photo: Max Rajcic (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system was 0-5 on Friday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day is Peoria starting pitcher Max Rajcic, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in the Chiefs’ loss to Cedar Rapids. Other standouts include Logan Gragg and Jimmy Crooks.
Results for games played on Friday, June 30.
The Memphis Redbirds fell to the Nashville Sounds in a four-run loss on Friday at AutoZone Park. Starter Gordon Graceffo pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings with no hits, four strikeouts and three walks.
Andrew Suarez surrendered three runs in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Jake Walsh relinquished two runs in the seventh. Dalton Roach allowed one run in the final two innings.
Memphis took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Masyn Winn singled and scored on a double by Ivan Herrera.
Nashville scored three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead 3-1 then added two runs in the seventh for a 5-1 lead.
The Redbirds scored one run in the home half of the seventh to cut the lead to 5-2. Chase Pinder singled and scored on a double by Richie Palacios. The Sounds made it 6-2 in the eighth.
Pinder and Luken Baker were each 2-for-4. Memphis scored two runs on 10 hits.
In the field, Herrera made a throwing error. Pinder had an outfield assist at second base.
Memphis is 0-3 in the second half, 39-39 on the season, and is in last place in the International League West, three games back of Nashville and St. Paul.
Saturday’s game: vs. Nashville, Michael McGreevy RHP (7-1, 3.33) vs. TBA 6:35 CT.
The Springfield Cardinals were topped by the Arkansas Travelers in a walk-off loss on Friday. Starter Logan Gragg pitched six innings, gave up one unearned run on four hits, struck out three and walked one.
Logan Sawyer relieved Gragg and threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Chris Roycroft relinquished the winning run in the ninth and took the loss, his second of the season.
The game was scoreless through four innings. Arkansas got on the board with one run in the fifth. Springfield tied the game in the seventh. Noah Mendlinger doubled and scored on a double by Jose Alvarez. The Travelers scored the winning run in a walk-off in the ninth.
The Cardinals scored one run on five hits. Three of the five hits were doubles by Mendlinger, Alvarez and Jacob Buchberger. No Cardinal had multiple hits.
On the base paths, Nick Dunn and Chandler Redmond were caught stealing. In the field, Buchberger and Arquimedes Gamboa each made a throwing error. Sawyer picked a runner off first base.
Springfield is 1-2 in the second half, 35-37 on the season, and in third place in the Texas League North, two games back of Wichita.
Saturday’s game: at Arkansas, Edgar Escobar RHP (7-2, 4.53) vs. Kyle Tyler RHP (4-6, 6.64) 7:05 CT.
The Peoria Chiefs were edged by the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Dozer Park on Friday. Starter Max Rajcic had a no-hitter through six innings. The right-hander pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up two runs on three hits, struck out six and walked two. Rajcic took the loss in his first High-A start.
Gustavo Rodriguez relieved Rajcic and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Nathanael Heredia tossed a scoreless ninth.
Peoria took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. R.J. Yeager singled and advanced to second on an error. Yeager scored on a single by Jimmy Crooks. Cedar Rapids took the lead with two runs in the seventh.
Crooks was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Yeager was 2-for-4. The lineup went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
On the base paths, Darlin Moquete was caught stealing in the ninth and Chiefs manager Patrick Anderson was ejected after the call.
Peoria is 4-2 in the second half, 37-35 on the season, and is tied for first place in the second half with Cedar Rapids and Wisconsin.
Saturday’s game: vs Cedar Rapids, Zane Mills RHP (4-2, 7.32) vs. C.J. Culpepper RHP (0-0, 0.00) 6:35 CT.
The Palm Beach Cardinals were blanked by the Jupiter Hammerheads on Friday at Roger Dean Stadium. Starter Cade Winquest pitched four innings, gave up one run on three hits, struck out five and walked one. Winquest took the loss, his fifth of the season.
Angel Cuenca threw two scoreless innings of relief. Chandler Arnold surrendered seven runs in one inning. Luis Gastelum relinquished one unearned run in the eighth. Wilmer Ortega tossed a scoreless ninth.
Jupiter took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Hammerheads added four runs in the seventh and four in the eighth.
The Beach Bird offense scattered three hits. Adanson Cruz had the only extra-base hit, a double. The offense was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left three men on base.
In the field, Jonathan Mejia made a throwing error. Javier Bolivar had a fielding miscue. Chris Rotondo had an outfield assist at first base.
Palm Beach is 1-5 in the second half, 38-33 on the season, and is in last place in the FSL East in the second half, four games back of Daytona.
Saturday’s game: vs. Jupiter, Hancel Rincon RHP (5-4, 3.59) vs. TBA 5:00 CT.
FCL Cardinals at FCL Nationals (suspended)
This game was suspended in the fifth inning due to rain. The contest will be resumed on July 5th.
Saturday’s game: at Mets, TBA v. TBA 9:00 am CT.
DSL Cardinals 3, DSL Phillies White 8 (seven innings)
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals were defeated by the Phillies White in an 8-3 contest on Friday. Starter Nelfy Ynfante pitched 2 1/3 innings, gave up five runs, four earned, on four hits, struck out one and walked one. The right-hander took the loss.
Ronny Oliver relieved Ynfante and surrendered one unearned run in 2/3 innings. Bernard Mack threw a scoreless fourth. Emisael Carrera relinquished two runs, one earned, in 1 2/3 innings. Jose Suriel tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Phillies White took a 6-0 lead in the third inning. The Cardinals scored one run in the fourth on a solo home run by Luis Atocha.
In the sixth, the Philadelphia affiliate increased their lead to 8-1. The Cardinals put up two more runs in the seventh. Marcelo Perez walked, Andru Arthur reached on an error and Perez scored. Arthur scored on a single by Daniel Rojas.
The Cardinal offense scored three runs on five hits. No Cardinal had multiple hits.
In the field, Rojas and Arfeni Batista each made a throwing error.
The Cardinals are 4-14 on the season.
Saturday’s game: at DSL Mariners, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 am CT.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
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!
https://thecardinalnation.com/order-tcns-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.