photo: Quinn Mathews (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was a perfect 6-0 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis LHP Quinn Mathews, allowed just one hit across six scoreless innings and struck out a season-high nine batters. Other standouts: Leo Bernal, Dakota Harris, Liam Doyle, Tanner Franklin, Tre Richardson III, Cade Crossland, Nelfy Ynfante, Miguel Hernández, Sebastian Dos Santos, Cristofer Lebrón, Emanuel Luna, and Juan Santillán.
Results for games played on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
Memphis Redbirds 2, Louisville Bats 0
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds silenced the Louisville Bats at AutoZone Park on Thursday.
Quinn Mathews made his 11th start for Memphis. The left-hander fired six scoreless innings on one hit, one walk, and a season-best nine strikeouts. Mathews earned his second win.
Max Rajcic struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning in relief of Mathews. Chris Roycroft fanned two in a shutout eighth. Scott Blewett recorded two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning to collect his third save.
Memphis scored the only two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.
César Prieto drew a lead-off walk after strike three was overturned to ball four on an ABS challenge. With one out, Leo Bernal pummeled his sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot, to put the Redbirds in front 2-0.
BERNAL POPS A @LennysSubs LONGBALL!#LennysLongball
📺: @MatrixMidwest, @WMCActionNews5 (MSEN) pic.twitter.com/GNLIGw7KDG
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) June 5, 2026
Memphis pitchers held the Bats to just one single and one runner left on base in the shutout victory.
The Redbirds scored two runs on five hits. Bernal hit a home run and drove in both runs. Prieto drew two walks, scored a run, and tallied two doubles. Blaze Jordan and rehabbing Ramón Urías each tallied a single.
On the bases, Bligh Madris was caught stealing second base.
On defense, the Redbirds did not commit an error.
Memphis is 37-23 on the season. They hold a one-game lead over Nashville in the International League West Division.
Friday’s game: vs. Louisville. TBA vs. Julian Aguiar (0-1, 6.87) 7:05 PM CT.
Springfield Cardinals 6 at Frisco RoughRiders 2
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals edged the RoughRiders in Frisco on Thursday night.
Liam Doyle made his 10th start for Springfield. The left-hander threw five innings and allowed two runs on four hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Doyle earned his first career win.
Lefty Jack Findlay yielded a run in the sixth in relief of Doyle. Austin Love fanned two in a scoreless seventh frame. Hunter Hayes gave up a run in the eighth. Darlin Saladin struck out two in a shutout ninth inning and collected his first Double-A save.
Frisco opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Springfield answered with a three-run top of the second inning.
Jose Cordoba and Miguel Villarroel hit back-to-back singles. Dakota Harris hit a three-run home run, his fifth long ball of 2026, to put the Cardinals on top 3-1.
BYE BYE BASEBALL! Dakota Harris lifts off with a three-run shot and Springfield is on top. pic.twitter.com/UWPIQqStRR
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) June 5, 2026
The RoughRiders moved within one with a run in the home fifth. The Cardinals plated two runs in the sixth.
With two outs, Cordoba walked and stole second base. Villarroel drew a walk as Cordoba stole third base on ball four. Cordoba crossed home plate on a balk for a 4-2 lead, with Villarroel to second base. Harris legged out an infield single, with a throwing error allowing Villarroel to score for a 5-2 Springfield lead.
Frisco took one run back in the home sixth and scored once in the eighth to narrow the score to 5-4. The Cardinals added an insurance run in the ninth.
Harris lined his fourth double of the year. Graysen Tarlow walked. Tarlow and Harris stole second base and third base, respectively, on a double steal. Harris scored via a throwing error for a 6-4 Springfield lead.
Springfield pitching held Frisco to 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 RoughRiders on base.
The Cardinals scored six runs on six hits. Harris was 3-for-4, including a double, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI. Villarroel and Cordoba each singled and scored twice. Tarlow walked and hit a single.
On the basepaths, Cordoba stole two bags. Harris stole two bases to increase his season total to 14. Tarlow swiped his fourth bag. Jon Jon Gazdar snagged his sixth steal.
On defense, first baseman Trey Paige was charged an error on a missed catch.
Springfield is 25-28 on the season.
Friday’s game: at Frisco. SHP Jurrangelo Cijntje (3-2, 5.21) vs. LHP Dalton Pence (1-2, 2.43) 7:05 PM CT.
Peoria Chiefs 7, Beloit Sky Carp 1
The High-A Peoria Chiefs moved back to .500 with a win over the Beloit Sky Carp at Dozer Park on Thursday.
Tanner Franklin made his 11th start for the Chiefs. The right-hander tossed a career-high 5 ⅔ innings and allowed one run on one hit, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Franklin earned his second win of the year.
Tanner Franklin's final line:
5.2 IP (a pro career high), 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 Ks 🔥 pic.twitter.com/oZbMsLZgZ9
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) June 5, 2026
Nolan Sparks threw 1 ⅓ scoreless innings in relief of Franlin. Patrick Galle followed with a shutout eighth frame. José Davila pitched a scoreless ninth to finish the game.
Peoria scored first with a two-run bottom of the third inning. Luis Pino walked and scored on a two-run home run from Tre Richardson III, his eighth long ball of the season and third in the last two games, to put the Chiefs ahead 2-0.
World's Most Dangerous Nine Batter ™️
Tre Richardson III strikes AGAIN for his third home run in the last two games 🚀 pic.twitter.com/pLmUKJ8TC3
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) June 5, 2026
The Chiefs plated five runs in the home fifth to break the game open.
Cade McGee began the frame with his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot, for a 3-0 Chiefs lead.
Cade McGee mashes another one!
His solo shot makes it 3-0 Chiefs 🧃 pic.twitter.com/5cHwlBfaHO
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) June 5, 2026
Cameron Nickens followed with an infield single and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Richardson III hit an infield single to move Nickens to third base and put runners on the corners. Jesús Báez rocketed his 11th home run of the year, a three-run blast, to extend the lead to 6-0.
Báez says bye bye 👋
Jesús cranks his 11th home run of the season to open it up in the fifth! pic.twitter.com/RVEOJR7CjA
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) June 5, 2026
Jack Gurevitch singled and moved to second base on a throwing error. José Suárez lined a single to score Gurevitch and stretch the lead to 7-0.
Beloit scored a run in the sixth but was held in check in the Peoria win.
The Chiefs scored seven runs on nine hits. Richardson III was 2-for-4, including a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI. Báez homered and drove in three runs. McGee walked and hit a solo home run. Suárez singled and notched an RBI.
The Chiefs did not steal a base nor commit an error on defense.
Friday’s game: vs. Beloit. RHP Leonel Sequera (1-4, 9.07) vs. TBA. 7:05 PM CT.
Palm Beach Cardinals 3 at Tampa Tarpons 0
The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals blanked the Tarpons in Tampa on Thursday.
Cade Crossland started his 11th game for the Cardinals. The left-hander pitched 4 ⅓ scoreless innings on one hit, four walks, and a career-high nine strikeouts.
Nelfy Ynfante struck out five across 3 ⅓ dominant innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball in relief of Crossland and collected the win.
Dylan Driessen recorded a four-out save, his second save of the year, over the final 1 ⅓ innings.
Palm Beach snapped the scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fourth inning. Ryan Weingartner and Michael Dattalo began the frame with back-to-back singles. Jonathan Mejía walked to load the bases with nobody out. Yordalin Peña grounded into a double play, with Weingartner home on the play to put the Cardinals in front 1-0.
Palm Beach scored two insurance runs in the eighth.
Facundo Velásquez reached on a fielding error and Matthew Miura was hit by a pitch to set the table. Dattalo hit a single to bring Velásquez home and double the lead to 2-0, with Miura to third base.
Miura crossed home plate on a Mejía groundout to increase the lead to 3-0.
Driessen escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to secure the win for Palm Beach.
The Cardinals scored three runs on five hits. Mejía walked, doubled for the team’s lone extra-base hit, and drove in a run. Dattalo was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Weingartner drew two walks, singled, and scored a run.
On the bases, Weingartner was caught stealing second base.
On defense, pitcher Crossland picked a runner off first base to highlight an errorless day.
Palm Beach is 30-24 on the season.
Friday’s game: at Tampa. RHP Brian Holiday (0-0, 3.29) vs. LHP Henry Lalane (0-1, 4.15) 5:30 PM CT.
FCL Cardinals 14, FCL Astros 4
The Florida Complex League Cardinals clobbered the FCL Astros on Thursday.
Xavier Cruz made his second start in his fifth game for the Cardinals. The right-hander threw 3 ⅓ innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits, one walk, and five strikeouts.
Owen Rice recorded the final two outs of the fourth inning in relief of Cruz. Gabriel Chinchilla yielded two runs and struck out six across 3 ⅓ innings to collect his first win of the season. Brailyn Paulino gave up a run over 1 ⅔ innings and finished the game.
The Cardinals struck first with a three-run bottom of the second inning. With two outs, J.P. Cabrera walked. Daniel Rojas followed with a single. Rojas and Cabrera moved to second base and third base, respectively, on a passed ball. Cristofer Lebrón walked to load the bases. Sebastian Dos Santos reached on a fielding error, with Lebrón to third base and Cabrera and Rojas home on the play to put the Cardinals ahead 2-0. Lebrón scored on a balk for a 3-0 lead.
The Astros entered the run column with a run in the top of the third. The Cardinals plated two runs in the home half of the frame.
Miguel Hernández walked and moved to second base on a balk. Yaxson Lucena singled home Hernández for a 4-1 lead. Lucena moved to second base on a throwing error and took third base on a balk. Royelny Strop walked to put runners at the corners. Juan Rujano hit into a forceout, with Strop out at second base, Rujano safe at first, and Lucena home on the play for a 5-1 lead.
The Cardinals widened the lead with five runs in the fourth frame.
Lebrón began the frame with his fourth home run of the season to extend the lead to 6-1.
Dos Santos grounded a single and moved to second base on a passed ball. Kenly Hunter walked to put two runners on base. Hernández belted his third home run of 2026, a three-run shot, to break the game open at 9-1.
Lucena walked and advanced to second base and third base on back-to-back groundouts from Strop and Rujano. Lucena touched home plate on a wild pitch for the 10th Cardinals run.
The Astros dented the score with a run in the sixth. The Cardinals took the run back in the home sixth.
Rujano crushed his second home run of the season, a solo shot, for an 11-2 lead.
The Cardinals added three runs in the seventh. Lebrón walked and scored on a two-run shot from Dos Santos, his fifth of the year, for a 13-2 Cardinals lead.
Hernández hit his third double of the season and scored on a double by Lucena to stretch the lead to 14-2.
The Cardinals held the Astros to just 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and 11 runners left on base.
The FCL Cardinals scored 14 runs on 15 hits. Lebrón went 3-for-4 with two walks, a home run, three runs scored, and an RBI. Hernández was 2-for-3, including a double, a home run, a walk, three runs scored, and three RBI. Rujano was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Lucena was 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, two runs scored, and two RBI. Dos Santos collected two hits, including a home run, a walk, two runs scored, and two RBI.
The Cardinals did not steal a base.
On defense, pitcher Cruz made a throwing error. Lebrón nailed a runner at second base from center field. Catcher Rujano was charged with a passed ball.
The FCL Cardinals are 7-15 on the season. They will play a road contest with the FCL Nationals on Friday.
Friday’s game: at FCL Nationals. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT.
DSL Cardinals 8, DSL NYY Bombers 1 (Seven innings)
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals bested the NYY Bombers in seven innings on Thursday.
Hendrick Caña started in his season debut for the Cardinals. The left-hander threw four innings and allowed one run on four hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Leonil De Leon entered in relief of Caña and issued a walk before being removed from the game in his professional debut. Juan Santillán struck out four across the final three innings without allowing a hit to pick up the win in his professional debut.
The NYY Bombers scored the first run of the game in the top of the first to move ahead 1-0. The Cardinals grabbed the lead in the home first.
Roberth Castillo lined a lead-off single and scored on Emanuel Luna’s first professional home run, a two-run shot, for a 2-1 Cardinals lead.
The Cardinals pulled away with a six-run fourth frame.
Sebastian Rojas was hit by a pitch and Christopher Vargas followed with a single. Following a strikeout, Misael Sánchez grounded a single to load the bases with one away. With two outs, Rojas scored on a wild pitch for a 3-1 lead, with Sánchez and Rojas to second base and third base, respectively, on a wild pitch. Christian Sáez walked to load the bases. Diego Conseción drew a bases-loaded walk to force Vargas home for his first career RBI and a 4-1 Cardinals lead. Castillo took a second consecutive bases-loaded walk to bring Sánchez home for a 5-1 lead. Luna drew a third straight bases-loaded walk to score Sáez for a 6-1 lead. In his second plate appearance of the inning, Rojas lined a single to bring Conseción and Castillo to the plate and stretch the lead to 8-1.
The Cardinals did not allow a hit with runners in scoring position in the win.
The DSL Cardinals scored eight runs on seven hits. Luna walked, hit a home run, and tallied three RBI. Castillo was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and an RBI. Rojas singled, scored a run, and notched two RBI. Conseción took two walks, scored a run, and recorded his first career RBI.
On the bases, Jesús Pérez swiped his first bag of the season.
The Cardinals did not commit an error.
The DSL Cardinals are 2-1 on the season. They will play a road contest with DSL Miami on Friday.
Friday’s game: at DSL Miami. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 AM CT.
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