photo: Jimmy Crooks (Palm Beach Cardinals)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 1-2 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Jimmy Crooks, went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a single in Peoria’s win. Other standouts include Chase Pinder, Sem Robberse, Arquimedes Gamboa and Trent Baker.
Results from games played on Thursday, August 31st.
Memphis 3, Gwinnett 7 (10 innings)
The Memphis Redbirds (24-30) fell to the Gwinnett Stripers (ATL, 26-26) at AutoZone Park on Thursday.
Starter Sem Robberse pitched four innings and gave up one run on three hits and three walks. TCN’s no. 13 prospect fanned five. In the first appearance in his rehab assignment from St. Louis, Wilking Rodríguez struck out two in a scoreless inning. Andre Granillo yielded a run in two innings with five punchouts.
Juan Yepez gave Memphis a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a sacrifice fly. The Redbirds tied the game in the eighth as Chase Pinder blasted a two-run home run coming off the bench. The contest went into extra innings.
OH BABY ITS CHASE PINDER TIME pic.twitter.com/T0zRVfABh8
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) September 1, 2023
In 2/3 of an inning, Ryan Loutos was charged with one run. Chris Roycroft took his third Triple-A loss after he surrendered four runs, three earned, in 1 2/3 frames. Logan Sawyer tossed a scoreless 2/3 of an inning.
Irving Lopez and César Prieto doubled for Memphis. Pinder’s home run was his fifth of the season. The lineup recorded six hits, six walks and left 11 runners on base. In Game 2 of his rehab assignment, Lars Nootbaar was 1-for-3 with a single.
On the base paths, Iván Herrera was caught stealing.
The Redbirds sit 7.5 games out of a playoff spot in the International League West.
Friday’s game: vs. Gwinnett, RHP Michael McGreevy vs. RHP Allan Winans 7:05 CT
Springfield 4 at NW Arkansas 8
The Springfield Cardinals (27-27) were defeated by the NW Arkansas Naturals (KC, 26-27) on Thursday night at Arvest Ballpark.
Tink Hence was charged with six runs in four innings on seven hits and three walks. The right-hander struck out four and took his fourth Double-A loss as his Springfield ERA increased to 6.47.
After the Naturals took a 6-0 lead in the second, the Cardinals put up three runs in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Arquímedes Gamboa tripled to clear the bags. In the eighth, Thomas Saggese doubled to make the score 8-4.
Out of the bullpen, Jose Martinez tossed three innings and surrendered two runs on two hits and three walks. Bryan Pope closed out the final inning with one strikeout.
Sagesse and Pedro Pagés recorded two hits for Springfield. Noah Mendlinger, Errol Robinson and Gamboa had one hit apiece. The lineup went 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
In the field, Mike Antico threw a runner out at third base from left field.
Springfield is in second place in the Texas League North, three games out of first.
Friday’s game: at NW Arkansas, RHP Tekoah Roby (2-3, 4.93) vs. RHP Mason Barnett (0-1, 1.89) 7:05 CT
The Peoria Chiefs (33-24) topped the Quad Cities River Bandits (KC, 21-36) at Modern Woodmen Park on Thursday.
Trent Baker earned his seventh win after he surrendered two runs in 6 1/3 innings. TCN’s no. 29 prospect yielded three hits, one walk and six strikeouts.
In the fourth inning, Ramon Mendoza doubled to plate one run and R.J. Yeager brought in two runs with a single to make the score 3-1. Brody Moore came across in the sixth inning on an error.
Gustavo Rodriguez pitched a scoreless 2/3 of an inning. In the final two frames, Matt Hickey fanned two in a scoreless outing. The 25-year-old earned his fifth save.
The lineup recorded 10 hits and two walks against Quad Cities. Hot-hitting Jimmy Crooks was 3-for-5 with two doubles and one single. Mendoza doubled twice. Every starter was on base at least once except Nathan Church.
On the bases, Jeremy Rivas and Moore both stole a bag.
In the Midwest League West, the Chiefs 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 five.
Friday’s game: at Quad Cities, RHP Inohan Paniagua (0-2, 4.24) vs. RHP Ben Kudrna (1-3, 5.59) 6:30 CT
Palm Beach at Bradenton – doubleheader postponed/canceled
Due to Hurricane Idalia, Thursday’s Palm Beach Cardinals (25-27) at Bradenton Marauders (PIT, 32-22) contests could again not be played. Thursday’s Game 1 was moved to Friday, but Game 2 was canceled. (The two clubs already have another twin bill on Sunday.)
The Beach Birds are 0.5 games out of first in the Florida State League East but clinched a playoff spot in the first half.
Friday’s games:
at Bradenton, LHP Pete Hansen (10-3, 3.32) vs. TBA 4:00 CT (Game 1), at Bradenton, RHP Benjamin Arias (3-3, 3.43) vs. TBA Time TBA (Game 2)
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