photo: Jesus Baez (PJ Maigi/Springfield Cardinals)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 3-2 on Sunday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield’s Jesús Báez, crushed four home runs with six RBI in Sunday’s doubleheader, including back-to-back twice with Rainiel Rodriguez. Other standouts: Rodriguez, Zach Levenson, José Davila, Brody Moore and Alexander Frias.
Results for games played on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
Memphis Redbirds 2, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 6
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds dropped Sunday’s series finale to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at AutoZone Park.
Josh Fleming started for the Redbirds in his organizational debut. The left-hander pitched five innings and allowed four runs on five hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Fleming took the loss.
Brycen Mautz yielded two runs in the sixth in relief of Fleming. Matt Svanson, Hancel Rincon, and Skylar Hales each threw a scoreless frame to finish.
The Redbirds scored the first run of the game in the second inning. Brody Moore was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a pickoff error. Graysen Tarlow walked. Moore crossed home plate on a wild pitch.
Jacksonville scored two runs apiece in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to move ahead 6-1.
Memphis inched closer with a run in the eighth. Victor Scott II and Thomas Saggese singled. Leo Bernal walked to load the bases with one out. César Prieto singled home Scott II, though the Redbirds stranded the bases loaded.
The Redbirds scored two runs on nine hits. Moore was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Prieto singled twice and drove in a run. Saggese went 2-for-4. Scott II singled and scored.
The Redbirds did not steal a base.
On defense, catcher Bernal was tagged with a missed catch error.
Memphis is 22-29 in the second half and 69-57 overall after taking just two of six from Jacksonville. They are tied for eighth place in the International League West Division. The Redbirds are off Monday and will travel to Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a six-game series with the Charlotte Knights, starting Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: at Charlotte (CWS). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 PM CT.
Springfield Cardinals 4 at Arkansas Travelers 2 (Game one)
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals won a close contest over the Arkansas Travelers in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader. The game was suspended in the seventh inning on Saturday and was completed on Sunday afternoon.
Braden Davis made his 23rd start for Springfield. The left-hander threw 4 ⅓ innings and allowed one run on two hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts.
Braden Davis strikes out seven over 4.1 innings 👀 pic.twitter.com/4pSJk6EH2a
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 23, 2026
Nolan Sparks recorded the final two outs of the fifth inning in relief of Davis. Michael Watson followed with a shutout sixth. José Davila struck out three over two scoreless, no-hit innings and picked up his second win. Sandro Santana gave up a run in the ninth but struck out three and held on to secure his second save with Springfield.
Springfield opened the scoring in the third inning. Zach Levenson swatted his 11th home run of the year, a solo shot.
There he goes again! Zach Levenson goes deep for the second straight night. pic.twitter.com/tlXjZN9EuQ
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 23, 2026
Arkansas tied the game 1-1 in the home fourth. The game remained tied through the top of the seventh when inclement weather prompted the game to be suspended.
Upon its resumption, Springfield broke the tie with a run in the top of the eighth. Tre Richardson III doubled and moved to third on a groundout. Dakota Harris scored Richardson III on a second consecutive groundout.
Springfield added two insurance runs in the ninth. Tai Peete singled and scored on a two-run home run from Jesús Báez, his 17th of the season, for a 4-1 lead.
Kickstart your Sunday with a little Jesús Báez two-run blast! pic.twitter.com/9MsJNZNQBB
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 23, 2026
Springfield pitching held Arkansas to three hits in the win.
The Cardinals scored four runs on six hits. Báez hit a home run for two RBI. Levenson homered. Harris singled and drove in a run. Richardson III doubled and scored.
The Cardinals did not steal a base or commit an error.
Springfield Cardinals 11 at Arkansas Travelers 4 (Game two)
The Springfield Cardinals clobbered Arkansas in the second game of Sunday’s twin bill to sweep the series and take their sixth consecutive win.
Blake Aita started for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched five innings and allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits, no walks, and three strikeouts. Aita earned his second win at Double-A.
Joseph King struck out two in a scoreless sixth inning in relief of Aita. Lefty Jack Findlay recorded two outs and gave up a run. Darlin Saladin followed with 1 ⅓ shutout frames on no hits. Randel Clemente fanned two in a scoreless ninth.
Arkansas took a 3-0 lead following three innings.
Springfield plated a pair of runs in the fourth to narrow the gap. Rainiel Rodriguez crushed his 16th home run of the season, a solo shot. Jesús Báez slugged his 18th home run to go back-to-back with Rodriguez and bring the Cardinals within a run at 3-2.
AND ANOTHER ONE! Jesús Báez goes backt-to-back with Rainiel Rodriguez! https://t.co/uvNeGH9awo
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 23, 2026
The Cardinals grabbed the lead with three runs in the sixth. Rodriguez opened the frame with his second solo home run of the game. Báez went back-to-back with Rodriguez again, his third home run of the doubleheader.
NO WAY. RAINIEL RODRIGUEZ AND JESÚS BÁEZ HAVE HIT BACK-TO-BACK HOMERS FOR THE SECOND TIME TODAY. pic.twitter.com/1Xme6jIkYZ
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 23, 2026
Josiah Ragsdale walked and stole second and third base. Deniel Ortiz brought Ragsdale home on a groundout for a 5-3 lead.
Springfield added a run in the seventh. Dakota Harris doubled and moved to third on a groundout. Rodriguez brought Harris home via a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 6-3.
Arkansas moved within two with a run in the home seventh.
The Cardinals scored five runs in the ninth to pull further ahead. Tai Peete singled and moved to third on a Rodriguez double. Báez belted his third home run of the game and fourth of the doubleheader, a three-run shot, his 20th at Double-A, to widen the lead to 9-4.
HAVE A DAY! JESÚS BÁEZ HAS HOMERED FOUR TIMES IN ONE DAY! pic.twitter.com/zYkiXUr8lb
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 23, 2026
The Cardinals weren’t done. Ortiz singled, Won-Bin Cho walked, and Ryan Campos lined a single to load the bases with one out. Ortiz scored on a Jon Jon Gazdar sacrifice fly. Harris singled home Cho to stretch the lead to 11-4.
Springfield recorded eight extra-base hits in the lopsided win.
The Cardinals scored 11 runs on 14 hits. Seven of nine hitters in the lineup recorded a hit and everyone reached base. Báez was 4-for-5 with three home runs and five RBI. Rodriguez was a perfect 4-for-4, including a double, two home runs, three runs scored, and three RBI. Ortiz singled, scored, and drove in a run. Gazdar doubled and drove in a run. Harris was 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.
On the bases, Ortiz swiped his sixth bag of the year. Ragsdale stole two bases.
On defense, shortstop Harris made a throwing error. Ragsdale nailed a runner at home from left field.
Springfield is 33-18 in the second half and 64-55 overall after the sweep of Arkansas. They hold a four-game lead in the Texas League North Division. The Cardinals are off Monday as they head home to Route 66 Stadium for a six-game series with the San Antonio Missions, starting Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: vs. San Antonio (SD). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM CT.
Peoria Chiefs 0 at Lansing Lugnuts 5
The High-A Peoria Chiefs were blanked by the Lugnuts on just two hits in Sunday’s series finale in Lansing.
Brian Holiday started for Peoria in his High-A debut. The right-hander pitched 3 ⅓ innings and allowed three runs on five hits, two walks, and no strikeouts, taking the loss.
Christian Worley sealed the last two outs of the fourth inning in relief of Holiday. Zeke Wood and Dylan Driessen each threw a scoreless frame. Patrick Galle gave up two runs in the seventh. Trey Pooser fired a shutout eighth.
Peoria looked to strike first in the top of the second inning. Jalin Flores legged out a lead off infield single. Tristan Bissetta walked with one out, though both runners were left on base.
Lansing scored twice in the home second.
The Chiefs looked to answer in the third. Michael Dattalo began the frame with a single. Two strikeouts and a groundout left him on base.
The Lugnuts added one run in the fourth and two runs in the seventh to extend their lead to 5-0. The Chiefs did not record a hit after the third inning in the loss.
The Chiefs scored no runs on two singles, by Flores and Dattalo. Bissetta and Anyelo Encarnación each drew a walk.
The Chiefs did not steal a base.
On defense, pitcher Galle committed a pickoff error.
Peoria is 24-29 in the second half and 56-63 overall following the 4-2 series loss in Lansing. They reside in fifth place in the Midwest League West Division. The Chiefs are off Monday and will travel to LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park, Michigan, for a six-game series with the West Michigan Whitecaps, beginning Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: at West Michigan. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 PM CT.
Palm Beach Cardinals 3, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 1
The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals edged the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels to secure the series win on Sunday.
Jefferson Moran made his second start for Palm Beach. The right-hander pitched 3 ⅔ scoreless, no-hit innings with four walks and five strikeouts.
Dallis Moran yielded an unearned run over 1 ⅓ innings in relief of Jefferson Moran. Giovanni Vargas threw two scoreless innings in his first 2026 game with Palm Beach and picked up the win. Justin Militello followed with a shutout eighth. Jesús García slammed the door with a scoreless ninth for his fourth save with Palm Beach.
Fort Myers broke the scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fifth.
The Cardinals answered with three runs in the sixth. Trevor Haskins lined a single and stole second base. Springfield rehabber Travis Honeyman roped a double to bring Haskins home. Following a pitching change, Alexander Frias crushed his second Palm Beach home run, a two-run blast at 109.1 mph, to put the Cardinals in front 3-1.
Bringing the BOOM💥 pic.twitter.com/2oTICuP0j3
— Palm Beach Cardinals (@GoPBCardinals) August 23, 2026
Palm Beach pitching held Fort Myers to three singles in the win.
The Cardinals scored three runs on four hits. Honeyman doubled, scored, and drove in a run as he works to rejoin the Double-A Cardinals. Frias hit a home run for two RBI. Haskins singled and scored.
On the bases, Haskins stole his 22nd bag of the year. Honeyman and Sebastian Dos Santos were both caught stealing second base.
On defense, catcher J.P. Cabrera made a throwing error.
Palm Beach is 27-27 in the second half and 60-60 overall. They are 6.5 games behind Daytona for first place in the Florida State League East Division. The Cardinals are off Monday and will travel to TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, for a six-game series with the Dunedin Blue Jays, starting Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: at Dunedin (TOR). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 PM CT.
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