Cardinals Minor League Notebook: 9/5/17

photo: Patrick Wisdom (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system went 3-1 on Monday, but the loss was huge as State College was eliminated from playoff contention. Player of the Day Patrick Wisdom slammed his 31st home run of the season as Memphis finished with 91 regular-season wins.

Results from games played Monday, September 4.

Memphis Redbirds 5 at Colorado Springs Sky Sox 4 (10 innings)

Patrick Wisdom (USA TODAY Sports Images)

With a big day from infielder Patrick Wisdom and solid pitching, the Redbirds enjoyed a 5-4 win over the Sky Sox in 10 innings. Memphis finished the regular season with a 91-50 record, including a perfect 11-0 mark in extra innings.

Wisdom, our Player of the Day, had two hits in five at-bats, including his system-best 31st home run of the season and three runs batted in. Backstop Gabriel Lino doubled and drove in a run, and third baseman Bruce Caldwell went 2-for-4 with a run driven in and a run scored. The latter two RBI came in the top of 10th inning, with Lino’s the game-winning tally.

In his Memphis return, Zac Gallen started and allowed three runs (two earned) in his five-inning outing. Josh Zeid followed with two shutout innings, Andrew Morales turned in a scoreless eighth, and Rowan Wick posted a zero in the ninth. Wick was the pitcher of record when the Redbirds scored in the 10th inning and improved his record to 2-1. Sean Gilmartin allowed a solo home run in the bottom of the 10th, but Josh Lucas protected the win and earned his 17th save of the year.

The Redbirds are off Tuesday and will host the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on Wednesday in the first game of the Pacific Coast League playoffs. AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee, will be the venue for the first two games in the best-of-five series; the series will then shift to Colorado Springs, Colorado. On Wednesday, Dakota Hudson will start for the Redbirds at 7:05 PM Central time.


Springfield Cardinals 8 at Tulsa Drillers 7

Tyler Bray (Springfield Cardinals)

Although the Drillers made it very close late, the Cardinals held on for an 8-7 victory in their final game of 2017.

Dailyn Martinez took the hill first and allowed two runs in four innings of work. Tyler Bray followed with four scoreless frames of relief to earn his eighth win of the season in as many decisions. Landon Beck ran in to big trouble in the bottom of the ninth, as the Drillers put up a five spot, fueled by two home runs, though only one run was earned. The Cardinals had produced just enough offense, however, to withstand the late Tulsa comeback.

Right fielder Magneuris Sierra drove in three, and second baseman Eliezer Alvarez and center fielder Oscar Mercado each hit a solo home run. First baseman John Nogowski scored twice, as did catcher Andrew Knizner. Shortstop Tommy Edman enjoyed a 3-for-5 day.

The Cardinals finished the 2017 season with a 77-63 record, matching their all-time wins record.


Palm Beach Cardinals off

The first-half division champion Cardinals were off Monday and will begin their postseason on Tuesday in Fort Myers, Florida, against the second-half winning Miracle (MIN). The Cardinals have not yet announced their starting pitcher.


Peoria Chiefs 11 at Kane County Cougars 9 (11 innings)

Matt Fiedler (Johnson City Cardinals)

The Cougars put up four runs over the eighth and ninth innings to tie the score, but the Chiefs ultimately came back to win the contest, 11-9, in 11 innings.

Starter Ronnie Williams allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings. Six pitchers later, outfielder Matt Fiedler took the mound in the 10th and tossed two scoreless innings to earn his first win.

Designated hitter Stefan Trosclair had three RBI, including two on his 15th long ball of the season. Shortstop Kramer Robertson had four hits and scored three runs, and third baseman Evan Mendoza had four hits and scored twice. Robertson, Mendoza, second baseman J.R. Davis, right fielder Mick Fennell, and first baseman Juan Yepez each drove in a run.

The Chiefs will begin their postseason on Wednesday, as they host the Quad Cities River Bandits in the first of the best-of-three series at Dozier Park in Peoria, Illinois. The final two games (if needed) will be played in Quad Cities, Iowa. Lefty Ian Oxnevad will start Game 1 for the Chiefs.


Auburn Doubledays 4 at State College Spikes 1

With three State College errors assisting the Doubledays, the Spikes fell to Auburn on Monday by a 4-1 final score. The loss extinguished the Spikes’ playoff chances and their hopes to repeat as New York-Penn League champions.

Spikes starter Andrew Summerville went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs – one earned. The tough loss was his first in five decisions this season.

Shortstop Wood Myers drove in the only run of the day for the Spikes with a groundout in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Spikes had eight hits but could only muster the one run as the team stranded five runners on base.

Zach Kirtley and Matt Davis combined to turn the first triple play in State College Spikes history in the sixth inning.

Tuesday’s game: Johan Oviedo (2-2, 4.25) vs. Auburn Doubledays, 6:05 PM Central time.



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