Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 17, 2026

photo: Tai Peete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 2-2 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Players of the Day, the Peoria Chiefs lineup, scored a historic 24 runs as all nine hitters recorded at least one hit, highlighted by a cycle and four RBI from Tai Peete, a grand slam and five RBI from Miguel Villarroel, and a career-high six RBI by Jesús Báez. Other standouts: Bruce Zimmermann, Hancel Rincon, Bligh Madris, Chase Davis, Jose Cordoba and Cade Crossland.

Results for games played on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

Memphis Redbirds 2, Gwinnett Stripers 4 (10 innings)

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds fell in extra innings to the Gwinnett Stripers at AutoZone Park on Thursday.

Bruce Zimmermann started his fourth game for the Redbirds. The left-hander pitched five innings and allowed two runs on six hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.

Hancel Rincón

Hancel Rincon fired 2 ⅔ scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Max Rajcic threw 2 ⅓ innings and yielded two runs, one earned, with three strikeouts. Rajcic took the tough loss.

The Stripers took a 2-0 lead in the second inning for the only scoring of the game until the bottom of the ninth.

Down to their final three outs, the Redbirds looked to rally. Colton Ledbetter drew a lead-off walk. With one out, Bligh Madris drilled a game-tying two-run home run to tie the game at two.

Bligh Madris

The Stripers plated two in the 10th to move ahead 4-2. Memphis was unable to answer.

The Redbirds scored two runs on seven hits. Madris drove in both Memphis runs with a home run. Torres was 2-for-4 including a double plus a walk. Brody Moore doubled.

The Redbirds did not steal a base.

On defense, Memphis turned two double plays. Joshua Báez made a sensational catch in right field to highlight an errorless night.

Joshua Baez

Memphis is 12-6 on the season. They will continue the home series with Gwinnett on Friday.

Friday’s game: vs. Gwinnett. LHP Brycen Mautz (0-1, 3.55) vs. RHP Elieser Hernández (0-1, 4.50) 7:05 PM CT.

Springfield Cardinals 10 at Wichita Wind Surge 7 

Behind a strong offense, the Double-A Springfield Cardinals edged the Wind Surge in Wichita on Thursday, ending their seven-game losing streak.

Braden Davis made his third start for Springfield. The left-hander threw four innings and allowed three runs on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts.

Hunter Hayes yielded three runs across 2 ⅔ innings in relief of Davis. Lefty Michael Watson gave up one run over 1 ⅓ innings but collected his second win of the season. Ryan Murphy slammed the door with a scoreless ninth including a pair of strikeouts to pick up his first professional save.

Springfield’s bats were hot early as they scored three runs in the top of the first inning.

Noah Mendlinger lined a leadoff single and Miguel Ugueto was hit by a pitch. Chase Davis doubled to move Ugueto to third base and score Mendlinger for the first run of the game.

Ugueto crossed home plate on a Ryan Campos groundout for the second run. With two outs, Trey Paige ripped a single to plate Davis and extend the lead to 3-0.

Wichita tied the game at three apiece with two runs in the first and a run in the second.

Springfield immediately answered with five runs in the third frame.

Ugueto began the inning with a double and advanced to third base on a Davis groundout. Campos walked to put runners at the corners. Dakota Harris singled to score Ugueto. Paige hit his second single of the game to bring Campos home. Both runners executed a double steal as Paige swiped second base and Harris stole home for the sixth Springfield run. Travis Honeyman followed with a single to score Paige. Jeremy Rivas reached on an error. Mendlinger hit a sharp single to bring Honeyman home for an 8-3 lead.

The Cardinals added a pair of runs in the fourth. Davis blasted his third home run of the season, a solo shot, to increase the lead to 9-3.

Chase Davis

Harris walked and swiped second base. Paige moved Harris to third base via a groundout and Honeyman lined a single to score Harris and put Springfield into double digits with a 10-3 lead.

Wichita moved within three runs following a three-run fifth and one run in the eighth. Springfield held on to secure the win as they went 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

The Cardinals scored seven runs on 14 hits. Davis was 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI. Mendlinger went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Paige collected two singles, walked, scored a run, and drove in two. Honeyman singled twice, scored a run, and notched two RBI.

The Cardinals were active on the bases with six steals. Harris swiped two, including home, to increase his season total to four. Paige stole his fourth bag. Honeyman snagged third base for his fifth in 2026. Rivas tallied his fourth steal. Ugueto swiped his sixth base. Mendlinger was caught stealing second base.

The Cardinals did not commit an error on defense.

Springfield is 5-7 on the season. They will continue their series with Wichita on Friday.

Friday’s game: at Wichita. LHP Mason Molina (0-1, 4.50) vs. RHP Ty Langenberg (0-1, 1.54) 6:35 PM CT.

Peoria Chiefs 24 at Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 7

The High-A Peoria Chiefs crushed the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on the road behind a 24-run performance, the team’s highest-scoring game since at least 2005.

Leonel Sequera made his third start of 2026 for Peoria. The right-hander pitched 4 ⅓ innings and allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts.

Jawilme Ramírez fired 1 ⅔ scoreless frames in relief of Sequera and collected his first win of the season. D.J. Carpenter surrendered three runs and recorded just two outs. Aaron Holiday yielded one run across 1 ⅓ innings. Dominic Freeberger fanned two hitters in a scoreless ninth inning to finish the game.

Peoria opened the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Rainiel Rodriguez hit his fifth double of the season and fifth extra-base hit in his last three games.

Rainiel Rodriguez

Jesús Báez lined a single to score Rodriguez for the first run of the game.

Báez stole second and moved to third via a balk. On ball four to Cade McGee, Báez came home on a passed ball for a 2-0 Chiefs lead.

Wisconsin plated a run in the home first and two in the second to take a 3-2 lead.

Peoria responded with a three-run third inning. Rodriguez lined a leadoff single and stole second base. Báez crushed a two-run home run to put the Chiefs back in front at 4-3.

Jesus Baez

Josh Kross followed with a double and Miguel Villarroel hit a two-out RBI single to increase the lead to 5-3.

Peoria added a run in the fourth. Tai Peete lined a double and took third on the play via a fielding error. Báez brought Peete home with a sacrifice fly and a 6-3 lead.

The Chiefs scored twice in the fifth frame. With two outs, Villarroel singled and advanced to second via a fielding error. Jose Cordoba hit his first triple of the year to bring Villarroel home. Tre Richardson III singled in Cordoba to extend the lead to 8-3.

The Timber Rattlers grabbed a run back in the home fifth to make it an 8-4 game.

Peoria took the run back in the sixth. With two outs, Kross drew a walk and McGee singled. In his return from his rehab assignment, Ian Petrutz scorched a single to score Kross and stretch the Peoria lead to 9-4.

The Chiefs exploded for 10 runs in the top of the seventh. Cordoba walked and swiped second. Richardson III followed with a second consecutive walk. Peete singled to bring Cordoba home with Richardson III to third base. Peete advanced to second and Richardson III scored on a wild pitch. Rodriguez drew a walk and Báez lined a single to score Peete. Kross grounded into a forceout. Rodriguez touched home plate on a McGee groundout for the 13th Chiefs run. Petrutz and Villarroel took back-to-back free passes to load the bags with two away. Cordoba lined a single to clear the bases and score Kross, Petrutz, and Villarroel as the left fielder committed an error tracking the ball down. Richardson III walked and Peete cleared the bags on a three-run home run, his third long ball of the season, as the Chiefs charged ahead 19-4.

Tai Peete

Wisconsin made a small dent with two runs in the home seventh for a 19-6 score.

Peoria added four runs in the eighth. Kross singled, McGee walked, and Petrutz lined a single to load the bases with one out. Villarroel demolished his first home run of the season, a grand slam, to balloon the lead to 23-4.

Miguel Villarroel

Wisconsin scored once in the home eighth.

The Chiefs added their 24th run in the top of the ninth. Peete led off the frame with a triple to complete his cycle.

Rodriguez followed with a walk. Báez plated Peete via a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 24-7.

The Chiefs were an impressive 12-for-24 (.500) with runners in scoring position as all nine players in the lineup recorded at least one hit.

The Chiefs scored 24 runs on 21 hits. Peete was 4-for-7 with a double, a triple, a home run, four runs scored, and four RBI as he hit for the cycle. Báez went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored, and a career-high six RBI. Villarroel was 3-for-5, including two walks, three runs scored, a grand slam, and five RBI. Cordoba went 3-for-5 with a triple, a walk, three runs scored, and three RBI. Petrutz collected two hits, a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI in his Chiefs return. Rodriguez walked twice, scored three times, and tallied a double in a two-hit night. McGee, Richardson III, and Kross each tallied one RBI. The lineup drew 12 walks while striking out just eight times in 45 total at-bats.

On the basepaths, Báez, Richardson III, and Rodriguez each swiped their second base of the season. Villarroel snagged his third bag of the year. Cordoba stole his fourth base.

Defensively, right fielder Cordoba was charged with an error on a dropped foul ball.

Peoria is 4-8 on the season. They will continue their series with Wisconsin on Friday.

Friday’s game: at Wisconsin. RHP Blake Aita (0-0, 3.38) vs. RHP Bryce Meccage (0-0, 4.05) 6:40 PM CT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 2, Jupiter Hammerheads 4

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals’ eight-game win streak was snapped as they dropped a close contest to the Jupiter Hammerheads at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday.

Cade Crossland started his third game for the Cardinals. The left-hander tossed 4 ⅔ innings and allowed two runs on five hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Antoni Cuello finished the fifth inning with a strikeout. Jake Shelagowski yielded two runs, one earned, across 2 ⅔ innings and took the loss. Yordy Herrera struck out two across the final 1 ⅓ frames.

Palm Beach struck first with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Chase Heath lined a leadoff single. Heath stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Luis Piño’s single brought Heath home and put Palm Beach in front 1-0.

Jupiter grabbed the lead with a two-run third inning.

Palm Beach tied the game with a run in the home fourth. Yordalin Peña reached on a fielding error and moved to second base on the play. Heath advanced Peña to third base via a groundout. Cameron Nickens singled home Peña to tie the game at two apiece.

The Hammerheads scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a 4-2 advantage. Palm Beach threatened, loading the bases with three walks in the bottom of the ninth but were unable to score in the loss.

The Cardinals scored two runs on six hits. Nickens and Piño singled and tallied an RBI. Heath was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Ryan Weingartner singled twice. Brayden Smith drew three walks.

On the bases, Weingartner, Heath, Nickens, and Smith each stole their second bag of 2026. Piño was caught stealing both second and third base and was picked off first base.

On defense, center fielder Peña made a throwing error. Catcher Heath committed a pickoff error. Third baseman Christian Martin was tagged with a fielding error. Heath picked a runner off at third base from behind the plate. Pitcher Schelagowski picked a runner off first base. All three outfielders were credited with an outfield assist. Peña nailed a runner at home from center field. Left fielder Nickens threw a runner out at third base. Piño made a strong throw to home plate from right field to cut down a run.

Palm Beach is 9-3 on the season. They will continue their series with Jupiter on Friday. 

Friday’s game: vs. Jupiter. RHP H Jack Martinez (0-1, 1.29) vs. LHP Nate Payne (0-1, 2.25). 5:30 PM CT.

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