photo: C.J. Saylor (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
St. Louis’ minors went 1-2 on Tuesday behind a ninth-inning rally by red-hot Palm Beach. Our Player of the Day is Beach Birds’ reliever C.J. Saylor, who picked up the win by fanning all six batters faced. In their losses, the beleaguered Springfield and Peoria staffs yielded a total of 17 runs.
Results from games played Tuesday, April 23rd.
Memphis – off
The Redbirds were idle on Tuesday before heading out on a 13-game road excursion, their longest road trip of the 2019 season. First up for Memphis (9-9) is a five-game set against Omaha with whom the Redbirds are tied for second place in the American Northern Division, two games behind Iowa (CHC).
Wednesday’s game: at Omaha (9-9) (KC), 6:35 pm CT, Harold Arauz (1-0, 9.00)
The S-Cards could not overcome the Sod Poodles’ steady offensive attack, falling to Amarillo at Hammons Field, 9-6. Each team has claimed one of the series’ first two games with two on tap. Springfield (6-13) remains firmly in fourth and last place in the North Division, 6 ½ in back of Arkansas (SEA).
The visitors scored in five of nine innings, including the contest’s first and last frames. Starter Casey Meisner went just four innings, permitting five runs on eight hits and two walks. One of those eight hits was a two-run bomb.
Still, Meisner left the game with his team up 6-5, thanks to a five-run fourth, but Mike O’Reilly (L, 0-1) handed the lead right back to Amarillo. O’Reilly was charged with three runs on three hits and two walks in two innings.
Connor Jones holds the distinction of being the only Springfield pitcher to keep the Sod Poodles off the board, limiting them to a hit and walk while retiring six. Kodi Whitley gave up an unearned tally due to a lead-off walk, hit batsman, sac bunt and fielding error by second baseman Irving Lopez.
Eighth-place hitter Scott Hurst had a perfect night at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a base-on-balls, double, run scored and two driven in. Kramer Robertson, the number seven batter, also reached base four times, singling and doubling in two at bats, working two free passes, touching home once and knocking in one. The shortstop also swiped his second bag of 2019.
St. Louis outfielder Tyler O’Neill began his rehab assignment by going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before being replaced in the field at the visitors half of the sixth. Defensively, Lopez’ bobble was one of three Springfield miscues along with a fielding error by Hurst and Meisner’s throwing error.
Wednesday’s game: vs. Amarillo (8-11) (SD), 11:10 am CT, Austin Warner (0-2, 7.11)
The Beach Birds rallied for two in the ninth to walk off with a 3-2 victory over the Hammerheads. Palm Beach (14-5) has claimed both of the initial two of the three-game series and sit atop the South Division, two ahead of Bradenton (PIT) and Fort Myers (MIN).
Michael Perri’s first double of the season scored Rayder Ascanio from second after the latter reached on a single and advanced to second via a fielding error by Jupiter’s right fielder. Perri’s hit, his second of the game in four at bats, knotted the game at two all. The shortstop raced home with the winning margin after Nick Plummer lined a single to right.
Catcher Julio Rodriguez led his squad’s 12-hit attack, going 3-for-4 while batting second. Ascanio, Perri and Plummer – the seven through nine batters – each had two hits. Ascanio singled twice in three at bats with two runs scored while Plummer joined Perri by going 2-for-4.
Reliever C.J. Saylor (W, 1-0) picked up the win by striking out all six batters faced. The victory is the 25-year-old’s first since 2017, his rookie season. With Palm Beach, Saylor is unscored upon in five appearances covering nine innings while allowing just three hits and three free passes.
Perry DellaValle went the first six innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk. Ronnie Williams worked around a hit in the seventh.
Wednesday’s game: vs. fifth-place Jupiter (7-11) (MIA), 6:30 pm ET, Angel Rondon (3-0, 2.30)
The Chiefs (6-12) were held to one hit in their 8-0 home defeat to the River Bandits. The loss evens the three-game series at one game apiece.
Leandro Cedeño lined a single to left to open the seventh, halting a Quad Cities pitching duo in their no-hit bid. Peoria managed just six base runners the entire game with two reaching scoring position. Defensively, left fielder Cedeño committed his second miscue of 2019, leading to an unearned tally.
Alvaro Seijas (L, 1-2) fanned seven in five innings but fell prey to two solo long balls accounting for both earned runs he allowed. The righty permitted five hits and two walks, resulting in three runs, two earned.
Four Chiefs hurlers tossed one inning apiece: Evan Sisk, Fabian Blanco, Freddy Pacheco and Edgar Escobar. Sisk was touched for a run on two hits and a walk while striking out two and picking off one. Blanco and Pacheco each pitched a clean frame but Escobar yielded four runs on five hits and a base-on-balls.
Wednesday’s game: vs. Quad Cities (9-8) (HOU), 6:35 pm CT, Cole Aker (0-1, 11.42)
Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation
Bilardello and Palm Beach Cardinals Staff Balance Teaching and Winning
Get TCN’s New 2019 Prospect Guide
Order The Cardinal Nation’s 190-page 2019 Prospect Guide now – available in PDF and printed book form, with a special 50% off deal for annual members.
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. Annual members may purchase the new 2019 Prospect Guide PDF for less than half price. In addition, out limited edition printed and bound Guides are going fast, so get yours today!
© 2019 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.