Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 18, 2019

photo: Dylan Carlson and Joe Kruzel (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

It was a 4-5 Wednesday for the St. Louis Cardinals farm teams with wins from Springfield and three rookie-ball squads — Johnson City, the Gulf Coast Cards, and the DSL Red. Palm Beach, Peoria, State College and the DSL Blue teams all went down to defeat, and Memphis blew a 7-0 lead in their loss, as their nightmare season continued apace. Elite performances included Dylan Carlson who broke a small slump by homering twice for Springfield, the first multi-longball game of his professional career, and DSL Blue hurler Gustavo J. Rodriguez, who spun five hitless innings to extend his dominant start to the season.

Results for games played Wednesday, July 17th.


Round Rock 11, Memphis 8

Johan Mieses (Memphis Redbirds)

Memphis’ offense took a touchdown lead but the pitching failed as they fell 11-8 at Round Rock on Wednesday night, dropping their record to 38-59. Starter Mike Hauschild lasted just 1 2/3 innings, giving up five runs before being yanked for losing pitcher Jesus Cruz, who gave up three more, but just one earned. The only fine performance from among the five pen contributors was that of Hunter Cervenka. The southpaw worked a perfect inning, needing only 11 pitches to retire three Express batters, two on strikes.

Right fielder Johan Mieses went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI to lead the Redbird 13-hit assault. Mieses was supported by Lane Thomas, who singled twice and stole a base, catcher Jose Godoy who singled and doubled, Kramer Robertson who singled twice but committed his 11th error, and center fielder and leadoff man Randy Arozarena, who continued to make his case for a place on the 40-man roster with a single, a double, and a runner gunned at the plate. The 24-year-old Arozarena is now sporting a .998 OPS for Memphis.

Thursday’s game: at Round Rock, Austin Warner (0-0, 7.02) 7:05 CT.


Springfield 5 at Amarillo 2

Rayder Ascanio (Peoria Chiefs)

Springfield leveled its second-half ledger at 13-13 with a 5-2 Wednesday win at the home of the Amarillo Sod Poodles. Center fielder Dylan Carlson clobbered two solo homers to assume the Texas League lead with 16, and added a single as well. Shortstop Rayder Ascanio (2-for-4) had his team’s other multi-hit game as he doubled, homered, and drove in the other three runs for the S-Cards. Left fielder Lars Nootbaar singled and drew his team’s only base on balls. The 21-year-old is 9-for-22 over his last six games.

Righty Johan Oviedo got the win, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings of work. The 21-year-old fanned four and walked the same, and has a solid 3.52 July ERA in four starts. Fellow starboardsiders Mitchell Osnowitz and Ronnie Williams each registered a hold as they combined for two shutout stanzas, with Williams escaping an Osnowitz-created bases loaded, one-out jam in the eighth by inducing a double play. Kodi Whitley converted his sixth save, pitching a perfect ninth inning with a whiff. Osnowitz, Williams, and Whitley lowered their excellent Springfield ERAs to 1.08, 2.57, and 1.88, respectively.

Thursday’s game: at Amarillo, Tommy Parsons (3-2, 4.29) 7:05 CT.


Florida 6 at Palm Beach 0

Luken Baker (Palm Beach Cardinals)

Palm Beach was blanked at home Wednesday evening, dropping to 9-19 with a 6-0 loss to the Fire Frogs. Starter Perry DellaValle allowed just one run through the first six frames, but was ripped for four more in the seventh while taking the loss. The righty did fan eight Fire Frogs to just one walk. Reliever Zach Prendergast had a clean 10-pitch inning for the only bullpen highlight.

Cleanup hitter Luken Baker doubled twice but to no avail, as the Beach Birds could not string their safeties together despite multi-hit games from the 4th, 5th, and 6th men in the lineup (catcher Julio Rodriguez singled and doubled, and second baseman Nick Dunn singled twice). Shortstop and number eight hitter Imeldo Diaz was the only player to reach three times, singling twice and drawing a walk.

Thursday’s game: vs. Florida, Diego Cordero (1-1, 2.84) 5:30 CT.


Fort Wayne 6, Peoria 2

Brendan Donovan (Peoria Chiefs)

Brendan Donovan provided the only offense to speak of as Peoria (4-21) continued their horrific second half of the season with a 6-2 loss at Fort Wayne Wednesday night. Playing second base and leading off, Donovan homered and doubled for two of his team’s three base knocks. The only other hit came from shortstop Delvin Perez, who also drew a base on balls — but was caught stealing soon after.

Righty Kyle Leahy (L, 4-8) made the start and surrendered all six TinCaps tallies. Leahy allowed nine hits and fanned just one of 23 opposing batters. Reliever Parker Kelly had a superb seven up, seven down performance, striking out two and lowering his ERA to 1.69.

Thursday’s game: at Fort Wayne, Colin Schmid (3-5, 4.79), 6:05 CT.


West Virginia 4, State College 1

Pedro Pages (State College Spikes)

State College (16-16) scored a run in the top of the first but never another, falling 4-1 Wednesday to the Black Bears. Adrian Mardueno went 4 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits while whiffing three and walking a pair. The 21-year-old righty handed off to another June draftee, Jack Ralston, who was dominant once again. The 6′ 6″ UCLA product pitched 1 2/3 frames and conceded two singles while striking out three Bears. The big righty has now fanned 14 men in 10 1/3 innings, while issuing one free pass.

Designated hitter and cleanup batter Pedro Pages was the closest thing to a State College hitting star with a single, triple, and base on balls. Multi-hit games were also recorded by leadoff man and center fielder David Vinsky and left fielder Andrew Warner, who each singled and doubled, accounting for their team’s only other extra base hits. Shortstop Moises Castillo reached safely via a base hit and hit-by-pitch, and scored his squad’s only run, but also had his seventh fielding miscue of the year.

Thursday’s game: at West Virginia, Enmanuel Solano (1-3, 3.97) 5:35 CT.


Johnson City 7, Bristol 6

Todd Lott (Robert Kell)

Johnson City improved to 15-12 as the Cards rallied from an early three-run deficit to top the visiting Bristol Pirates 7-6 on Wednesday. Righty Jose Moreno started and was shelled once again, yielding all six Pirates runs over 3 2/3 innings. The 18-year-old was painfully generous, handing out seven free passes on the evening, to go with seven hits allowed and a balk. The sparkling bullpen effort was spearheaded by Wilfredo Pereira and his three shutout stanzas. The 20-year-old Panamanian permitted two harmless singles and fanned two men while lowering his ERA to 2.25 across 20 innings.

First baseman Todd Lott doubled and tripled to lead the Johnson City attack, while third baseman Chandler Redmond had just one hit but made it count, a three-run homer. Multi-hit games were also registered by the trio of right fielder and leadoff hitter Jhon Torres, second baseman Liam Sabino, and designated hitter Kyle Skeels, each of whom had a single and double on the night. Center fielder Carlos Soler had a full night with a single, walk, stolen base, and two outfield assists.

Thursday’s game: vs. Bristol, Michael YaSenka (0-0, 0.68) 5:30 CT.


GCL Cardinals 9 at GCL Astros 4

Francisco Hernandez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The GCL Cardinals trailed early but piled on late in a 9-4 road win over the Astros, improving to 8-12 on the year. Second sacker Ramon Mendoza doubled twice and singled for the team’s only three-hit game. Third baseman Francisco Hernandez continued his torrid stretch, mashing a sixth-inning grand slam to put his team ahead for good. The 19-year-old Hernandez added a single and walk, lifting his OPS to .979. Other notable contributors were left fielder Luis Montano (single, double, walk) and catcher Cristhian Longa, with a single, double, hit-by-pitch, and two base stealers gunned out of three attempts.

Righty Francis Ventura entered in the second inning and went six stanzas for the win, allowing four runs on eight hits while fanning half a dozen. Scoreless performances were provided by rehabbing “opener” 23-year-old Merandy Gonzalez (one inning, one hit, two whiffs) and 21-year-old Anthony Trompiz (two innings, four baserunners, one strikeout).

Thursday’s game: vs. GCL Marlins, pitcher TBA, 11:00 a.m. CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 12, DSL Mets2 4

Diowill Burgos

The DSL Cardinals Red affiliate upped its record to 15-23 on Wednesday morning with a 12-4 home thrashing of the DSL Mets2. Yonael Dominguez started with 4 1/3 shutout frames, though the 17-year old continues to struggle with his control. He walked three men Wednesday and has now issued 18 free passes in 21 innings. Dazzling in relief was 18-year-old righty Augusto Calderon, who fanned five of six Mets batters.

Diowill Burgos unsurprisingly led the Red attack with another four-hit game, his third of the season and second in just over a week. The 18-year-old All-Star left fielder singled three times, doubled, and coaxed a walk, lifting his overall season OPS to a gaudy 1.229 and his July slash line to an otherworldly .462/.551/1.051 with just six strikeouts in 50 trips to the plate. Reaching base four times were first baseman Luis Andujar (single, double, two walks) and backstop Jesus Orecchia (three singles, walk).

Thursday’s game: at DSL Mets2, pitcher TBA, 9:30 a.m. CT.


DSL Yankees 7, DSL Cardinals Blue 6

Darlin Moquete

Grabbing a 4-0 lead halfway through the game wasn’t enough for the DSL Cardinals Blue team, as they fell 7-6 at the Yankees Wednesday. Even so, they have an organization-best 21-13 record on the season. Right fielder and leadoff batter Darlin Moquete had the sole multi-hit game for the Blue, singling and doubling, with his 14th stolen base. Center fielder Hansel Otamendi singled and drew two walks, while left fielder Leudy Pena hit a solo longball, worked a walk, and gunned a runner at the plate.

Last time out, Gustavo J. Rodriguez allowed two hits in six scoreless innings and this time was even better. The 18-year-old Venezuelan righty was masterful, twirling five hitless innings with a walk and eight strikeouts, seven swinging. Rodriguez lowered his WHIP to 0.78 and his ERA to 1.25 over seven starts and 36 innings. All relievers were scored upon, but Luis Tena was the least bad, with one run conceded in two innings pitched. The 19-year-old righty fanned four and walked one.

Thursday’s game: vs. DSL Nationals, pitcher TBA, 9:30 a.m. CT.


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