Cardinals Minor League Notebook: 8/1/17

(photo: Jack Flaherty/Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

The high-flying Memphis Redbirds scored 11 times on 23 hits, making it difficult to pinpoint one hitter, but starting pitcher Jack Flaherty’s performance stood out. The St. Louis Cardinals system went 5-3.

Results from games played Monday, July 31.

 

Jack Flaherty (Memphis Redbirds)

Memphis Redbirds 11 at Reno Aces 3

The Redbirds pounded out 23 hits in their 11-3 defeat of the Reno Aces on Monday night.

Noteworthy performances can be found up and down the Memphis batting order, with every player recording at least one hit, including the pitcher. In fact, only one starter – shortstop Aledmys Diaz, who went 1-for-6 with an RBI single – did not have at least two hits.

Redbirds center fielder Tyler O’Neill had three hits, including a two-run homer, an RBI double, and an RBI single. Third baseman Alex Mejia had four hits – all singles – and scored twice. Catcher Alberto Rosario went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in.

Although it was a night of great offense, Redbirds starting pitcher Jack Flaherty takes Player of the Day honors. Flaherty, now 3-1 in four Triple-A decisions, could have easily let the overload of run support affect his pitching. Instead, Flaherty held the Aces in check, allowing three runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings to go with seven strikeouts. Flaherty got in on the offensive fun, too, with pair of singles in four trips to the dish.

Flaherty owns a 3.21 earned run average in 53 1/3 innings (10 starts) for the Redbirds.

Tuesday’s game: Matt Pearce (1-0, 3.00) at Reno Aces, 9:05 PM Central time.



Tulsa Drillers 12, Springfield Cardinals 1

A run in the second, two in the fourth, five in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three in the eighth added up to 12 in Monday’s game for the Drillers, who enjoyed a 12-1 home win over the Cardinals.

Springfield starter Zac Gallen, now 4-3 with the loss, allowed three runs (two earned) in his four-inning outing before the bullpen was bombed. Trey Nielsen was drilled by Tulsa for four home runs in the fifth inning, including back-to-back-to-back long balls to lead off the frame for the Drillers. Pedro Echemendia (another solo homer) and Landon Beck (three scores) also yielded runs.

First baseman John Nogowski drove in the only run for the Cardinals with a two-out, RBI double in the sixth. Catcher Andrew Knizner went 2-for-3 with a double, and second baseman Darren Seferina scored.

Tuesday’s game: Ryan Helsley (league debut) at Tulsa Drillers, 7:05 PM Central time.


 

Mike O’Reilly (The Cardinal Nation)

Bradenton Marauders 2, Palm Beach Cardinals 1 – Game 1 (10 innings)

Although the pitching staff was very solid, the Cardinals could muster only one run and fell in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader, 2-1, in 10 innings to the Marauders.

Cardinals starter Mike O’Reilly allowed nine hits and walked three batters over six innings, but the right-hander limited Bradenton to just one run. O’Reilly was supported by second baseman Luke Dykstra’s RBI single, but the Palm Beach bats couldn’t provide any more for the pitchers to work with.

Estarlin Arias turned in two scoreless innings of relief. In the 10th, Hector Mendoza’s second inning of work, the Marauders scored the walkoff run with two outs.


 

Ramon Santos (Johnson City Cardinals)

Palm Beach Cardinals 3 at Bradenton Marauders 1 – Game 2 (seven innings)

After falling in 10 innings in the first game, Palm Beach came back to beat the Marauders in the night-cap, 3-1. It was the makeup for Sunday’s rainout.

Ramon Santos picked up the win, his second in four decisions with Palm Beach. Santos allowed one run (unearned) over five innings before reliever Eric Carter closed out the game with two scoreless innings. Carter picked up his first save since his promotion from Peoria.

Third baseman Leobaldo Pina blasted his fourth homer of the year and scored two runs. Second baseman Andy Young and shortstop Jose Martinez each plated a run. Martinez and right fielder Thomas Spitz doubled, accounting for the Cardinals’ two extra-base hits.

Tuesday’s game: Jake Woodford (5-6, 3.36) at Bradenton Marauders, 5:30 PM Central time.


 

Sam Tewes (Palm Beach Cardinals)

Peoria Chiefs 4, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3

With quality outing from their starter and two timely home runs, the Chiefs took Monday’s contest against the Timber Rattlers by a 4-3 score.

In his Peoria debut, Sam Tewes twirled seven quality innings, allowing three runs and striking out four batters on his way to a win. In 12 appearances this season – seven with State College, four with Palm Beach, and one with Peoria – Tewes is 4-8 with a 3.58 earned run average and a 42:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The Chiefs scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning, with the highlight third baseman Danny Hudzina’s two-run homer. After the Timber Rattlers plated three of their own over the fifth and sixth, Chiefs designated hitter Vince Jackson put Peoria ahead with his eighth long ball of the season, a solo shot.

Tuesday’s game: Frederis Parra (2-3, 2.68) vs. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 7:00 PM Central time.


 

Bryce Denton (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

State College Spikes 9, Auburn Doubledays 2

The Spikes put up nine unanswered runs to defeat the Doubledays on Monday, 9-2.

Making his State College debut, starter Johan Oviedo went 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and whiffing eight batters to earn the victory. Oviedo was 2-1 with 31 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings with the Johnson City Cardinals this year prior to joining the Spikes.

Spikes left fielder Bryce Denton helped lead the way with three hits, including a two-run home run in the seventh.  Shortstop Edwin Figuera went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in, and catcher Dennis Ortega had three singles and scored twice.

Tuesday’s game: Jonathon Mulford (2-3, 4.13) vs. Auburn Doubledays, 11:00 PM Central time.


 

Evan Guillory (Johnson City Cardinals)

Pulaski Yankees 7, Johnson City Cardinals 0

A rough night in the field and failure to produce timely hits resulted in a 7-0 loss for the Cardinals to the Yankees on Monday.

The Cardinals committed five errors, including three by shortstop Delvin Perez, which contributed to the Yankees’ seven runs.  Four of the runs were unearned, including the only tally charged to starter Evan Guillory. Guillory, the tough-luck loser, dropped to 1-1, despite turning in five innings with no earned runs allowed.

Johnson City had few chances, going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranding six runners. Catcher Julio Rodriguez was the only Cardinal starter who did not strike out. As a team, the Cardinals fanned 14 times. Center fielder Wadye Ynfante was punched out in all three at-bats, while Stanley Espinal, Brady Whalen, Jonathan Rivera, and Carlos Rodriguez each whiffed twice.

Tuesday’s game: Jacob Schlesener (1-1, 2.33) at Pulaski Yankees, 6:00 PM Central time.


GCL Cardinals postponed

The GCL Cardinals-GCL Astros game on Monday was postponed due to rain. The Cardinals are off Tuesday and will resume play on Wednesday, when they host the GCL Mets at 11:00 AM Central time.


DSL Cardinals 6 at DSL Mets1 5

The Mets put up three runs in the seventh, but William Jimenez and the Cardinals responded with two in the top of the eighth inning to squeeze out a 6-5 win over Mets on Monday.

As a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth, with the Cardinals trailing, 4-6, Jimenez plated the tying and go-ahead runs with his third triple of the season. The Cardinals pounded out 14 hits on the day and had a pair of four-hit days, from second baseman Franklin Soto and shortstop Raffy Ozuna. Third baseman Francisco Hernandez scored twice, and catcher Ivan Herrera had a double and a run batted in.

Cardinals starter Jose Moreno was very dependable, tossing six innings of two-run ball with a half-dozen punchouts. Moreno did not factor in the final decision, however. Instead, Jesus Cruz picked up the win after giving the Cardinals three scoreless innings. Cruz improved to 2-0.

Tuesday’s game: TBA vs. DSL Mets1, 9:30 AM Central time.



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