Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 22, 2019

photo: Zach Jackson (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals farm teams were 8-2 on Wednesday. Highlights include three more hits from Dylan Carlson, making 13 over his past five games, a four-hit game for Ramon Mendoza of the Gulf Coast Cards, a game-winning homer for Player of the Day Zach Jackson of Johnson City and standout mound efforts from Peoria’s Michael Brettell and 16-year-old Dominican Yordy Richard.

Results for games played Wednesday, August 21st.


Memphis 5, Round Rock 4

Adolis Garcia (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Rallying with four runs in the eighth, Memphis lifted its ledger to 61-67 with a thrilling 5-4 Wednesday night win over the visiting Express. Jake Woodford started and was quite strong for five innings, but gave up two runs each in the sixth and seventh frames, digging his club into a 4-1 deficit. The 22-year-old righty fanned four and walked one, but permitted a trio of homers among seven hits allowed in 6 2/3 innings. Jesus Cruz picked up the win in relief, recording four outs. Mike Mayers got the save despite allowing a hit and a walk in the ninth inning. The righty whiffed two.

Dylan Carlson continued to astonish PCL pitchers, going 3-for-4 on Wednesday to raise his insane seven-game Triple-A slashline to .552/.606/.931. However, since all his hits were singles, Carlson’s Memphis OPS went down slightly. And in another mild disappointment, Carlson was only able to single in two runs in the eighth rather than mash a 3-run homer. Adolis Garcia picked him up however, promptly knocking them both in with his 27th longball of the year — thus plating both the tying and eventual winning runs. First baseman John Nogowski had his team’s other multi-hit game with a pair of singles.

Tyler O’Neill began his latest minor league rehab by going 1-for-3, a single, and a strikeout. He played six innings in left field.

Thursday’s game: vs. Round Rock, Chris Ellis (4-5, 7.21) 7:05 CT.


Springfield 4 at Frisco 3

Evan Kruczynski (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Springfield took an early three-run lead Wednesday evening and held on for a 4-3 win at Frisco, improving their second half record to 27-31. First baseman Chris Chinea singled twice and drew a walk, as the only S-Card to reach three times. Multi-hit games were also provided by designated hitter Yariel Gonzalez and slick-fielding 23-year-old shortstop Rayder Ascanio, who each doubled and singled on the night. Ascanio may be a sleeper to watch going forward, as his post-All Star break line for Springfield is a solid .286/.351/.436.

Lefty Evan Kruczynski was the starter and winner, going seven innings and allowing three runs on only four hits and two walks. Kruczynski was undermined in the eighth inning by his own wild pitch, and an inherited runner knocked in against his reliever, Merandy Gonzalez. The best bullpen outing was registered by Connor Jones, who got the clean save with a groundout-strikeout-strikeout in the ninth.

Thursday’s game: at Frisco, Angel Rondon (5-4, 3.15) 7:05 CT.


Palm Beach 9, Bradenton 2

Michael Perri (Bret Jacomet photo)

After falling behind 2-0 early, Palm Beach roared back for a 9-2 rout of the visiting Marauders on Wednesday, lifting their record to 20-39 for the second half of the season. Shortstop Michael Perri and third sacker Nolan Gorman were the stars of the night, as Perri singled and crushed a grand slam, while Gorman singled, doubled, and coaxed a pair of free passes. Other multi-hit games included Luken Baker (single, double), center fielder Scott Hurst (two singles) and Nicks Plummer and Dunn, each also with a pair of singles.

Kyle Leahy started and earned his first Beach Birds win in five decisions, going five innings and surrendering two runs on four safeties. Reliable in relief were veteran Williams Perez in his Palm Beach rehab debut (two hitless innings, two whiffs) and recent top draftee Zack Thompson, who conceded three singles in 1 2/3 stanzas, but walked no one and fanned two of his own. Thompson now has 23 strikeouts in 15 1/3 professional innings, and only four bases on balls.

Thursday’s game: vs. Bradenton, pitcher TBA, 5:30 CT.


Peoria 2, Quad Cities 0

Michael Brettell (Bret Jacomet photo)

Peoria (18-40) managed just four singles and a double, but it was more than enough as Michael Brettell and Connor Thomas combined on a four-hit shutout in a 2-0 win over the visiting River Bandits.

Brettell (6-9) earned the win, pitching a season-high eight shutout innings, allowing four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Thomas picked up his first professional save after pitching a perfect final inning.

The Chiefs took the lead in the third, when Brady Whalen’s bases-loaded single scored Leandro Cedeno, who had reached on an error. Peoria added a run in the fourth. With two outs, Brandon Riley singled and stole second, before Cedeno doubled him home.

Thursday’s game: vs. Quad Cities, 6:35 pm, Logan Gragg (0-3, 4.98)


New York Penn League All-Star Blue 7, Red 4

The State College Spikes were active in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game as starting left fielder Andrew Warner went 2-for-2 (both singles), Andre Pallante pitched a 1-2-3 inning (with one strikeout), and starting designated hitter David Vinsky and starting first baseman Martin Figueroa (reached via an error) each scored a run, with Vinsky also driving in one on a fielder’s choice. However, their Red squad fell to the Blue, 7-4, on Wednesday night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in Staten Island, NY.

The fifth Spike named to the contest, lefty Hector Villalobos, pitched the sixth. He allowed a solo home run and a walk, striking out two batters on a total of 18 pitches, 12 strikes.

Warner also threw out a Blue runner at second base.

Thursday’s game: at Batavia, 7:05 pm ET, Adrian Mardueno (3-2, 3.52)


Johnson City 3, Elizabethton 2

Zach Jackson (St. Louis Cardinals)

Zach Jackson’s eighth-inning two-run home run flipped a one-run deficit into a one-run lead, as Johnson City took a 3-2 home win over the Twins. Player of the Day Jackson drove in all three as he also plated Malcom Nunez (walked) on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Liam Sabino reached three times on a single and two free passes, stole two bases, and scored ahead of Jackson’s long ball.

Starter Hector Soto took a no-decision after allowing two earned runs in five innings. He yielded a solo home run among five hits, a walk and two strikeouts. Tyler Peck chipped in two scoreless innings of middle relief, including four Ks, before Walker Robbins (3-0) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball with three punchouts.

The Cardinals (32-29) lead the Bristol Pirates (30-30) by 1 1/2 games in the chase for the Appalachian West title.

Thursday’s game: vs. Elizabethton, 6:30 pm ET, Luis Ortiz (0-3, 8.18)


GCL Astros 15 at GCL Cardinals 9

Zade Richardson (Prep Baseball Report)

Gulf Birds pitching was bombed for runs in six different innings and put the offense behind from the three-run first inning on, as the Cards fell at home to the Astros on Wednesday, 15-9.

Starter Roy Garcia couldn’t get out of the second inning, with seven runs in, six earned. Francis Ventura (2 1/3 innings) and Wilman Madera (four IP) were charged with four runs each. Saniel Santana issued the final two free passes in the ninth, but avoided being scored upon. Cardinals pitchers yielded 14 hits and issued 11 free passes.

Second baseman Ramon Mendoza had three singles and a double and scored twice. Zade Richardson and Diowill Burgos has three hits and a walk apiece. Catcher Richardson doubled, launched a two-run home run and scored twice. Burgos also plated a pair. Leadoff man Franklin Soto had a two base hit and a solo long ball.

Thursday’s game: at Marlins, noon ET, pitcher TBA


DSL Phillies Red 1, DSL Cardinals Blue 0 (10 innings, from suspended game of July 31)

DSL Cardinals Blue 2 at DSL Phillies Red 1 (seven innings)

In their Wednesday twin-bill, the DSL Blue could not score in the completion of their suspended game from July 31 against the Phillies Red, but won a pitching duel in the regularly-scheduled contest.

In the opener, which had been suspended in the eighth inning, Yordy Richard and Eduard Pimentel were pitching a one-hitter, with no walks and six strikeouts.

As the game went into the 10th, Darlin Moquete was the designated runner at second. He advanced to third on a balk, but was picked off third and tagged out trying to score. In the home half of the inning, a fly ball single against reliever Victor Villanueva meant a walkoff win for the Phillies.

The Blue offense had 12 baserunners via seven hits and five walks, but went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10.

In the regularly-scheduled seven-inning game, Cardinals pitching held the Phils to four hits and a lone run. Fully rested, Richard was back on the mound, and went 4 2/3 more scoreless innings on two hits and two walks. He fanned five. Despite yielding the Phillies run in the sixth, Dionys Rodriguez picked up the win with a 1 1/3 relief frames. Nelson Prada collected his second save with a clean seventh.

The Blue broke the 1-1 tie with a run in the top of the final inning. Moquete, who had singled, eventually scored on a force out. Moquete and Gustavo A. Rodriguez each had two hits and crossed home once each. Catcher Luis Rodriguez collected both RBI.

With three games remaining, the 40-21 Blue are 1 ½ games out of first place in the DSL South Division.

Thursday’s game: vs. Twins, 10:30 am ET, pitcher TBA


DSL Cardinals Red 5, DSL Rangers2 2 (seven innings)

DSL Cardinals Red 8 at DSL Rangers2 2 (seven innings)

The Cardinals Red improved their record to 31-38 with a double-header sweep of the Rangers2 on Wednesday.

In the opener, the Red offense pounded out 10 hits and scored in four different innings, icing the win with a two-run sixth. Left fielder Claudio Ramirez singled, tripled and score twice. Four Cards plated one run each – Roblin Heredia, Albert Inoa, Fernando Brazoban and Bryan Matute.

Starter Angel Cuenca and reliever and winning pitcher Yonael Dominguez each allowed a run in three innings pitched. Luis Garcia picked up his third save with a scoreless seventh.

The Red increased their run scoring to eight, making their nine hits count in Game 2. Again, a big four-run sixth inning locked down the win.

The scoring began early. With the bases loaded in the first, Brazoban cleared them with a single to center. He was thrown out at second. Luis Andujar had two singles, a stolen base and a sac fly, plating a pair.

Starter Diorys Guerrero yielded two runs on four hits and no walks over the first four innings while fanning seven. The Red then received three perfect innings of relief – two from winning pitcher Miguel Yedis (three strikeouts) and one by Miguel Maiz.

Thursday’s game: at Rangers2, 10:30 am ET, pitcher TBA


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