photo: Chris Ellis (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)
Chris Ellis’ noteworthy relief effort sealed Springfield’s victory as St. Louis’ minors went 3-1 on Tuesday. Palm Beach and Peoria joined the S-Cards in the win column but Memphis coughed up a lead in extra innings.
Results from the games played Tuesday, April 17th.
Memphis (10-3) could not hold an extra-inning lead, dropping a 4-3 decision at Omaha, in the first of three games versus the Storm Chasers.
In the 10th, Kevin Herget (BS, 1) (L, 0-1) was unable to protect a 3-2 lead, allowing a single, three walks, one intentional and a sac fly that plated Omaha’s runner who began the inning at second. Herget retired two batters.
That spoiled a strong start by Austin Gomber, TCN’s 14th-ranked prospect per the April rankings, who gave up just two runs on five hits and three walks over seven innings. Mike Mayers tossed two scoreless, permitting a hit and two free passes with two strikeouts.
Playing without their clean-up hitter, Rangel Ravelo, who was placed on the Temporarily Inactive list, the Redbirds still outhit their hosts, nine to seven, but went just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
Oscar Mercado, TCN’s 19th-ranked prospect, garnered a third of the hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, two RBI and two stolen bases. Carson Kelly and Alex Mejia had two hits apiece. Kelly doubled once in five at bats and drove in one and Mejia singled twice in four at bats.
Wednesday’s game: at Omaha (3-9) (KC), 6:35 pm CT, Jack Flaherty (2-0, 2.77)
Springfield (6-6) rode a four home-run performance to a 7-5 victory over Frisco (3-9) (TEX). The win gave the S-Cards a three-game series sweep and a 5-1 record for the just completed home stand.
Four players went yard, accounting for five of the team’s seven tallies. Lane Thomas, who debuts at no. 32 in the new prospect rankings, John Nogowski, Chris Chinea and Darren Seferina all sent one over the wall, the first three as three of the four S-Cards with two hits each. Thomas’ and Nogowski’s bombs occurred in their squad’s four-run seventh, Thomas’ coming with Edmundo Sosa (triple) aboard. Chinea and Seferina launched their solo shots in the second to put Springfield up 2-0.
Sosa had an active day at the plate as well, adding a double to his triple in five at bats. TCN’s 23rd-ranked prospect scored twice with one knocked in but struck out three times.
Ryan Helsley was good through six, giving up two runs on four hits and four free passes but got the hook after walking his first two batters in the seventh. Landon Beck (BS, 1) (W, 1-0) could not strand either runner but kept his own runners from crossing home plate. Beck allowed a hit and two walks, one intentional, but escaped further damage via a double-play ball that ended the frame.
Ramon Santos was ineffective during his time on the bump, permitting consecutive singles to his first four batters that scored one run and brought Chris Ellis into the game. Player of the Day Ellis (S, 2) was masterful in retiring all six batters faced, using a strikeout looking and two force outs to escape the eighth-inning jam before going one-two-three with a swinging K to finish off the win.
Wednesday’s game: Off
Kramer Robertson scored both of the Beach Birds’ runs as Palm Beach took the low-scoring series’ opener, 2-1, at Bradenton. The win moves the PB-Cards (8-4) into a tie for second with the Marauders, a game behind Jupiter (MIA).
Robertson singled twice in four at bats, knocked in by Evan Mendoza in the fourth and Johan Mieses in the ninth. The shortstop was the only Palm Beach player with more than one of the team’s five hits.
Anthony Shew made the fourth-inning score hold up until the sixth when he gave up a lead-off single. The hit was one of only four hits yielded in 5 2/3 to go with a walk and five K’s.
But Jesus Cruz (BS, 1) could not get the frame’s final out before letting the unearned tally cross the plate. Cruz advanced the runner two bases on an errant pick-off attempt then was called for a balk, knotting the game at one all. Ian McKinney faced the minimum over two, striking out four, for his second win against no losses.
Wednesday’s game: at Bradenton (8-4) (PIT), 6:30 pm ET, Evan Kruczynski (0-0, 4.50)
One big inning resulted in a 6-2 Peoria victory at Quad Cities, the first of three between the two teams. The Chiefs (5-5) have now won four straight.
Trailing 2-0 after seven, the visitors put six on the board the next inning. Peoria matched the River Bandits’ five hits but capitalized on four Quad Cities miscues to score three unearned tallies.
Seven Chiefs took part in the run making with either a hit, RBI or some combination thereof. Center fielder Dylan Carlson, TCN’s 20th-ranked prospect, accounted for three runs, singling once in four at bats, touching home one time and driving in two.
Zach Prendergast (W, 2-0) kept his opponents off the board on two hits and a walk over the seventh and eighth before Kevin Hamann handled the ninth. Prendergast and Hamann worked in relief of starter Winston Nicacio, who allowed two runs on three hits and three walks through six.
Wednesday’s game: at Quad Cities (2-6) (HOU), 6:35 pm CT, Jake Walsh (1-0, 2.61)
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