photo: Tai Peete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 1-1 on Sunday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield’s Tai Peete, went 5-for-5 including a double, a home run, a steal and four RBI in a standout Championship Series performance. Other standouts: Tanner Franklin, Domenic Picone, Won-Bin Cho, Bobby Olsen, Graysen Tarlow and Colton Ledbetter.
Results for games played on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
Memphis Redbirds 3 at Nashville Sounds 5
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds lost a close contest to the Nashville Sounds in their 2026 regular season finale.
Bobby Olsen made his first professional start for Memphis as the opener. The right-hander pitched three scoreless innings on two hits, no walks, and five strikeouts.
Previously named as Sunday’s starter, lefty Pete Hansen fanned two in a scoreless fourth inning in relief. Ryan Murphy yielded five runs, four earned, across two innings and took the loss. Skylar Hales tossed a scoreless seventh. Andrew Schultz threw a shutout eighth frame.
Memphis struck first with a run in the top of the second inning. Zach Levenson drew a walk and advanced to second base on a pickoff error. Trey Paige legged out a two-infield single to put runners on the corners. Colton Ledbetter followed with a single to bring Levenson home.
The Sounds plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth to jump in front 5-1.
Memphis moved within two with a pair of runs in the eighth. Paige collected his second infield single of the game. Ledbetter lined a single to slot Paige to third base, with Levenson taking second base on the play. In his first at-bat of the game after replacing Jimmy Crooks, Graysen Tarlow ripped a double to score Paige and Levenson and bring the Redbirds closer at 5-3.
Memphis was unable to answer further in the loss.
The Redbirds scored three runs on eight hits. Tarlow doubled and collected two RBI. Ledbetter was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Crooks singled twice. Paige was 2-for-4 with a run scored. The lineup struck out 11 times while walking just twice.
On the bases, Ledbetter was caught stealing second base and picked off first base.
On defense, pitcher Murphy committed a throwing error.
Memphis finished the 2026 season with a 36-39 record in the second half and 83-67 overall. The Redbirds finished the second half in seventh place in the International League West Division but finished with the best record in the International League in the first half to secure a playoff spot. Memphis is off Monday and will head home to AutoZone Park as they prepare to host the best-of-three International League Championship Series, starting Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: vs. Rochester (WSH). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 PM CT.
Springfield Cardinals 7 at Amarillo Sod Poodles 2 (Championship Series, game one)
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals bested the Amarillo Sod Poodles on the road to win the first game of the Texas League Championship Series.
Tanner Franklin made his first career postseason start for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched 6 ⅓ innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, no walks, and nine strikeouts. Franklin earned the win.
Tanner Franklin brought it in his first career postseason start: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K. pic.twitter.com/kSSbZrrrUI
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 21, 2026
Domenic Picone fired 1 ⅔ scoreless, no-hit innings in relief of Franklin. Darlin Saladin finished the game with a scoreless ninth.
Springfield opened the scoring with a two-run top of the first inning. Tai Peete hit a lead-off single and Rainiel Rodriguez followed with a walk. Jesús Báez struck out, though Peete stole third base and Rodriguez took second base via a wild pitch on the play. Won-Bin Cho grounded a single into center field to score Peete and Rodriguez and put the Cardinals in front 2-0.
Waste no time! Won-Bin Cho brings home a pair with a single in the first to start game one of the Texas League Championship. pic.twitter.com/wluCa2bXBm
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 20, 2026
Springfield doubled the lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the second. Cade McGee walked, moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on a single from Josiah Ragsdale. Peete followed with a second consecutive single to plate Ragsdale.
The boys are flying early! Josiah Ragsdale and Tai Peete cash in to make it 4-0 Springfield early. pic.twitter.com/Ts7KNJyqUJ
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 20, 2026
Springfield broke the game open with a three-run sixth. Tre Richardson III singled and Ragsdale walked. Peete crushed a three-run home run, his second of the postseason, to stretch the lead to 7-0.
WELCOME TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP TAI PEETE! Three-run bomb puts Springfield up BIG in game one! pic.twitter.com/GhwZT9yXb7
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 21, 2026
Flyin' high in Amarillo. pic.twitter.com/B04MaHHI6i
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) September 21, 2026
Amarillo scored singled runs in the sixth and seventh inning, though Springfield’s bullpen finished with 2 ⅔ scoreless, no-hit innings to seal the win.
The Cardinals scored seven runs on 10 hits. Peete was a perfect 5-for-5, including a double, a home run, two runs scored, and four RBI. The game marked Peete’s first five-hit game of his career. Cho singled for two RBI. Ragsdale walked twice, singled, scored twice, and drove in a run. McGee drew three walks, singled, and scored. Richardson III singled and scored.
On the bases, Peete swiped third base for his first steal in the 2026 postseason.
On defense, third baseman McGee committed a fielding error. Second baseman Richardson III made a throwing error.
Springfield is 1-0 in the Texas League Championship Series. They are off Monday as they head home to Route 66 Stadium to host the remainder of the best-of-three series. The series resumes on Tuesday. With a win, Springfield would take the title.
Tuesday’s Game 2: vs. Amarillo (AZ). RHP Yhoiker Fajardo (0-0, 6.75) vs. RHP David Hagaman (0-0, 67.50). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM CT.
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