All posts by Ben Kinealy

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 22, 2024

photo: Jose Davila (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 3-0. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Palm Beach’s Jose Davila, threw six innings of one-hit shutout ball. Other standouts include Max Rajcic, Jeremy Rivas, Zach Levenson, Brody Moore and Tre Richardson.

Results for the games played on Sunday, April 21.

Memphis at Gwinnett (postponed)

Due to wet grounds, Sunday’s away game between Memphis (10-10) and Gwinnett (9-11, ATL) was postponed.  It will be made up as part of a double-header in Memphis when the teams meet at AutoZone Park from May 14th to 19th.

The Redbirds are off Monday.

Tuesday’s games: vs. Jacksonville (12-9), TBD vs. TBD 6:45 CT.

Springfield 3 at Amarillo 2

The Springfield Cardinals (12-3) edged the Amarillo Sod Poodles (5-10, ARI) 3-2 on Sunday at Hodgetown.  Starter Max Rajcic improved his record to 2-1.  The right-hander pitched six innings, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and four strikeouts while balking twice.

Max Rajcic

The Sod Poodles opened the scoring in the bottom of the second.  A single and two walks loaded the bases, and Rajcic balked to give Amarillo a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals responded in the third.  Nathan Church walked.  Matt Lloyd doubled to bring Church home.  Chandler Redmond singled to put runners on the corners.  Jeremy Rivas’ double scored Redmond and Lloyd to give Springfield a 3-1 lead.

Jeremy Rivas

In the ninth, Matt Svanson was brought in to close out the game.  He gave up a single, hit a batter, and allowed another single to load the bases.  Amarillo grounded into a double play to make the score 3-2 with two outs, and they could not score the tying run from third.

Lloyd went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a hit by a pitch, and a run scored.  Rivas was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk.  Church hit 1-for-4 with a walk and scored once.  The Cardinals totaled three runs on eight hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

Nick Raquet pitched two innings of relief, yielding no runs on no hits while walking one and striking out one.  Svanson gave up one run on two hits in the ninth to earn his second save this season.  Springfield allowed two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out five.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Arkansas (9-6), RHP Ian Bedell (1-0, 2.00) vs. Logan Evans RHP (1-1, 2.51) 6:05 CT.

Peoria 4 at Quad Cities 2

The Peoria Chiefs (6-9) ended the Quad Cities River Bandits’ (11-4, KCR) nine-game winning streak with a 4-2 win at Modern Woodmen Park on Sunday.  Starter Wilfredo Pereira pitched 3 ⅓ innings, allowing two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out four.

The River Bandits struck first in the first.  They singled, walked, and stole to bases to put runners on second and third.  A sacrifice fly plated the game’s first run.

The Chiefs came back in the third with a two-out rally.  Won-Bin Cho singled before Zach Levenson’s two-run bomb to left center field gave the Chiefs a 2-1 lead.  However, in the fourth, Quad Cities tied the game with a single and a triple to end Pereira’s day on the mound.

Zach Levenson

Peoria retook the lead in the seventh.  Anyelo Encarnacion led off with a single to set up Brody Moore’s two-run homer to left-center field which made the score 4-2.

Brody Moore

Levenson went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI, and a run scored.  Moore was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, and scored once.  Encarnacion was 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.  The Chiefs totaled 11 hits, two walks, and struck out 10 times while going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

Nathanael Heredia earned his first win this season, pitching 3 ⅔ innings, yielding two hits, no runs, and no walks while striking out four and having a successful pickoff attempt.  Joseph King threw two innings, giving up one hit while striking out one to earn his third save this season.  Peoria allowed two runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out nine.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Wisconsin (10-5), LHP Brycen Mautz (0-2, 9.82) vs. Patricio Aquino RHP (1-0, 2.70) 6:05 CT.

Palm Beach 6, Lakeland 0

The Palm Beach Cardinals (10-5) shut out the Lakeland Flying Tigers (9-6, DET) 6-0 to win the series at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Sunday.  Starter Jose Davila dominated, pitching six innings, allowing no runs on one hit while walking three and striking out four to earn his first win this season.

José Dávila

The Cardinals scored first in the third.  Trey Paige doubled, and Jose Cordoba singled to put runners on the corners.  Chase Davis singled to drive in Paige.

In the fourth, Lizandro Espinoza walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Tre Richardson reached base on a fielding error as he advanced to second and Espinoza scored.  Cordoba doubled to plate Richardson to increase the lead to 3-0.

Palm Beach blew the game wide open in the eighth.  Miguel Villarroel, pitch hitter Brayden Jobert, and Espinoza walked to load the bases.  Richardson’s bases-clearing triple gave the Cardinals a 6-0 cushion.

Tre Richardson

Villarroel went 2-for-2 with a walk and scored once.  Espinoza was 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.  Richardson was 1-for-3 with a triple and three RBI.  The Cardinals totaled six runs on nine hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.

Benjamin Arias threw two hitless innings, allowing one walk and striking out one.  Henry Gomez closed the game, yielding one hit, no walks, and striking out one.  Palm Beach gave up no runs on two hits while walking four and striking out six.

Tuesday’s game: at Fort Myers (6-9), TBD vs. TBD 6:05 CT.

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Cardinals Send Down Victor Scott and Andre Pallante

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Ben Kinealy can be reached at bkinealy@mail.bradley.edu.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 21, 2024

photo: Matt Slater, Chen-Wei Lin (St. Louis Cardinals)

On Saturday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 1-3. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Palm Beach’s Chen-Wei Lin, threw five innings of two-hit shutout ball with eight strikeouts. Other standouts include Jose Fermin, Nick Dunn, Nathan Church and Jose Cordoba.

Results for the games played on Saturday, April 20.

Memphis 4 at Gwinnett 2

The Memphis Redbirds (10-10) defeated the Gwinnett Stripers (9-11) 4-2 on Saturday at Coolray Field for their third consecutive win.  Starter Victor Santos earned his first win in the organization, throwing 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits while walking two and striking out three.

José Fermín led off the game with a homer to left field in back-to-back games to put the Redbirds up 1-0.

José Fermín

The Stripers responded in the third with a single and a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to second.  Santos gave up an RBI single to tie the game at one. Gwinnett took the lead in the fifth.  Santos allowed a walk and an RBI double to give the Stripers a 2-1 lead.

The Redbirds tied it in the sixth.  Luken Baker led off the inning with a solo tape measure shot to center to make the score 2-2.  They took the lead in the seventh.  Thomas Saggese singled, stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout.  Alfonso Rivas III singled to left to drive in Saggese and give the Redbirds a 3-2 lead.

Alfonso Rivas

Memphis added an insurance run in the eighth with Nick Dunn’s lead-off bomb to make it 4-2.

Nick Dunn

Nick Dunn went 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored.  Fermín was 1-for-5 with a homer, an RBI, and scored once.  Baker also hit 1-for-5 with a bomb, an RBI, and scored once.  The Redbirds totaled four runs on eleven hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

John King pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out one.  Ryan Loutos threw two innings, yielding no runs, no hits, and one walk while striking out five to earn his third save this season.  Memphis gave up two runs, one earned, on eight hits while walking three and striking out nine.

Sunday’s game: at Gwinnett, RHP Michael McGreevy vs. RHP Bryce Elder 12:05 CT.

Springfield 6 at Amarillo 9

The Springfield Cardinals (11-3) lost a high-scoring game to the Amarillo Sod Poodles (5-9, ARI) 9-6 on Saturday at Hodgetown.  Starter Edwin Nuñez pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits while walking two to take his first loss this season.

The Cardinals struck first in the top of the first.  Nathan Church singled and advanced to second on R.J. Yeager’s groundout.  Matt Lloyd singled to plate Church.

Springfield added to their lead in the second.  Aaron McKeithan tripled to lead off the inning.  Chandler Redmond hit a two-run bomb to left field.  The Sod Poodles got one back in the bottom of the second to make the score 3-1.

Chandler Redmond

Amarillo scored three runs in both the third and fourth innings.  The Sod Poodles hit three singles and walked twice with two outs to take the lead in the third.  In the fourth, Trent Baker took the mound, giving up a double to the first batter of the inning.  With two outs, he walked a batter, and the runner on second scored on a wild pitch.  The Sod Poodles then hit three singles to plate two more, making the score 7-3.

In the fifth, Nathan Church’s solo blast to right-center field brought the deficit down to 7-4.

Nathan Church

Andrew Marrero pitched the seventh and gave up a double and a single to put runners on the corners.  His wild pitch made the score 8-4.  Jack Ralston was brought in for the eighth.  He gave up a solo moonshot to center to make the score 9-4.

The visitors tried to make a comeback in the ninth.  Chris Rotondo was hit by a pitch and Noah Mendlinger doubled.  Church singled to drive in both of them to make the score 9-6, but no further damage was done.

Church went 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBI, and scored twice.  McKeithan was 3-for-4 with a triple, a walk, and a run scored.  Redmond hit 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, and a run scored.  The Cardinals totaled 13 hits, two walks, and 10 strikeouts.

Baker threw 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while walking three and striking out six.  Marrero and Ralston each threw one inning, giving up one run on two hits while walking none and striking out one.  Springfield yielded nine runs on 14 hits while walking five and striking out eight.

Sunday’s game: at Amarillo, RHP Max Rajcic (1-1, 12.15) vs. Jamison Hill RHP (0-0, 12.91) 1:05 CT.

Peoria 1 at Quad Cities 3

The Peoria Chiefs (5-9) lost to the Quad Cities River Bandits (11-3, KCR) 3-1 on Saturday at Modern Woodmen Park, their third loss in a row.  Starter Pete Hansen took his second loss this season, throwing five innings, yielding three runs on seven hits while walking none and striking out seven.

The River Bandits struck the third with a solo homer against Hansen.  In the fifth, Quad Cities led off with four consecutive hits to score two more and increase their lead to 3-0.

The Chiefs got a run back in the seventh.  Brody Moore and Joshua Baez singled to put two on with two outs.  Luis Rodriguez singled to right field to drive in Moore to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Baez went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored as the only Chief to reach base twice.  Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with an RBI.  Moore went 1-for-4 and scored once.  The Chiefs totaled five hits and three walks while striking out 11 times.

Benito Garcia

Benito Garcia pitched two innings of relief, giving up no runs on one hit while walking none.  Tanner Jacobson closed out the game, throwing one inning, allowing no hits and no walks while striking out one.  Peoria yielded three runs on eight hits while walking nobody and striking out eight.

Sunday’s game: at Quad Cities, RHP Inohan Paniagua (1-0, 0.00) vs. Shane Panzini RHP (1-0, 9.64) 1:00 CT

Palm Beach 6, Lakeland 1

The Palm Beach Cardinals (9-5) bounced back after giving up a late lead in Friday’s game to beat the Lakeland Flying Tigers (9-5, DET) 6-1 on Saturday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.  Starter Chen-Wei Lin pitched five innings, allowing no runs on two hits while walking two and striking out eight to earn his first win this season.

Chen-Wei Lin

The Cardinals started the scoring in the first.  Kade Kretzschmar singled, and Jose Cordoba walked.  Ross Friedrick singled to center to drive in Kreztschmar.  Miguel Villarroel grounded into a forceout, forcing Friedrick out at second while scoring Cordoba to increase the lead to 2-0.

In the second inning, Sammy Hernandez walked and advanced to second on Kretzschmar’s ground out.  Cordoba singled to center to drive in Hernandez, giving Palm Beach a 3-0 lead.

Palm Beach added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth.  Cordoba doubled to lead off, and Friedrick walked.  Chase Davis doubled to plate Cordoba.  John Salazar was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Trey Paige’s sacrifice fly brought Friedrick home to conclude the scoring in the fifth.

In the sixth, Kretzschmar tripled.  Cordoba’s single to center allowed Kretzschmar to cross the plate, giving the Cardinals a 6-0 lead.

The Flying Tigers hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth versus reliever Gustavo Rodriguez to bring the score to 6-1.

Jose Cordoba

Cordoba went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBI, and scored twice.  Kretzschmar was 2-for-4 with a triple and scored twice.  Friedrick hit 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored.  The Cardinals totaled six runs on 10 hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

In relief, Ettore Gulianelli threw two innings, allowing no runs on no hits while walking two and striking out two.  Rodriguez threw two innings, yielding one run on two hits while walking one and striking out five.  Palm Beach gave up one run on four hits while walking five and striking out 15.

Sunday’s game: vs. Lakeland, TBD vs. TBD 11:00 CT.

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Ben Kinealy can be reached at bkinealy@mail.bradley.edu.

© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 19, 2024

photo: Gordon Graceffo (Memphis Redbirds)

On Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-2 behind four excellent starting pitchers. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis’ Gordon Graceffo, allowed one run in six innings. Other standouts include Tink Hence, Cooper Hjerpe, Jason Savacool, Thomas Saggese and Sammy Hernandez.

Results for the games played on Thursday, April 18.

Memphis 3 at Gwinnett 1

The Memphis Redbirds (8-10) defeated the Gwinnett Stripers (9-9, ATL) 3-1 at Coolray Field on Thursday.  Starter Gordon Graceffo had his best outing of 2024, taking the win to improve his record to 2-2. The Cardinal Nation’s no. 6 prospect pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits while walking three and striking out eight.

Gordon Graceffo

Graceffo gave up the first run in the bottom of the third on a walk, bunt single, fly out and a wild pitch.

The Redbirds came back in the fifth.  Mike Antico doubled and José Fermín walked. Second baseman Thomas Saggese’s double to left field plated Antico and Fermín to give Memphis the lead.  Luken Baker’s single to center brought Saggese home to increase the lead to 3-1.

Thomas Saggese

Fermín went 1-for-3 with two walks and scored once.  Saggese hit 2-for-5 including a double, two RBI, and a run scored.  Moisés Gómez was 3-for-4 with three singles.  The Redbirds totaled 11 hits while walking three times and striking out five.

Reliever Chris Roycroft pitched 1 ⅔ innings, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out two and walking none. John King earned his second save of the season, pitching 1 ⅓ scoreless innings, with no baserunners and striking out one.  Memphis yielded one run on five hits while walking three and striking out 11.

Friday’s game: at Gwinnett, RHP Sem Robberse (2-0, 2.45) vs TBD 6:05 CT.

Springfield 3 at Amarillo 6

The Springfield Cardinals’ (10-2) bullpen gave up a late lead to fall to the Amarillo Sod Poodles (4-8, ARI) 6-3 at Hodgetown on Thursday.  Starter Tink Hence continued his strong start to 2024. The right-hander threw 83 pitches in 5 ⅓ innings, allowing one run on four hits while walking one and striking out six.

Tink Hence

The Sod Poodles were on the board first in the fourth when Hence gave up a solo home run to right field to the second batter of the inning.

The Cardinals struck back in the sixth.  Nathan Church walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Jimmy Crooks grounded into a fielders choice, reaching first and scoring Church.  Matt Lloyd singled to advance Crooks to third who was then pinch-ran for due to a leg injury.  Pinch runner Wade Stauss came home on a wild pitch to give Springfield the lead.  Chandler Redmond’s RBI single to center increased the Cards’ lead to 3-1.

Amarillo came back in the eighth, first against reliever Andrew Marrero. He gave up a single, a wild pitch, and an RBI single. Marrero gave up another single and hit a batter to load the bases.  He then walked in a run to tie the game.  Andre Granillo was brought in to pitch.  He walked in a run to give up the lead and then allowed a two-run single to left field to give Amarillo a 6-3 edge.

Church went 1-for-3 with two walks and scored once. Redmond was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Lloyd went 1-for-4 with a walk and scored once. The Cardinals had their chances, totaling eight hits, four walks, and seven strikeouts while going 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 men on base.

Marrero took his first loss and blew his first save this season, charged with five runs on three hits while walking one and striking out one. In middle relief, Nick Raquet pitched 1 ⅔ innings, allowing no hits, walking one, and striking out three.  Springfield gave up six runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out 12.

Friday’s game: at Amarillo, Tekoah Roby (1-0, 6.30) vs. Yilber Diaz (0-2, 5.79) 7:05 CT.

Peoria 0 at Quad Cities 1

The Peoria Chiefs (5-7) were shut out by the Quad Cities River Bandits (9-3, KCR) 1-0 at Modern Woodmen Park on Thursday.  The teams had to wait as a weather delay pushed back the start time of the game to 7:15.

Cooper Hjerpe started and also had his best outing of 2024, allowing two hits across four innings, allowing no runs while walking one and striking out seven.

Cooper Hjerpe

Cade Winquest replaced Hjerpe for the fifth inning.  The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the seventh when Winquest gave up a walk, a single, and a hit batter to load the bases.  A sacrifice fly to center scored the only run of the game.

Dakota Harris went 2-for-4 including a double.  Zach Levenson went 2-for-4.  The Chiefs totaled six hits, three walks, and 11 strikeouts while going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranding six runners.

On the basepaths, Brody Moore stole a base and Anyelo Encarnacion was caught stealing.

Winquest pitched four innings, allowing one run on two hits, walking four, and striking out five, taking his first loss this season.  Peoria pitching yielded four hits, and five walks while striking out 12 River Bandits through eight innings.

Friday’s game: at Quad Cities, RHP Hancel Rincon (1-0, 1.93) vs Steven Zobac RHP (0-0, 2.00) 6:30 CT.

Palm Beach 9, Lakeland 2

The Palm Beach Cardinals (8-4) destroyed the Lakeland Flying Tigers (8-4, DET) 9-2 at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday.  Starter Jason Savacool pitched five innings, allowing no runs on three hits while walking none and striking out five to earn his first professional win.

Jason Savacool

The Cardinals struck in the home first.  Sammy Hernandez was hit by a pitch, Brayden Jobert walked, and Jose Cordoba was also hit to load the bases.  A wild pitch advanced the runners and plated Hernandez.  Miguel Villarroel walked to reload the bases.  Kade Kretzschmar walked home another run.  Trey Paige’s two-RBI single to center field doubled the early lead.  Hernandez’ double drove in two more to give the Cardinals an early 6-0 lead.

Sammy Hernandez

Palm Beach added insurance in the sixth.  Hernandez doubled, Jobert singled, and Cordoba walked to load the bases.  Ross Friedrick’s bases-clearing double put the game further out of reach for the Flying Tigers, increasing the lead to 9-0.

Ross Friedrick

Lakeland cut into the deficit in the seventh. Reliever Benjamin Arias gave up a one-out double and hit the next batter.  He allowed a two-run triple bringing the score to 9-2.

Hernandez went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, a hit by pitch, and scored twice.  Kretzschmar was 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBI, and one run scored.  Paige hit 2-for-4 with two runs driven in and scored once.  Friedrick plated three. Palm Beach totaled seven hits, six walks, and struck out six times.

Zack Showalter pitched two relief innings yielding no runs on one hit while striking out two and walking none to close the game.  The Cardinals gave up two runs on seven hits while striking out nine and walking no Flying Tigers.

Friday’s game: vs. Lakeland, RHP Chen-Wei Lin (0-1, 3.60) vs. TBD 5:30 CT.

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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2024 Week 2

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Ben Kinealy can be reached at bkinealy@mail.bradley.edu.

© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 15, 2024

photo: Adari Grant (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-2 as Springfield came back from six down to extend its record to 9-0. Palm Beach’s Adari Grant is The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, with three hits and three RBI. Other standouts include Gavin Collins, Matt Lloyd and Anyelo Encarnacion.

Results for the games played on Sunday, April 14.

Memphis 4, Nashville 8

The Memphis Redbirds (7-8) fell to the Nashville Sounds (7-8, MIL) 8-4 at AutoZone Park on Sunday, for a 3-3 home series split.  Starter Victor Santos took his third loss in three starts, pitching 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The right-hander’s ERA is 10.38.

Memphis got on the board in the bottom of the first.  José Fermín doubled, and Matt Koperniak walked.  After both runners advanced on a wild pitch, Luken Baker’s sacrifice fly scored Fermín.  That lead did not last long as Santos gave up a three-run blast to left-center to the third batter he faced in the second to give the Sounds a 3-1 lead.

Memphis took back the lead in the fourth.  Moisés Gómez singled.  Gavin Collins’s two-run moonshot to left field tied the game, and Nick Dunn went back-to-back, with a homer to center field for a 4-3 Memphis lead.

Gavin Collins

Nick Dunn

Santos yielded two singles and a triple to yield the lead in the fifth.  With one out, Kyle Leahy replaced Santos.  He immediately walked the first batter and gave up a sacrifice fly to score the runner on third. Leahy served up a bomb to left-center field as Nashville took an 8-4 lead.

Gómez went 2-for-4 with a run scored, as the only Redbird with a multi-hit game.  Collins was 1-for-2, a home run, two walks, and two RBI.  Fermín had a 1-for-3 game with two walks and a run scored.  The Redbirds totaled four runs on eight hits while walking six times and striking out seven.

On the pitching side, Connor Thomas tossed 1 1/3 relief innings, yielding two hits, no runs, and striking out one.  Jacob Bosiokovic threw one inning, allowing no runs, one hit, and one walk.  Josh James pitched one inning, giving up no runs, no hits, and two walks.  Memphis pitching gave up eight runs on 11 hits with seven walks and six strikeouts.

Tuesday’s game: at Gwinnett, TBD vs. TBD 6:05 CT.

Springfield 8, Wichita 7

The Springfield Cardinals (9-0) came back from a six-run deficit to defeat the Wichita Wind Surge (1-8, MIN) 8-7 and set a franchise record of nine straight wins.  Starter Edwin Nuñez pitched 2 2/3 innings, yielding two runs on one hit with three walks and three strikeouts.

The Wind Surge took the lead in the second on a homer to right field.  After Nuñez walked two and hit a batter, he induced the next batter to fly out, which scored another run to give Wichita a 2-0 lead.

The Cardinals got a run back in the third.  Jacob Buchberger walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Bryan Torres singled to left field to bring home Buchberger.  However, Wichita extended their lead in the fourth.  Trent Baker entered in relief, and with two outs and the bases loaded, he gave up a grand slam to left field.  In the fifth, the Wind Surge’s three consecutive singles scored another insurance run to increase the visitors’ lead to 7-1.

Springfield responded in the bottom of the fifth.  Torres led off with a single, and Nathan Church doubled.  R.J. Yeager’s single scored Torres to extend his hitting streak to eight games.  The Cardinals did not score again until the seventh.  Church singled, Yeager walked, and Matt Lloyd walked to load the bases.  A wild pitch plated Church to cut the deficit to 7-3.

R.J. Yeager

The home team rallied in the eighth.  Buchberger singled, Jeremy Rivas singled, and a passed ball allowed them to move to second and third.  Torres grounded out for the second out of the inning while Buchberger scored.  Church singled, scoring Rivas, and Church advanced to second on an error.  Yeager walked, and Lloyd hit a three-run go-ahead home run to center field to give the Cardinals an 8-7 lead.

Matt Lloyd

Torres had a 2-for-4 game with a walk, two RBI, and a run scored.  Church was 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI and scored twice.  Lloyd went 1-for-4, a homer, a walk, and three RBI.  The Cardinals totaled eight runs on 11 hits while walking nine times with six strikeouts.

From the pen, Ryan Shreve pitched two innings, allowing no runs, no hits, and no walks while striking out three to earn his first win this season.  Leonardo Taveras earned his first save, pitching one inning while yielding no runs, no hits, and no walks.  Springfield allowed seven runs on six hits while walking seven with 11 strikeouts.

Tuesday’s game: at Amarillo, RHP Max Rajcic (1-0, 1.80) vs TBA 7:05 CT.

Peoria 4, Beloit 9

The Peoria Chiefs (5-4) lost to the Beloit Sky Carp (4-4, MIA) 9-4 at Dozer Park on Sunday.  Starter Pete Hansen took his first loss of the season, giving up five runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out four in four innings.

The Chiefs opened the scoring in the first.  Leadoff man Darlin Moquete tripled and Anyelo Encarnacion hit a two-run bomb to left-center to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.  The Sky Carp got one run back in the second on a single to left field.

Anyelo Encarnacion

Peoria extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth.  Brody Moore opened the inning with a single, and two batters later, Joshua Baez’s two-run blast to left-center made the score 4-1.

Joshua Baez

The Sky Carp turned the tables in the fifth.  After a leadoff walk, three consecutive singles scored one and loaded the bases.  Wilfredo Pereira replaced Hansen after the third single and immediately balked in a run.  Pereira allowed another walk to load the bases, and a bases-clearing double gave Beloit a 6-4 lead.

Beloit extended their lead in the top of the ninth with three unearned runs against reliever Dionys Rodriguez.  The first batter reached on an error from Baez.  Rodriguez hit a batter and walked the next two to force in a run.  A fielding error from Dakota Harris allowed two more runs to score, extending the Sky Carp’s lead to 9-4.

Encarnacion went 1-for-4, a home run, a walk, two RBI, and scored once.  Baez was 2-for-4, a home run, two RBI, and scored once.  The Chiefs totaled four runs on eight hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

Out of the pen, Tanner Jacobson pitched two innings, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out two.  Nathanael Heredia pitched one inning, yielding no hits with one walk and a strikeout.  Peoria gave up nine runs on 11 hits with five walks while striking out 10.

Tuesday’s game: at Quad Cities, TBD vs. TBD 6:30 CT.

Palm Beach 10 at Daytona 8 (10 innings)

The Palm Beach Cardinals (6-3) squeaked out a win against the Daytona Tortugas (4-5, CIN) in 10 innings at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Sunday.  Starter Jose Davila pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, both unearned, on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

The Tortugas struck first in the bottom of the first.  Throwing errors from Adari Grant and Lizandro Espinoza allowed two runners to remain on base that eventually came around to score to give the Tortugas a 2-0 lead.

The Cardinals responded in the second.  Chase Adkison walked, and Espinoza doubled.  Grant’s two-RBI double to left field tied the game.  Jose Cordoba reached second on a throwing error, and Grant scored.  Kade Kretzschmar drove in Cordoba with a ground out to increase Palm Beach’s lead to 4-2.

Adari Grant

Palm Beach added an insurance run in the top of the sixth.  Trey Paige singled, Espinoza reached first while forcing Paige out at second, Grant was hit by a pitch, and Sammy Hernandez walked to load the bases.  A wild pitch allowed Espinoza to cross home to make the lead 5-2.

Randel Clemente gave up two walks to start the seventh and then allowed a three-run shot to left-center field to tie the game for the Tortugas.  No more runs were scored until the 10th inning when Adkison started on second.  Paige singled to center to drive in Adkison.  Espinoza walked, and a single from Grant plated Paige.  Cordoba singled to load the bases, and a wild pitch allowed Espinoza to come home.  Kretzschmar’s sacrifice fly scored Grant, and Ross Friedrick singled to bring home Cordoba to increase the lead to 10-5.

Augusto Calderon was asked to close the game in the 10th and made it interesting. After walking his first batter, he gave up a three-run homer to left-center to bring the deficit to 10-8.  However, he retired the next three batters to complete the Cardinals win.

Grant had a 3-for-3 game, including a double, three RBI, and two runs scored.  Espinoza went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and scored three times.  Paige was 2-for-5 with an RBI, and one run scored.  The Cardinals totaled 10 runs on 11 hits with six walks and 11 strikeouts.

Henry Gomez

In relief, Henry Gomez picked up his first win of the season, pitching 2 1/3 innings, yielding no runs on two hits while striking out two.  Ettore Giulianelli pitched 2/3 of an inning, allowing no hits while walking three and striking out two.  Palm Beach allowed eight runs on 10 hits while walking nine and striking out 10.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Lakeland, TBA vs. TBA 4:00 CT.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 14, 2024

photo: Hancel Rincón (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

On Saturday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 3-1 as the pitching yielded just eight runs total. Peoria’s Hancel Rincón is The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, throwing 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Other standouts include Jared Young, R.J. Yeager, Ramon Mendoza, Alex Iadisernia and Chen-Wei Lin.

Results for the games played on Saturday, April 13.

Memphis 8, Nashville 3

The Memphis Redbirds (7-7) dominated the Nashville Sounds (6-8, MIL) 8-3 at AutoZone Park on Saturday.  Starter Sem Robberse threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits while walking one and striking out five.

The Redbirds struck first in the bottom of the second.  César Prieto doubled, Luken Baker walked, and Alfonso Rivas III singled to load the bases.  Moisés Gómez’ sacrifice fly to right field gave Memphis a 1-0 lead.

Moisés Gómez

The Sounds tied the game in the top of the third.  Memphis responded by taking the lead back in the bottom half.  José Fermín and Matt Koperniak singled, and Thomas Saggese was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Prieto singled to right field, allowing Fermín to cross home.  Baker and Rivas III walked, scoring Koperniak and Saggese.  A wild pitch during the next at-bat allowed Prieto to score.  Jared Young singled to plate Baker and Rivas III to extend the lead to 7-1.

Jared Young

Nashville scored a run in the top of the fifth but failed to do more damage.  Memphis added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning.  Fermín singled and advanced to second after a pickoff error.  Saggese singled to drive in Fermín and make the score 8-2.

The visitors led off the sixth with a triple and brought the runner home with a groundout to make the score 8-3.

Fermín went 2-for-4 with a walk and scored twice.  Prieto went 3-for-5 with the only extra-base hit for the Redbirds, an RBI, and scored twice.  Rivas III went 1-for-3 with two walks, an RBI, and scored once. Young drove in two. The Redbirds totaled 11 hits, seven walks, and five strikeouts while leaving 10 runners stranded.

John King pitched 1 1/3 innings, earning his first win this season while yielding one run on two hits with one strikeout.  Ryan Loutos closed the game, throwing 1 1/3 innings, giving up no runs, one hit, and one walk while striking out one.  Memphis gave up three runs on 10 hits while allowing four walks and striking out seven.

Sunday’s game: vs. Nashville, RHP Victor Santos (0-2, 10.38) vs. RHP Chad Patrick (0-0, 0.00) 1:05 CT.

Springfield 5, Wichita 3

Remaining undefeated in 2024, the Springfield Cardinals (8-0) defeated the Wichita Wind Surge (1-7, MIN) at Hammons Field on Saturday.  Starter Tekoah Roby earned his first win this season, pitching five innings, allowing three runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four.

The Wind Surge opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first.  In the bottom half of the inning, the Cardinals responded.  Bryan Torres singled before R.J. Yeager hit a two-run bomb to left-center field.  Jimmy Crooks singled.  Ramon Mendoza also hit a two-run blast to right-center to extend the lead to 4-1.

R.J. Yeager

Ramon Mendoza

Roby gave up a two-run homer to left-center field in the top of the fifth that cut Springfield’s lead to 4-3.  The Cardinals added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.  Torres led off with a single and stole second.  A groundout from Nathan Church advanced Torres to third, and Yeager grounded out to allow Torres to cross home to increase the lead to 5-3.

Torres went 2-for-4, scoring twice.  Yeager went 1-for-4, a home run with three RBI and scoring once.  Mendoza was 1-for-3, a home run with two RBI and scoring once.  The Cardinals were outhit eight to seven while recording no walks and two strikeouts.

On the basepaths, Torres stole two bases, and Chandler Redmond stole one, while Chris Rotondo was caught stealing second.

On the pitching side, Matt Svanson pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing no hits and no walks.  Andre Granillo threw two innings, giving up two hits and one walk while striking out one to record his first save this season.  Springfield yielded eight hits and five walks while striking out five.

Sunday’s game: vs. Wichita, RHP Edwin Nuñez (0-0, 3.00) vs. RHP A.J. Alexey (0-1, 13.50) 1:05 CT.

Peoria 3, Beloit 0

The Peoria Chiefs (5-3) shut out the Beloit Sky Carp (3-4, MIA) 3-0 at Dozer Park on Saturday and clinched the series. Starter Hancel Rincón pitched 5 2/3 innings, yielding no runs on four hits while walking two and striking out four to earn his first High-A win.

Hancel Rincón

The Chiefs struck first in the bottom of the third.  Osvaldo Tovalin was hit by a pitch before Dakota Harris and Won-Bin Cho singled to load the bases.  Alex Iadisernia’s double plated two runs to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead.

Alex Iadisernia

Peoria added an insurance run in the seventh.  Iadisernia and Zach Levenson singled.  With two away, Leonardo Bernal doubled to left field to score Iadisernia and extend the lead to 3-0.

Iadisernia went 2-for-4, two RBI, and a run scored.  Anyelo Encarnacion was 2-for-4.  Bernal went 1-for-3, an RBI, and a walk.  All three doubled. The Chiefs totaled three runs on nine hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts.

Benito Garcia

Reliever Benito Garcia threw 2 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on one hit while walking none and striking out four.  Joseph King picked up his second save, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth including a strikeout.  Peoria gave up five hits and two walks while striking out nine.

Sunday’s game: vs. Beloit, LHP Pete Hansen (0-0, 5.79) vs. TBA 2:05 CT.

Palm Beach 0 at Daytona 2

The Palm Beach Cardinals (5-3) were shut out by the Daytona Tortugas (4-4, CIN) 2-0 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Saturday.  Starter Chen-Wei Lin had a quality start of six innings but still took his first loss this season, allowing two runs on five hits while walking two and striking out five.

Chen-Wei Lin

The Tortugas opened the scoring in the bottom of the first without a hit.  The lead-off hitter walked, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and was driven in by another ground out to give Daytona the lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Daytona added an insurance run.  Lin gave up a one-out triple and then threw a wild pitch that plated the runner from third, giving the Tortugas a 2-0 lead.

Sammy Hernandez went 1-for-3 with a double, the only extra-base hit for the Cardinals, and a walk.  Tre Richardson went 1-for-2 with a walk.  Maikel Hernandez went 1-for-3.  Palm Beach totaled four hits and three walks while striking out 12 times and going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

On the basepaths, M. Hernandez got caught attempting to steal second.  In the field, Lizandro Espinoza recorded a throwing error.

On the pitching side, Zach Showalter pitched two scoreless relief innings, yielding two hits while walking one and striking out two.  The Cardinals allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Sunday’s game: at Daytona, RHP Jose Davila (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA 4:05 CT.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 13, 2024

photo: Quinn Mathews (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

On Friday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 6-1 as Springfield and Peoria swept doubleheaders. Palm Beach lefty Quinn Mathews earned his first career win by throwing five scoreless one-hit innings with 11 strikeouts. Among many other standouts are Gordon Graceffo, Tink Hence, William Sullivan and Dakota Harris.

Results for the games played on Friday, April 12.

Memphis 6, Nashville 0 (Game 1, 7 innings)

The Memphis Redbirds (6-6) shut out the Nashville Sounds (5-7) 6-0 in the first double-header game at AutoZone Park on Friday. Starter Gordon Graceffo pitched five shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out seven to earn his first win this season.

Gordon Graceffo

The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning.  Thomas Saggese led off with a single, and César Prieto singled, Saggese advanced to third and Prieto went to second on a throwing error by the catcher.  Alfonso Rivas III doubled to left field to score both runners, giving the Redbirds the lead.  Moisés Gómez walked.  Jared Young singled, scoring Rivas III and advancing Gómez to third.  The opposing pitcher balked, allowing Gómez to score.  Nick Raposo’s two-run blast to left field made the score 6-0.

Nick Raposo

Rivas III went 1-for-3, scoring once with two RBI.  Young also went 1-for-3, scoring once with one RBI.  Raposo went 1-2, a home run, and scored once with two RBI.  The Redbirds totaled six runs on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts while going 3-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

In relief, Nick Robertson pitched two innings, allowing no runs and no hits while walking one and striking out one to close the game.  The Redbirds yielded three hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Memphis 0, Nashville 9 (Game 2, 7 innings)

The Memphis Redbirds (6-7) were shut out by the Nashville Sounds (6-7) 9-0 in the second double-header game at AutoZone Park on Friday.  Starter Adam Kloffenstein took his second loss this season, pitching four innings, and giving up four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.

In the top of the second, Kloffenstein allowed a double and hit a batter to put runners on the corners.  He then gave up two consecutive singles to put the Redbirds down 2-0 early.  He retired the first two batters in the top of the third, but then he gave up a single and a two-run bomb to left field to put Memphis down 4-0.

Jacob Bosiokovic took the mound in the seventh and yielded two walks, a single, and a third walk to force in a run to make it 5-0.  With two outs in the inning, the Sounds hit a bases-clearing triple, and a wild pitch from Bosiokovic made the score 9-0.

Matt Koperniak went 2-for-2 with one walk.  Nick Dunn went 1-for-2 with one walk.  César Prieto went 1-for-3.  The Redbirds totaled four hits, three walks, and six strikeouts while going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Connor Thomas pitched two innings of relief, allowing one hit, no runs, and no walks while striking out three.  Memphis gave up nine runs on 10 hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts.

Saturday’s game: vs. Nashville, RHP Sem Robberse (2-0, 1.80) vs. LHP Aaron Ashby 3:05 CT.

Springfield 3, Wichita 1 (Game 1, 7 innings)

The Springfield Cardinals (6-0) edged the Wichita Wind Surge (1-5, MIN) 3-1 at Hammons Field on Friday.  Starter Tink Hence pitched five innings, yielding one run on three hits, walking none, and striking out eight while taking home his second win this season.

Tink Hence

The Wind Surge hit an early triple and they followed it up a few hitters later with a double to go up 1-0 in the top of the first.  The Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the inning.  Nathan Church and R.J. Yeager singled, and then they performed a double steal putting runners on second and third.  Jimmy Crooks’ sacrifice fly scored Church to tie the game at one apiece.

The Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the fifth.  Church singled, Crooks singled, advancing Church to third, Crooks stole second, and Matt Lloyd walked to load the bases.  Noah Mendlinger doubled to score Church and Crooks to make the score 3-1.

Noah Mendlinger

Church went 3-for-4, scoring twice and he was the only player on either team with a multi-hit game.  Crooks went 1-for-2, scoring once with one RBI and one strikeout.  Mendlinger went 1-for-3 with two RBI, including the game-winner, and one strikeout.  The Cardinals totaled three runs on eight hits with four walks and nine strikeouts while going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

On the basepaths, Church stole two bases, Crooks stole one, and Yeager stole one.

On the pitching side, Leonardo Taveras tossed one inning, yielding no hits and three walks while striking out one.  Andrew Marrero earned his first save this season by throwing one inning, giving up no runs on two hits while walking one and striking out one.  Cardinals pitching totaled 10 strikeouts while allowing five hits and four walks.

Springfield 10, Wichita 2 (Game 2, 7 innings)

The Springfield Cardinals (7-0) beat the Wichita Wind Surge (1-6) 10-2 to remain undefeated and extending the franchise record for opening a season. In his Springfield debut, starter Ian Bedell pitched five innings, allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts to earn his first win this season.

Ian Bedell

The Wind Surge took an early lead on a lead-off homer in the top of the first inning.  They added an insurance run via a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to make the score 2-0, but Bedell kept them from doing more damage.

The Cardinals came back in the third.  Ramon Mendoza singled, and Wade Stauss walked. Consecutive singles from Nathan Church, Noah Mendlinger, and R.J. Yeager each scored one run to give the Cardinals the lead.  Matt Lloyd singled to load the bases, and a wild pitch allowed Mendlinger to come home from third while the other runners advanced one base.  Jacob Buchberger walked to reload the bases.  Mendoza walked, scoring Yeager, and Stauss was hit by a pitch, forcing Lloyd in to make the score 6-2.

Yeager singled to open the bottom of the fourth.  He advanced to third on a wild pitch and a balk allowed Yeager to come home for the 7-2 lead.

Springfield added more insurance runs in the sixth.  Mendlinger singled and advanced to second on a fielding error by the left fielder, and Lloyd and Chandler Redmond walked to load the bases.  Mendoza’s walk scored Mendlinger.  Stauss hit an infield single to plate Lloyd, and Chris Rotondo walked to drive in another run, making the score 10-2.

Mendoza went 1-for-1, scoring once with two RBI and three walks.  Stauss went 1-for-2, scoring once with two RBI and one walk.  Mendlinger and Yeager each went 2-for-4, scoring twice with one RBI.  The Cardinals totaled 10 runs on eight hits with nine walks and six strikeouts.

On the basepaths, Redmond and Mendoza each stole one base.

On the pitching side, Jack Ralston pitched one inning, giving up no runs on no hits but with three walks and one strikeout.  Brandon Komar threw one inning, allowing no runs on no hits with no walks to close the game.  Cardinals pitching gave up two runs on three hits with six walks and eight strikeouts.

Saturday’s game: vs. Wichita, Tekoah Roby RHP (0-0, 7.20) vs. Pierson Ohl RHP (0-0, 3.60) 6:05 CT.

Peoria 12, Beloit 4 (Game 1, seven innings)

The Peoria Chiefs (3-3) dominated the Beloit Sky Carp (3-2, MIA) 12-4 at Dozer Park in Friday’s twin bill Game 1.  Starter Cooper Hjerpe pitched three innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out four.

The Sky Carp took charge early, as they led the game off with five consecutive hits for a 3-0 lead.  The Chiefs started cutting into the deficit in the bottom of the first.  Won-Bin Cho singled, Alex Iadisernia doubled, and Anyelo Encarnacion walked to load the bases.  William Sullivan’s single drove in Cho and Iadisernia to close the gap to 3-2.

In the bottom of the second, Brody Moore and Iadisernia walked, and Zach Levenson’s single scored Moore and moved Iadisernia to third.  Leonardo Bernal reached on a fielding error by the second baseman to plate Iadisernia.  Encarnacion was walked to load the bases, and the Sky Carp walked Sullivan for another run as Peoria took a 5-3 lead.

The Chiefs pulled away in the bottom of the third when Moore led off with another walk and Levenson was hit by the pitch.  Bernal singled to score Moore, Encarnacion walked to load the bases, and Sullivan singled to drive in Bernal and Levenson.  Michael Curialle walked to load the bases, and Baez and Moore walked to drive in two more runs.  Cho followed them with a single to left field that scored Curialle and Baez, and Cho and Moore advanced to second and third on a fielding error to make the score 12-3.

Beloit hit a leadoff home run in the fourth, and neither team scored after that.

William Sullivan

Sullivan went 2-for-2 with a walk, five RBI and a run scored. Moore went 1-for-1 with three walks, scoring once with an RBI.  Cho went 2-for-5 scoring twice with two RBI.  The Chiefs totaled 12 runs on nine hits, including one for extra bases, 11 walks and seven strikeouts.

Reliever Zane Mills took home his first win this season, throwing two innings with one run scored on one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts.  Tyler Bradt pitched two scoreless innings with one walk and two strikeouts while not yielding a hit.

Peoria 6, Beloit 2 (Game 2, 7 innings)

The Peoria Chiefs (4-3) defeated the Beloit Sky Carp (3-3) 6-2 for the doubleheader sweep at Dozer Park on Friday.  Starter Cade Winquest pitched four innings, yielding two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out three.

Cade Winquest

The Chiefs opened the scoring in the bottom of the second.  Brody Moore hit a leadoff triple.  Darlin Moquete’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Moore to put the Chiefs up 1-0.

In the top of the third, Winquest gave up a double and an RBI single.  Peoria responded in the bottom half of the inning.  With two outs, William Sullivan doubled to left field, and Moore followed with a double of his own to left field, scoring Sullivan to make it 2-1.

The Sky Carp tied the game again in the fourth against Winquest after a walk, a groundout and an RBI single.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth.  Moore reached first on a fielding error by the second basemen, Moquete singled and both runners advanced an extra base due to a throwing error, and Joshua Baez walked.  After two strikeouts, Dakota Harris’s bases-clearing double made the score 5-2.  Alex Iadisernia added an insurance run with a single to right field to plate Harris.

Dakota Harris

Moore went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.  Iadisernia went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.  Harris went 1-for-4 with a run scored, three runs driven in, and a walk.  The Chiefs totaled six runs on nine hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.  They also went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

On the basepaths, Won-Bin Cho had the lone stolen base in this game.

Roy Garcia took home his first win this season, allowing one hit in two innings of relief while walking one batter and striking out three.  Tanner Jacobson closed out the game, pitching one inning, allowing no hits, no runs, and no walks.

Saturday’s game: vs. Beloit, Hancel Rincon RHP (0-0, 4.91) vs. TBA 7:05 CT.

Palm Beach 4 at Daytona 0

The Palm Beach Cardinals (5-2) shut out the Daytona Tortugas (3-4, CIN) 4-0 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Friday.  Starter Quinn Mathews dominated the Tortugas, pitching five innings, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out 11, giving him his first professional win.

Quinn Mathews

The Cardinals scored the winning run in the top of the fourth.  Ross Friedrick walked, and Michael Villarroel singled to put runners on first and second.  Chase Davis’s three-run homer to left-center field put the Cardinals up 3-0. It was the 2023 first-rounder’s second blast in two nights.

Chase Davis

Palm Beach added an insurance run in the fifth by capitalizing on Tortugas mistakes.  Jose Cordoba reached on a throwing error by the third basemen, Kade Kretzschmar walked, and Friedrick hit an RBI single to score Cordoba.

Friedrick went 1-for-3, scoring once with an RBI while walking once.  Davis went 1-for-4, a home run, scoring once with three runs driven in.  Chase Adkison went 3-for-4 while striking out once.  The Cardinals totaled four runs on seven hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.

Benjamin Arias

Reliever Benjamin Arias pitched the final four innings, allowing no runs on two hits while walking one, hitting two batters, and striking out two.  Palm Beach only allowed three hits and one walk with 13 strikeouts.

Saturday’s game: at Daytona, RHP Chen-Wei Lin (0-0, 4.50) vs. TBA 5:35 CT.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 12, 2024

photo: Nathan Church (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-1 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield outfielder Nathan Church, hit a go-ahead three-run home run. Other standouts include Luken Baker, Cesar Prieto, Michael McGreevy, Chandler Redmond and Miguel Villarroel.

Results for the games played on Thursday, April 11.

Memphis 6, Nashville 1

The Memphis Redbirds (5-6) beat the Nashville Sounds (5-6, MIL), 6-1, in a longball-filled game at AutoZone Park on Thursday.

The Redbirds led the scoring in the bottom of the first.  José Fermín and Thomas Saggese singled to put two on with two outs.  Luken Baker’s three-run bomb to left field put Memphis up 3-0 early.

Luken Baker

In the bottom of the fifth, Fermín doubled and then stole third.  Jared Young walked, and Saggese’s sacrifice fly scored Fermín to make it 4-0.  César Prieto hit one deep to right field for a two-run homer to make it 6-0.

César Prieto

Memphis manager Ben Johnson brought John King in to pitch the ninth inning.  He gave up a home run to the first batter he faced to lose the shutout.  However, the lefty ended the game with three straight outs to seal the Redbirds’ win.

Fermín went 2-for-3, scoring twice.  Baker went 1-for-4, a home run, and scored once with three RBI.  Prieto went 1-for-4, also a home run, with two runs driven in. The Redbirds were outhit 9-5 with four walks, two strikeouts, and three extra-base hits.

Michael McGreevy

Starter Michael McGreevy pitched 6 2/3 innings, yielding no runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts.  Kyle Leahy added 1 1/3 innings, giving up no runs on three hits, one walk and two strikeouts.  The Redbirds allowed one run on nine hits while walking two and striking out six.

Friday’s games: vs. Nashville, RHP Gordon Graceffo (0-2, 9.39) vs. Carlos F. Rodriguez (0-2, 6.43) 6:05 CT (Game 1), RHP Adam Kloffenstein (0-1, 7.56) vs. Tobias Myers (0-1, 2.79) (Game 2)

Springfield 7, Wichita 6 (10 innings)

The Springfield Cardinals (5-0) defeated the Wichita Wind Surge (1-4, MIN) in 10 innings at Hammons Field on Thursday. The walk off extended Springfield’s best-ever start to a season.

The Wind Surge’s three consecutive singles in the first scored the first run of the game against Alex Cornwell.  The Cardinals responded in the fourth with R.J. Yeager’s moonshot to center field to tie the game at one.

Cornwell walked the first batter in the fifth, and Ryan Shreve replaced him.  Two batters later, Shreve gave up a two-run homer to put Wichita up 3-1.

Springfield responded in the bottom half of the inning with five runs.  Chris Rotondo singled, and Jeremy Rivas walked to set Nathan Church up for his three-run go-ahead home run to center field.  Yeager, Chandler Redmond, and Jacob Buchberger walked to load the bases.  Noah Mendlinger’s single to left field scored Yeager and Redmond to make it 6-3.

Nathan Church

Matt Svanson relieved Shreve in the seventh. He yielded one run via a single and one in the eighth on a home run.  Andre Granillo was asked to close the game in the ninth, but gave up a bomb to right, tying the game at six apiece and taking a blown save.

Granillo held the Wind Surge scoreless in the top of the 10th, thanks to Jimmy Crooks catching the automatic runner while he was attempting to steal third.  In the home 10th, Redmond singled to right field, scoring the extra-inning runner Yeager with the walk off 7-6 win for Springfield.

Chandler Redmond

On the hitting side, Church went 2-for-5 including a home run with three RBI.  Yeager went 1-for-4, scoring three times, one run driven in, and one walk.  Redmond went 1-for-4 with an RBI, scoring once, and a walk.  The Cardinals totaled seven runs on eight hits with seven walks while only striking out once.

On the pitching side, Cornwell pitched four innings, giving up two runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out two.  Granillo took the win, charged with one run in two innings on one hit with three strikeouts.  The Cardinals yielded 12 hits, three of which were home runs, three walks, and struck out 10.

Friday’s games: vs. Wichita, Tink Hence (1-0, 0.00) vs. Marco Raya (0-0, 3.00) 5:05 CT (Game 1), Ian Bedell vs. Travis Adams (1-0, 0.00) (Game 2)

Peoria vs. Beloit (postponed)

Due to inclement weather, Thursday’s home game between Peoria (2-3) and Beloit (3-1) was postponed.  It will be made up as part of a double-header on Friday, April 12.

Friday’s games: vs. Beloit, LH Cooper Hjerpe (0-0, 13.50) vs. LH Cade Gibson (0-0, 0.00) 5:30 CT (Game 1), RH Cade Winquest (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Karson Milbrandt (Game 2)

Palm Beach 7 at Daytona 8

The Palm Beach Cardinals fell to the Daytona Tortugas (CIN) in a back-and-forth battle that ended in a walk off at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Thursday.

In his professional debut, starter Jason Savacool pitched four innings, allowing one run on two hits while walking three and striking out four.

Jason Savacool

The Tortugas broke the ice first in the bottom of the fourth when Savacool balked in the game’s first run.  The Cardinals responded in the fifth when Brayden Jobert’s home run to right field tied the game at one.

Palm Beach took the lead in the top of the sixth with a leadoff bomb to right field by Chase Davis, the first home run of his career. The lead was short-lived as Angel Cuenca allowed a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to put the Tortugas up 3-2.

The Cardinals continued the back-and-forth with two more runs in the seventh.  Miguel Villarroel tripled to lead off the inning, and Sammy Hernandez added an RBI triple.  Jobert’s infield single scored Hernandez to put Palm Beach back on top.

However, reliever Wilmer Ortega gave up another two-run blast to right field as the Tortugas recaptured the lead.

The seesaw game did not end there.  Jose Cordoba singled to start a two-out rally in the top of the eighth inning, and the next pitch hit Ross Friedrick to put runners on first and second.  Villarroel’s second triple of the day scored Friedrick and Cordoba to put the Cardinals up 6-5.  Kade Kretzschmar added an insurance run with his single to right field.

Miguel Villarroel

Augusto Calderon came in to close the game in the bottom of the ninth.  He was greeted by a single and a homer to right field from the first two batters to re-tie the game at seven apiece. Calderon retired the next two batters but a blast over right field wall meant a Tortugas walk off win.

On the hitting side, Villarroel went 2-for-4 with two triples, two runs driven in, and scoring twice.  Jobert went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a strikeout.  Hernandez went 2-for-4, scoring once and driving in one.  The Cardinals totaled 11 hits, five of which were extra-base hits, no walks, but struck out 10 times.

On the pitching side, Luis Gastelum was the only pitcher unscored upon, throwing one inning and allowing one hit while striking out one batter.  Calderon took the loss, yielding three runs on three hits while striking out one in 2/3 of an inning.  The Cardinals gave up eight runs on nine hits, four of which were home runs, and four walks while striking out 10.

Friday’s game: at Daytona, LH Quinn Mathews (0-0, 2.70) vs. TBA 5:35 CT.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 8, 2024

photo: Jose Davila (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-2 on Sunday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Palm Beach RHS Jose Davila, spun five perfect innings with nine strikeouts. Other standouts include Sem Robberse, Aaron McKeithan, Trent Baker and Alex Iadisernia.

Results for the games played on Sunday, April 7.

Memphis 3 at Indianapolis 2

The Memphis Redbirds (4-5) squeaked out a 3-2 win over the Indians (5-4, PIT) on Sunday at Victory Field. Starter Sem Robberse took the win, pitching five innings, allowing one run on six hits and one walk while striking out five.

Sem Robberse

Memphis got on the board in the opening frame. Rehabber Lars Nootbaar drew a walk, followed by a single from Thomas Saggese. A sacrifice bunt from Alfonso Rivas III advanced the runners to second and third, allowing Luken Baker to hit a sacrifice fly to score Nootbaar. The Indians responded in the bottom of the first with two consecutive singles to put runners on the corners. A sacrifice fly tied the game at one apiece.

Neither team scored again until the sixth, when Saggese led off with a solo homer to left-center field to put the Redbirds up by one. That same part of the lineup scored Memphis’ final run in the top of the eighth. Nootbaar led off with a single, Saggese was hit by a pitch, and Rivas III walked to set up Baker’s second sacrifice fly representing the winning run.

After a catcher’s interference call in the bottom of the eighth loaded the bases, a groundout scored the final Indianapolis run. From there, Chris Roycroft got the third out on a strikeout, stranding runners at second and third. In the bottom of the ninth, the Indians threatened again as Ryan Loutos walked three Indians to load the bases with two outs. But the closer forced a groundout for the save and Memphis’ win.

Lars Nootbaar

On the hitting side, Nootbaar went 1-for-3 in what may be his final rehab appearance, drawing two walks and scoring twice. Saggese went 2-for-3, including his homer in the sixth. Baker went hitless in his two at-bats but drove in two crucial runs. The Redbirds totaled six hits and four walks while only striking out five times while going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

On the pitching side, Memphis totaled seven strikeouts and seven walks, including an intentional walk in the bottom of the ninth.

On the basepaths, Jared Young stole second once while also getting caught once. In the field, Nick Raposo committed the only Redbirds error.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Nashville (MIL), TBA vs. TBA 6:45 CT.

Springfield 8 at Arkansas 1

The Springfield Cardinals (3-0) topped the Travelers (0-3, SEA) by a score of 8-1 on Sunday at Dickey-Stephens Park. Starter Edwin Nuñez pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits, one walk, and striking out two.

Springfield scored first in the second. Matt Lloyd drew a leadoff walk, and after Jacob Buchberger grounded into a force out of Matt Lloyd at second, Chandler Redmond walked to put runners at first and second. Aaron McKeithan hit a long ball out to left field to put the Cardinals up by three early.

Aaron McKeithan

The Travelers responded in the home second with back-to-back singles that set up their cleanup hitter’s double against Nuñez, scoring their only run. However, R.J. Yeager responded with a home run in the third, crushing the ball to left field to put Springfield up 4-1.

In the fourth, McKeithan, Ramon Mendoza, Jeremy Rivas, and Bryan Torres hit consecutive singles to add another insurance run to make it 5-1. The McKeithan, Mendoza, and Rivas trio did the same thing again in the sixth, bringing Torres up to the plate with the bases loaded, and he drew a walk. Yeager drove in two more runs to bring the score to 8-1, where it remained for the rest of the game.

Trent Baker

Trent Baker pitched five innings of relief, earning the win with no runs allowed on four hits and two walks while striking out two. Andrew Marrero added one inning, allowing no hits, no runs, with two strikeouts.

On the hitting side, McKeithan went 3-for-4 including a home run, with three RBI and three runs scored. Yeager went 2-for-4 with three runs driven in, scoring once and drawing one walk. Rivas went 3-for-5 while scoring once and striking out once. The Cardinals had 13 hits and six walks, and they went 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

Buchberger had the Cardinals’ lone stolen base in the second inning. Yeager was thrown out while attempting to steal second in the fifth.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Wichita (MIN), Max Rajcic RHP (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA 6:35 CT.

Peoria 4 at Wisconsin 5

The Peoria Chiefs (1-2) lost a close one to the Timber Rattlers (2-1, MIL) by a score of 5-4 on Sunday at Fox Cities Stadium. Starter Pete Hansen pitched 4 ⅔ innings, giving up seven hits, three runs, and two walks and one hit by pitch.

The Chiefs opened the scoring in the top of the second after Alex Iadisernia doubled to lead off. He advanced to third on a groundout and was driven in by Anyelo Encarnacion’s single to center field.

However, the lead was short-lived. Wisconsin scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning with a single and a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1. The Chiefs tied the game as William Sullivan homered to center field in the top of the fourth.

Peoria recaptured the lead in the fifth. Leonardo Bernal drew a two-out walk to bring up Iadisernia, whose second double of the day drove in Bernal and make the game 3-2. Once again, the lead did not last a full inning as the Timber Rattlers had a double and RBI single to drive in the tying run.

Alex Iadisernia

Wisconsin continued to add pressure, as they scored two more in the sixth on four singles and a hit by pitch after Tanner Jacobson replaced Hansen.

The Chiefs tried to rally in the ninth. Darlin Moquete walked and Won Bin-Cho’s one-out double put runners on second and third. Brody Moore’s sacrifice fly brought up Bernal with the tying run on second, but he grounded out to end the game at 5-4.

Iadisernia went 3-for-4 with three doubles, one run driven in, and scoring once. Encarnacion went 1-for-2 with two walks while driving in one. Sullivan went 1-for-2 as well with one walk, one run scored, and one RBI. The Chiefs totaled eight hits, five of which were extra-base hits, six walks, and left eight men on base.

On the pitching side, Jacobson took his first loss of the season, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out one in 1 ⅓ innings. Joseph King and Benito Garcia shut down the Timber Rattlers in the eighth and ninth innings with two combined strikeouts and no runs allowed. The Chiefs gave up 14 hits with seven strikeouts while hitting three different batters .

Tuesday’s game: vs. Beloit (MIA), Inohan Paniagua RHP vs. TBA 6:05 CT.

Palm Beach 3, Jupiter 4

The Cardinals (2-1) fell to the Hammerheads (1-2, MIA) by a score of 4-3 at Roger Dean on Sunday in the third and final game of the series. Jose Davila dominated the first five innings for the Cardinals, allowing no hits, no runs, and nine strikeouts while retiring all 15 batters he faced.

José Dávila

Jupiter opened the scoring in the sixth without a hit on a walk, a throwing error by relief pitcher Henry Gomez and an infield ground out.

Palm Beach took the lead in the bottom of the sixth without a hit. Chase Davis, Tre Richardson, Jose Cordoba, and Miguel Villarroel all drew walks to tie the game at one. Johnfrank Salazar grounded out to the third baseman, allowing Richardson to score.

The Hammerheads retook the lead when Angel Cuenca, who replaced Gomez, gave up a single and a two-run shot to left field, putting the Cardinals down 3-2.

However, the home team responded in the eighth with singles from Kade Kretzschmar and Cordoba. Villarroel delivered a single to left field, scoring Adari Grant, who pinch-ran for Kretzschmar.

Asked to protect the tie game, Randel Clemente balked in the top of the ninth with a runner on third, allowing the game-winning run to cross the plate for the Hammerheads.

Richardson went 1-for-3 with one walk and scoring once. Cordoba went 2-for-3 including a double and one walk. Villarroel went 1-for-3 with a walk while driving in two runs. The Cardinals totaled six hits and six walks while going just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

On the pitching side, the Cardinals gave up four hits and three walks while striking out 14 Hammerheads. Clemente took his first loss, allowing one run on no hits while walking two.

Tuesday’s game: at Daytona (CIN), RHP Gerardo Salas vs. TBA 5:35 CT.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 5, 2024

photo: César Prieto (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 0-1 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, second baseman César Prieto, had three hits including a three-run home run in Memphis’ 7-5 road loss. Thomas Saggese and Matt Koperniak had two hits apiece. Friday is Opening Day for Springfield, Peoria and Palm Beach.

Results for the game played on Thursday, April 4.

Memphis 5 at Indianapolis 7

The Memphis Redbirds (3-2) fell to the Indianapolis Indians (PIT, 2-3) in a wet and delayed Game 2 of the road series on Thursday night at Victory Field.

In his Cardinals system debut, starter Victor Santos received the loss, pitching five innings, giving up two runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out one.

The Indians scored one run in the second to take the early lead.  However, Alfonso Rivas III tripled in the fourth, setting up Moisés Gómez’ sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game.  Santos gave up his second run in the fifth.  In relief, Josh James struggled, yielding five runs on three hits and two walks in the sixth inning.

The Redbirds tried to rally in the ninth.  Jared Young walked and Matt Koperniak doubled to set up César Prieto, who hit a three-run home run to right field.  Thomas Saggese drew a walk, and Luken Baker doubled, scoring Saggese.  Rivas III came to the plate with two outs as the tying run but flied out to center to end the game.

César Prieto

Memphis totaled nine hits and struck out ten times, eight of which came in the first five innings.  The Redbirds went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.

Prieto went 3-for-5 with a home run, three RBI, and two strikeouts.  Koperniak went 2-for-4, including a double, scoring once, and drawing one walk.  Rivas III went 1-for-3 with a triple, scoring once and walking once. Saggese had two hits, a walk and a run scored.

Rehabbing St. Louis outfielder Lars Nootbaar played 7 ½ innings in right field and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

On the basepaths, Young swiped one bag.  On the fielding side, The Redbirds threw out a runner at the plate to end the fifth inning and save a run from scoring. The play went left fielder Rivas III to shortstop Saggese to catcher Nick Raposo, with Rivas getting the outfield assist.

Friday’s game: at Indianapolis, RHP Michael McGreevy vs. RHP Paul Skenes 6:05 p.m. CT.

Friday is also Opening Day for the Cardinals’ other three full-season affiliates:

  • Springfield at Arkansas (SEA), RH Tink Hence vs. Logan Evans, 7:05 p.m. CT
  • Peoria at Wisconsin (MIL), LH Cooper Hjerpe vs. TBA, 6:40 p.m. CT
  • Palm Beach vs. Jupiter (MIA), LH Quinn Mathews vs. TBA, 6:30 p.m. ET

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 1, 2024

photo: Ryan Loutos (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 0-1 on Sunday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, reliever Ryan Loutos, threw two perfect innings in Memphis’ 6-2 home loss. After hitting five home runs on Saturday, the offense was held to just three singles, two from Matt Koperniak.

Results for the game played on Sunday, March 31.

Memphis 2, Charlotte 6

On Easter Sunday, the Memphis Redbirds (2-1) fell to the Charlotte Knights (CWS) by a 6-2 score in the final game of the season-opening series at AutoZone Park.

The Redbirds trailed from the start. After a sacrifice fly gave the Knights the lead, a fielding error by second baseman Nick Dunn allowed two more runs to cross the plate in the top of the first.

Memphis closed the deficit to one in the fifth. Nick Raposo walked, Dunn singled, and Arquímedes Gamboa drew a free pass to load the bases. Mike Antico hit into a fielder’s choice at second, retiring Gamboa and scoring Raposo. After Antico swiped second, his third steal of the young season, José Fermín grounded out to the shortstop, plating Dunn. That made it 3-2 for the visitors.

The Redbirds allowed two more runs in the eighth and one in the ninth while not getting a hit in the last three innings to lose the game 6-2. As the Indians pulled away late, reliever Nick Robertson was charged with two runs, one earned due to an errant throw by Fermin from third base, with the final score allowed by Connor Thomas.

Ryan Loutos

Starter Gordon Graceffo took the tough loss, pitching five innings and allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits while striking out six. In relief, Ryan Loutos pitched two perfect innings, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out two.

The Redbirds’ offense drew eight walks but struck out eight times. After they hit five home runs on Saturday, Memphis managed just three hits, all singles, one from Dunn and two from Matt Koperniak. The Redbirds went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding eight runners on base.

Matt Koperniak

Fermín and Antico drove in one run each. It was Fermin’s seventh RBI in the three-game set. After batting at the bottom of the card in Games 1-2, Fermin was promoted to the second spot on Sunday as Thomas Saggese was given the day off.

The Redbirds are off Monday.

Tuesday’s game: at Indianapolis Indians (PIT), TBA vs. TBA, 5:35 CT.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – March 30, 2024

photo: Jose Fermin (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-0 on Saturday. For the second consecutive day, The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day is Memphis 2B José Fermín, who was 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. Other standouts in the five-home run outburst include Jared Young, Pedro Pagés and César Prieto.

Results for game played on Saturday, March 30.

Memphis 10, Charlotte 3

The Memphis Redbirds won back-to-back games to start their season with a 10-3 long ball-powered win over the Charlotte Knights (CWS) on Saturday at AutoZone Park.

The scoring opened in the bottom of the second after Luken Baker drew a walk when Jared Young tripled to right field to score Baker. Then Pedro Pagés shot a two-run home run over the left field wall. A few batters later, José Fermín drove one deep to left center to put the Redbirds up by four.

The Knights scored two in the top of the fourth, but Young responded in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run. After Pagés’ double, César Prieto’s bomb to right field gave the Redbirds a five-run lead at 7-2.

Jared Young

The Knights scored another run in the top of the fifth, but the Redbirds answered in the bottom of the sixth. Moisés Gómez singled, and Prieto drew a walk, setting the table for Fermín’s three-run shot to center to make the score 10-3.

José Fermín

Young and Pagés each went 2-for-4 including a home run and two RBI. Pages doubled and Young tripled. Prieto homered, walked and drove in two. Fermín, St. Louis’ final cut this spring, was 2-for-4 with two homers while driving in four on the day. The second baseman has plated six runs in his first two games.

Starter Adam Kloffenstein pitched four innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out four. Josh James took home his first win of the season, pitching the fifth inning and allowing one run on one hit. Kyle Leahy, Jason Bosiokovic and Chris Roycroft no-hit the Knights over the final four frames.

The Redbirds totaled eight hits, all of which came from the middle or bottom of their lineup, and four walks. Seven of the hits went for extra bases, including five home runs.

Sunday’s game: vs. Charlotte, RHP Gordon Graceffo vs. RHP Chad Kuhl, 2:05 CT.

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