five and walked one. The organization’s July Pitcher of the Month took the loss.

Jason Savacool surrendered two runs in two innings of relief. Augusto Calderon tossed a scoreless eighth.

The Mets took a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning. The Beach Birds cut the lead to 4-2 in the sixth. Lizandro Espinoza singled and scored on a force out by Dakota Harris. Harris later came home on a single by Michael Curialle.

Lizandro Espinoza

Palm Beach made it 4-3 in the seventh. Joshua Baez was hit by a pitch. William Sullivan and Espinoza singled. Baez scored on a balk.

In the home half of the seventh, the Mets expanded their lead to 6-3.

Espinoza was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Won-Bin Cho was 2-for-5.

On the base paths, Baez stole his 20th base of the season. Kade Kretzschmar was caught stealing. In the field, Harris made a throwing error.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (18-20) are tied for first place in the Florida State League East.

Saturday’s game:  at St. Lucie. TBA vs. TBA 5:10 CT.

FCL Cardinals 7 at FCL Nationals 18 (seven innings)

The Florida Complex League Cardinals fell to the Nationals in an 18-7 blowout on Friday. Starter Darlin Saladin pitched 2/3 of an inning and gave up four runs, three earned, on two hits and walked one. Saladin took the loss.

Samuel Fabian surrendered three runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Chandler Arnold relinquished six runs in 2/3 of an inning. Antoni Cuello yielded five runs in 1 1/3 innings. Yonael Dominguez tossed a scoreless sixth.

In the top of the first, the Cardinals took the first lead, 2-0. Jonathan Mejia hit a solo home run. Adari Grant walked and later scored on a single by Felix Taveras.

The Nationals quickly posted seven runs in the home half of the first and added eight more in the fourth to lead 15-2.

The Cardinals put up one run in the top of the fifth when Luis Pino doubled and came home on a single by Taveras.

Felix Taveras

The Nationals widened the lead to 18-3 in the bottom of the fifth. In the seventh, the Cardinals added their final four runs. Alejandro Loaiza walked. Jeremy Ramos doubled. Yasiel Ramos reached on an error. Javier Bolivar walked and Loaiza came home. Romtres Cabrera was hit by a pitch, forcing J. Ramos in. Y. Ramos crossed the plate on a walk by Miguel Vargas. Bolivar scored on a force out by Anyelo Encarnacion.

Taveras was 2-for-3 with two RBI and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.

On the base paths, Grant stole his third base of the season. Yancel Guerrero, Encarnacion and J. Ramos each made a fielding error.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (17-26) are in last place, eight games back of first. They have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Saturday’s game:  vs. FCL Marlins, TBA vs. TBA 9:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals 2 at DSL Astros 0

The Dominican Cardinals blanked the Astros in a two-run away victory on Friday. Starter Ronny Oliver pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out four and walked two.

Ronny Oliver

Yordy Herrera relieved Oliver and threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. Junior Chirinos hurled two scoreless innings. Justin Hernandez tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his second save.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Hancel Almonte doubled and was driven in on a single by Fernando Roquez. The Cardinal added a second run in the fifth. Daniel Rojas singled and later came home on an error.

Almonte was 2-for-4. Rojas was 2-for-5.

On the base paths, Elias Reynoso stole his sixth base of the season. Facundo Velasquez swiped his third bag. Heriberto Caraballo was picked off first base.

Bracewell Taveras made a throwing error.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Dominican Summer League Cardinals (14-31) are in seventh place, 23 games back of first place. The Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL Phillies White, TBA vs. TBA 9:00 am CT.


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Memphis Redbirds Notebook – 2023 Week 19


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 10, 2023

photo: Luken Baker (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-1 on Wednesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, 1B Luken Baker, singled and homered for five RBI and two runs scored in Memphis’ road win. Other standouts include Drew Rom, Jimmy Crooks, and Chase Davis.



Results for games played on Wednesday, August 9.

Memphis 9 at Durham 4

The Memphis Redbirds took an early lead and defeated the Bulls in a five-run road victory on Wednesday. In his Cardinals debut, starter Drew Rom pitched five innings, gave up two runs, one earned, on one hit, two walks and struck out 10 to earn his eighth win in 2023.

Drew Rom

Here’s the first of Rom’s 10 punchouts.

Grant Black surrendered one run in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Dalton Roach relinquished one run in the final 1 1/3 innings.

Memphis put up five runs in the first inning. Richie Palacios singled. César Prieto was hit by a pitch. Ivan Herrera drew a walk. Luken Baker walked, and Palacios scored. Juan Yepez doubled to plate Prieto and Herrera. Baker and Yepez came home on a double by Nick Dunn.

The Redbirds struck again in the second with a two-run home run by Baker, his 32nd of the season to increase the lead to 7-0. Durham posted single runs in the third and fourth to cut the lead to 7-2.

Luken Baker

In the eighth, Memphis added their two final runs. Kramer Robertson walked. Prieto singled. Robertson and Prieto scored on a single by Baker.

In the home half of the eighth the Bulls scored one run to shrink the lead to 9-3, then scored a final run in the ninth for a 9-4 score.

Baker was 2-for-4 with five RBI and two runs scored. Yepez was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Dunn was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Prieto was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Palacios was 2-for-5.

On the base paths, Robertson stole his 20th base of the season. In the field, Dunn and Herrera each made a throwing error. Yepez had a fielding miscue.

The Memphis Redbirds (16-19) are 5.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Thursday’s game:  at Durham, RHP Gordon Graceffo (3-2, 4.75) vs. Taj Bradley RHP (1-4, 12.00) 5:35 CT.

Springfield vs. San Antonio (postponed)

Springfield’s Wednesday home game was postponed due to weather and was rescheduled to be part of a doubleheader on Friday, August 11.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (18-16) are tied for first place.

Thursday’s game:  vs. San Antonio, Connor Lunn RHP (4-5, 5.00) or Brandon Komar RHP (2-6, 5.00) vs. Adam Mazur RHP (0-0, 4.66) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 2 at Beloit 1

The Peoria Chiefs topped the Sky Carp in a one-run pitching duel on Wednesday. Starter Inohan Paniagua pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up one run on three hits, struck out five and walked three.

Inohan Paniagua

Gustavo Rodriguez threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn his seventh win. Edwin Nunez tossed the final two scoreless innings for his third save.

Beloit took the initial lead with one run in the second inning. Peoria tied the game in the sixth on a solo home run by Jimmy Crooks.

Jimmy Crooks

The Chiefs took the 2-1 lead in the eighth. R.J. Yeager doubled and scored on a single by Crooks.

Crooks was 2-for-4 with two RBI as the only Chiefs player with multiple hits.

On the base paths, Nathan Church stole his 19th base of the season. Alex ladisernia was caught stealing. Crooks was picked off first base.

Jeremy Rivas made a fielding error.

The Peoria Chiefs (22-16) are in second place in the Midwest League West, 1.5 games back of first.

Thursday’s game:  at Beloit, Max Rajcic RHP (1-3, 3.78) vs. Ike Buxton RHP (2-0, 4.91) 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 5 at St. Lucie 4 (eight innings)

The Palm Beach Cardinals edged the Mets in a one run contest on Wednesday that was called in the top of the eighth. Starter Benjamin Arias pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up four runs on five hits, struck out four and walked four to earn his third win of the season.

Henry Gomez relieved Arias and tossed the final 1 1/3 innings.

The Beach Birds took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Won-Bin Cho drew a walk. Zach Levenson singled. Michael Curialle singled to score Cho. Brayden Jobert was hit by a pitch. Levenson came home on a single by Chase Davis. Curialle crossed the plate on a ground out by Graysen Tarlow.

The Mets answered in the home half of the first to cut the lead to 3-1.

Palm Beach added a run in the third as Jobert doubled and scored on a single by Davis. The Mets shrunk the lead to 4-3 in the fifth.

Chase Davis

In the sixth, the Cardinals made it 5-3. Cho singled and later scored on a sac fly by Curialle. The Mets added one in the bottom of the sixth to make it 5-4.

Davis was 2-for-3 with two RBI and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits. Curialle also drove in two.

On the base paths, Cho stole two bases out of three attempts. In the field, Cho had an outfield assist at home plate.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (17-19) are in first place in the Florida State League East.

Thursday’s game:  at St. Lucie. TBA vs. TBA 5:10 CT.

FCL Cardinals – Off day

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (17-24) are in last place, eight games back of first.

Thursday’s game:  at FCL Nationals, TBA vs. TBA 9:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals 0, DSL Giants Orange 1

In the completion of the suspended game from August 1, the Dominican Cardinals were blanked 1-0 by the Giants Orange on Wednesday. Starter Brailyn Paulino pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowed one hit, struck out one and walked one.

Yadiel Batista surrendered one run in 3 2/3 innings of relief and took the hard-luck loss. Jovi Galves threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning. Guanchi Martinez hurled 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Bernard Mack tossed a scoreless eighth.

The Giants Orange scored their lone run in the fourth inning.

The Cardinal offense managed two hits, singles by Daniel Rojas and Facundo Velasquez. The offense was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

On the base paths, Yordalin Pena stole his fifth base of the season. In the field, Batista made an error on a pick off.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Dominican Summer League Cardinals (13-31) are in seventh place, 22 games back of first place. The Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Thursday’s game:  at DSL Nationals, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 9, 2023

photo: Pete Hansen (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was on 4-2 on Tuesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day Pete Hansen pitched five no-hit, scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in Palm Beach’s blowout win. Other standouts include William Sullivan, Heriberto Caraballo and César Prieto.



Results for games played on Tuesday, August 8.

Memphis 6 at Durham 8

The Memphis Redbirds lost at Durham by the score of 8-6 on Tuesday. Starter Casey Lawrence pitched four innings, gave up six Bulls runs, five earned, on seven hits, struck out two and walked one.

Kyle Leahy surrendered two runs in two innings of relief. Chris Roycroft tossed the final two scoreless innings.

Durham took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Memphis cut the lead to 3-1 in the second on a solo home run by Juan Yepez.

The Bulls increased their lead to 6-1 in the fourth, then added two runs in the fifth for an 8-1 lead.

The Redbirds added one run in the seventh. Ivan Herrera walked and later scored on a wild pitch. Memphis scored three final runs in the eighth on a three-run home run by newcomer César Prieto.

César Prieto

Prieto was 2-for-5 with three RBI. Nick Dunn was 3-for-4. Herrera was 2-for-4. Matt Koperniak was 2-for-5.

Prieto and Luken Baker each made a fielding error.

The Memphis Redbirds (15-19) are 5.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Wednesday’s game:  at Durham, LHP Drew Rom (Cardinals system debut) vs. Jacob Lopez LHP (3-3, 1.94) 5:35 CT.

Springfield 5, San Antonio 4

The Springfield Cardinals edged the Missions by one run at Hammons Field on Tuesday. Starter Wilfredo Pereira pitched six innings, gave up four runs on five hits, struck out three and walked one to earn his seventh win of the season.

Recent trade acquisition Matt Svanson threw two scoreless innings of relief. Andre Granillo tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his 13th save.

Springfield scored first in the first inning on a solo home run by Thomas Saggese, his second as a Cardinal and 17th overall in 2023. The Missions answered with three runs in the top of the second to lead 3-1.

Thomas Saggese

The Cardinals cut the lead to 3-2 on a solo home run by Arquimedes Gamboa. Springfield regained the lead in the fourth with three runs. Pedro Pages hit a solo long ball. Chandler Redmond singled. Gamboa singled. Noah Mendlinger plated Redmond and Gamboa on a single to lead 5-3.

Arquimedes Gamboa

The scoring ended in the fifth when San Antonio cut the lead to 5-4.

Gamboa was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits. Mendlinger had two RBI.

On the base paths, Gamboa stole his 16th base of the season. Mendlinger was picked off first base.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (18-16) are tied for first place.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. San Antonio, Connor Lunn RHP (4-5, 5.00) vs. Daniel Camarena LHP (1-6, 7.31) 6:35 CT.

Peoria 2 at Beloit 5

The Chiefs fell to the Sky Carp in a three-run road loss on Tuesday that ended Peoria’s win streak at eight games.

Starter Zane Mills pitched five innings, gave up three unearned runs on two hits, struck out four and walked two. Mills took the hard-luck loss, his fifth.

Zane Mills

Dionys Rodriguez relieved Mills and surrendered two insurance runs in the final three innings.

Peoria scored first with one run in the second inning. Chris Rotondo doubled and later came home on a sac fly by Brody Moore.

The Chiefs added their final run in the fourth when Rotondo doubled and scored on a single by Jimmy Crooks.

Jimmy Crooks

Beloit came back with three runs in the fifth and two in the seventh to win 5-2.

Crooks was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Rotondo was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

On the base paths, Alex ladisernia was caught stealing for the fourth time.

Leading to the three unearned runs, in the field, Jeremy Rivas made a fielding error and R.J. Yeager had a missed catch error.

The Peoria Chiefs (21-16) reside in second place in the Midwest League West, 2.5 games back of first.

Wednesday’s game:  at Beloit, Inohan Paniagua RHP (0-0, 2.35) vs. Josh White RHP (0-6, 6.63) 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 15 at St. Lucie 4

The Cardinals walloped the Mets in a 15-4 road win on Tuesday. Starter Pete Hansen pitched five scoreless, no-hit innings, struck out seven and walked one to earn his ninth win of the season.

Pete Hansen

A recent acquisition from the Orioles, Zack Showalter, relieved Hansen and threw a scoreless sixth. Augusto Calderon surrendered one run in the seventh.  Jack Lynch relinquished two runs in 1/3 of an inning. Tyler Bradt allowed one run in the final 1 2/3 innings.

The Beach Birds’ prolific scoring began with two runs in the first inning. Won-Bin Cho doubled. Zach Levenson was hit by a pitch. Michael Curialle reached on a fielder’s choice and Cho scored on a throwing error. Levenson came home on a sac fly by Leonardo Bernal.

Palm Beach added four runs in the second. William Sullivan doubled. Tre Richardson walked. Sullivan scored on a double by Cho. Levenson hit a three-run home run. The Cardinals led 6-0.

Zach Levenson

The Cardinals made it 11-0 in the fourth. Cho singled. Levenson walked. Curialle singled. Chase Davis singled to plate Cho. Joshua Baez walked and Levenson was forced in. Curialle came home on a ground out by Dakota Harris. Davis and Baez scored on a single by Sullivan.

William Sullivan

Palm Beach scored their final four runs in the fifth. Cho walked and Curialle walked. Bernal singled and Cho came in. Davis walked. Baez was hit by a pitch and forced in Curialle. Harris was hit by a pitch to score Bernal. Davis came home on a ground out by Harris.

Down 15-0 and no-hit through six, the Mets finally put runs on the board with one in the seventh, two in the eighth and one in the ninth.

Sullivan was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Bernal was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Cho was 3-for-3 with an RBI and four runs scored. Levenson had three RBI and three runs scored. Baez and Harris each had two RBI.

On the base paths, Baez stole his 19th base.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (16-19) are in second place in the Florida State League East, 0.5 game back of first place.

Wednesday’s game:  at St. Lucie. TBA vs. TBA 1:10 CT.

FCL Cardinals 5 at FCL Mets 0

The rookie Cardinals blanked the Mets in a 5-0 win on Tuesday. Starter Chen-Wei Lin pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowed three hits, struck out one and walked one.

Chen-Wei Lin

Luis Gastelum relieved Lin and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Chandler Arnold threw a scoreless fifth. Wilmer Ortega hurled two scoreless innings. Antoni Cuello and Omar Yanez each tossed a scoreless frame.

The Cardinals scored their first run in the third inning. Anyelo Encarnacion walked and later crossed home on a single by Maikel Hernandez.

The score remained 1-0 until the ninth inning, when the Cardinals put up four runs.  Yaisel Ramos and Raul Guzman singled. Ramos scored on a single by Jose Cordoba. Encarnacion doubled to plate Guzman and Cordoba. Encarnacion came in on a sac fly by Javier Bolivar.

Anyelo Encarnacion

Encarnacion had two RBI and two runs scored. No Cardinal had multiple hits.

On the base paths, Ramos stole his fourth base of the season. Jonathan Mejia was caught stealing.

In the field, Mejia made a fielding error. Luis Pino had an outfield assist at second base.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Florida Complex League Cardinals (17-24) are in last place in the Florida Complex League East, eight games back of first.

Wednesday’s game:  Off

DSL Cardinals 3 at DSL Mariners 0 (Game 1)

The Dominican Cardinals blanked the Mariners in the first game of a twin bill on Tuesday. In his 2023 debut, starter Junior Chirinos pitched one scoreless inning, with one hit allowed and one strikeout.

Brailyn Paulino relieved Chirinos and threw three scoreless innings to earn his second win of the season.  Juan Severino hurled three scoreless innings. Emisael Carrera tossed the final two scoreless innings to earn his second save.

The Cardinals scored their first run in the second inning. Hancel Almonte was hit by a pitch and later came home on a double by Heriberto Caraballo.

The score remained 1-0 until the ninth inning, when the Cardinals added their final two runs. Almonte reached on an error and Fernando Roquez singled. Both were driven in on a double by Caraballo.

Heriberto Caraballo

Caraballo was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Felix Taveras and Fernando Roquez were each 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Almonte stole his first base.

DSL Cardinals, DSL Mariners (Game 2, suspended)

Tuesday’s Game 2 was suspended in the top of the second inning due to rain. The game is scheduled to be completed on August 21.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (13-30) are in seventh place, 21 games back of first. The Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. DSL Giants Orange, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT (completion of suspended game from August 1).


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St. Louis Cardinals Major League Notebook – July 31-August 6

photo: Steven Matz (Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports)

The last-place St. Louis Cardinals dropped home series to the Twins and Rockies as the offense scored just nine runs in the four defeats. Lefty Steven Matz has registered three straight solid starts, allowing one run in 17 innings. Our history feature on underperforming Cards teams looks back at the 73-89 squad from 1997.

The Cardinals make final deadline deals

As reported in last week’s Notebook, the St. Louis Cardinals became sellers at the deadline, trading pitcher Jordan Hicks to Toronto, and pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton to Texas on Sunday, July 30.

The selling continued through the final day, Tuesday, August 1, with the trade of pitcher Jack Flaherty to Baltimore and shortstop Paul DeJong to Toronto.

The deal that sent Flaherty to the Orioles returned three players: 2B César Prieto, LHP Drew Rom, and RHP Zack Showalter.

César Prieto

Prieto, 24, was an international free agent signing by the Orioles out of Cuba in 2022. Prieto slashed .305/.348/.433 with 17 home runs and 107 RBI in two seasons in the Orioles minor league system and played in the 2022 Arizona Fall League. Prieto was assigned to the Memphis Redbirds.

Drew Rom

The 23-year-old Rom joined the Orioles in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. Rom last pitched for the Norfolk Tides, Baltimore’s Triple-A affiliate, where he posted a record of 7-6 with an ERA of 5.34 and 100 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched. Rom has been assigned to Memphis.

Zack Showalter

Showalter, 19, was the 11th round pick by the Orioles in the 2022 draft. Showalter most recently pitched for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds of the Carolina League. Showalter posted an 0-2 record with a 3.10 ERA, and 25 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings pitched. Showalter is currently assigned to the Palm Beach Cardinals.

Matt Svanson

The trade of DeJong to Toronto garnered the Cardinals RHP Matt Svanson. The 24-year-old reliever was drafted by the Orioles in the 13th round in 2021. Svanson pitched at two levels in the Orioles system in 2023, beginning with the Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, and ending with the A-Advanced Vancouver Canadiens. Svanson posted a 4-1 record, an ERA of 1.23, and had 36 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings with Vancouver. Svanson was assigned to the Springfield Cardinals.

Game Recaps

Monday, July 31, 2023 – Off day

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 – Cardinals 2, Twins 3

The Cardinals lost a one run decision to the Twins in the first of a three-game series at Busch Stadium on Monday. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched seven innings, gave up three runs, two earned, on six hits, struck out seven and walked one. Mikolas took the loss, his seventh of the season.

Miles Mikolas

John King relieved Mikolas and threw a scoreless eighth. Drew VerHagen tossed a scoreless ninth.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when the Twins took a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals answered with a run to tie in the sixth. Taylor Motter singled and later came home on a single by Nolan Arenado.

Minnesota added two runs in the seventh to lead 3-1. In the ninth, the Cardinals cut the lead to 3-2 on a solo home run by Tyler O’Neill.

Lars Nootbaar was 2-for-4. Motter was 2-for-3.

In the field, Tommy Edman made a throwing error.

Wednesday, August 2, 2023 – Cardinals 7, Twins 3

The Cardinals defeated the Twins in the second game of the series on Wednesday. Starter Dakota Hudson pitched seven innings, gave up three runs on two hits, struck out seven and walked three to earn his second win.

Dakota Hudson

Andre Pallante relieved Hudson and threw a scoreless eighth. JoJo Romero tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals put up four runs in the second inning on solo home runs by Tyler O’Neill and Jordan Walker, and a two-run long ball by Lars Nootbaar. St. Louis added three runs in the third on a three-run blast by Alec Burleson.

Lars Nootbaar

The score remained 7-0 until the seventh inning when Minnesota scored three runs.

Nootbaar was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Walker was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Willson Contreras was 2-for-4. Burleson had three RBI.

On the base paths, Contreras stole his sixth base of the season.

Thursday, August 3, 2023 – Cardinals 3, Twins 5

The Cardinals fell to the Twins in the final game of the series on Thursday. Starter Matthew Liberatore pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up five runs on six hits, struck out one and walked two. Liberatore took the loss.

Drew VerHagen relieved Liberatore and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Zack Thompson hurled a scoreless eighth. James Naile tossed a scoreless ninth.

Minnesota went up 4-0 in the second inning. The Cardinals answered with one run in the home half of the second. Alec Burleson singled but was eliminated on a force out by Tommy Edman. Edman scored on a double by Dylan Carlson.

The Twins widened the lead to 5-1 in the top of the sixth. The Cardinals added another run in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Burleson to cut the lead to 5-2.

Alec Burleson

St. Louis added a third run in the ninth. Burleson singled and later scored on a ground out by Dylan Carlson.

Burleson was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Jose Fermín was 2-for-3. Carlson had two RBI.

Friday, August 4, 2023 – Cardinals 4, Rockies 9

The Cardinals lost the opener of the home weekend series versus the Rockies by a 9-4 score on Friday. Starter Adam Wainwright lasted only three innings, gave up seven runs on nine hits, struck out five and walked two. Wainwright took the loss, his sixth of the season.

Andrew Suarez surrendered one run in 4 2/3 innings of relief. James Naile allowed one run in the final 1 1/3 innings.

The Rockies took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added three more runs in the top of the second. The Cardinals scored one run in the home second on a solo home run by Nolan Arenado to cut the lead to 6-1.

In the top of the third, the Rockies widened the lead to 7-1. St. Louis made it 7-2 in the bottom of the third. Tommy Edman singled. Lars Nootbaar doubled. Edman came home on a single by Paul Goldschmidt.

Colorado scored another run in the fourth to lead 8-2. The Cardinals shrunk the lead to 8-3 in the fifth on a solo home run by Nolan Gorman.

St. Louis made it 8-4 in the seventh on another solo home run by Gorman. The Rockies added their ninth and final run in the ninth.

Nolan Gorman

Gorman was 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Arenado was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Goldschmidt was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Nootbaar was 2-for-5. Alec Burleson was 2-for-4.

Saturday, August 5, 2023 – Cardinals 6, Rockies 2

The Cardinals came back to defeat the Rockies in the second game of the series on Saturday. Starter Steven Matz pitched six innings, gave up one run on five hits, struck out six and walked two to earn his third win of the season.

Steven Matz

Andre Pallante relieved Matz and surrendered one run in two innings. Giovanny Gallegos tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals took the lead in the second inning on a solo home run by Tyler O’Neill. St. Louis made it 2-0 in the fourth as Willson Contreras singled and later came home on a sac fly by Dylan Carlson.

The Rockies scored their first run in the top of the fifth. The Cardinals answered with two runs in the home half of the fifth. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado singled and both were driven in on a double by Contreras.

Tommy Edman

In the sixth, a two-run triple by Tommy Edman increased the lead to 6-1. Colorado scored their final run in the eighth.

Edman was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Contreras was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Goldschmidt was 2-for-4.

Sunday, August 6, 2023 – Cardinals 0, Rockies 1

The Cardinals were blanked 1-0 by the Rockies in the rubber match of the series on Sunday. In a bullpen start due to Miles Mikolas’ suspension, Zack Thompson pitched four innings, gave up one run on two hits, struck out eight and walked one. Thompson took the hard-luck loss.

Zack Thompson

Drew VerHagen relieved Thompson and threw a scoreless fifth. John King and Andre Pallante each hurled a scoreless inning. JoJo Romero tossed the final two scoreless frames.

The Rockies scored the only run of the game in the third. The hapless Cardinals scattered eight hits with no one having multiple hits. There were two extra base hits, doubles from Dylan Carlson and Paul Goldschmidt. The offense went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left an incredible 15 men on base.

On the base paths, Tommy Edman stole his 15th base of the season.

The Big Picture

The picture continues to be grim. The Cardinals were 2-4 on the week at home, winning only one game from each of the Twins and the Rockies (who have a worse record than the Cardinals). The Cardinals remain in last place in the NL Central, 11 games back of the Brewers (and two games behind the fourth place Pirates). They are 9.5 games back in the Wild Card race.

Now that the trade deadline has passed, three of their original five starters remain. The two open spots, vacated by Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty, are currently held by Matthew Liberatore and Dakota Hudson. Possible competitors are Zack Thompson and anyone else who may be brought up from the minors. It is difficult to see how the situation can be worse at this point, other than a season ending injury from one or more of the starters.

Of the five current starters, three had ERAs below 4.00 over the last seven days. They are Steven Matz (1.50), Miles Mikolas (2.57) and Dakota Hudson (3.86). Matthew Liberatore and Adam Wainwright pitched poorly in their starts.

The offense has fallen back over the last week, scoring just nine runs in total in the four losses. In the Sunday game against the Rockies in particular the offense was the worst they have been since the beginning of the season. Getting hits with runners in scoring position has been the most egregious problem.

The top offensive performers over the last seven days by OPS are: Alec Burleson (1.462), Nolan Gorman (1.077), Tyler O’Neill (.970), Nolan Arenado (.915), and Lars Nootbaar (.838). At the bottom is Dylan Carlson (.474).

Tyler O’Neill

The defense and base running have been fine. The outfield has stabilized as much as it is likely to this season. The infield defense is good. Gorman has been surprisingly good at second base, with some nifty plays there of late.

The Cardinals head out on a road trip this week to play the Tampa Bay Rays and the Kansas City Royals.

NL Central Standings

Team W L PCT GB WCGB
Milwaukee 60 53 0.531
Chicago 58 54 0.518 1.5
Cincinnati 59 55 0.518 1.5
Pittsburgh 50 61 0.450 9 7.5
St. Louis 49 64 0.434 11 9.5

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

The trade deadline has passed, and the Cardinals made a couple of final deals as discussed in this Notebook. There are no new trade or acquisition rumors to report.

Transactions

  • 7/31 The Cardinals recalled LHP Zack Thompson from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/1 The Cardinals traded RHP Jack Flaherty to the Baltimore Orioles for 2B César Prieto, LHP Drew Rom, and RHP Zack Showalter.
  • 8/1 The Cardinals recalled SS Jose Fermin from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/1 The Cardinals recalled LHP Andrew Suarez from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/1 The Cardinals traded SS Paul DeJong and cash to the Toronto Blue Jays for RHP Matt Svanson.
  • 8/1 The Cardinals recalled RHP James Naile from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/1 The Cardinals activated LHP John King.
  • 8/1 The Cardinals activated SS Tommy Edman from the 10-day injured list.
  • 8/1 The Cardinals placed 3B Brendan Donovan on the 10-day injured list. Left elbow strain.
  • 8/2 The Cardinals changed the roster status of RHP Miles Mikolas. Five-day suspension.

Injury Report

  • RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder strain) went on the 60-day injured list after May arthroscopic shoulder surgery. He was to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, August 5, with the possibility of a late-season return.
  • LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 17. Naughton underwent season ending surgery on June 26.
  • RHP Ryan Helsley (right forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on July 24. The earliest Helsley could return is August 11. Helsley began a rehab assignment in Springfield on Sunday, August 6.
  • RHP Jake Woodford was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 30. Right shoulder strain. Woodford felt pain in his shoulder after pitching in the game on Thursday, June 29. The timing of Woodford’s return is unknown.
  • INF/OF Tommy Edman was activated from the 10-day injured list.
  • INF/OF Brendan Donovan (right elbow) had season ending surgery on August 2 to repair a damaged elbow ligament. Donovan had pain in his throwing arm and had been participating in games as a DH only for weeks. With the Cardinals selling at the deadline, the decision to have the internal brace surgery was made. Donovan is out for the remainder of the season but is expected to be fully ready for Spring Training in 2024. Donovan is on the 10-day injured list for now but could be moved to the 60-day when a 40-man spot is needed.

Brendan Donovan

Looking Ahead

The Cardinals are now in Florida for a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The road trip ends with two games in Kansas City with the Royals.

The following week the team will have a six-game homestand with the Athletics and the Mets. A Pennsylvania road trip begins on August 21 with three games each in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

The month of August ends with three games with the Padres in Busch Stadium.

September opens with a three-game set at Busch Stadium against the Pittsburgh Pirates to conclude the six-game homestand.

Blast from the Past

The 2023 Cardinals are having one of their worst seasons in 50 years. The Cardinals have been one of the most consistent franchises in terms of winning seasons in the history of Major league baseball. Nevertheless, St. Louis had had periods of underperforming.

This week’s Blast from the Past is the eighth installment in the series showcasing the worst seasons in the franchise’s long history.

The current Cardinals are 49-64 with a win percentage of .434.  The teams that ended in worse shape than the current Cardinals with at least 154 games played have almost been exhausted (the exceptions being a few teams within a year or two of teams already covered). This week, we jump to a team that fared a little better than the 2023 squad and look at the 1997 Cardinals, a transition club that ended the season with a record of 73-89 and a win percentage of .451.

The 1997 Cardinals were led by current Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. The general manager was Walt Jocketty with the manager Tony La Russa, in his second season with St. Louis.

The 1997 Cardinals finished in fourth place in the NL Central, 11 games back of the first place Houston Astros and five games ahead of the last place Chicago Cubs.

Ray Lankford (Getty Images)

The primary starters for the 1997 club were C Mike Difelice, 1B Dimitri Young, 2B Delino DeShields, SS Royce Clayton, 3B Gary Gaetti, LF Ron Gant, CF Ray Lankford, and RF John Mabry.

The best offensive player was Lankford, who slashed .295/.411/.585 with 31 home runs and 98 RBI. Just behind him was DeShields, who slashed .295/.357/.448 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI.

Mark McGwire was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics at the July 31 trade deadline. Willie McGee was also a member of this team, having signed consecutive one year free agent deals with the team in 1995 and 1996. He would go on to sign two more times in 1997 and 1998 before retiring from baseball.

Alan Benes, Glens Falls 1993

The starting rotation consisted of Matt Morris, Todd Stottlemyre, Andy Benes, Alan Benes, Donovan Osborne, and Manny Aybar. Osborne and Aybar made 14 and 12 starts respectively. Alan Benes had the best ERA at 2.89. The best FIP belonged to Andy Benes. The Cardinal closer was Dennis Eckersley.

Unlike the previous teams profiled, the 1997 Cardinals were in the race past the first month of the season. The last date that the Cardinals held the first-place spot was July 4. They were in first place a total of just five days during the season.

However, the Cardinals never had a record above .500. which demonstrates how weak the NL Central Division was in 1997. The Division winner, the Astros, were the only one of the five teams to conclude the season with a winning record.

The team’s longest winning streak was five games. Their longest losing streak was seven games. They had 32 comeback wins, 44 blown leads, six walk off wins and 11 walk off losses.

The 1997 team was shut out by an opponent eight times and shut out their opponent three times.

The team had a winning record against the Cubs, White Sox, Marlins, Dodgers, Twins, Padres and Giants. They tied the Reds.

The 1997 team underperformed their Pythagorean Expectation, which was 79-83.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 5, 2023

photo: Darlin Saladin (Francys Romero)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-2 on Friday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Darlin Saladin, pitched six scoreless innings, on only two hits with seven strikeouts in the FCL win. Other standouts include Max Rajcic, Dakota Harris, Fernando Diaz and L.J. Jones.



Results for games played on Friday, August 4.

Memphis 2, Jacksonville 6

The Memphis Redbirds suffered a four-run loss to the Jumbo Shrimp on Friday at AutoZone Park. In his Cardinals system debut, starter Adam Kloffenstein pitched five innings, gave up one run on six hits, struck out six and walked three.

Adam Kloffenstein

Dalton Roach surrendered three runs in three innings of relief. Roach took the loss. Ryan Loutos relinquished two insurance runs in the ninth.

Jacksonville took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Memphis tied the game in the fifth. Kramer Robertson drew a walk, advanced to second on a bunt and stole third base. He scored on a ground out by Cesar Prieto.

In the top of the eighth, the Jumbo Shrimp added three runs to go ahead 4-1. The Redbirds cut the lead to 4-2 in the home half of the eighth on a solo home run by Luken Baker, his league-leading 28th of the year.

Luken Baker

Jacksonville added two runs in the ninth for the final score of 6-2.

Baker was 2-for-4 with an RBI and was the only Redbird with multiple hits. The offense was 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

On the base paths, Robertson stole his 19th base of the season. Moises Gomez and Richie Palacios made a fielding error.

The Memphis Redbirds (54-52) are 4.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Jacksonville, RHP Sem Robberse (Cardinals system debut) vs. LHP Enmanuel De Jesus 6:35 CT.

Springfield 9, NW Arkansas 13

The Springfield Cardinals lost to the Naturals in a 13-9 slugfest at Hammons Field on Friday. Starter Tink Hence pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up four runs on five hits, struck out six and walked two.

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson surrendered two runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Jose Martinez relinquished one run in the eighth. Roy Garcia struggled, yielding six runs, five earned, while only collecting one out. Logan Sawyer secured the final two outs in the ninth. Garcia took the blown save and the loss.

Springfield scored first in the second inning on a solo home run by Arquimedes Gamboa. The Cardinals added to their lead with two runs in the third. Jose Alvarez walked. Victor Scott II singled. Alvarez and Scott II executed a double steal. Jacob Buchberger plated Alvarez on a single. Pedro Page singled to score Scott II.

The Naturals add two runs in the both the fourth and fifth and two more in the seventh to lead 6-3. In the home seventh, Springfield cut the lead to 6-4. L.J. Jones doubled and later came home on a sac fly by Scott II.

In the top of the eighth, the Naturals scored one run to widen the lead to 7-4.  The Cardinals put up four runs in the bottom of the eighth to take an 8-7 lead. Mike Antico walked. Thomas Saggese grounded into a force out and Antico was out at second. Buchberger walked. Pages singled. Saggese came home on a force out by Gamboa. Jones hit a three-run home run.

LJ Jones IV

NW Arkansas went up 13-8 in the top of the ninth with six runs. Springfield added a final run in the bottom of the ninth on a solo home run by Antico, but the rally ended there.

Jones was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Pages was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Gamboa drove in a pair.

On the base paths, Alvarez and Scott II each stole a base. Errol Robinson was picked off first base.

Trogrlic-Iverson and Robinson made throwing errors. Pages committed two errors, one fielding and one throwing.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (17-14) are in first place.

Saturday’s game:  vs. NW Arkansas, LHP Alex Cornwell (0-0, 3.05) vs. Andrew Hoffmann RHP (3-6, 5.98) 6:35 CT.

Peoria 1, Quad Cities 0

The Chiefs blanked the River Bandits in a 1-0 win at Dozer Park on Friday. It was Peoria’s sixth consecutive victory.

Starter Max Rajcic pitched six scoreless innings, allowed eight hits, struck out four and walked one to earn his first High-A win.

Max Rajcic

The game was scoreless for the first five innings. In the sixth, Peoria scored the only run of the game when Brody Moore singled and came home on a double by Nathan Church.

Nathan Church

The Chiefs had one run on four hits. No player had multiple hits. The offense was 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left three men on base.

Chris Rotondo stole his second base of the season.

The Peoria Chiefs (19-15) are in second place in the Midwest League West, 2.5 games back of first.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Quad Cities, Ian Bedell RHP (4-2, 2.44) vs. Luinder Avila RHP (4-4, 3.94) 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 9, Jupiter 1

The Palm Beach Cardinals blew past the Hammerheads in an eight-run victory on Friday. Starter Jose Davila pitched five innings, gave up one run on four hits, struck out four and walked two to earn his first Low-A win.

José Dávila

Augusto Calderon relieved Davila and threw three scoreless innings. Angel Cuenca tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Beach Birds took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run home run by Brayden Jobert, his first as a pro. Palm Beach added four runs in the fourth to increase the lead to 6-0. Leonardo Bernal walked. Dakota Harris singled. Jobert walked. Trey Paige walked, and Bernal scored. Lizandro Espinoza cleared the bases on a double.

Lizandro Espinoza

Jupiter scored their only run in the fifth. The Cardinals added three runs in the eighth. Zach Levenson hit a solo home run, his second. Kade Kretzschmar singled. Bernal walked. Kretzschmar and Bernal came home on a double by Harris.

Dakota Harris

Harris was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored as the only Cardinal with multiple hits. Espinoza had three RBI. Jobert drove in two.

Jobert committed a fielding error. Bernal had a passed ball.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (15-17) are in first place in the Florida State League East.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Jupiter, TBA vs. TBA 5:00 CT.

FCL Cardinals 7, FCL Astros 1

The Florida Complex League Cardinals defeated the Astros in a 7-1 contest on Friday. Starter Darlin Saladin pitched six scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked two to earn his second win of the season.

Hunter Kublick

In his professional debut, Hunter Kublick relieved Saladin and threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning with a walk. Antoni Cuello secured the final out of the seventh. Alexander Beltre surrendered one run in the eighth. Diorys Guerrero tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals went up 3-0 in the third. Jonathan Mejia drew a walk. Adari Grant was hit by a pitch. Jose Cordoba doubled to bring in Mejia and Grant. Cordoba stole third base and came home on a ground out by Sammy Hernandez.

The Cardinals increased the lead to 4-0 in the fourth. Jose Suarez singled and scored on a double by Anyelo Encarnacion. The lead increased to 7-0 in the fifth on a two-run home run by Fernando Diaz and a solo home run by Suarez.

Fernando Diaz

The Astros scored their only run in the eighth for the final score of 7-1.

Diaz was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Suarez was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Encarnacion was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Cordoba had two RBI.

On the base paths, Cordoba stole his third base. Encarnacion swiped his sixth bag.

Yancel Guerrero had a fielding error. Suarez had an outfield assist at home plate.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (16-23) are in last place, 8.5 games back of first.

Saturday’s game:  Off

DSL Cardinals vs. DSL Marlins (suspended)

This game was suspended in the fourth inning due to lightning in the area and will be resumed on August 16.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (12-29) are in seventh place, 21 games back of first.

Saturday’s game:  at DSL NYY Bombers, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 3, 2023

photo: Jose Cordoba (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-2 on Wednesday including two walkoffs. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Jose Cordoba, was 4-for-5 with two RBI in the FCL Cardinals win. Other standouts include Osvaldo Tovalin and Felix Taveras.



Results for games played on Wednesday, August 2.

Memphis 2, Jacksonville 3

The Memphis Redbirds were edged by the Jumbo Shrimp in a one-run home loss on Wednesday. Fresh off the injured list, starter Connor Thomas pitched three scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out three and walked one.

Grant Black relieved Thomas and surrendered two runs in three innings. Black took the loss. Kyle Leahy relinquished one run in the final three innings.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning, when Jacksonville took a 2-0 lead. The Jumbo Shrimp added a third run in the top of the ninth.

Luken Baker

Memphis finally rallied in the home half of the ninth but came up short with two runs scored. Luken Baker hit a solo home run, his 27th long ball of 2023. Matt Koperniak followed with a single. A walk to Juan Yepez and a single by Moises Gomez loaded the bases with no outs. Koperniak scored on a double play grounder by Nick Dunn. The game ended as Juniel Querecuto struck out.

Koperniak and Ivan Herrera were each 2-for-4.

Third baseman Querecuto made a fielding error.

The Memphis Redbirds (53-51) are four games out of first place in the International League West.

Thursday’s game:  vs. Jacksonville, RHP Gordon Graceffo (3-2, 4.15) vs. LHP Ryan Weathers 7:05 CT.

Springfield 4, NW Arkansas 3

The Springfield Cardinals topped the Naturals with a ninth inning rally on Wednesday at Hammons Field. Starter Connor Lunn pitched five innings, gave up three runs on five hits, struck out four and walked one.

Bryan Pope relieved Lunn and threw two scoreless innings. Roy Garcia tossed the final two scoreless innings and earned his second Double-A win.

NW Arkansas scored a run in the top of the first inning. The Cardinals quickly tied the game in the home half on a solo home run by newcomer Thomas Saggese.

Thomas Saggese

The Naturals regained the lead  in the second, then made it 3-1 in the fourth. Springfield cut the lead to 3-2 in the fifth on a solo long ball by Irving Lopez.

In the ninth, the Cardinals rallied for two runs to win 4-3 in a walk-off. Pedro Pages drew a walk. Errol Robinson pinch ran. Noah Mendlinger doubled to score Robinson. Jose Alvarez pinch ran for Mendlinger. Arquimedes Gamboa plated Alvarez on a double to end it.

Arquimedes Gamboa

Gamboa was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Mendlinger was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Victor Scott II was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Scott II stole two bases and reached 70 stolen bases for the season.

Victor Scott

Gamboa made a fielding error.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (16-13) are tied for first place.

Thursday’s game:  vs. NW Arkansas, Brandon Komar RHP (2-6, 5.27) vs. William Fleming RHP (1-0, 1.59) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 6, Quad Cities 5

The Peoria Chiefs prevailed against Quad Cities on Wednesday with a ninth inning walk off rally, coming back from a 5-0 deficit. Starter Zane Mills pitched five innings, gave up three runs on eight hits and struck out seven.

Nathanael Heredia relieved Mills and threw two scoreless innings. Dionys Rodriguez surrendered two runs in the ninth but earned his third win of the season.

The River Bandits took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Quad Cities added two runs in the eighth to lead 5-0.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Chiefs rallied for six runs and the walk off win. The inning began with a Jeremy Rivas and Luis Rodriguez singling. Brody Moore was hit by a pitch. Alex ladisernia walked and Rivas came in. Darlin Moquete grounded into a force out as Rodriguez scored. Moore was out at third. R.J. Yeager was hit by a pitch. Osvaldo Tovalin plated ladisernia and Moquete on a single. Yeager came home on a double by Chris Rotondo. Nathan Church pinch ran for Tovalin. Church scored on a fielder’s choice with a throwing error.

Osvaldo Tovalin

Tovalin was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Rotondo was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Rivas was 2-for-5. Yeager was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, ladisernia was picked off and caught stealing. In the field, Moquete had an outfield assist at second base. Rotondo had an outfield assist at first base.

The Peoria Chiefs (17-15) are in second place in the Midwest League West, three games back of first place.

Thursday’s game:  vs. Quad Cities, Inohan Paniagua RHP (0-0, 1.46) vs. TBA 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 1, Jupiter 9

The Palm Beach Cardinals were soundly defeated by the Hammerheads by eight runs on Wednesday. Starter Pete Hansen pitched five innings, gave up two runs on four hits and struck out four. Hansen took the loss.

Tyler Bradt relieved Hansen and surrendered two runs in 2/3 of an innings. Wilmer Ortega threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Jason Savacool relinquished two runs in the eighth. John Lynch allowed three runs without recording an out. Angel Cuenca tossed a scoreless ninth.

Jupiter took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Beach Birds scored their lone run of the game in the fourth when Leonardo Bernal singled and crossed hom on a double by Kade Kretzschmar.

The Hammerheads scored two in the sixth, two in the eighth, and three in the ninth for the 9-1 win.

Palm Beach scored one run on four hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. The offense was 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

On the base paths, Kretzschmar stole his second base of the season. In the field, Won-Bin Cho had an outfield assist at third base.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (13-17) are tied for second place in the Florida State League East.

Thursday’s game:  vs. Jupiter, TBA vs. TBA 5:30 CT.

FCL Cardinals 8 at FCL Astros 2

The Florida Complex League Cardinals beat the Astros in an 8-2 contest on Wednesday. Gerardo Salas pitched five innings, gave up one run on one hit, struck out four and walked two to earn his second win of the season.

Gerardo Salas

Luis Gastelum threw two scoreless innings of relief. Antoni Cuello surrendered one unearned run in the eighth. Randel Clemente tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Astros took the lead with one run in the second inning. The Cardinals answered in the third with five runs. Jonathan Mejia walked. Jose Cordoba followed with a two-run home run. Felix Taveras walked and came home on a two run long ball by Sammy Hernandez. Luis Pino then thumped a solo home run.

Jose Cordoba

The Cardinals added three more runs in the fourth. Maikel Hernandez was hit by a pitch. Cordoba singled. Hernandez and Cordoba were driven in on a double by Taveras. Taveras later scored on a wild pitch.

The Astros scored their second and final run in the eighth.

Cordoba was 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Taveras was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Hernandez had two RBI.

On the base paths, Taveras stole his second base of the season. In the field, Mejia made two errors, one throwing and one fielding.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (14-23) are in last, 9.5 games back of first.

Thursday’s game:  vs. FCL Nationals, TBA vs. TBA 9:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals – Off

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (11-29) are in seventh place, 21 games back of first.

Thursday’s game:  at DSL Twins, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 2, 2023

photo: Richie Palacios (Fred Squillante/USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 4-0 on Tuesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis CF Richie Palacios, was 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored in Memphis’ big win. Other standouts include Ivan Herrera, Mike Antico, Trent Baker and Hancel Rincon.



Results for games played on Tuesday, August 1.

Memphis 17, Jacksonville 5

With a season-high outburst of 17 runs scored, the Memphis Redbirds trounced the Jumbo Shrimp by 12 on Tuesday at AutoZone Park. Starter Casey Lawrence pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up three runs on six hits and struck out five to earn his fourth win.

Ryan Loutos relieved Lawrence and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Guillermo Zuniga relinquished two runs in the ninth.

Memphis scored big in the third inning, plating nine runs to take a commanding lead. Nick Dunn, Richie Palacios and Masyn Winn walked. Ivan Herrera doubled and cleared the bases. Herrera went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder’s choice by Luken Baker. Matt Koperniak singled. Juan Yepez walked. Baker and Koperniak came home on a double by Moises Gomez. Nick Dunn walked. Juniel Querecuto walked and Yepez scored. Palacios plated Gomez and Dunn on a single.

Iván Herrera

Jacksonville scored three in the fifth to cut the lead to 9-3. The Redbirds answered with four more in the sixth. The first run was forced in by consecutive walks to Herrera, Baker, Koperniak and Yepez. Baker scored on a Dunn walk. Palacios doubled to plate Koperniak and Yepez.

Richie Palacios

Baker thumped a solo home run in the seventh, his 26th of the year, to widen the lead to 14-3. In the eighth, three more runs came home for a 17-3 lead. Gomez and Dunn singled. Gomez was driven in on a double by Palacios. Dunn scored on a sac fly by Winn. Herrera plated Palacios on a single.

The Jumbo Shrimp scored their final two runs in the ninth.

Palacios was 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored. Herrera was 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. Gomez was 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Baker was 2-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Dunn was 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored. Koperniak was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

The Memphis Redbirds (53-50) are four games out of first place in the International League West.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Jacksonville, TBA vs. RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez 7:05 CT.

Springfield 8, NW Arkansas 2

The Springfield Cardinals blew past the Naturals with a six-run home victory on Tuesday. Starter Wilfredo Pereira pitched six innings, gave up two runs on six hits and struck out four to earn his sixth win of the season.

Wilfredo Pereira

Logan Sawyer threw three scoreless innings of relief to earn his seventh save.

Springfield took a commanding lead with six runs in the third inning. Errol Robinson doubled, Victor Scott II singled, and Mike Antico followed with a three-run home run.  Thomas Saggese singled and Jacob Buchberger thumped a two-run long ball. Pedro Pages doubled and scored on a single by L.J. Jones.

Mike Antico

NW Arkansas answered with single runs in the fourth and the fifth to cut the lead to 6-2. The Cardinals added a run in the home fifth as Pages doubled and came home on a single by Arquimedes Gamboa.

The Cardinals scored their final run in the sixth. Scott II singled and later crossed the plate after a wild pitch.

Antico was 2-for-5 with three RBI. Gamboa was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Pages was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Buchberger drove in two.

On the base paths, Scott II stole his 18th base at Double-A and 68th overall in 2023. In the field, Robinson had an outfield assist at home plate.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (15-13) are in second place, 0.5 game out of first.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. NW Arkansas, Connor Lunn RHP (4-5, 4.97) vs. Chandler Champlain RHP (2-2, 3.41) 6:35 CT.

Peoria 3, Quad Cities 2

The Peoria Chiefs edged the River Bandits in a one run home win on Tuesday. Starter Trent Baker pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed three hits, struck out one and walked one to earn his fifth win of the season.

Trent Baker

Gustave Rodriguez relieved Baker and surrendered two runs in 1 2/3 innings. Andrew Marrero secured the final out on a strikeout with the bases loaded to earn his ninth save.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning, when Peoria took a 2-0 lead. Nathan Church and R.J. Yeager singled and both were driven in on a double by Chris Rotondo.

The Chiefs added a run in the eighth. Alex ladisernia walked and later scored on a single by Yeager.

Quad Cities cut the lead to 3-2 in the ninth, but Marrero closed the door.

Yeager was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Rotondo drove in two.

On the base paths, Jeremy Rivas stole his 12th base of the season. ladisernia swiped his eighth bag. Brody Moore was caught stealing.

In the field, Moore made a throwing error.

With three straight wins after nine consecutive losses, the Peoria Chiefs (16-15) hold second place in the Midwest League West, 2.5 games back of first.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Quad Cities, Zane Mills RHP (4-4, 6.31) vs. TBA 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 5, Jupiter 3

The Palm Beach Cardinals defeated the Hammerheads in a 5-3 home win on Tuesday. Starter Hancel Rincon pitched six innings, gave up two unearned runs on three hits, and struck out six to earn his eighth win of the season.

Hancel Rincon

Hunter Hayes relieved Rincon and surrendered one run in the final three innings.

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Won-Bin Cho and Dakota Harris singled. Cho scored on a single by Michael Curialle. Harris came home on a ground out by Chase Davis.

The Beach Birds increased the lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Zach Levenson walked and later crossed the plate on a single by William Sullivan. In the fifth, Palm Beach added a run in the fifth to make it 4-0. Harris was hit by a pitch. Curialle doubled. Harris was driven in by Levenson’s sac fly.

Jupiter scored two runs in the sixth to cut the lead to 4-2. The Cardinals added their final run in the eighth. Levenson singled and later came home on Joshua Baez’ RBI single.

The Hammerheads made it 5-3 in the ninth.

Curialle was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Baez was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Harris was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

On the base paths, Sullivan stole the first base of his pro career. Curialle was caught stealing for the seventh time.

Sullivan and Lizandro Espinoza committed fielding errors.

By defeating first place Jupiter, the Palm Beach Cardinals (13-16) tied them for the lead in the Florida State League East.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Jupiter, TBA vs. TBA 5:30 CT.

FCL Cardinals – Off

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (13-23) are in last place, 10.5 games back of first.

Wednesday’s game:  at FCL Astros, TBA vs. TBA 11:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals vs. DSL Giants Orange (suspended)

This game was suspended in the top of the second inning due to lightning in the area. The game will be completed on Wednesday, August 9.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (11-29) are in seventh place, 21 games back of first.

Wednesday’s game:   Off


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St. Louis Cardinals Major League Notebook- July 24-30

photo: Steven Matz (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals went 3-4 on the week and slid back into last place. Three pitchers have been traded while Steven Matz threw 12 shoutout innings. Our history feature on underperforming Cards teams looks back at the 72-90 squad from 1976.



The Cardinals trade three pitchers on Sunday

With only three days left before the trade deadline on Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals announced during the game against the Cubs on Sunday that they had traded RHP Jordan Hicks to the Toronto Blue Jays, and LHP Jordan Montgomery and RHP Chris Stratton to the Texas Rangers.

The Cardinals have long been rumored to likely be sellers at the deadline and POBO John Mozeliak confirmed that after the All-Star Break. The likelihood of a trade was the highest for the players who were set to be free agents at the end of the season. These players are Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Hicks and Chris Stratton.

On Sunday, the trades of three of those four were confirmed. The move of Hicks to the Blue Jays was announced first. Hicks, with whom the Cardinals had tried and failed to negotiate an extension, was sent to Toronto in exchange for minor  league RHPs Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein.

Sem Robberse

Robberse, 22, who is from the Netherlands, was the No. 7 prospect in the Blue Jays system. Robberse has an ERA of 4.06 with 86 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings at Toronto’s Double-A affiliate the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Adam Kloffenstein

Likewise, Kloffenstein, 22, played for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and has posted an ERA 3.25 with 105 strikeouts in 89 innings. Kloffenstein was ranked as Toronto’s No. 18 prospect.

Robberse and Kloffenstein have been assigned to the Memphis Redbirds.

In the second trade announced Sunday, the Cardinals sent Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton, plus international pool money to the Texas Rangers for INF Thomas Saggese, RHP Tekoah Roby, and LHP John King.

John King

King, 28, is the only major league player acquired by St. Louis in either trade. King, a reliever, has spent time with both the Rangers and their Triple-A affiliate in 2023. In 18 2/3 innings with the Rangers, King has an ERA of 5.79. King will join the Cardinals bullpen.

Tekoah Roby

Roby, 21, is currently rehabbing an injury and will continue that rehab in Jupiter, after which he will likely be sent to the Springfield Cardinals. Roby has a record of 2-3 with an ERA of 5.05 in 10 starts. While the ERA seems high, Roby has 50 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings.

Thomas Saggese

At Double-A, Saggese, 21, is slashing .314/.380/.514 with 15 home runs and 78 RBI. Saggese was compared to Brendan Donovan by Mozeliak in a statement to the media after the trade. Saggese has also been assigned to the Springfield Cardinals.

The trade deadline is 5 pm CT on Tuesday. It is likely that more trades will be made, with Flaherty most likely headed somewhere else. The Cardinals have also reportedly discussed an extension with the right-hander, but initial signs were apparently not promising.

Other players for whom the Cardinals are rumored to be considering offers include Paul DeJong and Dylan Carlson. It is possible that several other pitchers from the bullpen could be traded, as well.

Game Recaps

Monday, July 24, 2023 – Cardinals 10 at Diamondbacks 6

The Cardinals defeated the Diamondbacks in the first of a three-game series in Phoenix. Starter Adam Wainwright pitched five innings, gave up two runs on four hits, struck out three and walked two.

Chris Stratton surrendered two runs in 2/3 innings of relief. JoJo Romero relinquished two runs in one inning pitched. Giovanny Gallegos threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his second win. Jordan Hicks tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run by former D-backs star Paul Goldschmidt. Arizona cut the lead to 2-1 in the home half of the first.

Paul Goldschmidt

The Diamondbacks tied the game in the second. In the fourth, St. Louis regained the lead, at 4-2. Lars Nootbaar drew a walk. Jordan Walker doubled. Nootbaar scored on a sac fly by Dylan Carlson. Walker came in on a single by Taylor Motter.

The Cardinals made it 5-2 in the fifth on a solo home run by Nolan Arenado.

Arizona clawed back with two runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to lead 6-5. In the ninth, the Cardinals put up five runs to lead again 10-6. Paul DeJong singled. Willson Contreras walked. Brendan Donovan singled to load the bases. Goldschmidt singled to score DeJong. Nootbaar walked and Contreras came home. Tyler O’Neill hit a bases clearing double.

Goldschmidt was 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Donovan was 3-for-5 with two runs scored. DeJong was 2-for-3. O’Neill had three RBI.

Tuesday, July 25, 2023 – Cardinals 1 at Diamondbacks 3

The Cardinals lost to the Diamondbacks in the second of the three-game set in Phoenix. Starter Steven Matz pitched six scoreless innings, allowed five hits, struck out six and walked one.

Steven Matz

JoJo Romero relieved Matz and surrendered two runs in the sixth and took the loss. Chris Stratton relinquished one run in the eighth.

The Cardinals went up 1-0 in the third inning. Brendan Donovan doubled, moved to third on a single by Paul Goldschmidt, and stole home for the Cardinals’ only run of the game.

The Cardinals held a 1-0 lead until the eighth inning, when the Diamondbacks scored three runs to take the lead and win the game.

The Cardinals accrued just one run on five hits. Willson Contreras was 2-for-4. The offense was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

On the base paths, Donovan stole his fifth base of the season. Goldschmidt swiped his ninth bag.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023 – Cardinals 11 at Diamondbacks 7

The Cardinals blew past the Diamondbacks in an 11-7 contest in the rubber match of the series. Starter Jack Flaherty pitched five innings, gave up three runs on eight hits, struck out four and walked two.

Andre Pallante surrendered one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Giovanny Gallegos threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning. Andrew Suarez relinquished three runs in the final two innings.

The Cardinals scored first in the second inning on a solo home run by Nolan Gorman. St. Louis made it 2-0 in the top of the third. Brendan Donovan singled and later ran home on a wild pitch.

Arizona came back to tie the game in the home third.

The Cardinals regained the lead in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Lars Nootbaar. The Diamondbacks once again knotted it up in the bottom of the inning.

St. Louis added three runs in the top of the seventh to lead 6-3. Paul DeJong doubled and was driven in on a single by Andrew Knizner. Paul Goldschmidt then hit a two-run home run.

The Diamondbacks chipped away and made it 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh. The Cardinals opened it up with a five run eighth inning to make it 11-4. Tyler O’Neill doubled, and Gorman followed with a two-run long ball. Paul DeJong singled and Knizner hit another two-run home run. Donovan singled and scored on a single by Nootbaar.

Nolan Gorman

Arizona added three runs in the ninth for the final score of 11-7.

Gorman was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Knizner was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Nootbaar was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Donovan was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. O’Neill was 2-for-5. DeJong was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Goldschmidt had two RBI.

Thursday, July 27, 2023 – Cardinals 3, Cubs 10

The Cardinals were blown out by the Cubs on Thursday in the first of a four-game series at Busch Stadium. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched 2/3 innings (14 pitches), gave up one run and struck out one. Mikolas was ejected from the game following a hit by pitch of Ian Happ. The hit by pitch occurred after Happ struck Willson Contreras on the head with his bat on a back swing. Contreras left the game with a bleeding cut on his head. Mikolas took the loss.

Dakota Hudson came in to relieve Mikolas. The right hander pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up five runs on nine hits, struck out three and walked two. Andrew Suarez surrendered three runs in two innings pitched. Drew VerHagen relinquished one run in the final two innings.

The Cubs took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. They added to their lead with two in the third, and one in the fourth to lead 6-0.

The Cardinals plated one run in the home half of the fourth on a solo home run by Andrew Knizner. The Cubs continued to pile on with one in the sixth and two in the seventh for a 9-1 lead.

Andrew Knizner

The Cardinals cut the lead to 9-3 in the eighth on a two-run home run by Knizner. The Cubs scored their final run in the ninth.

Knizner was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Tyler O’Neill was 3-for-3.

In the field, Knizner had a passed ball.

Friday, July 28, 2023 – Cardinals 2, Cubs 3

The Cardinals were edged by the Cubs in the second of the four-game series on Friday. Starter Jordan Montgomery pitched in what would be his final game as a Cardinal. The left hander pitched six innings, gave up three runs on five hits, struck out three and walked four. Montgomery took the loss, his ninth of the season.

Giovanny Gallegos relieved Montgomery and threw a scoreless seventh. Andre Pallante hurled 2/3 scoreless innings. Chris Stratton tossed the final 1 1/3 innings.

The Cardinals scored first in the first inning on a solo home run by Lars Nootbaar. Nootbaar hit a second solo home run in third to give St. Louis a 2-0 lead.

Lars Nootbaar

The Cubs came back with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to lead 3-2. Neither team scored further.

Nootbaar was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

On the base paths, Nolan Gorman stole his sixth base of the season. In the field, Tyler O’Neill had an outfield assist at home plate.

Saturday, July 29 – Cardinals 1 at Cubs 5

The Cardinals were defeated by the Cubs for the third straight game on Saturday. Starter Adam Wainwright pitched six innings, gave up four runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked three. Wainwright took the loss, his fifth of the season.

Drew VerHagen relieved Wainwright and surrendered one run in 2/3 of an inning. Andre Pallante tossed the final 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Cardinals scored their only run in the first inning. Brendan Donovan singled and later came home on a sac fly by Lars Nootbaar.

The Cubs posted two runs in each of the third and fourth innings, then one in the seventh for the 5-1 win.

The Cardinals offense scored one run on five singles. No Cardinal had multiple hits. They were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

Sunday, July 30 – Cardinals 3, Cubs 0

The Cardinals salvaged one of the four-game home set by blanking the Cubs 3-0 on Sunday. Starter Steven Matz pitched six scoreless innings, allowed four hits and struck out two to win his second game of the season.

Giovanny Gallegos relieved Matz and threw two scoreless innings. JoJo Romero tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his first save.

The Cardinals scored their runs early, starting with one run in the first inning. Lars Nootbaar doubled and was driven in by a single from Tyler O’Neill.

St. Louis scored twice in the second. Jordan Walker and Taylor Motter singled. Walker came home on a single by Andrew Knizner. Motter later crossed home on a single by Paul Goldschmidt.

Knizner was 2-for-3 with an RBI. No other Cardinal had multiple hits.

On the base paths, Walker stole his fifth base of the season.

The Big Picture

The Cardinals finished the week with a record of 3-4. They won 2-of-3 at the Diamondbacks and lost 3-of-4 at home to the Cubs. The Cardinals are now back in last place in the NL Central with a record of 47-60.

As usual, pitching continues to haunt the Cardinals. As of Sunday, the starting rotation has been reduced by one and the bullpen reduced to two. Jordan Montgomery, Jordan Hicks, and Chris Stratton were traded away on Sunday.

Over the last seven days, the only starter with an ERA below 4.00 was Steven Matz. Since returning to the rotation after a stint in the bullpen, Matz has been much improved, including 12 scoreless innings this past week.

Miles Mikolas has had two short starts recently, one of which was cut short by rain and the other by an early ejection. His six-game suspension is under appeal. Adam Wainwright has been average at best and so has Jack Flaherty. Flaherty is likely the next pitcher to be traded.

The bullpen continues to be inconsistent. The best relievers in the last seven days have been Giovanny Gallegos, Jordan Hicks, and Andre Pallante. Hicks is now gone, traded to the Blue Jays. Chris Stratton has been dealt to the Texas Rangers along with Montgomery.  Every other reliever has struggled, and some have been sent down to Memphis.

Hicks and Stratton will have to be replaced. One of the acquisitions in the Montgomery trade was a left-handed reliever named John King. One more pitcher needs to be added at the very least.

Tyler O’Neill

The offense has been fine if a little inconsistent over the last week. The top performers by OPS are Lars Nootbaar (1.577), Andrew Knizner (1.353), Tyler O’Neill (.959), Nolan Gorman (.944), Willson Contreras (.938) and Paul Goldschmidt (.825). At the bottom are Dylan Carlson (.258) and Nolan Arenado (.386). Arenado may have been spooked a little by the unfounded trade rumors to the Dodgers that received wide-spread media and fan speculation.

The defense and baserunning are fine for the most part. Jordan Walker still needs work defensively in the outfield.

In the coming week, the Cardinals play three with the Twins and three with the Rockies, all at home. The reduction in the pitching staff isn’t going to help the situation in the short term, but the team will just have to adjust. At this point it seems like trying to get out of last place and stay out is the only realistic goal for which to hope.

NL Central Standings

Team W L PCT GB
Cincinnati 58 49 0.542
Milwaukee 57 49 0.538 0.5
Chicago 53 52 0.505 4
Pittsburgh 47 58 0.448 10
St. Louis 47 60 0.439 11

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

The Cardinals made two trades on Sunday which are outlined above. Other players may be traded before Tuesday’s deadline. They include Jack Flaherty, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch reported interest from both the Marlins and Dodgers in Flaherty.

Jack Flaherty

Goold also reported interest from several teams for Alec Burleson, but no specifics were provided.

Also drawing interest according to Goold are Dylan Carlson, from the Yankees. Goold also stated that the Cardinals are open to offers for Paul DeJong, Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley.

Transactions

  • 7/24 The Cardinals selected the contract of LHP Andrew Suarez from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/24 The Cardinals optioned C Ivan Herrera to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/24 The Cardinals optioned LHP Zach Thompson to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/24 The Cardinals activated RHP Adam Wainwright from the 15-day injured list.
  • 7/26 The Cardinals released RHP Ryan Tepera
  • 7/28 The Cardinals recalled LHP Matthew Liberatore from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/28 The Cardinals optioned LHP Andrew Suarez to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/29 The Cardinals sent INF Tommy Edman on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/30 The Cardinals traded LHP Jordan Montgomery and RHP Chris Stratton to the Texas Rangers for LHP John King, RHP Tekoah Roby, and INF Thomas Saggese.
  • 7/30 The Cardinals traded RHP Jordan Hicks to the Toronto Blue Jays for RHPs Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein.

Injury Report

  • RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder strain) remains on the 60-day injured list. Rodriguez is out for the season with shoulder surgery.
  • LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 17. Naughton underwent season ending surgery on June 26.
  • RHP Ryan Helsley (right forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on July 24. The earliest Helsley could return is August 11. Helsley threw a bullpen session on July 19 with no issues. Helsley will continue to build up and will require a rehab assignment before returning to the roster.
  • RHP Jake Woodford was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 30. Right shoulder strain. Woodford felt pain in his shoulder after pitching in the game on Thursday, June 29. The timing of Woodford’s return is unknown.

Tommy Edman

  • INF/OF Tommy Edman was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 4 with a right wrist injury. Tests showed no structural damage, and he was given an injection in his wrist. Edman began a rehab assignment in Memphis on Saturday. Edman may return to the roster on Tuesday for the Twins series.
  • 2B Nolan Gorman was scratched from Sunday’s game due to low back tightness. No injured list move was made as of yet.

Looking Ahead

The month of August begins with a six game homestand with the Twins and the Rockies. Barring a trade, Jack Flaherty is scheduled to make the Tuesday start. No starters have been named for the remainder of the homestand.

The team then travels to Florida for three games with the Tampa Bay Rays. The road trip ends with a pair of games in Kansas City with the Royals.

The following week the team begins a six-game homestand with the Athletics and the Mets.

Another road trip begins on August 21 with three games in Pittsburgh and three in Philadelphia.

The month of August ends with three games with the Padres at Busch Stadium.

Blast from the Past

The Cardinals have had one of the worst starts to a season in 50 years, which stands out even more since they have been one of the most consistent franchises in terms of winning seasons over the history of major league baseball. Nevertheless, St. Louis had prior periods of underperforming.

This week’s Blast from the Past is the seventh installment in the series showcasing the worst seasons in the franchise’s long history.

The current Cardinals are 47-60 with a win percentage of .439.  This week we look at the 1976 Cardinals, which ended the season with a record of 72-90 and a win percentage of .444.

The 1976 Cardinals were owned by Gussie Busch. The General Manager was Bing Devine. The team finished the season fifth in the NL East.

Red Schoendienst

The 1976 Cardinals were managed by Red Schoendienst. This was Schoendienst’s last season as the full-time manager of the Cardinals. Later, he was the interim manager in 1980 and 1990.

The primary starters in 1976 were C Ted Simmons, 1B Keith Hernandez, 2B Mike Tyson, SS Don Kessinger, 3B Hector Cruz, LF Lou Brock, CF Jerry Mumphrey and RF Willie Crawford.

Keith Hernandez (Getty Images)

The best offensive player was Hernandez, who slashed .289/.376/.428 with seven home runs and 46 RBI. Next was Crawford, with a slash line of .304/.360/.441 with nine homers and 50 RBI.

The starting rotation consisted of Pete Falcone, John Denny, Lynn McGlothen and Bob Forsch. Two pitchers, Eric Rasmussen and John Curtis, served as both starters and relievers, posting 17 and 15 starts respectively.

Of the four full time starters, Denny had the best ERA at 2.52. McGlothen’s FIP of 3.29 was the best.

The 1976 team spent only one day in first place, on April 9. That was also the only day they had a record over .500.

Their longest winning streak was four games, and their longest losing streak was five games.

The 1976 Cardinals did not score 14 times and shut out their opponents 15 times. They had 32 comeback wins and 40 blown leads.

The team had four walk off wins, and 10 walk off losses.

They had winning records against four teams, the Braves, the Expos, the Padres, and the Giants. They tied with the Reds and the Mets.

The Cardinals concluded the year 29 games back of the first place Philadelphia Phillies. They ended the season fifth of six teams. The sixth-place team was the Montreal Expos which finished 46 games back of the Phillies.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 29, 2023

photo: Mike Antico (Springfield Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-3 on Friday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, LF Mike Antico, was 2-for-5 with three RBI in Springfield’s win. Other standouts include Gordon Graceffo, Tink Hence and Thomas Francisco.



Results for games played on Friday, July 28.

Memphis 5, Iowa 3

The Memphis Redbirds beat the Cubs by the score of 5-3 at AutoZone Park on Friday. Starter Gordon Graceffo pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up one run on four hits, struck out four and walked two to earn his third win of the season.

Gordon Graceffo

Jacob Barnes surrendered two runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief. James Naile threw a scoreless eighth. Dalton Roach tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his third save.

Memphis scored two runs in the first inning on a leadoff solo home run by Masyn Winn and a double by Luken Baker. Winn has eight long balls this month and 16 for the season. Baker’s 76 RBI lead the International League.

Masyn Winn

Iowa cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the sixth before the Redbirds answered with three runs in the home half. Ivan Herrera and Baker walked. Moises Gomez singled and Herrera scored. Jose Fermin grounded into a force out and Baker was out at third. Juniel Querecuto was hit by a pitch. Gomez and Fermin came home on a wild pitch and a throwing error.

The Cubs added their final two runs in the seventh, but the rally ended there for the 5-3 final in favor of the Redbirds.

Memphis scored five runs on just four hits. No Redbird had multiple hits. The offense was 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base but still managed to win in part due to Cubs mistakes.

On the base paths, Herrera stole second base. In the field, Fermin made a throwing error.

The Memphis Redbirds (51-49) are 3.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Iowa, TBA (MEM) vs. Nick Neidert RHP (5-3, 5.33) 6:35 CT.

Springfield 7 at Tulsa 2

The Springfield Cardinals defeated the home Drillers by a 7-2 score on Friday. Starter Tink Hence pitched five innings, gave up two runs on two hits, struck out nine and walked two to earn his second win.

Tink Hence

Roy Garcia threw two scoreless innings of relief. Bryan Pope tossed the final two scoreless frames.

Springfield scored the first run in the second inning. Chandler Redmond singled and later came home on a single by Arquimedes Gamboa.

Mike Antico

The Cardinals added to their lead in the third on a two-run home run by Mike Antico. They widened the lead to 7-0 in the fourth. Noah Mendlinger drew a walk. Jacob Buchberger singled. Gamboa walked. Mendlinger scored on a sac fly by L.J. Jones. Irving Lopez plated Buchberger on a sac fly. Victor Scott II singled to bring in Gamboa. Antico doubled and Scott II scored.

Tulsa scored their two runs in the fourth.

Antico was 2-for-5 with three RBI and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.

Gamboa made a fielding error.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (13-12) are in third place, 1 game out of first place.

Saturday’s game:  at Tulsa, Alex Cornwell LHP (0-0, 3.77) vs. River Ryan RHP (1-5, 3.13) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 1, South Bend 5

The Peoria Chiefs fell to the Cubs by four runs at Dozer Park on Friday, extending their losing skid to nine games.

Starter Max Rajcic pitched five innings, gave up four runs on six hits, struck out six and walked one. Rajcic took the loss, his third of the season.

Gustave Rodriguez relieved Rajcic and threw two scoreless innings. Dionys Rodriguez surrendered one run in the final two innings.

South Bend took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, then increased the lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth. Peoria scored their only run of the game in the home half of the fourth on a solo home run by Jimmy Crooks, his team-leading eighth of the year.

Jimmy Crooks

The Cubs added a final insurance run in the eighth.

The Chiefs scored their one run on six hits. Thomas Francisco was 3-for-4. The offense was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

The Peoria Chiefs (13-15) sit in fourth place in the Midwest League West, 4.5 games back of first place.

Saturday’s game:  vs. South Bend, Inohan Paniagua RHP (0-0, 2.16) vs. Michael Arias RHP (0-1, 3.68) 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 5 at Fort Myers 6

The Palm Beach Cardinals were topped by the Mighty Mussels in a ninth inning walk off loss on Friday. Starter Cade Winquest pitched five innings, gave up one run on one hit, struck out eight and walked four.

Cade Winquest

Wilmer Ortega surrendered one run in two innings of relief. Jack Lynch relinquished three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Tanner Jacobson gave up the walk off run in the ninth to take the loss.

The Cardinals got on the board with one run in the top of the first. Michael Curialle singled and later scored on a wild pitch. Fort Myers tied the game in the home half of the first.

The Beach Birds made it 2-1 in the second. Kade Kretzschmar walked, stole second, advanced to third on an error and came home on a sac fly by Trey Paige.  Palm Beach increased the lead to 3-1 in the third when Curialle was hit by a pitch and later was driven in via a single by Chase Adkison.

In the sixth, the Cardinals added a two-run home run by Lizandro Espinoza to widen the lead to 5-1.

Lizandro Espinoza

The Mighty Mussels mounted a comeback, scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth, three runs in the eighth, and the walk off run in the bottom of the ninth.

The Cardinals scored five runs on five hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Espinoza had two RBI.

On the base paths, Curialle stole two bases. Kretzschmar stole his first as a professional. Won-Bin Cho swiped his 24th bag.

In the field, Adkison had a passed ball.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (10-16) are in third place in the Florida State League East, three games out of first place.

Saturday’s games:  at Fort Myers, TBA (PB) vs. Ben Ethridge RHP (1-4, 2.23) 5:00 CT.

FCL Cardinals – Off

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (10-22) are in last place, 10.5 games back of first.

Saturday’s games:  vs. FCL Astros, TBA vs. TBA 9:00 am CT (Game 1), at FCL Astros, TBA vs. TBA (Game 2)

DSL Cardinals 2 at DSL Mariners 3 (eight innings)

The Dominican Cardinals were edged by the Mariners in a 3-2 Friday contest that was originally scheduled for seven innings. Starter Nelfy Ynfante pitched three scoreless, no-hit innings with six strikeouts and one walk.

Nelfy Ynfante

Jovi Galvez relieved Ynfante and threw a scoreless fourth. Justin Hernandez hurled a scoreless fifth. Stiveen Rojas surrendered two runs in the sixth. Juan Severino relinquished one unearned run in the final 1 2/3 innings and took the loss.

The Cardinals went up in the first inning on a two-run home run by Hancel Almonte.

Hancel Almonte

The Mariners tied the game in the sixth and walked it off in the eighth as the ghost runner scored on an RBI single.

The Cardinals scored two runs on just four hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Almonte had two RBI. The offense was 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

On the base paths, Daniel Rojas was caught stealing. In the field, Ynfante made an error on a pick off.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Dominican Summer League Cardinals (11-26) are in seventh place, 17 games back of first.

Saturday’s game:  Off


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 27, 2023

photo: Won-Bin Cho (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-3 on Wednesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, CF Won-Bin Cho, doubled and homered with three RBI in Palm Beach’s win. Other standouts include Matt Koperniak, Connor Lunn and Hancel Rincon.



Results for games played on Wednesday, July 26.

Memphis 7, Iowa 10

The Memphis Redbirds lost to the Iowa Cubs by the score of 10-7 at AutoZone Park on Wednesday. Newly signed starter Casey Lawrence pitched four innings, gave up one run on four hits, struck out three and walked one.

Ryan Loutos relieved Lawrence and surrendered four runs, three earned in two innings and took the loss. Fresh off the IL, Guillermo Zuniga relinquished three runs in 1/3 innings. Chris Roycroft threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings. James Naile allowed two important insurance runs in the ninth.

Iowa went up 1-0 in the second inning and Memphis tied the game in the fourth. Luken Baker doubled and scored on a triple by Juan Yepez.

The Cubs increased their lead to 5-1 in the sixth, and made it 8-1 in the top of the seventh. The Redbirds added a run in the home half of the seventh to cut the lead to 8-2. Jose Fermin walked and later scored on a single by Richie Palacios.

Memphis rallied in the eighth for three runs on a two-run home run by Matt Koperniak and a solo long ball from Moises Gomez. The Cubs lead was down to 8-5.

Matt Koperniak

Iowa scored two in the top of the ninth to widen the lead to 10-5. The Redbirds rallied again for two runs in the bottom of the ninth but fell just short of tying. Palacios walked. Masyn Winn was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Baker singled and Palacios scored. Koperniak singled to plate Winn.

Koperniak was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Baker was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Yepez was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Gomez was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Juniel Querecuto was 2-for-4.

In the field, Winn made a throwing error. Gomez had an outfield assist at second base.

The Memphis Redbirds (49-49) are five games out of first place in the International League West.

Thursday’s game:  vs. Iowa, TBA vs. TBA 7:05 CT.

Springfield 3 at Tulsa 2

The Springfield Cardinals edged the Tulsa Drillers in a 3-2 road win on Wednesday. Starter Connor Lunn pitched six innings, gave up one run on seven hits and struck out five to earn his fourth win of the season.

Connor Lunn

Ryan Shreve relieved Lunn and surrendered one run in the seventh. Andre Granillo tossed the final two scoreless innings to earn his 12th save in 14 chances.

Andre Granillo

Springfield went up 1-0 in the first inning. Mike Antico tripled and scored on a double by Pedro Pages. In the third, the Cardinals made it 2-0 when Victor Scott II singled and later came home on a sac fly by Pages.

Pedro Pages

Tulsa made it 2-1 in the fifth. In the top of the eighth, the Cardinals increased their lead to 3-1 when Chandler Redmond walked and was driven in on a double by Arquimedes Gamboa.

The Drillers scored their final run in the home half of the eighth.

Scott II was 2-for-4 as the only Cardinal with multiple hits. Pages had two RBI.

Victor Scott

On the base paths, Gamboa stole his 13th base. Scott II swiped three bags for a total of 14 at Springfield after taking 50 with Peoria. Mike Antico stole his 34th base.

Gamboa made a fielding error. Jose Alvarez had an outfield assist at third base.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (11-12) are in third place, 2.5 games out of first.

Thursday’s game:  at Tulsa, Brandon Komar RHP (1-6, 6.03) vs. Nick Frasso RHP (1-3, 3.46) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 3, South Bend 9

The Peoria Chiefs fell to the South Bend Cubs in a six-run loss on Wednesday at Dozer Park. Starter Trent Baker pitched five innings, gave up five runs, three earned, on nine hits and struck out two. Baker took the loss.

Nathanael Heredia did not stop the scoring, surrendering four runs in three innings of relief. Jack Ralston tossed a scoreless ninth.

South Bend scored four runs in the second inning and increased the lead to 5-0 in the top of the fifth. Peoria scored their first run in the home fifth after Chris Rotondo walked and later scored on a single by Jeremy Rivas.

The Cubs widened their lead to 7-1 in the top of the sixth. The Chiefs made it 7-2 in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Francisco Hernandez.

Francisco Hernandez

In the top of the eighth, South Bend plated their final two runs to lead 9-2. Peoria added one more run in the bottom of the eighth. Thomas Francisco singled and later scored on a single by Nathan Church.

Alex ladisernia was 2-for-4 as the only Chief with multiple hits. The Hernandez long ball was the only extra base hit.

On the base paths, Rivas was caught stealing for the third time. R.J. Yeager was also caught stealing.

In the field, Baker had a missed catch error. Hernandez had a fielding miscue.

The Peoria Chiefs (13-13) have lost seven straight and are in third place in the Midwest League West, four games back of first.

Thursday’s game:  vs. South Bend, Zane Mills RHP (4-3, 6.75) vs. Cade Horton RHP (3-3, 4.19) 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 7 at Fort Myers 5 (10 innings)

The Palm Beach Cardinals defeated the Mighty Mussels in a 7-4 extra innings road contest on Wednesday. Starter Hancel Rincon pitched six innings, gave up one run on four hits and struck out three.

Hancel Rincon

Hunter Hayes relieved Rincon and threw two scoreless innings. Tanner Jacobson relinquished four runs, one earned, in the final two innings. Jacobson was charged with a blown save but received the win, his fourth.

Fort Myers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Palm Beach tied the game in the third. Won-Bin Cho doubled, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a balk.

The Beach Birds added three runs to their tally in the fifth on a two-run home run by Cho and a double by William Sullivan. Fort Myers tied the game at 4-4 in the ninth to send the game into extras.

Won-Bin Cho

In the 10th, the Cardinals scored three runs. With Joshua Baez on second, Ross Friedrick singled and Baez came home. Chase Adkison singled. Trey Paige singled to plate Freidrick. Adkison ran in on a force out by Cho.

The Mighty Mussels answered with just one run in the bottom of the 10th to fall two runs short.

Cho was 2-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored. Zach Levenson was 2-for-3. Adkison was 2-for-2. Leandro Espinoza was 2-for-5.

On the base paths, Cho stole his ninth base of the season. Cho was also picked off first base.

In the field, Brayden Jobert, Trey Paige, and Tre Richardson each made a throwing error.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (9-15) are in third place in the Florida State League East, 3.5 games out of first.

Thursday’s games:  at Fort Myers, TBA (PB) vs. Jarret Whorff RHP (2-1, 2.54) 6:00 CT.

FCL Cardinals 0 at FCL Marlins 15

The rookie-ball Cardinals were blown out by Marlins in a 15-0 thrashing on Wednesday. It began well as starter Alexander Beltre pitched three scoreless, no-hit innings with five strikeouts.

Alexander Beltre

However, the pen shot the Birds down as five relievers each allowed multiple runs. Chandler Arnold surrendered three runs, two earned, in the fourth. Luis Jimenez relinquished four runs in 1/3 innings. Antoni Cuello allowed four runs, three earned, in 2/3 innings. Miguel Martinez gave up two runs in two innings pitched. Randel Clemente surrendered two runs in the final 2/3 innings.

Once Beltre was out, the Marlins then scored three runs in the fourth, four runs each in the fifth and sixth, and two runs each in the seventh and eighth for 15 total.

The Cardinals offense scattered just five hits, all singles, one each by Jonathan Mejia, Jose Cordoba, Felix Taveras, Maikel Hernandez, and Adari Grant. The offense was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.

In the field, Cordoba made a throwing error and a dropped foul error. Rehabber Brody Moore committed two throwing errors. Jimenez made an error on a pickoff. Taveras had an outfield assist at second base.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (10-22) are in last, 10.5 games back of first place.

Thursday’s game:  vs. FCL Mets, TBA vs. TBA 9:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals – Off

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (11-26) are in seventh place, 17 games back of first.

Thursday’s game:  vs. DSL Phillies White, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 26, 2023

photo: Brycen Mautz (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-4 on Tuesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day Brycen Mautz pitched five scoreless innings with two hits and five strikeouts in Palm Beach’s win. Other standouts include Masyn Winn, Jacob Buchberger and Facundo Velasquez.



Results for games played on Tuesday, July 25.

Memphis 6, Iowa 7

The Memphis Redbirds were topped by the Cubs by one run at AutoZone Park on Tuesday. Starter Michael McGreevy pitched five innings, gave up five runs on nine hits, struck out three and walked one. McGreevy took the loss, his second of the season at Triple-A.

Kyle Leahy relieved McGreevy and surrendered one run in the sixth. Grant Black relinquished one run in 2/3 of an inning. Jacob Barnes tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Iowa took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Cubs extended their lead in the top of the fourth with four more.

Memphis scored twice in the home half of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-2. Richie Palacios walked and came home on a triple by Masyn Winn. Winn scored on a ground out by Luken Baker.

Masyn Winn

The Cubs increased their lead to 6-2 in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, the Redbirds plated two runs on solo home runs by Winn and Baker.

Iowa made it 7-4 in the seventh before Memphis rallied in the ninth. Juan Yepez singled and Jose Fermin walked. Yepez scored on a single by Tres Barrera. Palacios plated Fermin on a sac fly. But the surge ended one run short.

Winn was 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Baker had two RBI.

The Memphis Redbirds (49-49) are four games out of first place in the International League West.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Iowa, RHP Casey Lawrence (Mem debut) vs. Caleb Killian RHP (6-1, 4.34) 7:05 CT.

Springfield 3 at Tulsa 5

The Springfield Cardinals fell to the Drillers by a 5-3 score in Tulsa on Tuesday. Starter Wilfredo Pereira pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up four runs on six hits, struck out three and walked four. Pereira took the loss.

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson surrendered one run in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Logan Sawyer tossed a scoreless eighth.

Tulsa went up 2-0 in the first inning, then added a run in the second. Springfield scored one run in the third to cut the lead to 3-1. Victor Scott II singled, stole second and third base, and came home on an error.

Victor Scott

The Drillers added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to widen the lead to 5-1. The Cardinals scored two runs in the eighth to shrink the lead to 5-3. Chandler Redmond singled. Noah Mendlinger doubled. Redmond and Mendlinger came home on a double by Jacob Buchberger.

Jacob Buchberger

Buchberger was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Scott II was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Scott II stole two bases. Mike Antico also swiped two bags.

In the field, Buchberger made a throwing error.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (10-12) are in third place, 3.5 games out of first.

Wednesday’s game:  at Tulsa, Connor Lunn RHP (3-5, 5.23) vs. Nick Nastrini RHP (5-2, 3.88) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 6, South Bend 7

The Peoria Chiefs were edged by the Cubs by one run at Dozer Park on Tuesday. Starter Ian Bedell pitched four innings, gave up three runs on six hits, struck out three and walked two.

Edgar Manzo surrendered four runs in two innings of relief and took the loss. Andrew Marrero threw two scoreless innings. Dionys Rodriguez tossed a scoreless ninth.

South Bend took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Peoria scored two runs in the home half of the first on a home run by R.J. Yeager to lead 2-1.

R.J. Yeager

The Cubs came back in the top of the second to go up 3-2. The Chiefs tied it in the bottom of the second when Thomas Francisco walked and scored on a double by Francisco Hernandez.

Francisco Hernandez

South Bend broke the tie in the sixth inning with four runs to lead 7-3. Peoria rallied in the ninth for three runs but fell one run short of the tie. Chris Rotondo and Osvaldo Tovalin singled. Francisco reached on catcher interference.  Rotondo and Tovalin came home on an error. Francisco crossed home on a single by Alex ladisernia.

Hernandez was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tovalin was 2-for-4. Yeager had two RBI.

On the base paths, Nathan Church stole his 16th base. In the field, Manzo made an error on a pickoff. Church had an outfield assist at second base. Bedell picked a runner off second base.

The Peoria Chiefs (13-12) sit in third place in the Midwest League West, four games back of first.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. South Bend, Trent Baker RHP (4-6, 3.78) vs. Brody McCullough RHP (0-1, 6.57) 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 3 at Fort Myers 1

The Palm Beach Cardinals defeated the Mighty Mussels in a two-run road victory on Tuesday. Starter Brycen Mautz pitched five scoreless innings, allowed two hits and struck out five to win this third game of the season.

Brycen Mautz

Henry Gomez surrendered one run in four innings of relief to earn his second save.

Palm Beach went up 2-0 in the fourth inning. Chase Davis singled and later scored on a double by Kade Kretzschmar.

Kade Kretzschmar

The Beach Birds increased their lead to 3-0 in the top of the seventh, as Won-Bin Cho walked, stole second base, and came home on a single by Michael Curialle.

Fort Myers scored their only run in the home half of the seventh to cut the lead to 3-1.

Leonardo Bernal was 2-for-4. Kretzschmar had two RBI.

On the base paths, Curialle stole his sixth base of the season. Cho swiped his 22nd bag. In the field, Cho had an outfield assist at third base.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (8-15) are in third place in the Florida State League East, 3.5 games out of first.

Wednesday’s games:  at Fort Myers, TBA (PB) vs. Jose Olivares RHP (2-3, 6.14) 11:00 am CT.

FCL Cardinals at FCL Astros (suspended)

This game was suspended due to lightning. No date for completion is currently scheduled.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (10-20) are in last place, 10 games back of first place.

Wednesday’s game:  at FCL Marlins, TBA vs. TBA 11:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals 4 at DSL Mets Blue 6

The Dominican Cardinals fell to the Mets Blue by a 6-4 score on Tuesday. Starter Yadiel Batista pitched four innings, gave up four runs on five hits and struck out five. Batista took the loss, his second of the season.

Kener Perez relieved Batista and surrendered one run in the fifth. Brailyn Paulino relinquished one run in two innings of relief. Ronny Oliver tossed a scoreless eighth.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Arfeni Batista walked and scored on a force out by Fernando Roquez.

The Mets Blue came back in the fifth with five runs to go up 5-1. In the sixth, the Cardinals added two runs to make it 5-3. Heriberto Caraballo singled and came home on a triple by Facundo Velasquez. Velasquez crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Facundo Velasquez

The Mets Blue increased their lead to 6-3 in the seventh. In the eighth, the Cardinals added their final run on a single by Velasquez.

Velasquez was 4-for-4 with two RBI. Hancel Almonte was 2-for-4.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (11-26) are in seventh place, 17 games back of first.

Wednesday’s game:  Off.


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St. Louis Cardinals Major League Notebook – July 17-23

photo: Nolan Arenado (Joe Puetz/USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals swept Miami but are now on a three-game losing skid. All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado plated 12 runners in the seven games. Scott Rolen joined the Hall of Fame. Our history feature on underperforming Cards teams looks back at the 68-86 squad from 1955.



Scott Rolen (Getty Images)

Rolen inducted into the Hall of Fame

On Sunday, July 24, former Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen joined Fred McGriff in induction ceremonies for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Rolen joined the Cardinals in a trade with the Phillies at the 2002 deadline. The Indiana native played in four All-Star Games and received three Gold Glove Awards as a Cardinal in recognition of his strong third base defense and power bat. Rolen was a standout with two NL pennant-winning Cardinals teams (2004 and 2006) and his 2006 club won the World Series.

Rolen is the 12th Hall of Famer whose cap on his plaque features the Cardinals logo. He previously joined the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2019.

Game Recaps

Monday, July 17, 2023 – Cardinals 6, Marlins 4

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Miami Marlins in the first of a three-game series at Busch Stadium on Monday. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched six innings, gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out three to earn his sixth win of the season.

Miles Mikolas

Ryan Tepera relieved Mikolas and surrendered one run in 2/3 of an inning. Giovanny Gallegos threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Jordan Hicks tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his eighth save.

In the second inning, Miami took a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals tied the game in the third when Dylan Carlson doubled and scored on a single by Nolan Arenado.

In the top of the fifth, the Marlins brought a run home to lead 2-1. In the home half of the inning the Cardinals scored twice to lead 3-2. Carlson walked and Goldschmidt singled. Carlson came home on a sac fly by Arenado. Goldschmidt crossed the plate on a single by Jordan Walker.

In the top of the sixth, the Marlins tied the game again. The Cardinals responded with three in the bottom of the inning. Nolan Gorman doubled and crossed home on a single by Carlson. Goldschmidt singled. Arenado doubled to bring in Carlson and Goldschmidt. The Cardinals went ahead 6-3.

Nolan Arenado

The Marlins added a final run in the seventh to cut the lead to 6-4.

Arenado was 2-for-3 with four RBI. Walker was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Carlson was 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Goldschmidt was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

On the base paths, Paul DeJong was caught stealing for the fourth time.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 – Cardinals 5, Marlins 2 (10 innings)

The Cardinals were the victors in the second game of the series with the Marlins. Starter Jordan Montgomery pitched six innings, gave up one run on six hits, struck out five and walked two.

Jordan Montgomery

Chris Stratton relieved Montgomery and surrendered one run in the seventh. Giovanny Gallegos threw a scoreless eighth. Jordan Hicks hurled a scoreless ninth. JoJo Romero tossed a scoreless 10th to earn his second win of the season.

The Marlins went up 1-0 in the fifth inning. The Cardinals tied the game in the sixth on a solo home run by Brendan Donovan.

The Marlins scored one run in the top of the seventh to regain the lead 2-1. The Cardinals re-tied the score in the home half of the frame as Dylan Carlson walked and came home on a double by Nolan Gorman.

The game remained tied until the end of regulation. In the top of the 10th, the Marlins failed to score. The Cardinals plated three runs in the bottom frame to walk it off 5-2. Paul DeJong started the inning at second base. Paul Goldschmidt was intentionally walked. Nolan Arenado hit a three-run home run to left field.

Arenado was 2-for-4 with three RBI as the only Cardinal with multiple hits.

On the base paths, Lars Nootbaar stole his sixth base of the season.

Wednesday, July 19, 2023 – Cardinals 6, Marlins 4

The Cardinals completed the sweep of the Marlins with a 6-4 win on Wednesday. Starter Dakota Hudson pitched three innings, gave up two runs on five hits and struck out one.

Zack Thompson threw two scoreless innings of relief to earn his second win. Andre Pallante hurled 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Tepera surrendered one run in 1 1/3 innings. Chris Stratton allowed one run in the ninth to earn his first save.

The Cardinals took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning. Paul Goldschmidt singled. Lars Nootbaar walked. Nolan Arenado singled to score Goldschmidt. Nolan Gorman then hit a three-run home run.

Nolan Gorman

The Marlins cut the lead to 4-2 in the third inning. In the seventh, the Cardinals added two more runs to make it 6-2. Brendan Donovan doubled. Nootbaar singled and Donovan came home. Nootbaar followed on a single by Gorman.

The Marlins scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to bring the final score to 6-4.

Gorman was 2-for-4 with four RBI. Arenado was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Alec Burleson was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Gorman stole his fifth base of the season.

Thursday, July 20, 2023 – Cardinals 7 at Cubs 2

The Cardinals beat the Cubs in the first of a four-game series at Wrigley Field on Thursday. Starter Steven Matz pitched five innings, gave up one run on three hits, struck out six and walked one to earn his first win of the season.

Steven Matz

Andre Pallante relieved Matz and threw a scoreless sixth. Kyle Leahy surrendered one run in 2/3 innings. JoJo Romero hurled 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Giovanny Gallegos tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals went up 1-0 in the first inning. Paul Goldschmidt singled and scored on a double by Willson Contreras. The Cardinals added to their lead with a four-run fourth. Tyler O’Neill doubled and came in on a home run by Jordan Walker. Lars Nootbaar and Goldschmidt singled. Nolan Arenado doubled to plate Nootbaar and Goldschmidt.

Jordan Walker

The Cubs scored the first of their two runs in the home half of the fourth. The Cardinals increased their lead to 7-1 in the fifth on a two-run home run by Paul DeJong.

The Cubs scored their final run in the seventh.

Walker was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Goldschmidt was 2-for- 4 with two runs scored. Arenado and DeJong each had two RBI.

On the base paths, Nootbaar stole his seventh base of the season. In the field, Nootbaar had an outfield assist at second base.

Friday, July 21, 2023 – Cardinals 3 at Cubs 4

The Cardinals fell to the Cubs in Game 2 of the four-game set at Wrigley Field. Starter Jack Flaherty pitched six innings, gave up four runs on eight hits, struck out six and walked one. Flaherty took the loss.

Andre Pallante relieved Flaherty and threw a scoreless seventh. Chris Stratton tossed a scoreless eighth.

The Cardinals took the lead 1-0 in the second inning. Tyler O’Neill singled and later came home on a ground out by Andrew Knizner.

The Cubs scored four runs in the third to take the lead. The Cardinals rallied for two runs in the seventh to make it 4-3. Jose Fermin singled. Paul Goldschmidt walked. Both crossed the plate on a single by Nolan Arenado.

Willson Contreras was 2-for-4 as the only Cardinal with multiple hits. Arenado had two RBI.

On the base paths, O’Neill stole his second base of the season. Jordan Walker swiped his fourth bag.

Saturday, July 22, 2023 – Cardinals 6 at Cubs 8

The Cardinals lost again to the Cubs in Game 3 of the road series. Starter Miles Mikolas pitched five innings, gave up five runs on 11 hits, struck out three and walked one.

Losing pitcher Zack Thompson surrendered three runs in 1/3 of an inning of relief. Drew VerHagen threw 2/3 scoreless innings. Dakota Hudson tossed the final two scoreless innings.

The Cardinals took the initial lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Lars Nootbaar. The Cubs tied the game in the second.

St. Louis added two in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead. Nootbaar doubled and crossed home on a single by Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt later crossed the plate on a sac fly by Willson Contreras.

The Cubs tied it again the home half of the third. The seesaw scoring continued in the fifth with the Cardinals plating two runs to go up 5-3. Nolan Gorman hit a solo home run. Nolan Arenado singled and scored on a double by Contreras.

The Cubs rallied with two in the bottom of the fifth to knot it up at 5-5. The Cardinals made it 6-5 in the top of the sixth. Nootbaar singled and later ran home on a wild pitch.

Lars Nootbaar

The Cubs answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 8-6.

Nootbaar was 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Gorman was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ex-Cub Contreras plated two.

Sunday, July 23, 2023 – Cardinals 2 at Cubs 7

The Cardinals lost the fourth and final game of the series at Wrigley Field. Starter Jordan Montgomery pitched six innings, gave up seven runs, five earned, on six hits, struck out four and walked two. Montgomery suffered his eighth loss of the season.

Zack Thompson relieved Montgomery and tossed the final two scoreless innings.

The Cubs scored two runs in the first aided by a botched fielding play by Montgomery that would have ended the inning. They added five more runs in the third against the starter.

The Cardinals finally scored in the sixth inning. Alec Burleson doubled and came home on a single by Dylan Carlson. St. Louis scored one more run in the eighth. Tyler O’Neill walked and was driven in on a single by Carlson.

Dylan Carlson

Carlson was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Nolan Arenado was 3-for-4. Burleson was 2-for-4.

Montgomery made a costly fielding error.

The Big Picture

The Cardinals finished the week with a record of 4-3, but on a three-game losing skid. They swept the Marlins and lost 3 of 4 to the Cubs. They are in fourth place in the NL Central, a half game ahead of the last-place Pirates.

The trade deadline is eight days away. The team will be trading players, ostensibly for pitching, the greatest need.

The starters have not performed well over the last week. Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty, and Jordan Montgomery each pitched clunkers. Steven Matz had the best performance against the Cubs on Thursday. Dakota Hudson was used as a starter in one game in which he pitched three innings and relieved the next time out. Only Matz and Hudson have an ERA under 4.00 over the last seven days.

Dakota Hudson

The bullpen has been hit and miss. Three bullpen pitchers – Ryan Tepera, Kyle Leahy and Genesis Cabrera – are no longer on the major league roster. Tepera was DFAed and Leahy was optioned to Memphis. Cabrera was traded to the Blue Jays for a minor league catcher.  Chris Stratton and Zack Thompson have struggled at times, with both good and bad outings.

The offense has been fine, with the losses mostly attributable to pitching. The top performers by OPS for the week are Nolan Gorman (1.274), Nolan Arenado (1.059), Alec Burleson (.824), and Jordan Walker (.814). At the bottom are Paul DeJong (.483) and Ivan Herrera (.490).

The infield defense is fine, the outfield defense has improved, though Jordan Walker still struggles to learn the outfield. Base running has also improved.

The roster is likely to look different in a little over a week. The team is so far behind at this point that even improved pitching is not likely to make a whole lot of difference for 2023. A wild card is the most the Cardinals can hope for, and that possibility is remote. The front office will be making moves for 2024.

The Cardinals play the Diamondbacks in Phoenix to start the week and end the week with four games against the Cubs again at Busch Stadium.

NL Central Standings

Team W L PCT GB
Milwaukee 55 45 0.550
Cincinnati 55 46 0.545 0.5
Chicago 48 51 0.485 6.5
St. Louis 44 55 0.440 11
Pittsburgh 43 56 0.434 11.5

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale reports the following:

“So, starters Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty, each who are eligible for free agency in November, could be gone. Closer Jordan Hicks and perhaps injured reliever Ryan Helsley. Infielders Tommy Edman and Paul DeJong could be gone too. And outfielders Dylan Carlson and Tyler O’Neill better not send out their laundry, either.”

Later in the article, Nightengale added catcher Willson Contreras to the list of Cardinals reportedly being made available.

Transactions

  • 7/17 The Cardinals signed free agent RHP Ryan Tepera.
  • 7/17 The Cardinals designated LHP Genesis Cabrera for assignment.
  • 7/20 The Cardinals sent RHP Drew VerHagen on a rehab assignment to the Springfield Cardinals.
  • 7/20 The Cardinals designated RHP Ryan Tepera for assignment.
  • 7/20 The Cardinals activated LF Tyler O’Neill from the 10-day injured list.
  • 7/21 The Cardinals traded LHP Genesis Cabrera to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league C Sammy Hernandez.
  • 7/22 The Cardinals optioned RHP Kyle Leahy to the Memphis Redbirds
  • 7/22 The Cardinals activated RHP Drew VerHagen from the 15-day injured list.
  • 7/23 The Cardinals optioned SS Jose Fermin to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/23 The Cardinals selected the contract of INF Taylor Motter from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/23 The Cardinals have given RHP Jake Walsh his unconditional release.

Injury Report

  • RHP Wilking Rodriguez (right shoulder strain) is on the 60-day injured list. Rodriguez is out for the season with shoulder surgery.
  • LHP Packy Naughton (left forearm strain) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on May 17. Naughton underwent season ending surgery on June 26.
  • LF Tyler O’Neill (low back strain) has been activated from the 10-day injured list.
  • RHP Ryan Helsley was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 10. Right forearm strain. Helsley felt tightness in his right forearm on June 11 and was sent for an MRI. The MRI revealed a tendon strain. Helsley has begun a throwing program and is still several weeks away from a return.
  • RHP Jake Woodford was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 30. Right shoulder strain. Woodford felt pain in his shoulder after pitching in the game on Thursday, June 29. The timing of Woodford’s return is unknown.
  • RHP Drew VerHagen was activated from the 15-day injured list.
  • INF/OF Tommy Edman was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 4 with a right wrist injury. Tests showed no structural damage. Edman received an injection in his wrist and will be out an indeterminate number of days.
  • C Willson Contreras left Saturday’s game with right hip tightness. The catcher is listed as day-to-day.
  • OF Lars Nootbaar left Sunday’s game with right heel soreness.
  • RHP Adam Wainwright was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 5 with a right shoulder strain. The veteran right hander is set to be activated and make the start on Monday, July 24.

Adam Wainwright

Looking Ahead

Following the four-game series with the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the team travels to Phoenix for three with the Diamondbacks. Adam Wainwright is set to come off the injured list and make the Monday start. Steven Matz and Jack Flaherty will follow on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Cardinals then return home for four with the Cubs in St. Louis to end July.

The month of August begins with a six game homestand with the Twins and the Rockies. The team then travels to Florida for three with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The road trip ends with a two-game set in Kansas City with the Royals.

The following week, the team begins a six game homestand with the Athletics and the Mets.

Blast from the Past

The 2023 Cardinals have had one of the team’s worst starts to a season in 50 years. The Cardinals have been one of the most consistent franchises in terms of winning seasons over the history of Major League Baseball. Nevertheless, St. Louis had had prior periods of underperforming.

This week’s Blast from the Past is the sixth installment in the series showcasing the worst seasons in the franchise’s long history.

The current Cardinals are 44-56 with a win percentage of .440.  This week we look at the 1955 Cardinals, who were 68-86 on the season with a win percentage of .442. That team finished seventh in the National League.

The team owner was Gussie Busch. Busch bought the team in 1953 after previous owner Fred Saigh was convicted of tax evasion.

The 1955 team had two managers. The first was Eddie Stanky, who had been manager since 1952. Stanky was fired early in 1955 by Busch after a 17-19 start to the season. Busch hired Harry Walker, who managed the remainder of the season.

The General Manager was Dick Meyer, who was fired at the end of the 1955 season.

The 1955 Cardinals’ seventh place finish was next to last in the NL. The Pittsburgh Pirates were eighth and last.

The primary starters for the Cards were C Bill Sarni, 1B Stan Musial, 2B Red Schoendienst, SS Alex Grammas, 3B Ken Boyer, LH Rip Repulski, CF Bill Verdon, and RF Wally Moon.

The best offensive player was Musial, who slashed .319/.408/.566 with 33 home runs and 108 RBI. In second was Repulski, with 23 homers and 73 RBI and a slash line of .270/.333/.467.

Willard Schmidt

The starting rotation was Harvey Haddix, Larry Jackson, Luis Arroyo, Tom Poholsky, and Willard Schmidt. Schmidt had the best ERA and FIP (2.78, 3.15).

The 1955 team never led the National League. They most games they were over .500 was three and they were there last on May 1. The most games they were under .500 was 24.

The longest winning streak was five games and the longest losing streak was seven games, which occurred twice, in May and August.

The team was shut out nine times and shut out their opponents 10 times. They had 19 comeback wins, and 42 blown leads.

They had 11 walk off wins and seven walk off losses.

In the pre-division days, the 1955 team finished 30.5 games back of the pennant-winning Brooklyn Dodgers and eight games ahead of the last place Pirates.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 22, 2023

photo: Masyn Winn (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 4-2 on Friday including two wins for reconfigured Palm Beach. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, SS Masyn Winn, was 3-for-4 with three RBI, including a home run, in Memphis’ road win. Other standouts include Luken Baker, Nathan Church, Yordalin Pena and Fernando Roquez.



Results for games played on Friday, July 21.

Memphis 12 at Charlotte 9

The Memphis Redbirds prevailed in a slugfest with Charlotte on Friday. Starter Gordon Graceffo pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up six runs on eight hits, struck out eight and walked three.

Chris Roycroft surrendered one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Ryan Loutos relinquished two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Dalton Roach tossed the final 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his third save.

Memphis took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Masyn Winn and a two-run blast by Luken Baker. The Redbirds made it 4-0 in the second as Nick Dunn singled and scored on a single by Chase Pinder.

Masyn Winn

Luken Baker

The Knights came back to make it a 4-3 game in the second. Memphis quickly answered with five runs in the top of the third. Kramer Robertson was hit by a pitch. Juan Yepez walked. Moises Gomez singled. Nick Dunn grounded into a force out and Robertson came home. Gomez was out at second. Tres Barrera singled to plate Yepez. Dunn scored on a double by Pinder. Winn brought in Barrera and Pinder on a single.

Charlotte cut the lead to 9-5 in the bottom of the third. The Redbirds added two runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Baker and a sac fly by Robertson.

The Knights chipped away at the lead with single runs in the bottom of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth to shrink the lead to 11-9.

Memphis added their last run in the ninth on a solo long ball by Richie Palacios.

Winn was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Baker was 2-for-6 with three RBI. Palacios was 2-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Pinder was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Barrera was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Gomez was 2-for-5. Yepez was 2-for-4.

The Memphis Redbirds (47-47) are five games out of first place in the International League West.

Saturday’s game:  at Charlotte, LHP Matthew Liberatore (4-2, 3.78) vs. LHP Nate Fisher 6:04 CT.

Springfield 0, Arkansas 4

The Springfield Cardinals were blanked by the Travelers on Friday night at Hammons Field. Starter Tink Hence pitched five innings, gave up two unearned runs on two hits, struck out three and walked two. Hence took the loss.

Tink Hence

Edgar Escobar relieved Hence and surrendered two runs in the two innings. Bryan Pope tossed the final two scoreless innings.

Arkansas took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, powered by a walk, single, wild pitch and a fielding error, then increased the lead to 4-0 in the sixth.

The Cardinals offense managed only two hits, singles by Victor Scott II and Arquimedes Gamboa. They had no runners in scoring position.

In the field, Gamboa made a throwing error and Errol Robinson had a fielding miscue. Noah Mendlinger had an outfield assist at home plate. Pope picked a runner off first base.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (9-9) are in second place, 1.5 games out of first place.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, RHP Edgar Escobar (7-2, 4.10) vs. Kyle Tyler RHP (5-7, 6.25) 6:35 CT.

Peoria 5 at Cedar Rapids 8

The Peoria Chiefs fell to the Kernels in an 8-5 road loss on Friday. Starter Zane Mills pitched 3 2/3 innings, gave up six runs on six hits and struck out three. Mills took the loss, his third.

Andrew Marrero surrendered two runs in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Dionys Rodriguez tossed a scoreless eighth.

Peoria went up 1-0 in the top of the first on a solo home run by Nathan Church. Cedar Rapids answered with three runs in the home half of the inning.

Nathan Church

The Kernels made it 7-1 in the fourth before the Chiefs cut the lead to 7-3 in the top of the sixth. Francisco Hernandez and Alex ladisernia singled. Church plated Hernandez on a single. ladisernia scored on a wild pitch.

Cedar Rapids added a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-3. Peoria scored two runs in the eighth on a single by Church and a sac fly by Jimmy Crooks to shrink the lead to 8-5.

Church was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Hernandez was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. ladisernia was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Jeremy Rivas made a fielding error.

The Peoria Chiefs (13-9) are in second place in the Midwest League West, one game back of first.

Saturday’s game:  at Cedar Rapids, Max Rajcic RHP (0-2, 4.96) vs. Kyle Jones RHP (5-4, 4.60)

Palm Beach 8, St. Lucie 1 (seven innings, Game 1)

The Palm Beach Cardinals defeated the Mets by seven runs on Friday as a number of newcomers contributed on offense. Starter Pete Hansen pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up one run on two hits, struck out nine and walked one to earn his seventh win of the season.

Pete Hansen

Jack Lynch relieved Hansen and got the final out.

Palm Beach scored three runs in the first inning. Chris Rotondo singled. Dakota Harris reached on an error. Rotondo scored on a ground out by Leonardo Bernal. Brayden Jobert tripled to plate Harris. Jobert came home on a single by Zach Levinson.

Brayden Jobert

The Beach Birds added two runs in the second on a home run by Harris.

Dakota Harris

The Cardinals added to their lead with one run in the fifth, on a sac fly by Michael Curialle. The Mets scored their only run in the top of the sixth.

Two more Palm Beach runs came home in the home sixth on a two-run single by Trey Paige.

Trey Paige

Rotondo was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Harris and Paige each had two RBI.

Jobert and Jake Burns made fielding errors.

Palm Beach 5, St. Lucie 2 (seven innings, Game 2)

The Cardinals were again victors in the second game of the twin bill on Friday. Starter Hancel Rincon pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked one to earn his seventh win of the season.

Hancel Rincon

Tanner Jacobson relieved Rincon and threw the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his third save.

Palm Beach scored five runs in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Joshua Baez doubled. Chase Adkison singled. Graysen Tarlow singled to score Baez. Tre Richardson walked. Lizandro Espinoza followed with a grand slam.

Lizandro Espinoza

The Mets scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to cut the lead to 5-2.

The Beach Birds amassed five runs on eight hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Espinoza had four RBI.

On the base paths, Won-Bin Cho stole his eighth base of the season. In the field, Adkison had a passed ball.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (6-14) are in last place in the Florida State League East, 4.5 games out of first place.

Saturday’s games:  vs. St. Lucie, TBA vs. TBA 12:00 pm CT.

FCL Cardinals – Off

In the Florida Complex League East, the Cardinals (9-18) are in last place, eight games back of first place.

Saturday’s game:  at FCL Mets, TBA vs TBA 9:00 am CT (Game 1), TBA vs. TBA (Game 2, completion of July 14 suspended game)

DSL Cardinals 9, DSL White Sox 3

The Dominican Cardinals blew past the White Sox by a 9-3 margin on Friday. Starter Nelfy Ynfante pitched five scoreless innings, allowed four hits, struck out four and walked two to earn his third win of the season.

Nelfy Ynfante

Brailyn Paulino relieved Ynfante and surrendered three runs in the sixth. Emisael Carrera threw two scoreless innings. Yordy Herrera tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals put up five runs in the second inning. Fernando Roquez hit a solo home run. Heriberto Caraballo singled. Angel Gil reached on an error. Facundo Vasquez walked. Caraballo came home on a single by Bracewell Taveras. Yordalin Pena tripled to plate Gil, Vasquez and Taveras.

Yordalin Pena

The Cardinals increased their lead to 9-0 in the fourth. Taveras and Pena singled. Arfeni Batista doubled to score Taveras. Roquez then hit a three-run home run.

Fernando Roquez

The White Sox scored their three runs in the seventh.

Pena was 4-for-5 with three RBI. Roquez hit two home runs with four RBI. Taveras was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Caraballo was 2-for-5.

In the field, Ynfante picked a runner off first base.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Dominican Summer League Cardinals (11-23) are in seventh place, 15 games back of first place.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL NYY Bombers, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 20, 2023

photo: Luken Baker (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-3 on Wednesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, 1B Luken Baker, was a triple short of a cycle with four RBI in Memphis’ road win. Other standouts include Masyn Winn and Michael Curialle.



Results for games played on Wednesday, July 19.

Memphis 9 at Charlotte 6

The Memphis Redbirds defeated the Knights in a 9-6 road win on Wednesday. Starter Michael McGreevy pitched five innings, gave up three runs on nine hits and struck out four to earn his sixth win of the season.

Ryan Loutos relieved McGreevy and surrendered three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Grant Black threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. In his organizational debut, Jacob Barnes hurled 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Dalton Roach secured the final out of the ninth to earn his first save.

Charlotte took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Memphis scored four runs in the third to go up 4-1. Tres Barrera and Luken Baker each hit a two-run home run.

Luken Baker

The Knights made it 4-3 in the home half of the third. The Redbirds put up three more runs in the fourth for a 7-3 lead. Taylor Motter singled but was out at second on a force out by Nick Dunn. Dunn advanced to second on a ground out. Richie Palacios reached on an error and Dunn scored. Masyn Winn doubled, and Palacios came home. Winn crossed the plate on a single by Baker.

Memphis added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Palacios doubled and scored on a double by Winn. Winn scored on a double by Baker. The Cardinals led 9-3.

Masyn Winn

In the bottom of the sixth, Charlotte scored three to shrink the lead to 9-6.

Baker was 3-for-4 with four RBI. Winn was 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Palacios was 2-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Juan Yepez was 2-for-3.

In the field, Baker made a fielding error. Yepez had an outfield assist at third base.

The Memphis Redbirds (46-46) are 4.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Thursday’s game:  at Charlotte, LHP Andrew Suarez (4-2, 4.27) vs. LHP Garrret Davila 6:04 CT.

Springfield 4, Arkansas 5

The Double-A Cardinals lost a one run game to the Travelers on Wednesday night at Hammons Field. Starter Wilfredo Pereira pitched five innings, gave up three runs on five hits, struck out three and walked one.

Jose Martinez threw two scoreless innings of relief. Logan Sawyer surrendered two runs in the final two innings and took the loss.

Arkansas took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Springfield cut the lead in half in the second after Arquimedes Gamboa walked and scored on a single by Jacob Buchberger.

The Travelers added one run in the top of the sixth to increase the lead to 3-1. The Cardinals tied the game in the home half. Mike Antico doubled. Chandler Redmond and Errol Robinson were hit by a pitch. Buchberger singled and Antico came home. Wade Stauss was hit by a pitch and Redmond was forced in.

Jacob Buchberger

Springfield pulled ahead 4-3 in the seventh with a small-ball run. Victor Scott II singled, advanced on a balk, stole third and scored on a throwing error.

Arkansas added two runs in the eighth for the final 5-4 edge.

Buchberger was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Scott II was 2-for-5. Irving Lopez was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Antico stole his 28th base. Scott II swiped two bags. In the field, Pedro Pages made a throwing error.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (8-9) are in third place, 2.5 games out of first.

Thursday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, Connor Lunn RHP (3-5, 4.92) vs. Ethan Lindow LHP (2-3, 4.60) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 6 at Cedar Rapids 7

The visiting High-A Chiefs were edged by the Kernels by one run on Wednesday. Starter Ian Bedell pitched 3 1/3 innings, gave up four runs, two earned, on four hits, struck out four and walked three.

Dionys Rodriguez relieved Bedell and threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Edgar Manzo surrendered one unearned run in three innings. Edwin Nunez relinquished two runs in the ninth and took the loss.

Cedar Rapids took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Peoria cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fourth. Nathan Church singled and R.J. Yeager doubled. Church came home on a ground out by Jimmy Crooks. Yeager scored on a sac fly by Darlin Moquete.

R.J. Yeager

The Kernels increased the lead to 4-2 in the fourth. The Chiefs tallied one run in the fifth to make it 4-3. Jeremy Rivas walked and later scored on a single by Francisco Hernandez.

Peoria recaptured the lead at 5-4 in the sixth with two runs. Yeager doubled and scored on a fielder’s choice by Moquete. Moquete came home on a double by Osvaldo Tovalin. But Cedar Rapids tied the game in the bottom of the sixth.

In the seventh, the Chiefs once again went ahead 6-5 on a solo home run by ladisernia. However, the Kernels had the final answer with two in the bottom of the ninth for the walk off win.

Alex Iadisernia

Yeager was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

On the base paths, Rivas stole his 11th base and Moquete swiped his third base. In the field, Bedell and Church each made a throwing error. Manzo made an error on a pickoff.

The Peoria Chiefs (13-7) are in first place in the Midwest League West by one game.

Thursday’s game:  at Cedar Rapids, Trent Baker RHP (4-5, 3.30) vs. C.J. Culpepper RHP (1-0, 0.00) 6:35 CT.

Palm Beach 8, St. Lucie 7 (Game 1)

In the resumption of Tuesday’s suspended game, the Cardinals topped the Mets, 8-7. Starter Brycen Mautz pitched six innings, gave up three runs on three hits, struck out six and walked three.

Brycen Mautz

Augusto Calderon relieved Mautz and surrendered two runs in the seventh. After play resumed, Tanner Jacobson relinquished two runs in the final two innings but received his third win of the season.

The Mets scored one run in the top of the first inning before the Cardinals quickly tied it in the home half. Chris Rotondo walked and later scored on a single by Michael Curialle.

The Mets added two runs in the second to lead 3-1. Palm Beach tied it again with two runs in the third on a home run by Won-Bin Cho. The Beach Birds took a 4-3 lead in the fourth. Curialle singled and scored on a single by Jose Cordoba.

Won-Bin Cho

In the fifth, the Cardinals increased the lead to 6-3 on RBI singles by Curialle and Cordoba.

The Mets made a comeback in the eighth with four runs to take a 7-6 lead but the Cardinals pushed two runs home in the bottom of the ninth to walk it off thanks in part to wildness by Mets relievers. Curialle was hit by a pitch. Joshua Baez doubled. Adanson Cruz was hit by a pitch and Curialle scored. The game ended on Baez coming home on a wild pitch.

Michael Curialle

Curialle was 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Cordoba was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Rotondo was 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Cho had two RBI.

In the field, Curialle made a fielding error. Rotondo had an outfield assist at second base.

Palm Beach vs. St. Lucie (Game 2, postponed)

The regularly scheduled game was postponed due to inclement weather. It will be played as the second game of a doubleheader on Thursday, July 20. Both games will be seven innings.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (4-13) are in last place in the Florida State League East, five games out of first place.

Thursday’s games:  vs. St. Lucie, TBA vs. TBA 11:00 am CT (Game 1), TBA vs. TBA (Game 2)

FCL Cardinals – Off

In the Florida Complex League East, the FCL Cardinals (9-18) are in last place, eight games back of first place.

Thursday’s game:  at FCL Marlins, TBA vs. TBA 11:00 am CT.

DSL Cardinals 2 at DSL Nationals 3 (seven innings)

The Cardinals were edged by the Nationals in the completion of a previously suspended game on Wednesday, a previously scheduled day off. Starter Ronny Oliver pitched four scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out six and walked two.

Ronny Oliver

Giovanni Vargas relieved Oliver and surrendered two runs, one earned, in 2 1/3 inning. Stiveen Rojas relinquished one unearned run in the seventh.

The Cardinals struck first with one run in the fourth. Elias Reynoso drew a walk to lead off. Bracewell Taveras singled. Both runners advanced on a balk. Reynoso raced home on a wild pitch.

The Cardinals added a second run in the fifth when Angel Gil walked and was driven in by a double by Reynoso.

The Nationals were scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when they rallied with three runs to win in a walk off.

The Cardinals scored two runs on just three hits. No Cardinal had multiples. The offense was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

On the base paths, Yordalin Pena stole his third base of the season. Reynoso was picked off first base.

In the field, Rojas made a throwing error. Marcelo Perez had a fielding miscue.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Dominican Summer League Cardinals (10-22) are in seventh place, 14 games back of first place.

Thursday’s game:  at DSL Mariners, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.


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Peoria Chiefs Notebook – 2023 Week 15


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 19, 2023

photo: Victor Scott (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-3 on Tuesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day Victor Scott was 3-for-4 with two RBI, a steal and an OF assist in Springfield’s win. Other standouts include Logan Gragg and Darlin Moquete.



Results for games played on Tuesday, July 18.

Memphis 4 at Charlotte 0

The Memphis Redbirds blanked the Knights by the score of 4-0 on Tuesday night. Starter Logan Gragg pitched six scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out four and walked two to earn his second Triple-A win.

Logan Gragg

James Naile tossed three scoreless innings of relief to earn his fifth save.

Memphis took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Richie Palacios and Masyn Winn singled. Luken Baker walked. Matt Koperniak walked and Palacios scored. Winn came home on a double play by Juan Yepez.

The Redbirds added to their lead in the fifth on a sac fly by Palacios. Memphis made it 4-0 in the eighth as Baker doubled and scored on a single by Koperniak.

Nick Dunn, in his Memphis debut, and Baker were both 2-for-3. Koperniak had two RBI.

On the base paths, Tres Barrera was caught stealing.

The Memphis Redbirds (45-46) are 4.5 games out of first place in the International League West.

Wednesday’s game:  at Charlotte, RHP Michael McGreevy (7-1, 3.26) vs. Mike Mayers RHP (3-1, 6.80) 6:04 CT.

Springfield 7, Arkansas 3

The Springfield Cardinals blew past the Travelers by a four-run edge on Tuesday at Hammons Field. Starter Alex Cornwell pitched 5 2/3 innings, gave up three runs on four hits, struck out six and walked two.

Ryan Shreve relieved Cornwell and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his third win. Roy Garcia tossed the final two scoreless innings.

The Cardinals went ahead in the first inning on a solo home run by Victor Scott II. Irving Lopez’ RBI triple in the second inning made it 2-0.

Victor Scott

In the third, Pedro Pages singled and scored on a double by Noah Mendlinger to increase the lead to 3-0.

Arkansas came back with two runs in the fifth to cut the lead to 3-2. The Travelers tied the game in the sixth.

Springfield posted a four-run home half of the sixth. Mendlinger walked. Arquimedes Gamboa singled. Jose Alvarez singled and Mendlinger came in. Lopez reached on a fielder’s choice and Gamboa scored. Scott II plated Alvarez on a single. Lopez came home on a single by Pages.

Scott II was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Pages was 2-for-4 with one driven in. Mendlinger was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Gamboa was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Lopez drove in two.

On the base paths, Scott II stole his sixth base with Springfield. In the field, Scott II had an outfield assist at second base.

In the Texas League North, the Springfield Cardinals (8-8) are in second place, 1.5 games out of first place.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, RHP Wilfredo Pereira (5-5, 4.10) vs. TBA 6:35 CT.

Peoria 4 at Cedar Rapids 1

The Peoria Chiefs were the victors over the Kernels by a 4-1 score on Tuesday. Starter Inohan Paniagua pitched three scoreless, no-hit innings, struck out one and walked three.

Inohan Paniagua

Joseph King surrendered one run in three innings of relief to earn his second win. Gustave Rodriguez threw two scoreless innings. Edwin Nunez tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his second save.

Peoria took the lead in the third inning on a solo home run by Darlin Moquete. Moquete homered again in the fifth to increase the lead to 2-0.

Darlin Moquete

Cedar Rapids plated its only run of the game in the sixth to cut the lead to 2-1. The Chiefs added two insurance runs in the ninth on a two-run long ball by Jimmy Crooks for the final score of 4-1.

Jimmy Crooks

R.J. Yeager was 3-for-4. Moquete was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Crooks had two RBI.

On the base paths, Yeager stole his fifth base of the season.

In the field, Osvaldo Tovalin made a throwing error. Alex ladisernia had an outfield assist at second base.

The Peoria Chiefs (13-6) sit in first place in the Midwest League West by two games.

Wednesday’s game:  at Cedar Rapids, Ian Bedell RHP (4-2, 1.97) vs. Cory Lewis RHP (3-0, 1.52) 12:05 CT.

Palm Beach vs. St. Lucie (suspended)

The game between Palm Beach and the St. Lucie Mets was suspended due to rain in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 7-7. It will be resumed as part of a doubleheader on Wednesday, July 19.

The Palm Beach Cardinals (3-13) are in last place in the Florida State League East, 5 1/2 games out of first place.

Wednesday’s games:  vs. St. Lucie, LHP Pete Hansen (6-1, 3.41) vs. TBA 11:30 am CT (Game 1), TBA vs. TBA (Game 2)

FCL Cardinals 2, FCL Nationals 5

The Cardinals were defeated by the Nationals in a 5-2 contest on Tuesday. Starter Victor Villanueva pitched three scoreless innings, allowed one hit, struck out two and walked two.

Victor Villanueva

Omar Yanez surrendered three runs in two innings of relief and took the loss. Antoni Cuello threw a scoreless sixth. Ettore Guilianelli relinquished two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Miguel Martinez hurled 2/3 scoreless innings. Ludwin Jimenez tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, then added a run in the fifth. In the eighth the Nationals scored two final runs for a 5-0 lead.

The Cardinals scored their only runs in the ninth, putting up two to cut the lead to 5-2. Felix Taveras singled. Yancel Guerrero was hit by a pitch. Roblin Heredia drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Jose Suarez singled to score Taveras and Guerrero.

Jose Suarez

The Cardinals offense scored two runs on three hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits. Suarez had two RBI. The offense was 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

In the field, Anyelo Encarnacion made a throwing error. Luis Rodriguez had a passed ball.

In the Florida Complex League East, the Florida Complex League Cardinals (9-18) are in last place in the FCL East, eight games back of first place.

Wednesday’s game:  Off

DSL Cardinals 2, DSL Angels 5 (Game 1, completion of suspended game)

The Cardinals lost to the Angels in the first game of a twin bill that was the completion of the suspended game from July 17. Starter Jefferson Moran pitched four innings, gave up two runs on two hits, struck out two and walked three. Moran took the loss, his fourth of the season.

Brailyn Paulino surrendered one run in two innings of relief. Jose Suriel relinquished one unearned run in two innings. Kener Perez allowed one run in the ninth.

The Angels went up 2-0 in the fourth and added a run in the fifth. The Cardinals scored the first of two runs in the sixth. Yordalin Pena singled and crossed home on a double by Bracewell Taveras.

The Angels put up one run in the eighth, and a final run in the ninth, to widen the score to 5-1. In the home half of the ninth, the Cardinals added their final run. Taveras singled and later scored on a ground out by Fernando Roquez.

Bracewell Taveras

Taveras was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Pena was 2-for-4. Angel Gil was 2-for-4.

On the base paths, Daniel Rojas was caught stealing. In the field, Paulino and Rojas each made a fielding error. Heriberto Caballo had a passed ball.

DSL Cardinals 3 at DSL Angels 5 (Game 2, seven innings)

The Cardinals fell to the Angels in the second game of the twin bill on Tuesday. Starter Yadiel Batista pitched three innings, gave up three runs on six hits and struck out four. Batista took the loss.

Yordy Herrera relieved Batista and surrendered one run in the fourth. Justin Hernandez relinquished one unearned run in the final two innings.

The Angels took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Cardinals cut the lead to 3-1 in the fourth when Hancel Almonte walked and scored on a single by Paulo Asprilla.

The Angels responded in the home half of the fourth with one run. The Cardinals shrunk the lead to 4-2 in the fifth as Marcelo Perez walked and later scored on a sac fly by Angel Gil.

The Angels added their final run in the sixth for a 5-2 lead. The Cardinals made it 5-3 in the seventh on a solo home run by Elias Reynoso.

Elias Reynoso

The Cardinals offense scored three runs on three hits. No Cardinal had multiples. The offense was 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

In the field, Perez and Asprilla made throwing errors.

In the Dominican Summer League South, the Cardinals (10-21) are in seventh place, 14 games back of first place.

Wednesday’s game:  at DSL Nationals, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.


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Florida Complex League Cardinals Notebook – 2023 Week 6


Now Available – 2023 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation 2023 Prospect Guide is back for its sixth year. It includes 292 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of all-new player scouting reports. Order your PDF or printed book copy today!

All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!

Order TCN’s 2023 Cardinals Prospect Guide


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Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Follow Marilyn Green on Twitter @Marilyncolor.

© 2023 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.