photo: Jimmy Crooks (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system was 0-2 on Tuesday. TCN’s Player of the Day, Memphis catcher Jimmy Crooks, hit two singles, a home run, walked, stole a base and drove in two. Other standouts include Zach Levenson and Daniel Eagen.
Results for games played on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
Memphis 3, Rochester 4 (Championship Series Game 1)
The Triple-A Redbirds fell to the Red Wings by a 4-3 score in the first game of the International League Championship Series at AutoZone Park on Tuesday.
Starter Jurrangelo Cijntje pitched six innings, gave up four runs on eight hits, walked two and fanned six. Cijntje took the loss.
Hancel Rincon, Sandro Santana and Matt Svanson each tossed a scoreless inning of relief.
Rochester took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Memphis tied the game in the second on a solo home run by Zach Levenson.
PLAYOFF LEVENSON @LennysSubs LONGBALL!#LennysLongball pic.twitter.com/Xxyxa4EOTO
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) September 23, 2026
The Red Wings scored one run in the fifth and two runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead 4-1.
The Redbirds answered with one run in the home sixth on a solo home run by Jimmy Crooks.
JIMMY CROOKS BRINGS SOME LIFE!
JIMMY CROOKS BRINGS A @LennysSubs LONGBALL!#LennysLongball pic.twitter.com/En9hhVU3nX
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) September 23, 2026
Memphis added one run in the ninth to bring the final score to 4-3. Trey Paige singled. Colton Ledbetter walked. Crooks plated Paige on a single.
The Redbird offense scored three runs on seven hits. Crooks was 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Crooks stole his first base in the playoffs.
Cijntje had a missed catch error. Noah Mendlinger made a throwing error. Ledbetter had an outfield assist at second base.
Memphis is 0-1 in the Championship Series.
Wednesday’s game: vs. Rochester LHP Mason Molina (0-0, 0.00) vs. Isaac Lyon RHP (0-0, 0.00) 6:45 CT.
Springfield 0, Amarillo 4 (Championship Series Game 2)
The Double-A Cardinals were blanked by the Sod Poodles in the second game of the Championship Series on Tuesday in Springfield.
Starter Yhoiker Fajardo pitched three innings, gave up four runs on three hits, walked four and fanned four. Fajardo took the loss.
Daniel Eagen threw six scoreless innings of relief on four hits, no walks and with seven strikeouts.
Amarillo took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. They added three runs in the second to lead 4-0.
Springfield was held scoreless through nine innings. The offense had six hits, including a double by Jack Gurevitch, but could not push a run across. No Cardinal had multiple hits.
Springfield is 1-1 in the Championship Series. The series ends on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s game: vs Amarillo, LHP Liam Doyle vs. TBD 6:35 CT.
Closeout at 20% off – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its ninth year. It includes 275 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including over five dozen all-new player scouting reports by Kyle Reis. Order your PDF or spiral-bound printed book today.
The final copies of the printed book are on closeout for 20% off.
All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!
Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2026 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Follow Marilyn Green on Bluesky @mrlyn59.bsky.social.
© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.