Cardinals Minor League Notebook: 9/17/17

photo: Aledmys Diaz (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

The Memphis Redbirds are the only team in the St. Louis Cardinals system still playing.  On Saturday night, the Redbirds lost their second consecutive game at El Paso to bring the Pacific Coast League Championship Series to 2-2.  The deciding Game 5 will be played Sunday in El Paso.

Josh Zeid (USA TODAY Sports Images)

Results for the game played Saturday, September 16.

Memphis 1 at El Paso 5

For the second consecutive night, Memphis was unable to secure the road victory that would give them the PCL Championship.  A five-run third inning by El Paso against Redbirds starter Zac Gallen put Memphis in a hole from which they were unable to emerge.  Gallen pitched five innings, giving up five runs on seven hits.  The big hit was a three-run home run against the right hander, who fanned six and walked two in his five innings pitched.  Josh Zeid hurled the final three hitless, scoreless innings of relief.

Aledmys Diaz (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The Memphis bats managed one run in the sixth, on an RBI double by Aledmys Diaz, his only hit.  Adolis Garcia, Nick Martini, and Jeremy Martinez were each 2-for-4.  The double by Diaz was the only extra base hit.  The sputtering Redbirds offense left eight runners on base and were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

In the field, Patrick Wisdom committed a fielding error, and Martini had an outfield assist.

Sunday’s winner will play the Durham Bulls (Rays), International League Champion, in the winner-take-all Triple-A National Championship Game, to be played Tuesday in Scranton, PA.

Sunday’s game:  at El Paso, Matt Pearce (0-0, 0.00) 7:05 CT.

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