All posts by Marilyn Green

St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of August 19-25

photo: Dakota Hudson (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals went 6-1 on the week to extend their division lead to 2 1/2 games.  Dakota Hudson is pitching very well along with Jack Flaherty at the head of the rotation. Our weekly history feature looks back at former franchise saves leader Lee Smith.


Game recaps

Monday, August 19 – Cardinals 3, Brewers 0

Dakota Hudson (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals blanked the Brewers in the first game of a three game series in St. Louis on Monday.  Starter Dakota Hudson pitched 6 2/3 scoreless, no-hit innings, striking out seven and walking four.  Giovanny Gallegos tossed one scoreless inning of relief but gave up a hit to end the team no-hitter.  Andrew Miller pitched the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.  Hudson earned his 12th win, and Miller his fifth save.

The Cardinals scored two runs in the fifth on a force out by Kolten Wong and single by Dexter Fowler.  Paul DeJong hit a solo home run in the sixth for the third and final run.  No Cardinal had multiple hits.

DeJong made a fielding error.


Tuesday, August 20 – Cardinals 9, Brewers 4

Dexter Fowler (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals defeated the Brewers 9-4 in Game 2 to take the series.  Dexter Fowler drove in four, on a three-run double and a bases-loaded walk. The Fowler double was a bloop to short left field that three Brewers converged on and none of them caught.  Marcell Ozuna went 3-for-5 and Yadier Molina went 2-for-3 with an RBI.   Harrison Bader tripled in his first at bat in his first game back from a stint with the Memphis Redbirds. He also had an RBI on a bases loaded walk and walked three times, the first time he had walked three times in a game.  Kolten Wong drove in two on a seventh inning single.

Starter Michael Wacha pitched four scoreless innings, allowed three hits, struck out five and walked one.  Ryan Helsley surrendered one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief.   John Gant allowed one run in the sixth while recording only one out.  Tyler Webb got the final out of the sixth and was awarded the win.  Gant was charged with a blown save.  Andrew Miller tossed a scoreless seventh.  John Brebbia relinquished two runs in the final two innings of relief.

On the base paths, Wong stole his 17th base of the season.


Wednesday, August 21 – Cardinals 3, Brewers 5 (7 ½ innings)

The Cardinals did not complete the three game sweep, instead losing to the Brewers in a rain-shortened game 5-3.  The game was called following a lengthy rain delay after 7 ½ innings had been completed.

The Brewers were up 5-0 going into the bottom of the fourth, requiring the Cardinals to play catch up.   In the fifth inning, Dexter Fowler plated a run on a single, then Yairo Munoz, having reached on a single prior to Fowler’s single, stole third base, then scored on a throwing error.  Yadier Molina doubled in a run in the sixth to make it 5-3.  Neither team scored in the seventh, the Brewers went scoreless in the top of the eighth, and then the rain came.

Starter Adam Wainwright pitched five innings and gave up five runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked four.  Junior Fernandez tossed two scoreless innings of relief. Tyler Webb pitched a scoreless eighth. Wainwright took the loss.

In the field, Fernandez made an error on a pickoff.


Thursday, August 22 – Cardinals 6, Rockies 5

In the first of a four-game series, the Cardinals edged the Rockies 6-5 on Thursday.  All six St. Louis runs came via two-run long balls.  Marcell Ozuna hit his in the fourth, followed by Paul DeJong in the sixth, and Dexter Fowler in the seventh.  Paul Goldschmidt and Tommy Edman were each 2-for-4.

Starter Miles Mikolas pitched six innings and gave up five runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out three.  Dominic Leone tossed a scoreless seventh.  Giovanny Gallegos and Andrew Miller combined to pitch a scoreless eighth, and Carlos Martinez hurled a scoreless ninth.

Harrison Bader and Kolten Wong each made throwing errors.


Friday, August 23 – Cardinals 8, Rockies 3

Jack Flaherty (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals again defeated the Rockies in Game 2 of the series on Friday.  Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run home run in the first inning for the only long ball of the game.  Ozuna was 2-for-3 with three RBI.  Kolten Wong got an RBI on a bases loaded hit by pitch.  Harrison Bader singled in the fifth and two runs scored on a throwing error.  Jack Flaherty’s sac fly scored Bader.  Paul Goldschmidt was 2-for-5, Yadier Molina was 3-for-5, and Tommy Edman was 2-for-5.  Paul DeJong singled to score a run in the sixth.

Starter Jack Flaherty pitched six scoreless innings, allowed three hits, fanned nine and walked one to earn his eighth win.  John Brebbia pitched a scoreless seventh, and Tyler Webb tossed a scoreless eighth.  John Gant surrendered three runs, two earned, in the ninth.

Molina was charged with a passed ball.


Harrison Bader (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Saturday, August 24 – Cardinals 6, Rockies 0

In the third game of the series, the Cardinals blanked the Rockies 6-0.  Starter Dakota Hudson pitched six scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out two and walked three. Tyler Webb and Giovanny Gallegos combined for two scoreless innings.  Dominic Leone closed with a run-free ninth.

Marcell Ozuna plated two runs on a single in the first inning and was 2-for-3 in the game.  Harrison Bader hit a two-run home run in the second inning.  In the fifth, Paul DeJong’s sac fly added another score.  Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo home run in the seventh.


Sunday, August 25 – Cardinals 11, Rockies 4

Ryan Helsley (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

St. Louis completed the four-game sweep with an 11-4 victory over the Rockies on Sunday.  Solo home runs by Matt Carpenter and Lane Thomas led the way.  Dexter Fowler drove in three on a bases loaded walk and a two run double. Tommy Edman plated two on a double and was 3-for-4.  Paul Goldschmidt was 2-for-4 with two RBI on a single.  Carpenter, playing for injured Kolten Wong, was 3-for-4 with the home run and an RBI single.

Starter Michael Wacha pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits.  The right hander fanned seven and walked two.  Ryan Helsley surrendered one unearned run in 2 1/3 innings of relief and picked up his first MLB win. John Brebbia tossed two scoreless frames.

Tommy Edman and Harrison Bader each stole a base.  Edman was also caught stealing.  Bader committed a fielding error – a rare dropped catch.


The Big Picture

The Cardinals finished the week with a record of 6-1.  The one loss was the rain-shortened game with the Brewers that was called after the top of the eighth.  St. Louis won two of three from the Brewers and swept the Rockies in a four-game series.  The Cardinals now sit in first place in the NL Central with a 2.5 game lead over the Cubs.

There is not a whole lot to complain about regarding the team’s performance during the week.  The lone loss was not a complete game therefore it is unknown whether the Cardinals could have come back to win had the game not been called for rain.  The offense performed well, and the starting pitching was fine as well.  Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson pitched especially well during the seven-game stretch.  Adam Wainwright had a shaky start in the loss on Wednesday.  The bullpen continues to be good with the lone exception being John Gant, who has not looked right of late.

Defense continues to be a strength as is base running.  There were uncharacteristic errors by Harrison Bader and Kolten Wong, the Cardinals’ best defensive players.  Wong suffered a foot injury in the Rockies series, though not seriously enough for an IL stint.  Bader returned from his demotion to Memphis on Tuesday, and his offense has been better.  He has a home run and a triple and has gotten on base quite a bit via the walk, with three walks in his first game back.  Matt Carpenter had a three hit game on Sunday.  The improved offense from Bader and Carpenter, who have been struggling offensively all season, bodes well for the remainder of the season if they can keep it up.

The Cardinals travel to Milwaukee to play three games with the Brewers starting on Monday.  The team then returns home to play the Reds over the weekend.  Continuing the good play in all facets of the game with these two NL Central teams can go a long way to cementing the Cardinals as a viable playoff team, especially with the up and down season the Cubs are having.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
St. Louis 71 58 0.550
Chicago 69 61 0.531 2.5
Milwaukee 67 63 0.515 4.5
Cincinnati 60 69 0.465 11
Pittsburgh 55 75 0.423 14

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.


Transactions 

There are no transactions to report.


Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60 day injured list. Cecil had begun a throwing program but had a setback.  He is unlikely to return to the roster this season.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • LF Tyler O’Neill (left wrist strain) was placed on the 10 day injured list retroactive to August 1. O’Neill was sent on a rehab assignment to Memphis on August 21.
  • LHP Tony Cingrani (left shoulder labrum surgery) was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31. Cingrani is out for the season and will become a free agent at the end of the season.  Cingrani will likely never throw a pitch for the Cardinals.
  • RF Jose Martinez (Right AC shoulder joint sprain) was placed on the 10 day injured list on August 12. Martinez received a cortisone shot and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on August 26.
  • Kolten Wong (right foot) was injured in the August 24 game when he fouled a ball off his right foot. Tests revealed no fracture and Wong is considered day to day.  He was not in the lineup on August 25.
  • LHP Austin Gomber (biceps) began his road back with a shaky 22-pitch outing at Palm Beach on Friday and will pitch next for Springfield. He could return to St. Louis when rosters expand on September 1.

Looking Ahead

Following the Rockies series, the Cardinals take a short trip to Milwaukee to play a three-game series beginning August 26. They end the month with a weekend series at home against Cincinnati.

Following the Reds series, the Giants come to Busch Stadium for a four-game set beginning Sept 2.  The Cardinals then travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates in a weekend series starting Sept 6.

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

This week’s Blast from the Past takes a brief look at the career of former Cardinals reliever Lee Smith, newly inducted to the Hall of Fame this year, and who reached a milestone during this past week in 1991 while playing for the Cardinals.

Lee Smith (Getty Images)

Lee Arthur Smith had an 18-year major league career as a pitcher, primarily a reliever, for eight different teams.  Smith debuted on September 1, 1980 with the Chicago Cubs, who drafted him in the second round in 1975.  Smith pitched for the Cubs from 1980-87 before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in December 1987. He was with the Sox until he was dealt to the Cardinals on May 4, 1990.

Smith pitched for the Cardinals for slightly less than four full seasons, compiling a record of 15-20 with an ERA of 2.90.  Most importantly, Smith posted 160 saves for the Cardinals.

On August 25, 1991, Smith reached the milestone of 300 career saves, at that time, the fifth major league pitcher to do so.  Smith reached 40 saves during that 1991 season, for the first time in his career.  He went on to break Bruce Sutter’s Cardinals record of 45 saves, and with a career high 47 saves, also claimed the league save record for a single season.

The Cardinals traded Smith to the New York Yankees on August 31, 1993.  At the time, Smith was the all-time saves leader for the Cardinals, with 160 saves, which he held until Jason Isringhausen passed him with 161 on June 13, 2006.

Smith retired after he was released by his eighth team, the Montreal Expos, on September 25, 1997.  When he retired he held the career major league saves record with 478 saves.  That record was broken in 2006 by Trevor Hoffman, then with the San Diego Padres.  Despite losing his Cardinals and major league saves records, Smith still holds the Cubs career saves record of 180 saves.

Smith was not voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA after spending 15 years on the ballot. (He was grandfathered for 15 years eligibility in 2014 after the limit on the ballot was dropped to 10 years.)  Smith was voted in to the Hall of Fame by the Today’s Game Committee in December 2018 and was officially inducted in July 2019.

Smith currently serves as a roving minor league pitching instructor for the San Francisco Giants.


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Gulf Coast League Cardinals Notebook – 2019 Week 9


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 25, 2019

photo: Genesis Cabrera (Frank Ramirez/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-7 on Saturday. Our Player of the Day is Memphis record-tying left-hander pitcher Genesis Cabrera, with seven scoreless, one hit innings while striking out 12. Enmanuel Solano spun eight scoreless frames for playoff-hopeful State College.

Results for games played Saturday, August 24.


Memphis 4, Omaha 0

Genesis Cabrera (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds blanked the Omaha Storm Chasers 4-0 on Saturday behind a pitching gem from lefty starter Genesis Cabrera.  Cabrera pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed one hit, fanned 12 and walked two to earn his fifth win.  Cabrera tied the Pacific Coast League record with nine consecutive strikeouts from the third inning into the sixth inning, tying Alex Reyes’ league high set in 2018. Cabrera ended his historic night by retiring the last 15 Storm Chasers he faced.

In a non-save situation, Kodi Whitley closed the win with two scoreless innings of relief.

Edmundo Sosa led off the first inning with a two-run home run.  Ramon Urias added to the edge in the third with a sac fly.  A solo home run off the bat of Justin Williams in the fifth increased the lead to the final 4-0.  Sosa was 3-for-5 with two RBI.  Williams was 2-for-4, and Urias was 2-for-3.

On the base paths, Sosa was picked off first base.  In the field, Cabrera picked a runner off second base.

The late-streaking Redbirds (64-67) have won five straight games and 13 of their last 15. They are in second place in the PCL North, six games back of the Iowa Cubs with an elimination number of four.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Omaha, Daniel Ponce de Leon (7-4, 2.84) 2:05 CT.


Springfield 1 at Midland 6

Rayder Ascanio (Peoria Chiefs)

The Cardinals were overmatched by the Midland RockHounds on Saturday.  Springfield scored in the first inning on Rayder Ascanio’s RBI double but was shut down the remainder of the game.  Ascanio had the only extra base hit of six total hits, and no Cardinal had multiples.

Starter Alex FaGalde pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on nine hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked four.  Jacob Patterson followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Mitchell Osnowitz tossed a scoreless eighth.  FaGalde took the loss.

Kramer Robertson was picked off first base. Conner Capel made a fielding error, and Zach Kirtley had a missed catch error. Capel had an outfield assist at third.

The Cardinals are 28-33 in the second half, 58-73 overall, and are in third place in the Texas League North. Their elimination number is also four.

Sunday’s game:  at Midland, Tommy Parsons (4-4, 5.00) 2:00 CT.


Palm Beach 1, Fort Myers 4

Nick Dunn (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Cardinals were defeated by the Fort Myers Miracle by the score of 4-1 on Saturday. The lone Palm Beach run came home in the fourth inning when Nolan Gorman led off with a single and later scored on a force out by Michael Perri. The Cardinals managed four hits in total, with the only extra base hit a double by Nick Dunn, who was 2-for-4.

Starter Diego Cordero pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on eight hits. The left hander struck out five and walked two to take the loss, his sixth of the season.  Cole Aker surrendered two runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief.  Edgar Escobar tossed a scoreless ninth.

Dunn and Luken Baker both made fielding errors. Cordero and catcher Ivan Herrera each picked a runner off first base.

The Cardinals are 21-41 in the second half, 56-70 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South. Palm Beach has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Fort Myers, Edgar Gonzalez (6-14, 4.94) 12:00 pm CT.


Peoria 2 at Cedar Rapids 3

Josh Shaw (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs were edged by the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Saturday.  Peoria was held scoreless until the eighth inning when two runs scored on a wild pitch and a single by Josh Shaw enabled them to take a 2-1 lead. It was short-lived, as the Kernels came back in the ninth to walk it off 3-2.  The Chiefs had nine hits in total, but none went for extra bases.  Jonatan Machado went 2-for-5, as did Imeldo Diaz.  Brandon Riley was 2-for-4.

Starter Dalton Roach pitched seven innings and gave up one run on three hits.  The right hander fanned five.    Freddy Pacheco pitched the final 1 1/3 innings and surrendered the two runs in the ninth that handed Cedar Rapids the walk off win.  Pacheco was charged with the loss and the blown save.

Delvin Perez stole his 20th base of the season.  Shaw was picked off first base.  In the field, Pacheco made a fielding error.  Riley had an outfield assist at home plate.

The Chiefs are 19-42 in the second half, 49-81 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.  Peoria has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Sunday’s game:  at Cedar Rapids, Colin Schmid (6-6, 4.42) 2:05 CT.


State College 1 at Batavia 0

Enmanuel Solano (State College Spikes)

State College blanked the Batavia Muckdogs in a low scoring contest on Saturday.  Neither team scored until the seventh inning when State College broke the stalemate with an RBI double by Stanley Espinal.  The Spikes had three total hits and the double by Espinal was the only extra base hit.  Terry Fuller and David Vinsky both singled.

Starter Enmanuel Solano pitched eight scoreless innings, allowed four hits, struck out five and walked two to earn the win.  Eric Lex tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth save.

On the base paths, Andrew Warner was picked off caught stealing for the second time.  Donovan Williams was picked off first base. In the field, Brylie Ware made a throwing error.

The Spikes are 34-33 on the season and are in third place in the New York/Penn League Pinckney Division. State College is three games back with an elimination number of seven.

Sunday’s game:  vs. West Virginia, Scott Politz (3-3, 4.82) 5:05 CT.


Johnson City 4, Bristol 5

Chandler Redmond (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals were edged by the Bristol Pirates 5-4 on Saturday.  Johnson City scored four runs late but fell just short.  Singles by Victor Garcia and Mateo Gil plated a run each in the seventh inning.  Chandler Redmond blasted a two-run home run in the eighth.  The offense put together seven hits, but no Cardinal had multiple hits.

Starter Jake Sommers pitched four innings and gave up one run on six hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked two.   Blake Drake pitched a scoreless fifth.  Dylan Pearce surrendered three runs, one earned, in 2 1/3 innings of relief.  Walker Robbins allowed one unearned run in 1 2/3 innings pitched.  Pearce was the losing pitcher.

On the base paths, Malcom Nunez was caught stealing for the second time.  In the field, Carlos Soler made a fielding error.

Johnson City is 33-31 on the season and is in first place in the Appalachian League West by just ½ of a game.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Bristol, TBA 4:00 CT.


GCL Cardinals 5, GCL Mets 8

The Cardinals fell to the Mets in Jupiter on Saturday.  The Cardinal offense had nine hits and scored all five runs in the seventh inning.  Doubles by Joyser Garcia and Franklin Soto plated one and two runs respectively.  Tyler Reichenborn and Ramon Mendoza added RBI singles.  Reichenborn was 2-for-5.  Mendoza and Soto were both 2-for-4.

Starter Anthony Green pitched five innings and gave up four runs on seven hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked one.  Thomas Hart surrendered four runs in two innings of relief.  Roy Garcia tossed the final two scoreless innings.  Green took the loss.

On the base paths, Reichenborn was caught stealing for the fifth time.

The Cardinals are 20-31 on the season, are in last place in the GCL East, and have been eliminated from playoff contention. Five games remain in the 2019 season.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled.


DSL Cardinals Red 1 at DSL Brewers 8

The Cardinals Red were overwhelmed by the Brewers in an 8-1 let down on Saturday.  The only Red score came on a second inning solo home run by Fernando Brazoban.  Leadoff hitter Sander Mora went 2-for-4 with a double and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.

Starter Hancel Rincon pitched four innings and gave up two runs on four hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked two.  Luis Garcia surrendered three runs in 2/3 innings.  Brayan Ramirez tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Hemerson Cordero allowed one run in the seventh.  Ramon Fernandez relinquished two runs in the eighth.

On the base paths, Diego Velasquez and Bryan Matute each stole a base.  Velasquez was also caught stealing, as was Erick Thomas.  In the field, Brazoban made a fielding error.  Miguel Marcos had an outfield assist at second base.  Cordero picked a runner off first base.

The Cardinals Red finished 32-39 on the season, in sixth place in the San Pedro Division.


DSL Cardinals Blue 1, DSL Orioles2 3

The Cardinals Blue fell to the Orioles2 by the score of 3-1 on Saturday.  The Blue offense had just four hits, with the lone run in the third inning on a sac fly by Carlos Arcia.  Jesus Orrechia and Elvin De Jesus had the only extra base hits, a double and a triple, respectively.

Starter Juan Peralta pitched four innings and gave up one unearned run on three hits.  The right hander struck out one.  Ronald Suarez surrendered one run in two innings of relief and took the loss.  Americo Lugo also allowed one run in two innings of relief.

On the base paths, Gustavo A. Rodriguez was caught stealing for the first time. Leudy Pena committed a fielding error and Lugo made an error on a pickoff attempt.

The Cardinals Blue conclude the season at 41-23, in second place in the South Division.


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

Kramer Robertson Learns from His Famous Mom


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 24, 2019

photo: Andrew Knizner (Frank Ramirez/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-6 on Friday. Our Player of the Day is Memphis catcher Andrew Knizner, who went 4-for-4, including two home runs and a double. Liam Sabino’s two-run home run and Julio Puello’s 7 2/3 one-run innings kept Johnson City in first place.

Results for games played Friday, August 23.


Memphis 9, Omaha 1

Andrew Knizner (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds blew past the Omaha Storm Chasers by the score of 9-1 on Friday. The balls were flying out of AutoZone Park as Memphis put up seven runs via the long ball.  Adolis Garcia hit a two-run home run in the second inning to get the scoring going.  Andrew Knizner hit two solo shots, in the fourth and sixth innings.  Randy Arozarena blasted a three-run homer in the eighth.  Knizner went 4-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Ramon Urias and Max Schrock were each 2-for-4 with an RBI apiece.

Starter Austin Warner pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits while fanning six and walking three.  Jesus Cruz pitched a scoreless eighth.  Mike Mayers surrendered one run in the ninth for the only Omaha score.

On the base paths, Arozarena was caught stealing for the seventh time in the season.

Memphis is 63-67 on the season and is in second place in the PCL American North, 6 games behind the Iowa Cubs.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Omaha, Genesis Cabrera (4-6, 6.36) 6:35 CT.


Springfield 5 at Midland 7

Merandy Gonzalez (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals lost to the Midland RockHounds 7-5 on Friday.  A solo home run by Juan Yepez and a two run home run by Johan Mieses in the ninth inning capped off a five-run, 12 hit effort by the Springfield offense.  Prior to the ninth inning Springfield scored one run in the second inning on a sac fly by Yepez and one run in the fifth on a Rayder Ascanio single.  Ascanio went 3-for-5,  Mieses was 2-for-5, and Chris Chinea was 3-for-4.

Starter Johan Oviedo gave up four runs in on two hits in the first inning and was removed with one out and replaced by Ronnie Williams.  Williams pitched 2 2/3 innings and yielded two runs on four hits, striking out four and walking three.  Merandy Gonzalez followed with four scoreless innings of relief.  Will Latcham surrendered one run in the eighth.  Oviedo took the loss.

Gonzalez made a throwing error.

The Cardinals are 28-32 in the second half, 58-72 overall, and are five games back of Arkansas and Tulsa, who are tied for first place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  at Midland, Alex FaGalde (3-4, 3.20) 7:00 CT.


Palm Beach 3, Fort Myers 8

Michael Baird (State College Spikes)

The Cardinals were overmatched by the Fort Myers Miracle in an 8-3 home loss on Friday.  Palm Beach managed three runs on six hits, all coming in the later innings after falling behind 8-0.   A ground out by Dennis Ortega in the fifth put the Cardinals on the board.  Nick Dunn plated a run on a single in the sixth, and a bases loaded walk in the eighth by Nick Plummer scored the final run for Palm Beach.  Dunn went 2-for-4 with an RBI and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.

Stater Austin Gomber, pitching on a rehab assignment, gave up three runs in the first inning but recorded only one out.  Just nine of the lefty’s 22 pitches went for strikes. Regular starter Griffin Roberts followed Gomber and surrendered five more runs in 1 1/3 innings.  Michael Baird stopped the bleeding with 4 1/3 scoreless innings.  Leonardo Taveras and Edgar Escobar combined for the final three scoreless innings.  Gomber took the loss.

Nolan Gorman committed a fielding error.

The Cardinals are 21-40 in the second half, 56-69 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Fort Myers, TBA 4:30 CT.


Peoria 7, Quad Cities 9

Imeldo Diaz (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Chiefs fell to the Quad Cities River Bandits 9-7 on Friday at Dozer Park.  The Peoria offense scored seven runs on 11 hits but couldn’t keep up with the River Bandits despite big innings by both teams.  The Chiefs scored four runs in the fifth inning but were already behind 6-0 at that point. A two-run double by Imeldo Diaz, an RBI double by Josh Shaw and an RBI single by Brady Whalen brought the game closer in the fifth.   Whalen doubled in the seventh for a score and ended the night 2-for-3 with two RBI.  Two final runs came home in the eighth on a double by Edwin Figuera and a single by Jonatan Machado.  Machado went 2-for-4.  Diaz and Delvin Perez were each 2-for-5.

Starter Parker Kelly pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up seven runs on nine hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked three.  Franyel Casadilla surrendered two runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief.  Evan Sisk tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.  Kelly took the loss.

On the base paths, Wadye Ynfante stole his ninth base of the season.  In the field, Alexis Wilson made a throwing error. Ynfante and Leandro Cedeno both had outfield assists at second base.  Kelly picked a runner off first base.

The Chiefs are 19-41 in the second half, 49-80 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West

Saturday’s game:  at Cedar Rapids, Dalton Roach (0-1, 4.95) 6:35 CT.


State College 5 at Batavia 7

Stanley Espinal (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Spikes lost to the first-place Batavia Muckdogs by the score of 7-5 on Friday.  State College put up three runs in the third inning on doubles by Dariel Gomez, Brylie Ware, and Moises Castillo.  David Vinsky plated a run on a triple in the seventh and in the eighth, Martin Figueroa drew a bases-loaded walk for the fifth and final run for the Spikes.  Gomez and Stanley Espinal were each 2-for-4 in the contest.

Starter Junior Gonzalez pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up seven runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out one and walked two.  Jeremy Randolph followed with 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Connor Lunn tossed a scoreless eighth.  Gonzalez took the loss.

Gonzalez and Espinal each made fielding errors.  Randolph made an error on a pickoff.

The Spikes are 33-33 and have fallen into fourth place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division, four games back with 10 to go.

Saturday’s game:  at Batavia, Enmanuel Solano (2-7, 3.95) 6:05 CT.


Johnson City 2, Bristol 1

Liam Sabino (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals edged the Bristol Pirates by the score of 2-1 on Friday.   Both Johnson City runs scored in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Liam Sabino.  No Cardinal hitter had multiple hits in this low scoring contest.

Starter Julio Puello pitched 7 2/3 innings and gave up one run on four hits.  The right hander fanned seven and walked one to earn his fourth win.  Will Guay tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his fourth save.

On the base paths, Mateo Gil was caught stealing for the third time in the season.

Johnson City is 33-30 on the season and are in first place by 1 ½ games in the Appalachian League West.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Bristol, Jake Sommers (2-3, 4.34) 5:30 CT.


GCL Cardinals 3, GCL Nationals 10

Inohan Paniagua (State College Spikes)

The Cardinals were pummeled by the Nationals on Friday in Jupiter.  The Cardinal offense managed three runs on only two hits.  All three runs came in the sixth inning.  Pablo Gomez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Luis Montano scored on a balk, and the final run came home on a sac fly by Joerlin De Los Santos.  Yowelfy Rosario went 2-for-4, including a double.

Starter Tyler Statler pitched only one inning and gave up four runs on four hits to take the loss.  The right hander struck out one and walked three.  Ludwin Jimenez allowed six runs, four earned, in four innings of relief.  Inohan Paniagua finished with four scoreless innings.

In the field, Franklin Soto made a fielding error.  Patrick Romeri had an outfield assist at third base.

The Cardinals are 20-30 on the season and are in last place in the GCL East.

Saturday’s game:  vs. GCL Mets, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 4, DSL Brewers 3

The Cardinals Red defeated the Brewers in a close game on Friday.  The Cardinals scored four runs but only two came home on a hit.  Fernando Brazoban plated a run on a triple in the fourth inning, and Erick Thomas hit a solo home run in the ninth.  A ground out in the first inning and a passed ball in the fifth scored the other two Red runs.  No Cardinal had more than one hit.

Starter Henry Gomez pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up one run on two hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked four.  Larimel Soriano surrendered one run in two innings of relief.  Hansel Marcelino allowed one unearned run in one frame.   Augusto Calderon tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win.

On the base paths, Smith Vargas stole his 28th base of the season.  Claudio Ramirez was picked off first base.  Bryan Matute made a fielding error and catcher Roblin Heredia had a passed ball.

The Cardinals Red are 32-38 and are tied for fifth place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Saturday’s game:  at DSL Brewers, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Blue 5 at DSL Rockies 6

Darlin Moquete

In a head-to-head matchup to decide the division title, the Cardinals Blue were edged by the Rockies by the score of 6-5 on Friday.  The Blue offense scored five runs on eight hits.  Leadoff hitter and left fielder Darlin Moquete went 3-for-5 including two solo home runs.  First baseman Fernando Diaz hit a two-run home run and was 2-for-5 with three RBI.

Starter Gustavo J. Rodriguez pitched just 3 1/3 innings and gave up five runs, but just two earned, on six hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked one.  Victor Villanueva tossed the remaining 4 2/3 innings, surrendered one run and took the loss.

Elvin De Jesus stole two bases.  Hansel Otamendi made a fielding error, Diaz had a missed catch and a throwing error, and Carlos Arcia had a missed catch.  Rodriguez picked a runner off third base.

The Cardinals Blue have a record of 41-22 and are in second place in the DSL South.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL Orioles2, TBA 9:00 am CT.


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St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of August 12-18

photo: Jack Flaherty (David Kohl/Imagn)

The St. Louis Cardinals went 4-2 on the week and remain at the top of the tight NL Central. Jack Flaherty has become the clear leader of the rotation. Our weekly history feature looks back at Lou Brock’s 3,000 hit, which came this past week in 1979.


Game recaps

Monday, August 12 – Off day


Tuesday, August 13 – Cardinals 2 at Royals 0

Jack Flaherty (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals blanked the cross state Royals in the first of a two-game series in Kansas City on Tuesday.   Starter Jack Flaherty was brilliant, pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing only three hits.  The right hander fanned seven and walked one.   Andrew Miller followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Carlos Martinez secured the last two outs of the ninth to earn his 13th save.  Flaherty earned his sixth win.

St. Louis scored in the first and the third innings for the only two runs Tuesday.  Paul Goldschmidt hit a sac fly and Tommy Edman singled to drive in the other.  Kolten Wong was 2-for-3 as the only Cardinal with multiple hits.

Marcell Ozuna stole his 11th base of the season.  Paul DeJong was caught stealing for the fifth time.


Wednesday, August 14 – Cardinals 6 at Royals 0

Dakota Hudson (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals again blanked the Royals to sweep the two-game set.  Starter Dakota Hudson pitched six scoreless innings, allowing five hits, striking out four and walking two.  Tyler Webb followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.  John Gant got the last two outs of the eighth.  Junior Fernandez tossed a scoreless ninth.  Hudson earned his 11th win.

St. Louis’ offense broke the stalemate with five runs in the seventh inning.  Matt Carpenter, Yadier Molina, and Randy Arozarena each plated a run on singles.  Dexter Fowler drove in a run on a sac fly, and the final run of the inning came home on a force out by Tommy Edman.  Paul DeJong hit a solo home run in the eighth to close the scoring.  DeJong and Arozarena were both 2-for-4.


Thursday, August 15 – Cardinals 1 at Reds 2

In the first of a four-game series, the Cardinals fell to the Reds by the score of 2-1.  St. Louis was held scoreless until the top of the ninth inning, when Kolten Wong doubled to left field.  It was just the second Cardinal hit, with the other a single by Dexter Fowler.

Starter Michael Wacha pitched five innings and gave up two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking two.  Tyler Webb, Junior Fernandez, and Ryan Helsley combined for the final three scoreless innings of relief.  Wacha took the loss.

Wong stole his 16th base, Marcell Ozuna swiped his 12th bag, and Dexter Fowler stole his seventh.  Wacha picked a runner off first base.


Friday, August 16 – Cardinals 13 at Reds 4

Dexter Fowler (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

In Game 2 of the four-game series, the Cardinals shellacked the Reds 13-4.  Dexter Fowler led the offense with a 3-for-6 game and four RBI.  Fowler hit a three-run home run in the second inning, singled and doubled.  Tommy Edman went 3-for-5 with an RBI.  Paul DeJong thumped a two-run home run in the third inning.  Kolten Wong was 4-for-5 with a solo home run in the seventh.  Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run in the fifth and was 2-for-4.  Marcell Ozuna was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Starter Adam Wainwright pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits.  The right hander struck out six and walked one.  John Brebbia tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Giovanny Gallegos hurled a scoreless ninth.  Wainwright earned his ninth win.

Edman and Matt Carpenter each made a fielding error.


Saturday, August 17 – Cardinals 1 at Reds 6

The Cardinals were defeated by the Reds in Game 3 on Saturday.  St. Louis’ offense managed only one run on seven hits.   Matt Carpenter’s solo home run in the second inning was the only scoring play. Yairo Munoz was 3-for-4.  Paul Goldschmidt doubled for the only other extra base hit.

Starter Miles Mikolas suffered his 13th loss of the season.  Mikolas pitched five innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked two.  Ryan Helsley surrendered one run in two innings of relief.  Junior Fernandez pitched a scoreless eighth.


Sunday, August 18 – Cardinals 5 at Reds 4

Paul Goldschmidt (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals split the series with the Reds with a 5-4 victory on Sunday. Starter Jack Flaherty earned his seventh win of the season pitching five innings and giving up one run on three hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked three.  Giovanny Gallegos surrendered one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Andrew Miller walked the only batter he faced in the seventh inning to load the bases before John Gant got the last two outs of the seventh. Gant returned to pitch a scoreless eighth.  Carlos Martinez allowed two runs in the ninth but earned his 14th save.

St. Louis’ offense scored five runs on eight hits.  Tommy Edman was 3-for-5, including a solo home run.  Paul Goldschmidt was 2-for-3 with a two-run home run.  Lane Thomas was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Edman stole his eighth base of the season.  Lane Thomas was caught stealing for the first time.


The Big Picture

The Cardinals ended the week with a record of 4-2.  The team swept the Royals in two games, then split a four game series with the Reds.  The Cardinals are tied for first place in the NL Central with the Cubs.

The Cardinals continue to feature an offense that runs hot and cold.  They can score 13 runs in one game and one run the next.  Paul DeJong and Matt Carpenter are slumping.  Newly activated Yadier Molina has also not hit.  Kolten Wong, Dexter Fowler, Marcell Ozuna, and Paul Goldschmidt have hit well in the last week.  Tommy Edman has run hot and cold.  He continues to get starts in the outfield over actual outfielders, having been proclaimed a starter (without a clear defensive position) and moved to the leadoff spot by manager Mike Shildt.

The defense in the infield has been fine.  The outfield defense has not.  Natural outfielders Lane Thomas and Randy Arozarena have not played much with infielders Tommy Edman and Yairo Munoz getting outfield starts instead.  This outfield arrangement has met with limited success offensively, and no success defensively. Playing poor teams during the past week has tempered the possible damage in runs allowed.

Pitching has been mostly good.  Jack Flaherty continues to do well. Adam Wainwright, Dakota Hudson and even Michael Wacha have been okay.  Miles Mikolas had a poor start against the Reds.  The bullpen has been fine, with the exception of Andrew Miller, who continues to be hit and miss in his outings. Closer Carlos Martinez is getting the job done, but while often living on the edge.

St. Louis will face better teams in the Brewers and the Rockies in the coming week.  With the team’s tenuous position at the top of the NL Central, playing well and winning games against both is crucial.  The offense must be more consistent, especially if the outfield defense remains the same.  Runs allowed could increase and therefore runs scored must increase to compensate.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
St. Louis 65 57 0.533
Chicago 66 58 0.532
Milwaukee 64 60 0.516 2
Cincinnati 58 65 0.472 7.5
Pittsburgh 51 72 0.415 14.5

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.


Transactions 

  • 8/12 The Cardinals placed RF Jose Martinez on the 10 day injured list. Right AC joint sprain.
  • 8/12 The Cardinals activated C Yadier Molina from the 10-day injured list.
  • 8/12 The Cardinals optioned C Andrew Knizner to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/12 The Cardinals selected the contract of LF Randy Arozarena from the Memphis Redbirds.

Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60 day injured list. Cecil had been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period since spring training.  The left hander had a setback in his rehab and will not return in 2019.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • LF Tyler O’Neill (left wrist strain) was placed on the 10 day injured list retroactive to August 1. O’Neill was reported hitting against a pitching machine as of August 15, with a slower than hoped return schedule.
  • LHP Tony Cingrani (left shoulder labrum surgery) was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31. Cingrani is out for the season and will become a free agent at the end of the season.  Cingrani will likely never throw a pitch for the Cardinals.
  • RF Jose Martinez (Right AC shoulder joint sprain) was placed on the 10-day injured list on August 12. Martinez has received a cortisone shot and his expected return date is late August at the earliest.

Injury updates on minors 40-man roster players

Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports on the injury status of a trio of 40-man roster players currently on the Memphis Redbirds roster.

Left handed pitcher Austin Gomber, who has been on the minor league injured list since May with a left bicep injury and shoulder fatigue, threw live batting practice on Sunday for the first action toward a return to pitching.  Reports on the live batting practice were positive.  Gomber will throw another live batting practice in three or four days. (Ed. note: However, only two weeks remain on the minor league schedules, leaving little to no time for Gomber to throw in rehab action.)

Utility player Drew Robinson has been on Memphis’ injured list since June 26.  Robinson had “progressive Tommy John surgery” on his left elbow this past Thursday.  This surgery is not the full -blown Tommy John surgery.  Robinson is out for the season but is expected to be ready by Spring Training 2020.

Another high profile 40-man pitcher on the Memphis IL, Alex Reyes, has not been cleared to throw. As a result, his 2019 season has to be considered effectively over as well.


Looking Ahead

The Cardinals left Cincinnati on Sunday to begin a seven-game home stand with three against the Brewers and four with the Rockies.  Dakota Hudson is scheduled to make the Monday start against Milwaukee, followed by Michael Wacha on Tuesday, and Adam Wainwright on Wednesday.   Miles Mikolas will get the Thursday start against the Rockies.  The pitching probables for the remainder of the Rockies has not been announced but will likely be Jack Flaherty on Friday, Hudson on Saturday, and Wacha on Sunday.

The Cardinals will then take a short trip to Milwaukee to play three beginning August 26. They end the month with a weekend series at home versus the Reds.

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

This week’s Blast from the Past takes a look at a feat which occurred during this past week in team history.  Hall of Famer Lou Brock reached a major career milestone on August 13, 1979 – 3,000 hits.

Lou Brock (USA TODAY Sports Images)

Brock came to the Cardinals via the infamous trade with the Cubs on June 15, 1964, in which Chicago sent Brock, Jack Spring, and Paul Toth to St. Louis for Ernie Broglio, Bobby Shantz, and Doug Clemens.  Cardinals manager Johnny Keane asked GM Bing Devine to acquire Brock to increase team speed.  At the time, the trade was considered a steal by the Cubs, but as most know, it turned out not to be.

After Brock was traded to St. Louis, his career took off.  He batted .348 and stole 38 bases in the remainder of the 1964 season.  At the time of the trade the Cardinals were in eighth place in the National League.  At the end of the season, St. Louis had won the NL pennant, and went on to defeat the Yankees in the 1964 World Series.

Brock broke Maury Wills’ single-season stolen base record in 1966 with 74.  Brock is perhaps most known for his base stealing ability, as he led the NL in stolen bases eight times between 1966 and 1974.  While this talent was the hallmark of Brock’s career, it was not what primarily got him elected to the Hall of Fame.

Brock was not a power hitter, as he hit only 149 home runs over his career.  Brock did hit however and did so prodigiously.  On August 13, 1979, in the final season of his 19-year major league career, Brock became only the 14th player in major league history to have 3,000 hits.  Brock reached that plateau against his former team, the Chicago Cubs.  One month later, Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox achieved the same feat.

Brock retired at the end of the 1979 season with 3,023 hits.  He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 and was a part of the Cardinals inaugural Hall of Fame Class of 2014.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 18, 2019

photo: Adolis Garcia (Frank Ramirez/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 5-4 on Saturday. Our Player of the Day is Memphis center fielder Adolis Garcia, who was 2-for-5 including a walk off two-run home run to defeat first-place Iowa.

Results for games played Saturday, August 17.


Memphis 8, Iowa 6

Adolis Garcia (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds beat the Iowa Cubs in walk off fashion at AutoZone Park on Saturday.  The Cubs put up five runs in the first inning of the game to take the 5-0 lead, but the Redbirds slowly chipped away at that lead.  Memphis scored one run in the first inning, one run in the second, one in the sixth, and three runs in the seventh to tie the game at 6-6.  In the bottom of the ninth, a two run walk off home run by Adolis Garcia gave the victory to the Redbirds.

Edmundo Sosa went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI.  Dylan Carlson was 2-for-4, as was Andrew Knizner, who drove in the first run on a sac fly.  Garcia was 2-for-5 with two RBI.  Ramon Urias was 2-for-4 with a double and a run driven in, and Max Schrock was 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Starter Chris Ellis pitched six innings and gave up all six Iowa runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked one.  Dominic Leone, Chasen Shreve, and Kodi Whitley each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.  Whitely got the win.

In the field, Rangel Ravelo had an outfield assist at third base.

Memphis is 58-66 on the season and are in second place in the PCL North, 8 games back of the Iowa Cubs.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Iowa, Austin Warner (2-2, 6.70) 2:05 CT.


Springfield 6, Arkansas 3

Johan Mieses (Memphis Redbirds)

The Cardinals defeated the Arkansas Travelers at Hammons Field on Saturday.  Springfield fell behind and had to play catch up in the second half of the game by scoring three runs each in the sixth and eighth innings.  All six runs came on three run home runs by Yariel Gonzalez in the sixth, and Johan Mieses in the eighth.  Mieses went 2-for-4 in the game with a single in addition to the long ball.

Starter Johan Oveido pitched five innings and gave up three runs on three hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked seven.  Will Latcham followed with two scoreless innings of relief.  Mitchell Osnowitz and Connor Jones each pitched a scoreless inning.  Osnowitz earned the win while Jones earned his seventh save.

On the base paths, Kramer Robertson was caught stealing. In the field, Oveido picked a runner off first base and catcher Julio Rodriguez had a passed ball.

The Cardinals are 26-29 in the second half, 56-69 overall, and are in third place in the Texas League North.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, Alex FaGalde (3-3, 2.96) 4:10 CT.


Palm Beach 5 at Daytona 6

Chase Pinder (Andrew Miller/Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Cardinals were edged 6-5 by the Daytona Tortugas on Saturday.  Solo home runs by Chase Pinder and Luken Baker in the first inning put Palm Beach on the board first.  The offense scored three additional runs on eight more hits in the contest.  Pinder plated a run on a double, Zach Gahagan had an RBI single, and Bryce Denton also drove in a run on a single.  Pinder was 2-for-5 in the game and Denton was 2-for-4.

Starter Griffin Roberts pitched two scoreless innings, allowed one hit, struck out one, and walked two.  Leonardo Taveras surrendered three runs in 2 2/3 innings.  Michael Baird allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief and took the loss.  Patrick Dayton gave up one run in three innings pitched, and Cole Aker tossed the final 2/3 scoreless innings.

In the field, Pinder made a fielding error but also had an outfield assist at third base.

The Cardinals are 19-37 in the second half, 54-66 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South.

Sunday’s game:  at Daytona, TBA 4:35 CT.


Peoria 2, Wisconsin 9

Wilfredo Periera (Robert Kell)

The Chiefs were overwhelmed by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday by the score of 9-2.  Peoria’s offense was held scoreless until it broke through with two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Sacrifice flies by Imeldo Diaz and Edwin Figuera put the Chiefs’ two runs on the board to break a 9-0 shutout.  The offense scattered nine hits, with Leandro Cedeno and Brandon Riley each having two of those nine.  Cedeno and Riley both doubled, along with Brady Whalen for the only extra base hits for the Chiefs.

Starter Logan Gragg pitched two innings and gave up seven runs, three earned, on four hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked five.  Wilfredo Pereira surrendered two runs in five innings of relief.  Connor Coward tossed the final two scoreless innings.

In the field, Jonatan Machado made a fielding error.

The Chiefs are 16-38 in the second half, 46-77 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Wisconsin, Parker Kelly (3-3, 3.27) 5:05 CT.


State College 6, Auburn 5

Brandon Purcell (Robert Kell)

The Spikes were the winners of a one run game over the Auburn Doubledays at Medlar Field on Saturday.  The State College offense scored six runs on nine hits.  The bottom of the lineup produced six of the nine hits, with Brylie Ware going 2-for-4, Brandon Purcell 2-for-2, and Stanley Espinal 2-for-3.  Ware had one RBI and Purcell drove in two.  Andrew Warner also plated two on a single in the third inning.  Ware and Espinal each doubled for the only extra base hits in the game.

Starter Jeremy Randolph pitched four innings and gave up three runs on four hits.  The right hander fanned four and walked one.  Junior Gonzalez surrendered two runs in four innings of relief and was the winning pitcher.  Fabian Blanco tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his third save.

On the base paths, David Vinsky was picked off and caught stealing.  In the field, Dariel Gomez made a missed catch error.  Espinal had an outfield assist at second base, and catcher Purcell had a passed ball.

The Spikes play a doubleheader on Sunday.

The Spikes are 31-30 on the season and are in third place in the New York/Penn League Pinckney Division.

Sunday’s games:  vs. Auburn, Enmanuel Solano (1-7)/TBA 2:05 CT (doubleheader)


Johnson City 4 at Burlington 2

Walker Robbins (State College Spikes)

The Cardinals defeated the Royals at Burlington Athletic Stadium on Saturday.  An RBI single and two bases loaded walks in the fifth inning gave Johnson City the winning edge.  Only leadoff hitter William Jimenez had multiple hits in the game, as he was 2-for-5.  The only extra base hit was a double by Kyle Skeels.  Mateo Gil, Chandler Redmond, Zach Jackson, and Kevin Vargas each had an RBI.

Starter Luis Ortiz pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up one run on five hits.  The right-hander struck out three and walked three.  Left hander Walker Robbins surrendered one unearned run in 2 2/3 innings of relief and earned the win.  John Witkowski tossed the final 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his third save.

On the base paths, Vargas, Carlos Soler, and Diomedes Del Rio each stole a base.  In the field, Malcolm Nunez made a throwing error, and Vargas had a fielding miscue.  Del Rio had an outfield assist at home, and Robbins picked a runner off first base.

The Cardinals play a doubleheader on Sunday.

Johnson City is 29-27 on the season and is in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Sunday’s games:  at Pulaski, Julio Puello (3-4, 5.94)/ Will Guay (1-0, 2.86) 4:00 CT. (doubleheader)


GCL Cardinals 2, GCL Marlins 4

The Cardinals were the losers in a 4-2 contest to the Marlins in Jupiter on Saturday.  The two Cardinals runs came on a double by Zade Richardson in the fourth inning, and a ground out by Cristhian Longa in the eighth.  Richardson was 2-for-4.  Tyler Reichenborn was also 2-for-4 including a triple.

Starter Nathanael Heredia pitched five innings and gave up two runs on four hits.  The left hander struck out three and walked four.  Wilman Madera surrendered two runs, one earned in three innings of relief.  Anthony Trompiz pitched a scoreless ninth.

On the base paths, Diowill Burgos stole his second base in the GCL.  Franklin Soto swiped two bases.  Francisco Hernandez stole his fourth base.  In the field, Heredia and Ramon Mendoza each made a throwing error.  Heredia picked a runner off first base.

The Cardinals are 19-26 on the season and are in last place in the GCL East.

Sunday’s game:  vs. GCL Nationals, TBA 9:00 CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 7, DSL Cubs2 6

The Cardinals Red edged the Cubs 2 on Saturday.  The Red offense had 10 hits, with the top two hitters in the lineup with two hits each.  Smith Vargas was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Sander Mora was 2-for-3 with an RBI.  Erick Thomas blasted an eighth inning three run home run.  Mora, Jesus Orrechia, and Bryan Matute all doubled.

Starter Hancel Rincon pitched four innings and gave up one run on three hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked one.  Hansel Marcelino surrendered three runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief.   Hector De Los Santos allowed an unearned run in 1 1/3 innings pitched and was charged with a blown save.  Augusto Calderon gave up one run in the eighth but was the winning pitcher. Luis Garcia hurled a scoreless ninth to earn his second save.

On the base paths, Vargas swiped two bags.  Thomas and Mora were each caught stealing.  In the field, Mora made a throwing error.  Vargas and Miguel Marcos both had outfield assists at second base.

The Cardinals Red are 28-38 on the season and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled


DSL Cardinals Blue 6, DSL Yankees 8

The Cardinals Blue fell to the Yankees by the score of 8-6 on Saturday.  The Blue offense put up six runs on six hits, including a ninth inning two run home run by Elvin De Jesus.    De Jesus was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.  Fernando Diaz drove in two on a fifth inning single.  The only other extra base hit besides the home run was a double by Erik Pena.

Starter Gustavo J. Rodriguez pitched four innings and gave up five runs, two earned, on five hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked one.  Victor Villanueva tossed a scoreless fifth.  William Miranda surrendered one run in two innings of relief.  Allinson Benitez got one out in the eighth, then was replaced by Benjamin Arias.  Arias allowed two runs in the final 1 2/3 innings.  Rodriguez took the loss.

On the base paths, Pena and Darlin Moquete each stole a base.  In the field, Luis Rodriguez made a throwing error.  Pena had a fielding miscue, and Benitez made an error on a pickoff attempt.

The Cardinals Blue are 39-18 on the season and are in first place in the DSL South.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled.


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© 2019 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 17, 2019

photo: Jake Woodford (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 5-4 on Friday. Our Player of the Day is Memphis’ Jake Woodford, with a stellar one hit, four walk, six scoreless inning start. Palm Beach’s Alvaro Seijas hurled five scoreless innings. DSL Cardinals Blue designated hitter Fernando Diaz went 3-for-4 including two doubles and an RBI.

Results for games played Friday, August 16.


Memphis 8, Iowa 2

Jake Woodford (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds blew past the Iowa Cubs 8-2 on Friday at AutoZone Park.  Memphis starter Jake Woodford pitched six innings of one hit ball against the first place Cubs.  Woodford struck out seven and walked four.  Seth Elledge surrendered the two Cubs runs in two innings of relief.   Jesus Cruz pitched a scoreless ninth.  Woodford earned his eighth win of the season.

Andrew Knizner blasted a three-run home run in the fifth inning.  Justin Williams was 2-for-5 with an RBI.  Dylan Carlson and Jose Martinez were each 2-for-4 and Martinez had an RBI.  Harrison Bader went 2-for-3 with two doubles.  Bader was hit in the head with a pitch in the sixth inning but remained in the game to score a run.  Bader was removed at the end of the sixth and replaced by Adolis Garcia.

Carlson was caught stealing second base.  Edmundo Sosa made a fielding error.

Memphis is 57-66 on the season and is in second place in the PCL American North, nine games behind the Iowa Cubs.

Saturday’s game:  vs.  Iowa, Chris Ellis (4-5, 7.04) 6:35 CT.


Springfield 5, Arkansas 2

Angel Rondon (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Cardinals beat the Arkansas Travelers 5-2 at Hammons Field on Friday, as all five Springfield runs came via the long ball.  Johan Mieses blasted a two-run home run in the first inning.  In the second, Elehuris Montero thumped a solo shot to center field.  Rayder Ascanio smacked a two-run home run to left field in the third inning.  Yariel Gonzalez doubled for the only other extra base hit.  No Cardinal had more than one hit.

Starter Angel Rondon pitched seven innings and gave up two runs on four hits.  The right hander fanned seven and issued one free pass to earn his fifth win of the season.  Merandy Gonzalez and Connor Jones each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Kramer Robertson swiped his eighth base with Springfield.

The Cardinals are 25-29 in the second half, 55-69 overall, and are five games back of Arkansas and Tulsa, the teams tied for first place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  vs.  Arkansas, Johan Oviedo (6-6, 5.34) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 6 at Daytona 2

Alvaro Seijas (St. Louis Cardinals)

Palm Beach defeated the Daytona Tortugas at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Friday by the score of 6-2.  Alvaro Seijas pitched five scoreless innings in a performance of threes, allowing three hits, striking out three and walking three to earn his third win of the season.  Lefty reliever Zack Thompson surrendered one run in 1 1/3 innings.  Leonardo Taveras tossed 1/3 scoreless innings.  Ramon Santos allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings, before Cole Aker pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals offense put up six runs on 10 hits.  Scott Hurst was 2-for-5 with two RBI on two singles.  Nick Plummer, Cole Kreuter and Nolan Gorman each doubled, with Plummer’s and Kreuter’s doubles driving in runs.  Ivan Herrera was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Nick Dunn was 2-for-5.

Thompson picked a runner off first base and Herrera had his third passed ball of the season.

The Cardinals are 19-36 in the second half, 54-65 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South.

Saturday’s game:  at Daytona, TBA 6:05 CT.


Peoria 3 at Kane County 4

Connor Thomas (State College Spikes)

The Chiefs fell to the Kane County Cougars in a one-run contest on Friday.  The Peoria offense had seven hits, all singles, with all three scores coming in the third inning.  None of the runs were the result of any of the seven hits.  The first run came home on a fielder’s choice by Imeldo Diaz.  A sac fly off the bat of Carlos Soto plated another, while the third and final run of the inning occurred on a steal of home by Delvin Perez.

Diaz, Brandon Riley, and Josh Shaw had two hits each.

Starter Michael Brettell pitched five innings and gave up four runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked one.  Left hander Connor Thomas tossed two scoreless innings of relief.  Evan Sisk pitched a scoreless eighth.  Brettell took the loss, his ninth of the season.

Perez stole home for his 19th stolen base of the season.  Wadye Ynfante and Shaw were both caught stealing.  Perez made a fielding error and Edwin Figuera had a throwing error.  Catcher Alexis Wilson picked a runner off third base.

The Chiefs are 16-37 in the second half, 46-76 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West

Saturday’s game:  vs.  Wisconsin, Logan Gragg (0-2, 4.12) 6:35 CT.


State College 3, Mahoning Valley 10

Cameron Dulle (Robert Kell)

The Spikes were overmatched by the Mahoning Valley Scrappers at home on Friday.  Catcher Matt Duce was the only Spikes hitter with multiple hits, going 2-for-5.  Brylie Ware had the only extra base hit, a double that drove in the first of three runs for State College.  A force out off the bat of Terry Fuller, along with a throwing error brought two meaningless runs home in the ninth.

Starter Michael YaSenka pitched the first two innings and gave up two runs on one hit while striking out two and walking three.   Cameron Dulle followed with 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Connor Lunn surrendered one unearned run in 1 1/3 innings.  Jack Ralston allowed three runs, two earned in his 1 1/3 innings pitched.  Erick Lex was pitching when four unearned runs scored in the ninth.  YaSenka took the loss.

In the field, Duce made a throwing error, and Luis Flores made a fielding error.  David Vinsky had an outfield assist at third base.

The Spikes are 30-30 and are in third place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Saturday’s game:  vs.  Auburn, Junior Gonzalez (2-4, 7.00) 6:05 CT.


Johnson City 0 at Burlington 1

Francisco Justo (Robert Kell)

The Cardinal were blanked 1-0 by the Burlington Royals on Friday.  The Johnson City offense scattered five hits with the only extra base hit a double by Jhon Torres.  No Cardinal had multiple hits.

Starter Hector Soto pitched four innings and gave up one unearned run on four hits.  The right hander fanned seven and walked one and was the losing pitcher.  Francisco Justo tossed three scoreless innings of relief.  Tyler Peck added a scoreless eighth.

Trejyn Fletcher stole his seventh base, and Mateo Gil was picked off first base.  Kyle Skeels and Malcom Nunez each committed a throwing error.

Johnson City is 28-27 on the season and remains in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Saturday’s game:  at Burlington, Luis Ortiz (0-3, 9.87) 5:30 CT.


GCL Cardinals 4 at GCL Astros 5

Diowill Burgos

The Cardinals were edged by the Astros 5-4 at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Friday. The Cardinals offense scored four runs on seven hits, with third sacker Fernando Hernandez going 3-for-4 with a solo home run and a double.  Catcher Cristhian Longa also drove in a run and was 2-for-4.  Diowill Burgos hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning.  Right fielder Patrick Romeri tripled.

Rehabbing starter Williams Perez pitched two scoreless innings. He allowed no hits, struck out three and walked two.  Roy Garcia tossed the next three innings and surrendered five runs on seven hits to take the loss.  Tyler Statler pitched a scoreless sixth, and Francis Ventura hurled the final two scoreless innings.

Perez made a throwing error.

The Cardinals are 19-25 on the season and are in last place in the GCL East.

Saturday’s game:  vs. GCL Marlins, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 6 at DSL Cubs2 2

The Cardinals Red blew past the Cubs2 on Friday, after taking the early 4-0 lead and never relinquishing it.  Smith Vargas, Sander Mora, and Miguel Marcos had six of the team’s 10 hits.  Vargas was 2-for-4, Mora was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, and Marcos was 2-for-3 with an RBI.  Luis Andujar and Fernando Brazaban also drove in runs.

Starter Henry Gomez pitched five scoreless innings, allowed four hits, fanned four and walked two to earn his first win.  Oliver Lopez surrendered one run in two innings of relief.  Larimel Soriano also pitched two innings and allowed one run.

Marcos, Vargas, and Mora each stole a base.  Bryan Matute made a fielding error.

The Cardinals Red are 27-38 and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Saturday’s game:  at DSL Cubs2, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Blue 6, DSL Angels 5

The Cardinals Blue edged the Angels by the score of 6-5 on Friday.  The offense scored six runs on two sac flies, a double, a single, and a wild pitch.  The Blue had eight hits total. Fernando Diaz doubled twice for the only extra base hits and was 3-for-4 with an RBI.  Gustavo A. Rodriguez was 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Starter Wilmer Ortega pitched three innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on five hits.  The right-hander struck out three and walked one.  Dionys Rodriguez tossed three scoreless innings of relief.  Cristoffer Zapata pitched two scoreless innings and earned the win, his second.  Nelson Prada hurled a scoreless ninth to earn his first save.

On the base paths, Carlos Arcia stole sixth base of the season.  Darlyn Del Villar swiped his ninth, and Darlin Moquete stole his 19th bag.  Luis Rodriguez was picked off and caught stealing.  In the field, Jose Zapata made a throwing error, and Elvin De Jesus committed a fielding miscue.

The Cardinals Blue have a record of 39-17 and are in first place in the DSL South.

Saturday’s game:  vs.  DSL Yankees, TBA 9:00 am CT.


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St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of August 5-11

photo: Lane Thomas (Billy Hurst/Imagn)

The St. Louis Cardinals went 3-3 last week, swept by the Dodgers and sweeping the Pirates. Sunday’s star, rookie outfielder Lane Thomas, drove in five. Our weekly history feature looks back at the August 2010 brawl with the Cincinnati Reds.


Game recaps

Monday, August 5 – Cardinals 0 at Dodgers 8

The Cardinals were blanked in the first of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium on Monday.  Michael Wacha continued to struggle as a starter, giving up six runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings pitched. The right hander struck out three and walked two.  Adalberto Mejia surrendered two runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief.  Ryan Helsley tossed the final three scoreless innings.

St. Louis’ offense was virtually non-existent against Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin.  A double by Kolten Wong and a single by Dexter Fowler were the only hits and Cardinals hitters struck out nine times.

Marcell Ozuna stole his ninth base of the season.  Fowler had an outfield assist at second base.


Miles Mikolas (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Tuesday, August 6 – Cardinals 1 at Dodgers 3

The Cardinals fell in the second game of the Dodgers series but managed to score a run, via a single by Matt Carpenter in the second inning.   The offense scattered seven hits, including doubles by Dexter Fowler and Paul DeJong.  Fowler was 2-for-4.

Starter Miles Mikolas pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on six hits.  The right-hander struck out seven and walked one.  Andrew Miiler relieved Mikolas in the seventh and surrendered one run.  Tyler Webb pitched a scoreless eighth.  Mikolas took the loss, his 12th of the season.


Wednesday, August 7 – Cardinals 1 at Dodgers 2

Jack Flaherty (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The final game of the series was much like the others in that St. Louis’ offense remained meager.  The difference was the Cardinals were ahead 1-0 until the ninth inning when the bullpen gave the win away.

The Cardinals scattered seven hits while scoring only one run, a solo home run by Marcell Ozuna in the sixth inning.  Matt Carpenter was 2-for-4.  Dexter Fowler and Tommy Edman doubled.

Jack Flaherty continues to pitch well while his offense fails to support him.  Flaherty threw seven scoreless innings, allowed four hits, fanned 10 and walked one.  Giovanny Gallegos added a scoreless eighth.  Andrew Miller and Carlos Martinez combined to give up both Dodgers runs in the ninth including the walk off.  Martinez was charged with a blown save and the loss.


Thursday, August 8 – Off day

Friday, August 9 – Cardinals 6, Pirates 2

Marcell Ozuna (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals began a weekend series with the last place Pirates at Busch Stadium with a 6-2 win. The offense collected 10 hits.  Marcell Ozuna hit an eighth inning two-run home run as St. Louis pulled ahead with four runs in the eighth.  Paul Goldschmidt was 2-for-4 and drove in a run.  Tommy Edman was also 2-for-4 with a triple.  Dexter Fowler was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. A sac fly by Matt Carpenter and a single by Matt Wieters plated two runs.

Starter Dakota Hudson pitched four innings and gave up two runs on six hits.  Hudson struck out none and walked none.  Tyler Webb followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  John Brebbia tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.  Andrew Miller and Carlos Martinez combined for a scoreless eighth and ninth, with the latter receiving the win.


Saturday, August 10 – Cardinals 3, Pirates 1

Adam Wainwright (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals again defeated the Pirates in Game 2 of the series by a score of 3-1.  Starter Adam Wainwright pitched six innings and gave up one run on six hits.  The right hander fanned eight and walked two. Giovanny Gallegos added 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Carlos Martinez got the final two outs of the ninth to earn his 12th save.  Wainwright got the win, his eighth.

On offense, Tommy Edman was 2-for-4.  He scored in the sixth on a double with a throwing error.  Paul DeJong plated a run on a single in the sixth, as St. Louis pulled ahead.  A double play by Marcell Ozuna in the first inning resulted in the first run scoring.

Kolten Wong was caught stealing for the second time in the season.


Sunday, August 11 – Cardinals 11, Pirates 9

Lane Thomas (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals swept the Pirates on Sunday, with Game 3 a wild slugfest with the score of 11-9.  The game featured a game-saving grand slam by a rookie, plus two other long balls.   Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run in the first inning to get the Cardinals on the board. With the Cardinals behind 8-4 in the bottom of the seventh, back to back hit by pitches on Yairo Munoz and Andrew Knizner brought a run home to make it 8-5.  Rookie Lane Thomas came to bat with the bases loaded and hit a grand slam to give the Cardinals the lead.  Dexter Fowler added a two-run home run in the eighth as needed insurance.

In addition to the grand slam, Thomas tripled to score a run earlier in the game.  He was 2-for-5 with five RBI.  Tommy Edman was 3-for-5, Goldschmidt was 4-for-5, and Marcell Ozuna was 2-for-4.

Starter Miles Mikolas pitched five innings and gave up six runs, five earned, on seven hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked one.  In his MLB debut, Junior Fernandez surrendered two runs in 2/3 of an inning, with Tyler Webb getting the last out of the sixth.  John Gant and John Brebbia pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth, respectively. Andrew Miller allowed one run in the ninth, but earned his fourth save.  Gant was the winning pitcher.

Edman stole his seventh base, Goldschmidt swiped his first bag, and Ozuna stole his 10th base.  Jose Martinez committed a fielding error, and Lane Thomas had an outfield assist at home.  Webb picked a runner off first base.


The Big Picture

The Cardinals ended the week with a record of 3-3, having been swept by the Dodgers, and sweeping the Pirates.  Offense in the Dodgers series was virtually non- existent; two runs in three games.  Despite splitting the week, the team’s run differential for the week was minus four.

It appears to be one step forward, two steps back for the offense.  All season the team has not been able to put up a sustained run of offense.  Even when they win several games in a row, they are usually low scoring games on both sides.  Dexter Fowler, Kolten Wong, Marcell Ozuna, and Tommy Edman have hit fairly well.  The rest of the lineup has not.  Paul Goldschmidt had a good Sunday but did not hit well prior to that.  Paul DeJong, Jose Martinez, and Matt Wieters have been slumping.  Matt Carpenter returned from the injured list but has shown no signs of being the Matt Carpenter of old, now, or all season.

The defense in the infield has been fine, but the outfield has been a hodge-podge of infielders and outfielders in and out.  Tommy Edman and Yairo Munoz have been getting starts in the outfield while natural outfielder Lane Thomas sat on the bench.  Thomas’ performance in Sunday’s game may change that.  The outfield could use some good defense in center field.

As for pitching, Jack Flaherty had been excellent, Adam Wainwright has been okay.  Miles Mikolas had one good start and one not good start.  Dakota Hudson has struggled.  The fifth rotation spot went back to Michael Wacha, who wasn’t good.  There needs to be some consistency in that fifth spot and Wacha hasn’t provided that.  Who, if anyone, will provide that is up in the air at the moment.

The bullpen has been mostly fine. Andrew Miller has been so-so and Carlos Martinez is not a sure thing.  The two of them together blew the game against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

The Cardinals hit the road to play two games with the Kansas City Royals, then play a three game series in Cincinnati.  The Royals are not a good team, but the Reds can be very difficult to beat at home.  The Cubs recently found that out.

The Cardinals are barely holding on to second place in the NL Central after being in first place before the disastrous 0-5 West Coast trip.  Wins must come against the Royals and the Reds.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
Chicago 64 54 0.542
St. Louis 61 55 0.526 2
Milwaukee 62 57 0.521 2.5
Cincinnati 56 60 0.483 7
Pittsburgh 48 69 0.41 15.5

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.


Transactions 

  • 8/6 The Cardinals designated LHP Adalberto Mejia for assignment.
  • 8/6 The Cardinals sent RHP Mike Mayers outright to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/6 The Cardinals selected the contract of RHP Junior Fernandez from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/8 The Cardinals sent C Yadier Molina on a rehab assignment to the Springfield Cardinals.
  • 8/8 The Los Angeles Angels claimed LHP Adalberto Mejia off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60 day injured list. Cecil had been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period since spring training.  The left hander has had a setback in his rehab and it seems unlikely that Cecil will return in 2019.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • C Yadier Molina (right thumb) was placed on the 10 day injured list on July 11, retroactive to July 8. Molina is currently on a rehab assignment with the Springfield Cardinals and is expected to return to the roster as soon as Tuesday. Andrew Knizner will be returned to Memphis.
  • LF Tyler O’Neill (left wrist strain) was placed on the 10 day injured list retroactive to August 1. O’Neill is expected to begin a minor league rehab soon.
  • LHP Tony Cingrani (left shoulder labrum surgery) was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31. Cingrani is out for the season and will become a free agent at the end of the season.  Cingrani will likely never throw a pitch for the Cardinals.
  • RF Jose Martinez left Sunday’s game with shoulder discomfort. As of this writing, Martinez is day to day. With the team off Monday, further information should be available on Tuesday.
  • Neither RHS Alex Reyes nor LHS Austin Gomber, both on the IL of Triple-A Memphis, have appeared in rehab games. As minor league seasons have just three weeks remaining, time is running out for them to contribute in 2019.

Looking Ahead

The Cardinals have an off day on Monday and begin a two game series in Kansas City against the Royals. Jack Flaherty is scheduled to make the Tuesday start and Dakota Hudson will start on Wednesday.

The team then proceeds to Cincinnati for a second four-game series with the Reds beginning August 15.  Afterward, they return home for a seven-game home stand with three against the Brewers and four with the Rockies.

The Cardinals take a short trip to Milwaukee to play a three game set beginning August 26. They end the month with a weekend series at home against the Reds.

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

This week’s Blast from the Past takes a look back on a significant clash with the Cincinnati Reds that happened nine years ago this past week.

On August 10, 2010 the Cardinals played the Reds in Cincinnati.  It was the second of a three-game series.  The game was marked in infamy by a brawl that occurred in the first inning.  Its roots were in a comment made by Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips to the media the day before.  The gist of the comment, cited here out of context, was that Phillips expressed the sentiment that he hated the Cardinals, and that they were “little bitches, all of them”.

Needless to say, the comment did not go over well in Cardinal Nation, and more specifically it did not go over well with St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina.  So, with that backdrop, this is what happened in the game the next day.

In the first inning, Phillips came to bat, and before taking his stance to receive a pitch from Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia, Phillips gave Molina a little tap on his shin guard.  Ordinarily such a tap might be regarded as a friendly greeting, but in this case, Molina was having none of it.  The exact words spoken are not entirely known, but Molina expressed that the tap was not welcome because Phillips was not his friend after the comments he made the previous day.  Molina and Phillips got in each other’s faces, and then it was on.

The benches and the bullpen cleared.  Shoving occurred and perhaps a few punches were thrown, but the worst part is that the sea of baseball players was shoved, en masse, up against the backstop.  In the ensuing melee, Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto, pressed up against the screen, began kicking players with his cleats.  Two of the Cardinals victims of this kicking were pitcher Chris Carpenter, and backup catcher Jason LaRue, a former Red.

Words were exchanged between managers Tony La Russa and Dusty Baker, and Jeff Suppan was shown crawling his way out from under a pile of players, but the significant matter was injuries to Carpenter and LaRue.  Carpenter reported some scratches and cuts, but LaRue received the brunt of the damage, with a concussion that ultimately ended his career.

Cueto received a seven-game suspension, which for a starting pitcher is a light sentence because he only missed one start.  Many in Cardinal Nation felt that was not a proper punishment for ending a career.

As far as the outcome of the game, it eventually resumed, and the Cardinals won 8-4.  Needless to say, fans in both stadiums booed Phillips and Molina for years after.  Molina is still booed to this day, but Phillips is no longer in baseball, so for him, the boos had an end.  Despite all that happened, there were no follow-on clashes of any significance between the two teams since that day.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 11, 2019

photo: Harrison Bader (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-5 on Saturday. Our Player of the Day is Memphis center fielder Harrison Bader, who was 2-for-5 including two home runs and five RBI.  Jake Woodford, Evan Kruczynski, Michael YaSenka Henry Gomez and Gustavo J. Rodriguez all pitched well.

Results for games played Saturday, Aug 10.


Memphis 12, Fresno 3

Harrison Bader (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

In a Saturday slugfest in Fresno, the Redbirds hit the long ball early and often to defeat the Grizzlies 12-3.

It began with a solo home run by Randy Arozarena and Ramon Urias followed with a two run shot in the first.  Harrison Bader took it further by blasting a three run home run in the fifth inning followed by a two run blast in the sixth.  Adolis Garcia joined in with a solo home run in the sixth.  Nine of the 12 Redbird runs came via the long ball.  Justin Williams’ two run double and an RBI single by Jose Martinez rounded out the scoring.

Arozarena was 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored.  Bader was 2-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored.  Garcia was 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Urias was 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Starter Jake Woodford pitched six innings and gave up two runs on five hits.  The right hander struck out six and walked two.  Zac Rosscup surrendered a run in the seventh.  Jesus Cruz pitched a scoreless eighth and Kodi Whitley closed with a scoreless ninth.  Woodford earned his seventh win.

Bader stole his second base for Memphis.  Martinez made a throwing error.

Memphis is 53-65 on the season, tied for second place in the PCL North, 10 games back of the Iowa Cubs.

Sunday’s game:   at Fresno, Chris Ellis (3-5, 7.49) 7:05 CT.


Springfield 3, Arkansas 2

Evan Kruczynski (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals edged the Travelers, 3-2, at Hammons Field on Saturday.  Starting pitcher Evan Kruczynski pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on six hits.  The left hander fanned 11 and walked one.  Merandy Gonzalez tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings and earned the win.  Connor Jones earned his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.

A solo home run by Brian O’Keefe got the Cardinals on the board in the second inning.  Lars Nootbaar plated a second run on fielder’s choice in the fourth.  Yadier Molina, continuing his rehab assignment, hit a sac fly in the seventh to score the winning run.  Dylan Carlson was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.

Molina stole a base, and Carlson swiped two.  Nootbaar was caught stealing.  Zach Kirtley made a throwing error.  Nootbaar had an outfield assist at second base.

The Cardinals are 22-26 in the second half, 52-66 overall, and are in third place in the Texas League North.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, Angel Rondon (4-4, 3.12) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 4, Clearwater 11

Luken Baker (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Cardinals were overwhelmed by the Clearwater Threshers by the score of 11-4 at Roger Dean on Saturday.  The Palm Beach offense couldn’t get traction against Thresher pitching until the final three innings.

Luken Baker drove in two of the four Palm Beach runs on a double and a single.  Ivan Herrera’s single and a ground out RBI by Michael Perri plated the other two scores.  Baker went 3-for-5, and Herrera and Bryce Denton were 2-for-4.  The only extra base hits were doubles by Baker and Nolan Gorman.

Starter Griffin Roberts took the loss.  Roberts pitched four innings and gave up nine runs, eight earned, on 10 hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked three.  Ramon Santos pitched two scoreless innings of relief, followed by one scoreless frame by Michael Baird.  Zach Prendergast surrendered two runs in the eighth.  Position player Juan Yepez pitched a scoreless ninth.

In the field, Roberts had a missed catch error.

The Cardinals are 17-33 in the second half, 52-62 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Clearwater, Diego Cordero (1-4, 4.17) 12:00 pm CT.


Peoria 3, Clinton 4

Alexis Wilson (The Cardinal Nation)

The Chiefs lost a close one at home to Clinton on Saturday.  The Chiefs fell behind 3-0 and the offense was held scoreless until the fifth inning.  Peoria knotted it up with one in the fifth and two in the sixth, but Clinton ultimately broke the tie for the win.

Chiefs catcher Alexis Wilson and center fielder Brandon Riley were both 2-for-4 on the night.  Right fielder Leandro Cedeno was 2-for-3.  Cedeno and Riley each drove in a run.  Edwin Figuera plated the third run on a ground out.  Brendan Donovan had the only extra base hit, a double.

Starter Michael Brettell pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked three.  Franyell Casadilla followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Tony Locey surrendered an unearned run in his 1 1/3 innings pitched and took the loss.  Sebastian Tabata tossed a scoreless ninth.

Riley and Delvin Perez each committed a fielding error.  Casadilla and Locey both made an error on a pickoff attempt.   Cedeno had an outfield assist at home.

The Chiefs are 14-34 in the second half, 44-73 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Clinton, Logan Gragg (0-1, 3.68) 5:05 CT.


State College 2, Batavia 3 (10 innings)

Michael YaSenka (Robert Kell)

The Spikes were edged at home by the Batavia Muckdogs 3-2 in extra innings on Saturday.  Both State College runs came two-run home run by Pedro Pages in the sixth.  Terry Fuller had the only other extra base hit, a double.  David Vinsky was 2-for-4.

Starter Michael YaSenka pitched six innings and gave up just one run on five hits.  The right hander fanned six and walked one.  Jacob Schlesener tossed two scoreless innings of relief.  Eric Lex surrendered the tying run in the ninth and the winning run in the 10th.  He was charged with the blown save and the loss.

On the base paths, Martin Figueroa stole his third base of the season. In the field, Moises Castillo made a fielding error.  Catcher Cameron Knight had a passed ball.

The Spikes are 27-27 on the season and are in third place in the New York/Penn League Pinckney Division.

Sunday’s game:  at Williamsport, Junior Gonzalez (2-3, 5.63) 4:05 CT.


Johnson City 7 at Elizabethton 13

Aaron Antonini (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals were overmatched by the Elizabethton Twins 13-4 on Saturday.  Still, the Johnson City offense scored seven runs on 10 hits.  They included two long balls each by Aaron Antonini and Mateo Gil.   Antonini hit a two run shot in the second, and a solo home run in the eighth.  Gil’s home runs were both solo, one in the fifth and the other in the seventh.  Antonini also had a triple and was 3-for-3 on the night with four RBI and three runs scored.  Gil was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.  Chandler Redmond was 2-for-4.

Starter Luis Ortiz pitched 3 1/3 innings and was bombed for 10 runs on nine hits. The right hander struck out three and walked five.  Will Guay tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.  Enrique Perez surrendered three runs, one earned in 1 2/3 innings pitched.  Alex Gallegos closed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Redmond stole his fourth base of the season.  Gil was picked off first base.  Perez and Kevin Vargas committed throwing errors, and Diomedes Del Rio made a fielding error.  Antonini had a passed ball.

Johnson City is 25-18 on the season and is in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Bluefield, Wilfredo Pereira (2-1, 2.42) 4:00 CT.


GCL Cardinals – Off

Sunday’s game:  vs. GCL Astros, TBA 9:00 CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 6 at DSL Tigers1 7 (10 innings)

The Cardinals Red were edged by the Tigers1 7-6 on Saturday in extra innings.   The Cardinals scored all six of their runs in the second inning.  Erick Thomas drove in two runs on a triple.  Jesus Orrechia also tripled to score Thomas.  The remaining runs scored on a fielder’s choice, a sac fly by Miguel Marcos, and a single by Claudio Ramirez.  No Cardinal had multiple hits, and the two triples were the only extra base hits.

Starter Henry Gomez pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up one run on six hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked two.  Larimel Soriano surrendered four runs in one inning of relief.  Hector De Los Santos tossed 2 1/3 innings and allowed the tying run.  He was charged with a blown save.  Oliver Lopez gave up the winning run in the 10th and took the loss.

Marcos stole his third base of the season. Albert Inoa made a fielding error.

The Cardinals Red are 24-36 on the season and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled


DSL Cardinals Blue 8, DSL Phillies Red 1

The Cardinals Blue beat the Phillies Red by the score of 8-1 on Saturday.  The Blue offense had 10 hits, as did the Phillies, but the visitors scored only once.  First baseman Fernando Diaz hit a solo home run in the fifth inning and was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.  Elvin De Jesus was 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored, while Leudy Pena also had a double and was 2-for-4 with three RBI.  DH Juan Sanchez was also 2-for-4.

Starter Gustavo J. Rodriguez pitched six scoreless innings, allowed six hits, struck out five and walked one to earn his fourth win.  Americo Lugo surrendered one run in two innings of relief.  Victor Villanueva tossed a scoreless ninth.

De Jesus, Erik Pena, and Darlin Moquete each stole a base.  Leudy Pena had an outfield assist.

The Cardinals Blue are 35-17 on the season and are in second place in the DSL South.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled.


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Fall League Predictions – 2019


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 10, 2019

photo: Daniel Ponce de Leon (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 7-3 on Friday. Our Player of the Day is Memphis starting pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon, who pitched seven scoreless, two-hit innings and struck out 11. Adolis Garcia was 4-for-5 including a home run and four RBI, Nolan Gorman went deep twice and Alvaro Seijas and Colin Schmid made scoreless starts.

Results for games played Friday, August 9.


Memphis 15 at Sacramento 0

Daniel Ponce de Leon (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds shellacked the Sacramento River Cats in the final game of the road series on Friday.  Memphis starter Daniel Ponce de Leon was masterful, pitching seven scoreless innings in which he allowed only two hits and fanned 11.  Mike Mayers and Dominic Leone tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively.  Ponce de Leon earned his fifth win.

The Redbirds offense was busy, scoring 15 runs on 15 hits.  Adolis Garcia was 4-for-5 with four RBI, and four runs scored, a triple short of the cycle.  Ramon Urias was 4-for-5 with four RBI.  Joe Hudson was 2-for-5 with three RBI.  Justin Williams drove in three on a walk, a single, and a ground out.  Of the starting lineup, including the pitcher, only Kramer Robertson was hitless.

Memphis is 52-65 on the season and is in second place in the PCL American North, 10 games behind the Iowa Cubs.

Saturday’s game:  at Fresno, Jake Woodford (6-7, 4.20) 9:05 CT.


Springfield 1, Arkansas 8

Brian O’Keefe (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals were overwhelmed by the Arkansas Travelers 8-1 at Hammons Field on Friday.  The Springfield offense was held scoreless until Brian O’Keefe broke through with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth – too little, too late.  It was the last of five hits by Cardinals batters, and the only extra base hit.

Starter Tommy Parsons suffered his fourth Double-A loss, pitching six innings and giving up six runs on eight hits, including three home runs.  The right hander struck out four and walked one.  Will Latcham surrendered two runs in two innings of relief.  Roel Ramirez tossed a scoreless ninth.

Dylan Carlson stole his 14th base of the season.  Connor Capel and Lars Nootbaar each had an outfield assist at second base.

The Cardinals are 21-26 in the second half, 51-66 overall, and are in third place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, Evan Kruczynski (2-7, 5.97) 6:10 CT.


Nolan Gorman (Peoria Chiefs)

Palm Beach 3, Clearwater 5 (seven innings, Game 1)

The Cardinals dropped the first game of a home doubleheader with Clearwater by the score of 5-3 on Friday.  Despite the loss, prospect Nolan Gorman showed off the power with a single and two home runs, both solo shots.  One long ball hit the roof of the clubhouse in left field.  Luken Baker also homered, a solo shot along with Gorman in the third inning.  Baker was 3-for-4.  Nick Plummer was 2-for-3.

Palm Beach starter Kyle Leahy pitched five innings and gave up five runs on nine hits.  The right hander walked two.   Cole Aker tossed the final two scoreless innings of relief.


Alvaro Seijas (Peoria Chiefs)

Palm Beach 3, Clearwater 0 (seven innings, Game 2)

The Cardinals were the victors in the second game of the twin bill, blanking Clearwater 3-0.  Starter Alvaro Seijas pitched six scoreless innings, allowed four hits, fanned five and walked three to earn his second win at high-A.  Patrick Dayton earned his third save with a scoreless seventh.

The Palm Beach offense scored three runs on five hits.  No Cardinal had multiple hits.  Nick Plummer doubled in the first run in the second inning.  Juan Yepez plated two on a sixth inning single.

The Cardinals are 17-32 in the second half, 52-61 overall, and in last place in the FSL South.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Clearwater, Griffin Roberts (1-6, 5.57) 4:30 CT.


Peoria 2 at Beloit 0

Colin Schmid (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs blanked the Beloit Snappers 2-0 on Friday.  Peoria starter Colin Schmid pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed two hits, struck out three and walked one to earn his sixth win.  Leonardo Taveras collected his third save, tossing two scoreless innings in relief.

Leandro Cedeno singled home a run in the fourth, and Brendan Donovan did the same in the ninth.  Jonatan Machado was 2-for-4.  The only extra base hit was a double by Delvin Perez.

On the base paths Machado was caught stealing for the second time.

The Chiefs are 14-33 in the second half, 44-72 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West

Saturday’s game:  vs. Clinton, Michael Brettell (4-8, 5.54), 6:35 CT.


State College 5, Batavia 3

Pedro Pages (State College Spikes)

The Spikes defeated the Muckdogs 5-3 on Friday.  Donivan Williams hit his first home run in the second inning, a solo shot to left.  Catcher Pedro Pages drove in three runs on two doubles.  Pages was the only Spikes hitter with multiple hits.  Terry Fuller also doubled.

Starter Adrian Mardueno pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked one.  Jeremy Randolph followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Cameron Dulle surrendered one run in the eighth and was tagged with a blown save, but also got the win.  Jack Ralston earned his third save with a scoreless ninth.

In the field, Pages picked a runner off second base. He also had a passed ball.

The Spikes are 27-26 and are in third place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Batavia, Michael YaSenka (1-0, 2.70) 6:05 CT.


Johnson City 8 at Elizabethton 7

Todd Lott (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals edged the Twins 8-7 on Friday.  The offense scored eight runs on eight hits, including a two-run home run by William Jimenez in the sixth inning.  Todd Lott drove in three runs, two on a triple and the other on a fielder’s choice double play.  Trejyn Fletcher was 2-for-5 with two RBI.

Starter Hector Soto pitched three innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on seven hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked one.   Francisco Justo pitched a scoreless fourth.  Wilberto Rivera surrendered two runs in two innings pitched but received the win.  Walker Robbins tossed two scoreless innings, and John Witkowski added a scoreless ninth to earn his second save.

Ben Baird and Mateo Gil each made a fielding error.

Johnson City is 27-22 on the season and is in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Saturday’s game:  at Elizabethton, Luis Ortiz (0-2, 5.79) 5:30 CT.


GCL Cardinals 2 at GCL Mets 10

The fumbling Cardinals were one-hit by the Mets in Port St. Lucie on Friday.  The offense scored two runs, neither of which came home on a hit.  A ground out by Ramon Mendoza and a sac fly by Tyler Reichenborn resulted in the runs scored.  The only hit was a double by Patrick Romeri.

Starter Roy Garcia pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on five hits.  The right hander issued two walks.  Francis Ventura pitched 3 1/3 innings and surrendered six runs, four earned.  Wilman Madera allowed one run in the final two innings.  Garcia took the loss.

On the base paths, Pablo Gomez was caught stealing.  In the field, the Cards committed six miscues. Ventura made three pickoff errors and Franklin Soto, Francisco Hernandez, and Mendoza each made a throwing error.

The Cardinals are 17-22 on the season and are tied for last place in the GCL East.

Saturday’s game:  No game scheduled.


DSL Cardinals Red 7, DSL Tigers 2

The Cardinals Red blew past the Tigers 7-2 on Friday.  The game was scoreless until both teams scored two runs in the fourth.  The Cardinals broke the tie with two runs in the fifth, then added three more in the seventh.

Fernando Brazaban and Bryan Matute were both 2-for-4 with a double. Brazoban had an RBI.  Catcher Roblin Heredia was 2-for-4 with three RBI.  Sander Mora was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

Starter Diorys Guerrero pitched 3 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on one hit.  The left hander struck out seven and walked three.  Ramon Fernandez tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.   Luis Garcia pitched the final three scoreless innings and earned his first save.

Mora stole his 26th base of the season.  Mora committed a fielding error, Heredia made a throwing error, and Guerrero had a miscue on a pickoff attempt, but he also picked a runner off first base.

The Cardinals Red are 24-35 and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Saturday’s game:  at DSL Tigers1, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Blue 6 at DSL Mets1 0

The Cardinals Blue blanked the Mets 6-0 on Friday.  Blue starter Wilmer Ortega pitched four innings, allowed three hits, struck out two and walked three.  Juan Peralta followed with two innings to earn the win.  Cristoffer Zapata tossed two innings, followed by a clean ninth from Benjamin Arias.

The Blue offense scored six runs on six hits; however, three runs scored on a wild pitch and one on a double play.  Only one run scored on a hit, a single by Fernando Diaz in the sixth.  The final run came home on a ground out.  Going 2-for-4, Diaz was the only Cardinal hitter with multiple hits.  Darlin Moquete had the only extra base hit, a double.

On the base paths, there were stolen bases by Hansel Otamendi, G.A. Rodriguez, and Erik Pena. Pena was also picked off first base.

The Cardinals Blue have a record of 34-17 and are in third place in the DSL South.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL Phillies Red, TBA 9:00 am CT.


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

Memphis Redbirds Notebook – 2019 Week 18


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 9, 2019

photo: Scott Politz (Steve Manuel/State College Spikes)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-5 on Thursday. Our Player of the Day is State College pitcher Scott Politz, with seven scoreless innings on five hits, no walks and nine strikeouts. The other two wins were in the Dominican Summer League.

Results for games played Thursday, August 8.


Memphis 2 at Sacramento 5

Harrison Bader (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds fell to the Sacramento River Cats on Thursday night.  Their two runs came late, as Memphis was held scoreless by Sacramento pitching through five innings.  A solo home run in the sixth by Harrison Bader put the Redbirds on the board.  It was the first long ball for Bader since being optioned a little over a week ago.  Bader plated the other run on a single in the eighth.  Bader was the only Redbird with multiple hits and an extra base hit.

Starter Genesis Cabrera pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. The left hander struck out seven and walked two.  Seth Elledge finished with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Cabrera took the loss, his fifth of the season.

Memphis is 51-65 on the season and is tied for second place in the PCL American North, 11 games behind the Iowa Cubs.

Friday’s game:  at Sacramento, Daniel Ponce de Leon (4-4, 3.64) 9:05 CT.


Springfield 1, Arkansas 6

Dylan Carlson (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals were overmatched by the Arkansas Travelers by a score of 6-1 on Thursday at Hammons Field.  Dylan Carlson’s solo home run in the fourth, his only hit, was the lone run for Springfield.  Zach Kirtley’s double was the only other Cardinal extra base hit. Left fielder Connor Capel went 2-for-4.

Starter Alex FaGalde pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked three.  Ronnie Williams surrendered one run in 2 1/3 innings of relief, before Jacob Patterson got the last out of the ninth.

Capel, Kirtley and Justin Toerner each stole a base.  Toerner had an outfield assist at second, and FaGalde picked a runner off first.

The Cardinals are 21-25 in the second half, 51-65 overall, and are in third place in the Texas League North.

Friday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, Tommy Parsons (4-3, 4.65) 7:10 CT.


Palm Beach vs. Clearwater (postponed)

The game between Palm Beach and Clearwater was postponed due to wet grounds at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.  It will be played as part of a doubleheader on Friday.

Friday’s games:  vs. Clearwater, Kyle Leahy (0-2, 2.25)/ Alvaro Seijas (1-1, 3.98) 3:00 CT


Peoria 3 at Beloit 6

Wilfredo Periera (Robert Kell)

The Chiefs fell to the Beloit Snappers on Thursday, in an unusual offensive night.  Though the Chiefs scattered seven hits, none drove in a run.  The three runs were produced on a passed ball, a fielding error, and a sac fly.  Four of the hits were doubles off the bats of Jonatan Machado, Alexis Wilson, Wadye Ynfante, and Josh Shaw.

Infante went 2-for-4.  Machado, Shaw, and Brandon Riley scored.

Starter Dalton Roach pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on seven hits.  The right hander struck out eight and walked four. Wilfredo Pereira tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Wilson was the victim of a successful pickoff at first base.

The Chiefs are 13-33 in the second half, 43-72 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Friday’s game:  at Beloit, Colin Schmid (5-5, 4.29) 6:30 CT.


State College 4, Batavia 1

Scott Politz (State College Spikes)

The Spikes beat the Batavia Muckdogs on Thursday behind a pitching gem from starter Scott Politz.  Politz tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and fanning nine to earn his third win of the season.  Reliever Hector Villalobos pitched a scoreless eighth before Fabian Blanco surrendered Batavia’s lone run in the ninth.

The Spikes scored twice in the first inning to take the lead, and added single runs in innings five and six.  Doubles by David Vinsky and Terry Fuller brought the first two runs home.  The final two scores came without a hit, one on a fielding error and the other on a groundout.

The only Spikes player with multiple hits was Dariel Gomez, who was 2-for-4.  The doubles by Vinsky and Fuller were the only extra base hits.

The Spikes are 26-26 and are in third place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Friday’s game:  vs. Batavia, Adrian Mardueno (2-2, 3.77) 6:05 CT.


Johnson City 6, Elizabethton 7 (10 innings)

Mateo Gil (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals lost a close home game to the Twins in extra innings on Thursday.  The lead changed hands several times before the Cardinals knotted it up in the ninth.  Mateo Gil led the rally, driving in one and scoring the tying run.  Gil went 2-for-5 with a home run and a triple, two RBI and three runs scored.  Malcolm Nunez was 3-for-5 with an RBI.  Liam Sabino drove in one and was 2-for-4.

Starter Jose Moreno pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on 11 hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked one.  Dylan Pearce surrendered one run in the seventh.  Blake Drake tossed two scoreless innings, before left hander Enrique Perez allowed the winning run in the 10th to take the loss.

Sabino was caught stealing for the second time this season.  William Jimenez committed a fielding error, and catcher Zach Jackson had a passed ball.

Johnson City is 26-22 on the season and are in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Friday’s game:  at Elizabethton, Hector Soto (0-0, 1.84) 5:30 CT.


GCL Cardinals 3 at GCL Nationals 6

Diowill Burgos

The Cardinals were defeated by the Nationals at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Thursday.  The offense scored three runs in the first inning but was unable to score again.  The key blow was a two-run home run by Diowill Burgos, his only hit. Francisco Hernandez was 2-for-4.  Additional extra base hits were a double by Freddy De Jesus, and a triple by Tyler Reichenborn.

Starter Inohan Paniagua pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on six hits.  The right hander struck out two and took the loss.  Martin Cordova followed with 3 2/3 innings of relief and surrendered one unearned run.  Tyler Statler pitched a scoreless sixth, and Luis Tena tossed the final two scoreless innings.

Catcher Cristhian Longa and third sacker Hernandez each stole a base.  Franklin Soto made two errors, one fielding and one throwing.  Yowelfy Rosario also had a fielding miscue.  Longa had a passed ball.

Cardinals are 17-21 on the season and are in last place in the GCL East.

Friday’s game:  at GCL Mets, TBA 11:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 5, DSL Brewers 4

The Dominican Cardinals Red edged the Brewers 5-4 on Thursday.   A three run bottom of the first put the Red out front early.  The Cardinals added additional runs in the sixth and the ninth, with the latter the difference-maker.

Fernando Brazaban led the Red offense with a 2-for-5 performance that included a triple.  The outfielder drove in four of the five runs.  Sander Mora was 2 for-4, and Luis Andujar was 2-for-3.

Red starter Angel Cuenca pitched five innings and gave up three runs on three hits.  The right hander struck out eight and walked three.  Miguel Yedis surrendered one run in two innings of relief. Hemerson Cordero tossed the final two scoreless frames to earn the win.

Mora, Smith Vargas, and Bryan Matute each stole a base.  Andujar was picked off first base.  Catcher Diego Velasquez made a throwing error and had a passed ball.

The Cardinals Red are 23-35 and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Friday’s game:  vs. DSL Tigers1, TBA 9:30 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Blue 12 at DSL Nationals 4

The Cardinals Blue shellacked the Nationals on Thursday by the score of 12-4.  The Blue offense put up five runs in the second inning to take the lead and scored seven additional runs over the fourth, fifth, and seventh.  The three Blue extra base hits were triples by Hansel Otamendi and Darlin Moquete, and a double off the bat of Jose Zapata.

Moquete was 2-for-3 with four RBI and four runs scored.  Zapata was 2-for-5.  Otamendi drove in two.

Starter Eduar Pimentel pitched four innings and gave up four runs, two earned, on two hits.  Yordy Richard followed with four innings of scoreless relief to earn the win.  The right hander fanned three.  Ronald Suarez pitched a scoreless ninth.

Moquete and Elvin De Jesus each stole a base.  De Jesus also made a fielding error, along with fielding errors by Carlos Arcia and Fernando Diaz.

The Cardinals Blue have a record of 33-17 and are in third place in the DSL South.

Friday’s game:  at DSL Mets1, TBA 9:30 am CT.


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

The 2019 Memphis Redbirds are Re-Emerging


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St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of July 29-August 4

photo: Paul Goldschmidt (Joe Puetz/Imagn)

The St. Louis Cardinals went 2-3 last week against a pair of playoff-leading clubs and will visit the National League’s winningest team, the Dodgers, next. Paul Goldschmidt is the NL Player of the Month for July. Our weekly history feature looks back at trades between the Cardinals and A’s.


Game recaps

Monday, July 29 – Off day


Tuesday, July 30 – Cardinals 2, Cubs 1

Paul Goldschmidt (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals took on their NL Central rivals Cubs in a three game series at Busch Stadium.  In Game 1, St. Louis prevailed, 2-1.

St. Louis’ offense scored two runs on seven hits.  Jose Martinez came in on a wild pitch in the fourth inning and Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo home run in the sixth.  Martinez and Goldschmidt were both 2-for-4 on the night, as was Tommy Edman.  Edman also stole his sixth major league base.

Adam Wainwright took the mound to start for St. Louis and pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run on five hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked three.  Giovanny Gallegos followed with a scoreless inning in relief and earned the win.  Andrew Miller and Carlos Martinez combined to toss the final 2 1/3 scoreless innings with Martinez earning his 11th save.


Wednesday, July 31 – Cardinals 0, Cubs 2

The Cardinals were blanked by the Cubs in Game 2 on Wednesday, the first home loss in 11 games between the two teams this season.  St. Louis offense scattered nine hits but couldn’t get traction against Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, who continues to flummox the Cardinal lineup.   Paul Goldschmidt and Kolten Wong each went 2-for-4 and Wong stole his 15th base of the season.

The defense made two errors, a fielding miscue by Tommy Edman and a throwing error by Matt Wieters.  Jose Martinez had an outfield assist.

Miles Mikolas pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up one unearned run on six hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked one.  Giovanny Gallegos relieved with two outs in the sixth and retired the only batter he faced.  John Gant pitched 2 1/3 innings and surrendered one run.  Tyler Webb got the final out of the eighth and John Brebbia added a scoreless ninth.


Thursday, August 1 – Cardinals 8, Cubs 0

Jack Flaherty (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Fortunes reversed in the rubber game of the series as the Cardinals left the Cubs in the dust with an 8-0 win.  Starter Jack Flaherty had his way with the Cubs offense, and the Cardinals had their way with Jon Lester and the Cubs bullpen.

Flaherty pitched seven scoreless innings, allowed just one hit, struck out nine Cubs and walked two.  Tyler Webb and Mike Mayers each pitched a scoreless inning.  Flaherty earned his first win since mid-May.

Matt Wieters went 2-for-4, including a three-run home run in the sixth inning.  Kolten Wong was 3-for-4 with an RBI, Paul DeJong was 3-for-4, and Yairo Munoz was 2-for-3 with two RBI.  Jose Martinez drove in a run and stole his second base of the season.


Friday, August 2 – Off day

Saturday, August 3 – Cardinals 3 at Athletics 8

The Cardinals took on the Oakland Athletics in a two-game interleague series in Oakland.  The Redbirds were defeated 8-3 behind struggling Dakota Hudson.  Hudson lasted only 3 2/3 innings and gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits.  The right hander struck out seven and walked five.  Newly-acquired reliever Adalberto Mejia surrendered a run in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Mike Mayers also struggled and allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched.  Tyler Webb gave up one run in the final 1 1/3 innings.  Hudson took the loss.

The offense scored three runs on eight hits.  Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong each went 2-for-4.  DeJong, Tommy Edman and Lane Thomas drove in the three St. Louis runs, with Thomas’ RBI via a solo home run in the ninth inning.


Sunday, August 4 – Cardinals 2 at Athletics 4

The Cardinals lost the two-game set in Oakland with a 4-2 defeat on Sunday.  Adam Wainwright gave up three runs on six hits in his 5 1/3 inning start.  The right hander fanned seven and walked three.  John Brebbia finished the sixth without damage.  Giovanny Gallegos pitched a scoreless seventh.  John Gant surrendered a run in the eighth.  Wainwright suffered his eighth loss of the season.

The Cardinals scored two runs on five hits. Paul DeJong hit a fourth inning solo home run.   Kolten Wong drove in a run on a single in the eighth.  Andrew Knizner and Dexter Fowler each stole a base.


The Big Picture

The Cardinals ended the week with a record of 2-3, taking the three-game series with the Cubs but losing both games to the Athletics in Oakland.

Miles Mikolas (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals played well in two games against the Cubs but were overmatched against Oakland.  Adam Wainwright and Dakota Hudson struggled.  Jack Flaherty was masterful against the Cubs.  Miles Mikolas also pitched well.  The fifth spot in the rotation continues to be fluid.  Daniel Ponce de Leon was optioned to Memphis following two bad starts.  Michael Wacha will return to the rotation against the Dodgers on Monday.

The Cardinals failed to make a trade for a starting pitcher, so the rotation will continue to be an issue for the foreseeable future it seems unless someone steps up from the minor leagues or a starter can be found either in free agency or picked up on outright or release waivers.

National League Player of the Month Paul Goldschmidt appears to have finally found his gear offensively.  Paul DeJong has also gotten hot. Over the weekend, Marcell Ozuna and Matt Carpenter returned to the roster from the injured list, so one or both of them picking it up would help considerably.  The rest of the offense has been hit or miss.

The outfield has been in flux with Harrison Bader optioned to Memphis and Tyler O’Neill going on the injured list with a wrist sprain.  Infielders are inexplicably making starts in the outfield.  Tommy Edman made a start in right on Sunday, even with Lane Thomas, a natural outfielder, on the roster. Yairo Munoz continues to make starts in the outfield as well.  This seems less than ideal.

A three-game set against the MLB-best Dodgers in Los Angeles begins on Monday.  This will be a tough series.  The team returns home on the weekend to play the struggling Pirates.  That would be a good time to pick up some wins.

The Cardinals fell out of first place with the two losses in Oakland while the Cubs swept the Brewers.  They are now 1.5 games back of the Cubs with two months left in the regular season but are a half-game ahead of the Phillies for the first wild card spot.  It is time to pour it on.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
Chicago 60 51 0.541
St. Louis 58 52 0.527 1.5
Milwaukee 57 56 0.504 4
Cincinnati 52 58 0.473 7.5
Pittsburgh 48 63 0.432 12

The Cardinals whiff on the trade deadline

Adalberto Mejia (Jasen Vinlove/Imagn)

The July 31, 2019 trade deadline came and went, and the Cardinals basically came up empty.  The only addition to the Cardinals major league roster was a left handed reliever, Adalberto Mejia, claimed off waivers from the Angels.

There was a subtraction from the roster, as the Cardinals dealt utility infielder Jedd Gyorko to the Dodgers for what appears to be salary and roster relief only.  The Cardinals obtained two injured pitchers in the deal, LHP Tony Cingrani, out for the season with labrum surgery, and RHP Jeffry Abreu, who was placed on the Gulf Coast Cardinals 60-day injured list.  The Cardinals also sent cash and international spending capacity to the Dodgers in the deal.

Jedd Gyorko (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals were reportedly seeking a starting pitcher, but “couldn’t match up with any team” in the words of President of Baseball Operations’ John Mozeliak.  The team did not want to part with top prospects Nolan Gorman and Dylan Carlson, which limited their options, as those players were likely the most sought after by teams.  Mozeliak said making an irrational deal, especially for a short term rental, was not something they wanted to do.

This year, Major League Baseball changed the trade deadline rules to make July 31 a hard deadline, eliminating the August waiver wire deals.  Therefore, no further additions to the roster are possible except for any free agent players available, picking up a player on outright or release waivers, or minor league promotions.

The Cardinals will have to finish the season with pretty much what they have already.


Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.


Transactions 

  • 7/29 The Cardinals optioned CF Harrison Bader to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/29 The Cardinals acquired minor league LHP Zac Rosscup from the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash considerations.
  • 7/30 The Cardinals sent LF Marcell Ozuna on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/30 The Cardinals claimed LHP Adalberto Mejia off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.
  • 7/30 The Cardinals recalled CF Lane Thomas from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/31 The Cardinals activated LHP Adalberto Mejia.
  • 7/31 The Cardinals optioned RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/31 The Cardinals traded 3B Jedd Gyorko, international spending capacity, and cash considerations to the Los Angeles Dodgers for LHP Tony Cingrani and RHP Jeffry Abreu.
  • 8/1 The Cardinals sent 3B Matt Carpenter on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/2 The Cardinals sent C Yadier Molina on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/3 The Cardinals placed LF Tyler O’Neill on the 10 day injured list retroactive to August 1.  Left wrist strain.
  • 8/4 The Cardinals designated RHP Mike Mayers for assignment.
  • 8/4 The Cardinals optioned 1B Rangel Ravelo to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 8/4 The Cardinals recalled RHP Ryan Helsley from the Memphis Redbirds.

Yadier Molina (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)

Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60-day injured list. Cecil had been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period since spring training surgery.  The left hander has had a setback in his rehab and it seems unlikely that Cecil will return in 2019.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • C Yadier Molina (right thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 11, retroactive to July 8. Molina began a rehab assignment on Friday, August 2 with the Memphis Redbirds.
  • LF Tyler O’Neill (left wrist strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to August 1. It is not expected that O’Neill will spend more than the required 10 days on the IL.
  • LHP Tony Cingrani (left shoulder labrum surgery) was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 31. Cingrani is out for the season and will become a free agent this fall.  Cingrani will likely never throw a pitch for the Cardinals.

Looking Ahead

The Cardinals head to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers in a three-game series beginning August 5.  Michael Wacha is scheduled to make the Monday start, followed by Miles Mikolas on Tuesday, and Jack Flaherty on Wednesday.

The Cardinals have a travel day on Thursday, August 8 and return home to a weekend series with the Pirates.  It is a short home stand, as the Cardinals have an off day on Monday and begin a two game series in Kansas City against the Royals.

The team then proceeds to Cincinnati for a second four-game series with the Reds beginning August 15.  They then return home to begin a seven game home stand with three games against the Brewers and four games with the Rockies.

The Cardinals take a short trip to Milwaukee to play a three game series beginning August 26. They end the month with a weekend series at home against the Reds.

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

The Cardinals played a two-game series with the Oakland Athletics over the weekend, losing both games to the American League West team.  This week’s Blast from the Past looks at some recent trading history with the AL team from the Bay Area.

Stephen Piscotty (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The most recent trade between the two was announced on December 14, 2017, when the Cardinals sent outfielder Stephen Piscotty to Oakland for infielders Yairo Munoz and Max Schrock.  Piscotty is from the Oakland area, where his parents still resided.  Prior to the trade, it was revealed that Piscotty’s mother, Gretchen Piscotty, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also colloquially known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  ALS is a rare and ultimately fatal neurological disease.  The Cardinals attempted to trade the outfielder at the July 2017 trade deadline but couldn’t make a deal with Oakland at that time.  However, a trade was worked out in the offseason and Piscotty was sent home to spend time with his mother in her final months.   Gretchen Piscotty passed away on May 6, 2018, about a year after her diagnosis.

Matt Holliday (USA TODAY Sports Images)

Another major trade with Oakland was the deal that brought Matt Holliday to St. Louis.  Holliday was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 1998 and made his major league debut with that team on April 16, 2004. Holliday played five seasons in Colorado, and then was dealt in November 2008 to the Oakland Athletics with one season remaining prior to free agency.  Oakland traded Holliday to the Cardinals in July 2009 for Brett Wallace, Clayton Mortenson, and Shane Peterson. Wallace was the Cardinals first round draft pick in 2008.  Wallace never gained traction with Oakland (or anywhere else) and was traded to Toronto in the 2009 offseason.

Holliday was granted free agency at the end of the 2009 season, but then ultimately signed a seven-year deal with the Cardinals.  The deal was a win for the Redbirds, as Holliday played out the deal and was granted free agency at the end of the 2016 season.  Holliday signed a one-year deal with the Yankees, was granted free agency again, and was signed to a minor league deal with his original team, the Rockies.  Holliday played a half season with the Rockies and then entered free agency again.  Holliday is now out of baseball and living in Oklahoma.

Mark McGwire (Getty Images)

In July 1997, the Cardinals acquired Mark McGwire from the Oakland Athletics for Eric Ludwick (brother of Ryan Ludwick), T.J. Matthews, and Blake Stein.  McGwire had played for then-St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, who managed the Athletics before being hired by the Cardinals.  La Russa was instrumental in facilitating the trade for McGwire.  McGwire was in his last year of his contract, so it was believed he would only be a rental.  McGwire was a native of Southern California, and it was rumored he would seek to sign with a team there to be near his family.  McGwire instead signed with the Cardinals and remained with the team until he retired in 2001.  McGwire is most known for the single season home run record race with Sammy Sosa of the Cubs in 1998, a record McGwire broke.  The record held only until Barry Bonds surpassed it in 2007.

McGwire returned to the Cardinals as a coach in 2009.  He remained with the team through the 2012 season.  He went on to coach with the Los Angeles Dodgers through the 2015 season, then accepted a coaching position with the San Diego Padres.  He left the game again in 2018.

Other deals with Oakland included a 2004 trade for Mark Mulder and a February 1996 trade for pitcher Dennis Eckersley.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 4, 2019

photo: Nick Dunn (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 8-1 on Saturday. Our Player of the Day is Palm Beach second baseman Nick Dunn, whose three-run home run in the ninth inning gave the high-A Cards a win. Stanley Espinal plated five for State College.

Results for games played Saturday, Aug 3.


Memphis 5, El Paso 3

John Nogowski (Memphis Redbirds)

The Redbirds beat the El Paso Chihuahuas on Saturday night in Auto Zone Park. El Paso took the early lead with one run in the first inning, followed by a second run in the fourth.

The Redbirds cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth.  John Nogowski was hit by a pitch and Justin Williams doubled, sending Nogowski to third.  Yadier Molina, playing his second rehab game for Memphis, laid down a successful bunt, bringing Nogowski home on the squeeze play.

In the sixth, back to back singles by Harrison Bader and Edmundo Sosa began the inning.  Bader stole third base, then Nogowski singled to plate Bader.  Sosa then scored on a ground out by Jose Godoy.  The Redbirds led 3-2.

El Paso knotted it up 3-3 with a run in the top of the seventh.  In the bottom of the eighth, Bader led off with a walk and Nogowski hit a two run home run to left center to give Memphis the 5-3 lead and eventually the win.

Nogowski went 2-for-3 and Williams was 2-for-4.

Starter Genesis Cabrera pitched seven innings and gave up three runs on four hits.  The left hander fanned nine and walked one.  Jesus Cruz pitched a scoreless eighth and Kodi Whitley tossed a scoreless ninth.  Cruz got the win and Whitley earned his first save.

Memphis is 49-63 on the season and are tied for second place in the PCL North, 11 games back of the Iowa Cubs.

Sunday’s game:   vs. El Paso, Daniel Ponce De Leon (4-4, 3.90) 2:05 CT.


Springfield 2 at Arkansas 1

Alex FaGalde (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

The Cardinals edged the Arkansas Travelers in a low scoring contest in Little Rock on Saturday.  All if the runs scored in the game occurred in the fourth inning.  In the top of the fourth, Springfield scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead.  The runs came home on a line drive single to center by Julio Rodriguez.  Arkansas put one run on the board in the bottom half of the fourth.  No further runs were scored by either team.

No Cardinal hitter had multiple hits in the six total Springfield knocks.  A double by Yariel Gonzalez was the only extra base hit.

Springfield starter Alex FaGalde earned his third win, pitching five innings and giving up one run on six hits.  The right hander fanned eight and walked two.  Will Latcham followed with two scoreless innings of relief.  Merandy Gonzalez and Connor Jones each pitched a scoreless inning. Jones earned his fourth save.

Dylan Carlson and Connor Capel each stole a base.  Capel had an outfield assist.

The Cardinals are 21-20 in the second half, 51-60 overall, and are in second place in the Texas League North.

Sunday’s game:  at Arkansas, Tommy Parsons (4-2, 4.72) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 6 at Charlotte 5

Nick Dunn (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Cardinals won a close game against the Charlotte Stone Crabs on Saturday on a ninth inning rally.  Th Cardinal offense scored three runs in the ninth to snatch the victory from Charlotte.

The Stone Crabs pinched a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Palm Beach starter Alvaro Seijas.  The Cardinals answered by scoring one run in the second on a solo home run by Nick Plummer to cut the lead to 2-1.

An RBI single by Juan Yepez in the fifth knotted the game at 2-2.  Charlotte regained the lead 3-2 in the bottom frame of the fifth.  The Cardinals tied the game a second time in the top of the eighth on a second RBI single by Yepez.  Again, the Stone Crabs wasted to time taking the lead back with two scores in the bottom of the eighth.

Then, in the top of the ninth, Nick Dunn blasted a three run home run to right center field to give the Cardinals the 6-5 lead.  Charlotte was unable to answer in the bottom of the ninth.

Seijas pitched six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked three.  Patrick Dayton tossed the final three innings, surrendering two runs and earning the win.

The Cardinals are 14-30 in the second half, 49-59 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South.

Sunday’s game:  at Charlotte, TBA 11:30 am CT.


Peoria 6 at Wisconsin 2

Wadye Ynfante (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs decisively beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday night. Peoria took the lead from the beginning and never relinquished it.  An RBI double to center by Brendan Donovan in the first inning gave the Chiefs the 1-0 lead.

In the second inning Peoria increased their lead to 3-0 when Wadye Ynfante hit a solo home run and Brady Whalen drove in a second run on a double to right field,

Wisconsin scored its first of two runs in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to 3-1.  Peoria answered in the fourth with a second solo home run, this one by Alexis Wilson, an Ynfante RBI single, and a third run on a ground out by Edwin Figuera.

The 6-1 lead held until the bottom of the ninth when the Timber Rattlers broke through with a second run in that inning.  The rally ended there, sending the Chiefs home with a 6-2 victory.

Donovan went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Ynfante was 2-for-4 with two runs driven in.

Starter Colin Schmid earned his fifth win of the season with a 6 1/3 inning outing in which he gave up one run on five hits. The left hander struck out six and walked two.  Wilfredo Pereira surrendered one run in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

The Chiefs are 13-28 in the second half, 43-67 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Sunday’s game:  at Wisconsin, Michael Brettell (4-7, 5.36) 1:05 CT.


State College 9 at Lowell 4

Stanley Espinal (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Spikes defeated the Lowell Spinners with a couple of offensive surges in the later innings on Saturday.  Lowell went up 2-0 in the second inning, but the Spikes took the 3-2 lead in the fourth on a one run single by Martin Figueroa and a two run single by Stanley Espinal.

The Spinners retook the lead with two runs in the fifth.  In the sixth, Espinal blasted a three run home run to left center field to give the Spikes the 6-4 lead.  State College increased the lead to 9-4 in the seventh on an RBI single by Pedro Pages and a two run home run by Figueroa.

Espinal and Figueroa were both 2-for-4 on the night.

Spikes’ starter Adrian Mardueno pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs, two earned, on five hits.  The right hander fanned six.  Jeremy Randolph followed with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.  Fabian Blanco pitched a scoreless ninth.

Dariel Gomez made a fielding error.

The Spikes are 24-24 on the season and are in third place in the New York/Penn League Pinckney Division.

Sunday’s game:  at Lowell, Michael YaSenka (0-0, 0.00) 4:05 CT.


Johnson City 5, Bluefield 4

Diomedes Del Rio (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Cardinals edged the Bluefield Blue Jays in a hard fought contest on Saturday.  The Cardinals took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning on a Carlos Soler RBI single followed by a two run double from Diomedes Del Rio.

The Jays fought back to score two runs in the third to cut the lead to 3-2.  Bluefield later knotted it up 3-3 with one run in the sixth, then added another run in the seventh to take the 4-3 lead.

The Cardinals answered with the tying run in the bottom of the seventh on a single by Del Rio.  A solo home run by Chandler Redmond in the eighth gave Johnson City the 5-4 lead.  Redmond, Del Rio, Soler, and Mateo Gil each had two hits.

Starter Jose Moreno pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on seven hits while striking out two and walking three.  John Witkowski surrendered two run in 3 1/3 innings of relief and was the winning pitcher.  Will Guay tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his third save.

Del Rio was caught stealing.  Soler had an outfield assist.

Johnson City is 25-18 on the season and is in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Bluefield, Wilfredo Pereira (2-1, 2.42) 4:00 CT.


GCL Cardinals 4, GCL Nationals 11

The Cardinals lost a laugher to the Nationals on Saturday.  The game was a close one through the first two innings, with the National taking a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the second and the Cardinals taking the lead 4-3 with three runs scored in the bottom of the second.  After that, the game belonged to the Nationals.

The Cardinals scored the first run in the first inning on a wild pitch.  In the second inning, Yowelfy Rosario plated a run on a single, and Luis Montano singled to drive in two more.  Those three runs in the second would be the last run the Cardinals scored in the game.  The Nationals went on to put up eight more runs against Cardinal pitching.

The Cardinal offense had six total hits with no Cardinal having multiple hits.  Ramon Mendoza had the only extra base hit, a double.

Starter Francis Ventura pitched five inning and gave up five runs, two earned, on 10 hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked two.  Luis Tena surrendered four runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief.  Martin Cordova allowed two runs in 2/3 innings.  Tyler Statler pitched a scoreless ninth.  Ventura took the loss.

Joyser Garcia was called for catcher interference. Mendoza made a fielding error.  Tena made an error on a pickoff.  Garcia also had a passed ball.

The Cardinals are 14-19 on the season and are in last place in the GCL East.

Sunday’s game:  vs. GCL Mets, TBA 9:00 CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 16 at DSL Mets2 3

The Cardinals Red walloped the Mets2 in an offensive shellacking on Saturday.  The Cardinal offense put up 16 runs on 16 hits in the contest.  Despite the high run total, none of the Cardinal hits were home runs.

The Mets took the early lead 3-0 in the second inning.  That lead held until the top of the sixth when the Cardinals scored three to tie the game.  It began with a two run single off the bat of Roblin Heredia.  Heredia then scored on a sac fly by Fernando Brazoban.

In the eighth, the Cardinal offense let it fly by scoring 10 runs.  Heredia plated a run on a single.  Jesus Orrechia drew a bases loaded walk.  Two more runs scored on a single by Bryan Matute. Sander Mora walked, and a run came home.  Claudio Ramirez drove in Matute on a single.  Luis Andujar plated two on a single.  Finally, Brazoban doubled and drove in the last two runs of the inning.  The Cardinals led 13-3.

In the ninth, Mora plated a run on a sac fly and Andujar drove in two on a double.  Final Cardinal score was then 16-3.  Andujar was 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored.  Heredia was 3-for-6, Ramirez was 3-for-4, and Smith Vargas was 2-for-6.  Brazoban drove in three and Matute plated two.

Starter Henry Gomez pitched four innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked two.  Luis Garcia followed with two scoreless innings of relief.  Left hander Hemerson Cordero pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win.  Ramon Fernandez tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals Red are 20-34 on the season and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled


DSL Cardinals Blue 2 at DSL Orioles2 1

The Cardinals Blue edged the Orioles2 in a low scoring contest on Saturday.  The Cardinal offense scored both its runs in the second inning on a two run single by Darlin Moquete.    The Cardinals managed four total hits and none of them were extra base hits.

The lone run for the opposition Orioles was scored in the third inning on a caught stealing play at second base.  One run scored on the throw.

This was the entirety of the scoring for either team.  The final score of 2-1 was set in the third inning and neither team mustered much offense after that.

Cardinal starter William Miranda pitched three innings and gave up one run on four hits.  The right hander struck out one and walked one.  Allinson Benitez followed with two scoreless innings of relief and was the winning pitcher.  Juan Peralta and Victor Villanueva each tossed two scoreless innings with Villanueva earning his third save.

Hansel Otamendi stole his sixth base of the season.  Catcher Luis Rodriguez picked a runner off first base.

The Cardinals Blue are 30-17 on the season and are in third place in the DSL South.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 3, 2019

photo: Inohan Paniagua (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-8 on Friday. Our Player of the Day is Gulf Coast League’s Inohan Paniagua, who yielded only one unearned run on eight strikeouts and no walks over six innings. Johnson City collected the other win.

Results for games played Friday, August 2.


Memphis 1, El Paso 6

Joe Hudson (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds were defeated by El Paso 6-1 on Friday night at AutoZone Park.  The Memphis offense could not get traction against El Paso starter Jerry Keel, a lefty.  The offense didn’t score until catcher Joe Hudson singled home a run in the seventh.

The Redbirds offense scattered seven hits.  Hudson went 2-for-2 as a replacement for starting catcher Yadier Molina, who made his first rehab start.  Matt Carpenter went 0-for-2 with a walk. Justin Williams was 2-for-4.

Memphis starter Jake Woodford had an indifferent outing, giving up four runs on seven hits in six innings.  The right hander fanned seven and walked two.  Newly acquired Zach Rosscup started the seventh and it went poorly, as the lefty surrendered two runs without recording an out.  Seth Elledge tossed two scoreless innings.  Dominic Leone pitched a scoreless ninth.  Woodford took the loss.

Memphis is 48-63 on the season and is in third place in the PCL American North, 11 games behind the Iowa Cubs.

Saturday’s game:  vs. El Paso, Genesis Cabrera (4-4, 6.38) 6:35 CT.


Springfield 1 at Arkansas 6

Brian O’Keefe (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Like their counterparts in Triple-A, the Double-A Cardinals were downed 6-1, in this case at the hands of the Travelers in Little Rock.

The Springfield offense managed just seven hits.  The single score was via a home run by Brian O’Keefe in the second inning, his only hit.  Dylan Carlson went 2-for-4 and Justin Toerner was 2-for-3.

Starter Johan Oveido pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up three first-inning runs on five hits.  The right hander fanned seven and walked two.  Roel Ramirez surrendered one run in one inning.  Bryan Dobzanski yielded two runs in his one inning pitched.  Left hander Jacob Patterson got the final out of the eighth.

Elehuris Montero committed a throwing error and Rayder Ascanio made a fielding error.  Toerner had an outfield assist.

The Cardinals are 20-20 in the second half, 50-60 overall, and are in third place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  at Arkansas, Alex FaGalde (2-1, 1.22) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 1, Charlotte 2 (Game 1)

Zach Prendergast (St. Louis Cardinals)

In the first game of a doubleheader on Friday, the Cardinals fell 2-1. It was the completion of the suspended game from June 30, a nine-inning home game for the Cards, but resumed on the road. The game resumed with the score tied 1-1 in the fourth.

Palm Beach had put up a run in the second inning but failed to score again. Nick Plummer collected the lone RBI via a single.  The Cards scattered just five hits, with the only extra base hit a double by Zach Gahagan.

Cardinals starter Zach Prendergast pitched seven innings (before and after the resumption) and gave up two runs on six hits, with the deciding tally coming in the fifth.  The right hander struck out five and walked two.  Cole Aker finished with two scoreless innings of relief.

Plummer made a throwing error.


Palm Beach 1 at Charlotte 4 (seven innings, Game 2)

Juan Yepez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

In the second game, the Cardinals again failed to plate more than one run and lost 4-1.  Charlotte went up 4-0 in the third and the Cards answered in the fourth with an RBI single by Juan Yepez, but neither team scored again.

The Cardinals offense managed just four hits, with the only extra base hit a double by Nolan Gorman.  The third baseman scored the lone run.

Starter Kyle Leahy pitched five innings and gave up six hits leading to four unearned runs thanks in part to a Gorman fielding error.  The right hander struck out six and walked one.  Zack Thompson tossed a scoreless sixth.

Saturday’s game:  at Charlotte, TBA 5:00 CT.


Peoria 5, Kane County 10 (10 innings)

Jonatan Machado (Peoria Chiefs)

A crooked number in extra innings led the Chiefs to a home defeat at the hands of the Kane County Cougars on Friday night.  The game was marked by several lead changes throughout as Peoria would fall behind then fight back.

The Cougars took the 2-0 lead in the second inning, but the Chiefs responded with three runs over the next two innings. In the third, an RBI double by Brendan Donovan cut the lead to 2-1.  In the fourth, the Chiefs went ahead 3-2 on a two-run single by Delvin Perez.  Kane County knotted the game at 3-3 with a run in the sixth, then took a 4-3 lead in the seventh.

The Chiefs answered with two runs in the bottom half of the seventh to retake the lead 5-4.  With two men on base, back to back singles by Carlos Soto and Wadye Ynfante plated two.

In the top of the ninth, the Cougars re-tied the score at 5-5.  The game went into the 10th when the wheels came off the bus, as Kane County put up five runs to seal the win.

Leadoff hitter and center fielder Jonatan Machado went 4-for-6.  Perez was 2-for-5 and Soto 2-for-4.

In his Peoria debut, starter Dalton Roach pitched five innings and gave up two runs on five hits.  The right hander fanned seven and walked two.  Franyel Casadilla surrendered one run in the sixth.  Evan Sisk allowed two runs in his two innings of relief.

Sebastian Tabata gave up the tying run in the ninth, and returned to start the 10th.  Tabata gave up a run and left with the bases loaded and no outs. Freddy Pacheco allowed all three inherited runners to score and surrendered a run of his own.  Tabata was charged with the blown save and the loss.

Perez stole his 17th base of the season.  Machado made a fielding error and Ynfante had an outfield assist.

The Chiefs are 12-28 in the second half, 42-67 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West

Saturday’s game:  at Wisconsin, Colin Schmid (4-5, 4.54) 6:35 CT.


State College 2 at Lowell 11

Eric Lex (State College Spikes)

Spikes pitching was pummeled by the Lowell Spinners offense on Friday.  State College starter Scott Politz pitched two innings and gave up nine runs, seven earned, on eight hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked three.  Hector Villalobos surrendered one run in 3 1/3 relief innings.  Connor Lunn allowed one run in the sixth.  Eric Lex closed it out with two scoreless innings.

The Spikes were held scoreless until the eighth inning when the offense plated two.  The first came home on a fielding error by the Lowell right fielder.  Donivan Williams drew a bases loaded walk for the other.  The State College offense scattered six hits, with David Vinsky generating two.

Spikes’ third sacker Luis Flores made a throwing error.

The Spikes are 23-24 and are in third place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Saturday’s game:  at Lowell, Adrian Mardueno (2-2, 3.75) 4:05 CT.


Johnson City 7, Bluefield 6

Liam Sabino (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals came back to squeak by the Bluefield Blue Jays on Friday.  The Cardinals put up their first run in the bottom of the first inning to knot the game at 1-1 via a solo home run by Malcom Nunez.

The Cardinals didn’t score again until the seventh inning, when behind 6-1.  Three runs came home on a force out by Aaron Antonini and a two-run single by Carlos Soler.

In the bottom of the ninth, Liam Sabino doubled to center to drive in two.  Diomedes Del Rio drew a bases loaded walk to plate the winning run on a walk off.

Nunez had two hits as the only Johnson City hitter with multiples.

Starter Jake Sommers pitched four innings and gave up four runs on six hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked one.  Tyler Peck surrendered two runs in two innings of relief.  Alex Gallegos followed with two scoreless relief innings.  Enrique Perez tossed a scoreless ninth to earn the win.

Antonini and Soler each stole a base.  Soler was also caught stealing.  Nunez made a throwing error.

Johnson City is 24-18 on the season and in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Bluefield, Jose Moreno (3-3, 9.18) 5:30 CT.


GCL Cardinals 2 at GCL Marlins 1 (10 innings)

Inohan Paniagua (State College Spikes)

The Cardinals edged the Marlins in a low scoring contest on Friday.  The Marlins took the 1-0 lead in the first inning, and the score remained there until the top of the eighth.  A sacrifice double play off the bat of William Jimenez plated the tying run.  The game went into the 10th inning, when the Cardinals broke the tie on a sac bunt by Yowelfy Rosario and a throwing error.

Pablo Gomez was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, with two.  No Cardinal had an extra base hit.

Starter Inohan Paniagua pitched six innings and gave up one unearned run on two hits.  The right hander fanned eight.  Thomas Hart tossed two scoreless innings of relief, as did Anthony Trompiz.  Trompiz got the win.

Rosario stole his third base of the season.  Franklin Soto made a fielding error.  Jimenez had an outfield assist.

The Cardinals are 14-18 on the season and are tied for last place in the GCL East.

Saturday’s game:  at GCL Nationals, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 1, DSL Mets 12

The Cardinals Red were the victims of a shellacking by the Mets on Friday.  Behind 8-0 in the seventh, the Red put their lone run on the board via a home run by Miguel Marcos. The Red had only three hits for the day.

Losing pitcher Diorys Guerrero didn’t finish the first inning.  Guerrero gave up four runs, two earned, on three hits in 2/3 inning pitched.  Oliver Lopez pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief and surrendered one run.  Miguel Yedis allowed three runs, one earned, in two innings.  Augusto Calderon gave up three runs in 2/3 innings, and Brayan Ramirez pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, relinquishing one unearned run.

Vargas stole his 18th base of the season.  Claudio Ramirez was caught stealing.  Heredia had a missed catch error, Marcos and Albert Inoa both made fielding errors, and Bryan Matute made a throwing error, for four team miscues.

The Cardinals Red are 19-34 and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Saturday’s game:  at DSL Mets2, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Blue 8 at DSL Rockies 9

The Cardinals were edged by the Rockies on a ninth inning walk off on Friday.   The Cardinals took a 6-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI ground out by Gustavo A. Rodriguez that scored one run, followed by two more scores on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Brandon Hernandez.  Darlin Moquete hit a bases clearing triple to plate three more runs.

The 6-0 lead held until the fourth, when the Rockies cut the lead to 6-5.  They tying run came home in the seventh.

The Cardinals answered with two scores in the top of the eighth on a two-run double by Elvin De Jesus.  The Rockies cut the lead to 8-7 with a run in the bottom half of the inning and added two more in the bottom of the ninth for the 9-8 walk off victory.

Moquete was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, with two.

Starter Gustavo J. Rodriguez pitched four innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on eight hits.  The right hander struck out three.  Dionys Rodriguez surrendered one unearned run in 2 2/3 innings of relief.  Cristoffer Zapata allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings.  Americo Lugo gave up the two winning runs in the ninth and was tagged with the blown save and the loss.

De Jesus and G.A. Rodriguez each had a stolen base.  De Jesus, G.J. Rodriguez and Lugo committed throwing errors.  Zapata made an error on a pickoff.  Moquete had an outfield assist.

The Cardinals Blue have a record of 29-17 and are in third place in the DSL South.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL Orioles2, TBA 9:00 am CT.


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St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of July 22-28

photo: Paul Goldschmidt (Joe Puetz/Imagn)

The St. Louis Cardinals swept the Pirates on their home turf, but lost two of three to the top team in the American League, the Houston Astros. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt tied the team record with home runs in six consecutive games. Our weekly history feature looks back a major trade this week in 2011 that helped the Cardinals win the World Series.


Game recaps

Monday, July 22 – Cardinals 6 at Pirates 5 (10 innings)

Matt Wieters (St. Louis Cardinals)

The Cardinals edged the Pirates in extra innings on Monday in the first of a four-game series.  Starter Daniel Ponce De Leon pitched only three innings and gave up one run on three hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked four.  Ponce de Leon struggled through his third inning on the mound, walking two and allowing two singles which resulted in the lone run given up.  He had thrown 86 pitches through three innings.

Michael Wacha pitched the next three innings, also surrendering a run. Wacha was followed by two scoreless innings from lefty Tyler Webb.  Brebbia started the ninth, gave up one hit and struck out two.  Chasen Shreve got the last out of the ninth and returned for the 10th.  Shreve allowed back to back doubles, resulting in a run and was replaced by Carlos Martinez.  Martinez gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, which resulted in two runs, one charged to Shreve and one to Martinez.  Martinez managed to get three outs without any further damage. Martinez was awarded his ninth save, and the win was awarded to Shreve.

St. Louis scored first on Matt Wieters solo home run in the third.  The Pirates answered in the bottom of the third with a run to tie it.  The fourth inning was a repeat of the third.  The Cardinals scored again off the bat of Wieters, but with a sac fly.  The Pirates immediately knotted the score again.

In the top of the fourth, Paul Goldschmidt launched a ball for a grand slam to give the Cardinals the 6-2 lead.  However, the Pirates refused to go away quietly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the 10th, but falling short of sending the game into the 11th.

Tommy Edman and Dexter Fowler each had two hits.  Fowler stole his fifth base of the season.  Paul DeJong made a fielding error and Jose Martinez had an outfield assist.


Tuesday, July 23 – Cardinals 4 at Pirates 3

Dakota Hudson (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals again prevailed by one run over the Pirates on Tuesday.  This time the Pirates took the early lead and the Cardinals came back to win.

The Pirates went up 3-0 in the first inning against starter Dakota Hudson on a three-run home run, for the only Pittsburgh scoring on the night.  St. Louis responded by scoring one run in the second on a Kolten Wong double.  In the third, Paul Goldschmidt tied the game with a two-run home run.  Jose Martinez hit a solo home run in the fifth to give the Cardinals the final 4-3 edge.

Wong and Martinez each had two hits.

Hudson pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked three.  Giovanny Gallegos provided 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Andrew Miller added a scoreless ninth.


Wednesday, July 24 – Cardinals 14 at Pirates 8

Paul DeJong (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The third game of the series went much differently than the first two.  No low scoring, close game here. For the Cardinals, big innings were the story.  The game began same as the game the day before, with the Pirates taking an early lead, but it evaporated quickly.

The Pirates scored two runs in the first inning against starter Adam Wainwright.  The Cardinals offense responded with a nine-run second inning.  It began with a two run home run off the bat of Paul DeJong.  Yairo Munoz doubled home a run.  Andrew Knizner got on the home run train with a two run shot to left.  Dexter Fowler doubled to drive in run number six. Paul Goldschmidt blasted a two-run shot, and Kolten Wong doubled to plate the ninth and final run in the inning.

The Pirates put up two more runs in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 9-4.  The home run train continued into the fourth inning with a second two-run blast by DeJong.  Wainwright plated a run on a sac fly, and Tommy Edman singled to score the fourth run of the inning.  The Cardinals led 12-4.

The Pirates weren’t done, scoring twice in the seventh to make it 12-6.  The Cardinals added their 14th score in the eighth on DeJong’s third long ball of the game, a solo shot.

The Pirates rallied for two more runs in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short.

DeJong was the offensive star, going 4-for-4 with five RBI and four runs scored.  Munoz had three hits, and Goldschmidt and Wong had two knocks each.

Wainwright pitched five innings and gave up four runs on five hits.  The right hander fanned five and walked four.  Mike Mayers surrendered two runs in two innings of relief, and John Brebbia also allowed two runs in his two innings pitched.

Munoz stole two bases.  Tommy Edman made a throwing error.


Thursday, July 25 – Cardinals 6 at Pirates 3

Miles Mikolas (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals completed the four-game road sweep with a 6-3 win over the Pirates on Thursday.  Starter Miles Mikolas didn’t quite match his last start against the Pirates, but he pitched well, going six innings and giving up three runs on five hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked one.  John Gant followed with a scoreless seventh.  Andrew Miller and Carlos Martinez combined to pitch the final two scoreless innings.  Mikolas earned his seventh win.

The Cardinals got on the board first with two runs in the first inning on single by Jose Martinez and a sac fly by Paul DeJong.  The Pirates cut the lead to 2-1 in the third.

The Cardinals answered with two runs in the fourth on home runs by Paul Goldschmidt and Kolten Wong.  Dexter Fowler hit a two-run home run in the fifth to give the Redbirds the 6-1 lead.

The Pirates added two runs in the sixth but did not score against the Cardinals’ pen.


Friday, July 26 – Cardinals 5, Astros 3

Jack Flaherty (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals began a three-game series with the Astros at Busch Stadium on Friday.  The Astros are a formidable opponent, but in this game, the Cardinals were up to the task.  Jack Flaherty struck out nine Astros in a six-inning outing in which he gave up two runs on three hits.  John Brebbia pitched a scoreless seventh.  John Gant surrendered one run in the eighth, and Andrew Miller got the final out of the frame. Carlos Martinez tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his 10th save.  Miller received the win.

Houston scored first with two runs in the fourth inning.  The Cardinals responded with one run in the bottom frame of the fourth on an RBI single by Kolten Wong.  Matt Wieters’ solo home run in the seventh tied the score at 2-2.

The Astros regained the lead with one run in the eighth, but the Cardinals answered in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run home run by Paul Goldschmidt.  Goldschmidt and Wong had two hits each.


Saturday, July 27 – Cardinals 2, Astros 8

Paul Goldschmidt (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The momentum from Friday’s win did not carry over into Saturday.  Daniel Ponce De Leon struggled for the second time in the week.  The right-handed starter didn’t complete the third inning, pitching only 2 1/3 innings.  Ponce De Leon gave up five runs on three hits and walked four. Michael Wacha again relieved and pitched 4 2/3 innings, surrendering one run on six hits and fanning five.  Mike Mayers allowed two runs in the eighth.  Tyler Webb pitched a scoreless ninth.

St. Louis’ offense scored two runs on seven hits.  The first run scored in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Paul Goldschmidt.  This long ball marked the first baseman’s sixth consecutive game going deep, tying the team record.  Jose Martinez drove in a run in the eighth on a ground out.

Tyler O’Neill was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, two singles.


Sunday, July 28 – Cardinals 2, Astros 6

The Cardinals were again outplayed by the Astros in the final game of the series on Sunday.  Dakota Hudson struggled in his second start of the week.  Hudson pitched four innings and gave up five runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked two.  John Brebbia followed with two scoreless innings in relief.  Giovanny Gallegos tossed a scoreless seventh.  John Gant surrendered one run in the eighth, and Tyler Webb finished with a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals were behind 5-0 going into the bottom of the sixth, when pinch hitter Rangel Ravelo got his first major league extra base hit with a double that scored Kolten Wong.  Pinch-hitter Dexter Fowler hit a solo home run in the ninth for the second and final Redbird run.

Tommy Edman had two hits.

Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong made fielding errors.  Harrison Bader had an outfield assist at home.


The Big Picture

The Cardinals had a good start to the week, sweeping the Pirates in a four-game road series.  The Cardinals returned to Busch Stadium and won the first game with the Astros but failed to take the series.  The Cardinals ended the week 5-2 and tied for first place with the Cubs.  The Brewers are one game back.

Starting pitching was the issue in the Astros series.  Daniel Ponce De Leon failed in two starts this week to show he deserved to hold his rotation spot.  Hudson was shaky in his start on Sunday.  The fifth rotation spot remains an issue with three days left before the trade deadline.  Whether the Cardinals will address this weakness with a trade remains to be seen.  There appears to be no savior in the minors.

The offense did well until they came up against Gerrit Cole and Wade Miley.  Paul Goldschmidt was red hot this week, hitting a home run in six consecutive games.  The second Paul, Paul DeJong, has also been hot.  Kolten Wong, Dexter Fowler, Tyler O’Neill and Jose Martinez have hit well.   Yairo Munoz has gotten multiple starts, especially in the outfield.  With Harrison Bader continuing to struggle at the plate, the outfield has been a four-player merry go round.

There was some uncharacteristic infield miscues this week.  The infield defense has been a strength and has needed to be with the outfield defense weaker with the absence of Bader.

Marcell Ozuna is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this week and may rejoin the team during the West Coast trip.  Matt Carpenter is still on his rehab assignment, and as of Sunday does not have a hit in any of the games in which he has played (0-for-16 with six strikeouts).  This does not bode well and no return to the roster by Carpenter has yet been announced.  Tommy Edman has been a credible replacement for Carpenter, especially on defense.

The Cardinals play three at home against the Cubs this week, starting on Tuesday.  This is a crucial series and all aspects of the Cardinals, offense, defense, and pitching, must be at their best.  The team then goes on a West Coast trip, beginning with two games this weekend against the Oakland Athletics.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
St. Louis 56 49 0.533
Chicago 56 49 0.533
Milwaukee 56 51 0.523 1
Cincinnati 48 55 0.466 7
Pittsburgh 46 539 0.438 10

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

Mark Saxon of the Athletic reports that the Cardinals, in the market for a left handed reliever, have done their due diligence inquiry on Giants lefty Tony Watson.  However, Saxon also states that the Cardinals are wary of an escalator clause in Watson’s contract, increasing his salary with more appearances.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports the Cardinals are interested in a controllable starting pitcher and a left-handed reliever, but are unlikely to part with either of their top two prospects, Dylan Carlson and Nolan Gorman.


Transactions 

  • 7/23 The Cardinals activated RHP Mike Mayers from the 60 day injured list.
  • 7/23 The Cardinals sent 3B Matt Carpenter on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/23 The Cardinals designated LHP Chasen Shreve for assignment.
  • 7/26 The Cardinals sent 3B Matt Carpenter on a rehab assignment to the Springfield Cardinals.
  • 7/27 The Cardinals sent LHP Chasen Shreve outright to the Memphis Redbirds.

Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60-day injured list. Cecil had been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period since spring training.  The left hander has had a setback in his rehab and it now seems unlikely that Cecil will return in 2019.
  • 3B Jedd Gyorko remains on the 10-day injured list. Gyorko originally was placed on the list due to lower back issues, was then reported to have recurring calf issues, and at present is suffering from a wrist ailment for which he had arthroscopic surgery on June 24.  Gyorko is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on July 30.  The timetable for Gyorko’s return is possibly the middle or end of August.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • LF Marcell Ozuna (fractured right fingers) was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 29. Ozuna suffered the injury diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt.  Subject to medical clearance, Ozuna will begin a rehab assignment in Memphis on Tuesday.
  • C Yadier Molina (right thumb) was placed on the 10 day injured list on July 11, retroactive to July 8. He has been shut down from all baseball activities for several weeks and is reportedly still experiencing some thumb pain.   Molina is expected to be re-evaluated in late July by a hand specialist.
  • 3B Matt Carpenter (right foot contusion) was placed on the 10 day injured list on July 16. Carpenter was sent on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds, and is currently continuing his rehab assignment with the Springfield Cardinals.
  • OF Dexter Fowler (right foot contusion) was hit on his left foot by a pitch in the game on July 26. X-rays and scans were negative, and he is considered day to day.  Fowler made a pinch hit appearance in Sunday’s game.

Looking Ahead

After an off day on Monday, July 29, the Chicago Cubs come to Busch Stadium for a three game series.  St. Louis has another off day on Friday, August 2 to travel to Oakland to play a two game interleague series beginning Saturday with the Athletics.  The West Coast trip continues with a stop in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers in a three game series beginning August 5.

The Cardinals have a travel day on Thursday, August 8 and return home to a weekend series with the Pirates.  It is a short home stand, as the Cardinals have an off day on Monday and begin a two game series in Kansas City against the Royals.

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

This week’s Blast from the Past looks at a significant trade that occurred during this past week in 2011.  On July 27, 2011, the Cardinals made a blockbuster three-team trade to bring four players for the run to the World Series.

The Cardinals approached the trade deadline in second place in the NL Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers.  The Cardinals had lost Adam Wainwright for the year with Tommy John surgery and Albert Pujols missed significant time with a wrist injury suffered on June 19.  Pujols returned earlier than anticipated and the Cardinals on July 27 were in a position to make a run at the Brewers.

Colby Rasmus (Getty Images)

Colby Rasmus had been a disappointment, despite being a much touted first-round draft pick.  Much of the trouble centered on the inability of Rasmus and his manager, Tony La Russa, to get along with each other.  Rasmus reportedly asked for a trade and the Cardinals finally obliged.

On July 27, the Cardinals sent Rasmus, along with pitchers P.J. Walters, Brian Tallet, and Trever Miller to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitchers Edwin Jackson, Octavio Dotel, and Marc Rzepczynski, and outfielder Corey Patterson.  Jackson was only a member of the Blue Jays for minutes, having been dealt to Toronto by the White Sox that same day and then flipped to the Cardinals in the second trade.  The White Sox had received reliever Jason Frasor and pitching prospect Zach Stewart from the Blue Jays.

Rasmus was replaced in center field by Jon Jay.  Edwin Jackson joined the rotation, sending Kyle McClellan, who had replaced Wainwright in the rotation, back to the bullpen.  Several days later the Cardinals acquired shortstop Rafael Furcal from the Dodgers to replace the defensively challenged Ryan Theriot.

Marc Rzepczynski (Getty Images)

This trade bolstered the pitching staff for the stretch run and added an extra outfielder as well. Patterson did not add significantly to the team’s later success, but the pitching additions did.  The Cardinals went on a historic run in August and September that year with these additions, a run that took the Cardinals from 10+ games back of the Atlanta Braves for the Wild Card, all the way to a World Series championship.

Rasmus had an indifferent major league career with Toronto, and later Houston, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore.  Rasmus voluntarily left baseball twice for personal reasons, the last time for good.  The four players the Cardinals received in the trade made significant contributions to the World Series run, but little afterward.  Jackson left in free agency at the end of 2011.  Dotel also left and signed with the Detroit Tigers.  He retired in 2014.  Patterson played in the minor league systems of four teams before leaving baseball.  Only Rzepczynski remained with the Cardinals past 2011.  He was traded to the Cleveland Indians in July 2013 and remains around the fringes of the majors still.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 28, 2019

photo: Lane Thomas (Frank Ramirez/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 8-2 on Saturday.  Our Player of the Day is outfielder Lane Thomas, who had three home runs and four RBI in Memphis’ win. Starters Johan Oviedo, Alvaro Seijas and Scott Politz dominated for Springfield, Palm Beach and State College, respectively.

Results for games played Saturday, July 27.


Memphis 9 at Oklahoma City 4

Lane Thomas (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds conquered the Dodgers in Oklahoma City on Saturday.  Memphis got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second.  Max Schrock plated a run on a double and scored on a wild pitch.  The Dodgers cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the second.

In the third, Edmundo Sosa and Lane Thomas each hit solo home runs to increase the lead to 4-1.  Memphis scored four runs in the fifth to take a commanding 8-2 lead. Sosa hit an RBI double and scored on a double by John Nogowski.  Thomas followed with a two run home run to center.

In the seventh, Thomas whacked his third long ball of the game, a solo shot to left.  Thomas went 3-for-4 with three home runs and four RBI.

Fresh off the injured list, starter Genesis Cabrera pitched six innings and gave up four runs on eight hits.  The left-hander fanned nine and walked one.  Kodi Whitley followed with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Hunter Cervenka got the last out of the ninth.  Cabrera earned his fourth win.

Randy Arozarena and Ramon Urias each stole a base.  Nogowski was picked off and caught stealing.  Thomas had an outfield assist at third base.

Memphis is 45-61 on the season and in third place in the PCL North, 12 games back of the Iowa Cubs.

Sunday’s game:   at Oklahoma City, Mike Hauschild (1-2, 8.62) 6:05 CT


Springfield 3, Corpus Christi 1

Johan Oviedo (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Cardinals beat the Corpus Christi Hooks at Hammons Field on Saturday. The Hooks took the 1-0 lead in the second inning and carried it until the bottom of the fifth when Justin Toerner drew a walk then advanced on a single by Elehuris Montero and a wild pitch.  With Toerner on third, another wild pitch sent him home.

Brian O’Keefe hit a solo home run in the seventh to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.  O’Keefe’s sac fly in the eighth plated the third and final Springfield run.

The Cardinals scored three runs on just three hits.

Starter Johan Oveido pitched a dominating seven innings, giving up one run on six hits while fanning 11 and walking none.  Merandy Gonzalez added a scoreless eighth and Bryan Dobzanski tossed a scoreless ninth.  Oviedo earned his fifth win, Dobzanski his second save.

Toerner stole his eighth base with Springfield.

The Cardinals are 19-16 in the second half, 49-56 overall, and are tied for first place in the Texas League North.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Corpus Christi, RHP Alex FaGalde (2-1, 1.11) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 2, Dunedin 1 (seven innings, Game 1)

Alvaro Seijas (St. Louis Cardinals)

The Cardinals edged the Dunedin Blue Jays in the first game of a twin bill on Saturday.  The game was scoreless until the Blue Jays put up their first and only score in the top of the fifth.  In the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals posted two runs to take the lead.  Dennis Ortega doubled to left, and Nolan Gorman followed with a double to right to plate Ortega.  Three batters later, Gorman scored on wild pitch.

The Palm Beach offense scored two runs on five hits.  No Cardinal had multiple hits.

Starter Alvaro Seijas pitched six innings and gave up one run on four hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked two.  Cole Aker tossed a scoreless seventh.


Palm Beach 1, Dunedin 0 (seven innings, Game 2)

Zach Prendergast (St. Louis Cardinals)

The Cardinals blanked the Blue Jays in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday. As in the first game, it was scoreless until the late innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Nick Dunn singled to center and scored on a single by Zack Gahagan, who was 2-for-3.

Starter Michael Baird pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out two and walking one.  Zach Prendergast followed with three scoreless innings to earn the win.  Ramon Santos tossed a scoreless seventh and earned his first save.

The Cardinals are 13-25 in the second half, 48-54 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Dunedin, TBA 12:00 pm CT.


Peoria 5, Burlington 3

Imeldo Diaz (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Chiefs overcame the Burlington Bees in late innings on Saturday.  The contest was scoreless until the Bees posted two runs in the sixth.  The lead evaporated in the seventh as the Chiefs scored three runs to snatch the lead.  Brendan Donovan led off with a double.  Imeldo Diaz followed with a single to center.  Brandon Riley doubled to left to score Donovan.   A sac fly by Leandro Cedeno plated Diaz, and Riley came home on a double by Wadye Ynfante.

The Bees tied the game with a run in the top of the eighth, but the Chiefs answered with two runs in the bottom frame. Ivan Herrera was hit by a pitch, and Donovan doubled to left to plate Herrera.  Donovan came home on a Diaz single.

Donovan and Diaz each had two hits.

Starter Parker Kelly pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, striking out three and walking two.  Eli Kraus allowed two runs in one inning of relief.  Evan Sisk surrendered one run in his 2 1/3 innings.  Leonardo Taveras closed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.

Ynfante and Jonatan Machado were both caught stealing.  Cedeno made a fielding error.

The Chiefs are 9-25 in the second half, 39-64 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Burlington, Kyle Leahy (4-8, 3.07) 5:05 CT.


State College 4, West Virginia 1

Scott Politz (State College Spikes)

The Spikes were the victors in a 4-1 contest with the West Virginia Black Bears on Saturday.  State College took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning and led the rest of the way.

In the fourth, Moises Castillo led off with a single. Carlos Soto doubled to center and Terry Fuller walked. Pedro Pages singled to score Castillo.  With the bases loaded, Brylie Ware walked, and Soto scored.

West Virginia scored their only run in the sixth.  In the eighth, the Spikes added two insurance runs on a two-run home run by Martin Figueroa.

Pages went 3-for-4 and Castillo and Soto each had two hits.

Starter Scott Politz pitched seven innings and gave up one run on five hits.  The right hander fanned five to earn his second win of the season.  Cameron Dulle tossed the final two scoreless innings to earn his first save.

Stanley Espinal was caught stealing for the second time.  Dariel Gomez was picked off first base.  Figuero made a throwing error, and Politz picked a runner off first base.

The Spikes are 22-20 on the season and are tied for third place in the New York/Penn League Pinckney Division.

Sunday’s game:  vs. West Virginia, Adrian Mardueno (2-1, 2.49) 5:05 CT.


Johnson City 5, Greeneville 2

Chandler Redmond (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals defeated the Greeneville Reds on Saturday, after falling behind early.  Johnson City was still behind 2-0 in the sixth inning.  Johnson City got on the board when Zach Jackson walked, Chandler Redmond singled, and Jackson scored on a caught stealing of Redmond. Liam Sabino’s solo home run tied the score.

The Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the seventh, putting up three runs, starting with a double steal of second and home by Diomedes Del Rio and Kevin Vargas.  Trejyn Fletcher doubled to plate Del Rio.  Fletcher scored on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error.

Redmond went 3-for-4 and Sabino and Vargas each had two hits.

Starter Jake Sommers pitched six innings and gave up two runs on four hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked two.  Enrique Perez pitched a scoreless seventh.  Hector Soto tossed the final two scoreless innings to earn his first save.  Perez got the win.

Del Rio, Vargas, Fletcher, and Jackson each stole a base.  Redmond was caught stealing.

Johnson City is 20-17 on the season and is tied for first place in the Appalachian League West.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Greeneville, Jose Moreno (2-3, 10.16) 4:00 CT.


GCL Cardinals 3 at GCL Astros 4

Ludwin Jimenez

The Cardinals were edged by the Astros on Saturday after losing an eighth inning lead.

The Cardinal took the lead in fourth inning on a two run home run by Freddy De Jesus.  In the eighth, Franklin Soto’s solo home run increased the lead to 3-0.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Astros put up four runs to take the 4-3 lead, a lead they would not relinquish.

The Cardinals scored three runs on five hits.  No Cardinal hitter had more than one hit.

Starter Ludwin Jimenez pitched 7 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits.  The right hander fanned four.  Wilman Madera finished the eighth and surrendered two runs.  Madera was tagged with the blown save and the loss.

Patrick Romeri stole his second base of the season.  Soto made a throwing error.

The Cardinals are 12-16 on the season and are in fourth place in the GCL East.

Sunday’s game:  vs. GCL Marlins, TBA 9:00 CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 7, DSL D-backs2 12

The Cardinals Red were pummeled by the D-backs2 on Saturday.  The Cardinals scored in the first, when Albert Inoa stole home on a double steal with a throwing error.  The Cardinals led 1-0, but never again.

The D-backs took a 2-1 lead in the second, added a run in the third and another in the top of the fifth.

The Cardinals scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 4-3.  Inoa hit an RBI single for the first run and Luis Andujar doubled to plate Inoa.

The D-backs put the game out of reach in the sixth, scoring seven runs.  They added run number 12 in the top of the ninth.  The Cardinals rallied with four runs in the ninth.  Andujar plated a run on a single.  Fernando Brazoban drew a bases loaded walk. Miguel Marcos then hit a two run double to right, but the rally ended there.

Andujar was 4-for-5 with two RBI.  Inoa went 2-for-3.

Red starter Henry Gomez suffered his first loss of the season after pitching 5 1/3 innings and giving up nine runs, eight earned, on 10 hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked one.  Oliver Lopez surrendered two runs, one earned in 1 2/3 innings of relief.  Luis Garcia pitched a scoreless eighth.  Hector De Los Santos allowed one run in the ninth.

Andujar and Inoa each stole a base. Erick Thomas made a throwing error and a fielding error.  Smith Vargas had a fielding miscue.

The Cardinals Red are 17-31 on the season and are in last place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled


DSL Cardinals Blue 7, DSL Yankees 4

The Cardinals Blue defeated the Yankees on Saturday to win their 28th game of the season.  The Blue offense scored early, getting a 4-0 lead through three innings.

In the first inning, a Darlyn Del Villar single drove in one run.  A second run scored on a missed catch error in the second inning.  Leudy Pena hit a two run home run to right field in the third.

The Yankees cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the fourth and added a run in the top of the seventh to make it a one run game.  The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the seventh with two scores on a triple by Elvin De Jesus.

The Yankees scored one run in the top of the ninth, but the rally ended there, with the Cardinals enjoying the 7-4 victory.

Del Villar was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, with two.

Blue starter Wilmer Ortega pitched four innings and gave up two runs on four hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked one. William Miranda tossed two scoreless innings of relief and earned the win.  Dionys Rodriguez surrendered one run in the seventh.  Nelson Prada pitched the final two innings and allowed one run.

Hansel Otamendi stole his fifth base of the season.  Del Villar and Luis Rodriguez were both caught stealing. Rodriguez was also picked off second base.

The Cardinals Blue are 28-14 on the season and are in third place in the DSL South.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled.


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

Yariel Gonzalez Plays for Puerto Rico – and to Reach the Majors


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 27, 2019

photo: Randy Arozarena (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 5-2 on Friday. Player of the Day, Memphis outfielder Randy Arozarena, hit for the cycle, including a two-run home run and four RBI. Peoria, State College and Johnson City won one-run games, but Springfield fell a tally short.

Results for games played Friday, July 26.


Memphis 13 at Oklahoma City 10

Randy Arozarena (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds defeated the Dodgers in a slugfest in Oklahoma City on Friday.  Memphis scored immediately on an RBI double by Ramon Urias.  The Dodgers wasted no time in response, scoring three in the bottom of the first.

The Redbirds tied the game in the top of the third.  Edmundo Sosa plated a run on a sac fly and a ground rule double by John Nogowski brought the second run of the inning home.  The Dodgers answered with three runs in the bottom of the third for a 6-3 lead.

Randy Arozarena’s two-run home run in the fourth cut the lead to 6-5.  In the fifth, Lane Thomas’ double to center with the bases loaded cleared the bases.  Max Schrock plated Thomas on a single, then scored on Jake Woodford’s single.  Arozarena tripled to left to score two more and the inning ended with the Redbirds leading 12-6.

The Dodgers answered with four in the bottom of the fifth to decrease the lead to 12-10.  The Redbirds added an insurance run in the sixth on a solo home run by Thomas.

Arozarena was 4-for-6 with a single, double, triple, and home run for the cycle and is now hitting .367 with the Redbirds.  He drove in four runs and scored three. Thomas (four RBI) and Urias each had three hits.

Starter Jake Woodford pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up 10 runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked three.  Jesus Cruz finished the fifth without further damage.  Dominic Leone tossed two scoreless innings of relief.  Hunter Cervenka followed with the final two scoreless innings to earn his fourth save.  Leone was awarded the win.

Arozarena and Schrock each stole a base.

Memphis is 44-61 on the season and is in third place in the PCL American North, 13 games behind the Iowa Cubs.

Saturday’s game:  at Oklahoma City, TBA 7:05 CT.


Springfield 1, Amarillo 2

Brian O’Keefe (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals were edged by Amarillo at Hammons Field on Friday.  The pitcher’s duel began with Angel Rondon, who held the Sod Poodles scoreless until the sixth inning.  Rondon gave up back to back singles that inning, but one runner was eliminated on a caught stealing.   Ronnie Williams replaced with two outs and allowed Rondon’s inherited runner to score.  Williams then surrendered a run of his own before getting the third out.  Williams returned to pitch a scoreless seventh.  Will Latcham and Connor Jones tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively.  Rondon was tagged with the hard-luck loss.

Springfield’s run came in the eighth via a solo home run by Brian O’Keefe.  O’Keefe had two of the five hits by the offense.

The Cardinals are 18-16 in the second half, 48-56 overall, and are in second place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  at Corpus Christi, Johan Oviedo (4-4, 5.63) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach vs. Dunedin (postponed)

Friday’s game was postponed due to rain and will be replayed as part of a doubleheader of two seven-inning games at Roger Dean Stadium on Saturday.

Saturday’s games:  vs. Dunedin, Alvaro Seijas (0-1, 4.58)/TBA 2:00 CT.


Peoria 7 at Quad Cities 6

Delvin Perez (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs slipped by the River Bandits in Davenport on Friday.  Peoria took the 1-0 lead in the first inning, when Delvin Perez singled and scored on a single by Imeldo Diaz.  Peoria added four more in the fourth to increase the lead to 5-0. Jonatan Machado and Perez singled to left to plate two each.

Quad Cities finally got on the board with one run in the fourth.  The score remained 5-1 until the top of the seventh when Alexis Wilson doubled to center to drive in two more.

Behind 7-1, the River Bandits attempted a comeback with a run in the seventh and a four-run rally brought them to within one run in the ninth.

The Chiefs knocked out 14 hits.   Brandon Riley went 3-for-4.  Perez, Diaz, Wilson, and Josh Shaw each had two hits.

Starter Logan Gragg pitched four innings, giving up one run on three hits.  The right hander fanned four.   Left-hander Connor Thomas (the scheduled starter who now appears to be in a tandem arrangement with fellow 2019 draftee Gragg) tossed the next four innings and surrendered one run on five hits to earn the win.  Sebastian Tabata allowed the four runs in the ninth before Freddy Pacheco got the last out to earn his second save.

Brandon Riley stole his 11th base of the season but was also picked off first base.

The Chiefs are 8-25 in the second half, 38-64 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West

Saturday’s game:  vs. Burlington, Parker Kelly (2-1, 1.42) 6:35 CT.


State College 2, West Virginia 1

Terry Fuller (St. Louis Cardinals)

The Spikes won a squeaker over the West Virginia Black Bears on Friday.  The game was a pitcher’s duel through five scoreless innings.  In the sixth, West Virginia scored one run.  The Spikes tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a bases-loaded walk by Terry Fuller.  In the ninth, Fuller’s RBI single walked off the 2-1 win.

Fuller, David Vinsky, and Pedro Pages each had two hits.

Starter Andre Pallante pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, fanning four and walking one.  Jeremy Randolph surrendered one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief.  Hector Villalobos finished with three scoreless innings to earn the win.

Donivan Williams was caught stealing.

The Spikes are 21-20 and are tied for third place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Saturday’s game:  vs. West Virginia, Scott Politz (1-2, 6.60) 6:05 CT.


Johnson City 5, Greeneville 4

Will Guay (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals edged the Greeneville Reds at home on Friday.  Johnson City drew first blood with two first-inning runs on Todd Lott’s RBI double and Chandler Redmond’s sac fly.  Carlos Soler’s solo home run in the second increased the lead to 3-0.

Greeneville began its comeback with a run in each of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to take the 4-3 lead.  Brandon Purcell’s two-run home run in the seventh flipped the outcome in the Cardinals’ favor.

No Cardinal had multiple hits.

Starter Julio Puello pitched five innings and gave up three runs on four hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked four.  Tyler Peck surrendered one run in two innings of relief and was awarded the win.  Will Guay tossed the final two scoreless innings to earn his second save.

Lott stole his fourth base of the season.  Trejyn Fletcher stole his third, and Malcolm Nunez his second.  Soler had an outfield assist.

Johnson City is 19-17 on the season and are in second place in the Appalachian League West.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Greeneville, Jake Sommers (1-2, 5.03) 5:30 CT.


GCL Cardinals – Off

The 12-15 Gulf Coast League Cardinals are tied for third place in the five-team East Division, five games behind the Marlins.

Saturday’s game:  at GCL Astros, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 8, DSL D-backs2 10

The Cardinals Red lost a back-and-forth contest to the D-backs2 on Friday.  The Red put up a five-run first inning to take the early lead.  Luis Andujar hit a two run single before a wild pitch brought a third run home.  Claudio Ramirez plated Andujar on a double, and Ramirez scored on a single by Miguel Marcos.

The D-backs cut the lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the first.  That score remained until the top of the fourth when a Red run scored on a fielding error.  However, the D-backs tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth with a four-run burst.

A run scored on a caught stealing play in the fifth to give the Cardinals a 7-6 lead.  The D-backs scored one in the bottom half to knot the game up again.

In the sixth, Sander Mora plated a run on a single to retake the lead 8-7.  The D-backs continued to fight back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and added an insurance run in the in eighth for the 10-8 win.

Andujar, Ramirez, Smith Vargas, and Albert Inoa each had two hits.

Starter Diorys Guerrero pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on six hits.  The left hander walked five.  Hansel Marcelino allowed one run in his 1 1/3 innings of relief.  Miguel Maiz surrendered two runs in the sixth and was tagged with the blown save and the loss.  Larimel Soriano relinquished one run in the final two innings.

Andujar stole his seventh base of the season.  He was also caught stealing, as was Bryan Matute.  Catcher Diego Velasquez had a passed ball.

The Cardinals Red are 17-30 and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Saturday’s game:  at DSL D-backs2 TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Blue 9, DSL Angels 5

The Cardinals Blue cruised to a win over the Angels on Friday.  The Cardinals took the lead early and held on.  The first of nine runs scored in the first inning on a single by Darlyn Del Villar.  Fernando Diaz hit a solo home run in the second to increase the lead to 2-0.

In the third, three more runs came home on a sac fly by Gustavo Rodriguez, a Brandon Hernandez double, and a Leudy Pena double.  The lead increased to 7-0 in the fourth on a two-run double by Elvin De Jesus.

The Angels finally got on the board with one run in the top of the fifth.  The Cardinals answered with two additional scores in the bottom of the fifth.  Pena plated G. Rodriguez on a single and Hernandez scored on a ground out by Juan Sanchez.

The Angels attempted a comeback from 9-1 deficit with one run in the sixth, two in the eighth, and one more in the ninth to cut the lead to 9-5, but that’s where the rally ended.

Del Villar, Pena, and Diaz each had two hits.

Blue starter Eduar Pimentel pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits while striking out three and walking two.  Yordy Richard surrendered two runs in his three innings of relief.  Allinson Benitez tossed a scoreless seventh. Benjamin Arias allowed two runs, one earned, in the eighth.  Ronald Suarez relinquished one run in the ninth before left hander Cristoffer Zapata got the final out.

De Jesus stole his eighth base of the season but was also picked off second base. Pena made a throwing error.  Hansel Otamendi had an outfield assist at home, G. Rodriguez had an outfield assist at third base.

The Cardinals Blue have a record of 27-14 and are in third place in the DSL South.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL Yankees, TBA 9:00 am CT.


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St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of July 15-21

photo: Giovanny Gallegos (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals continued their post-break surge, winning series against division rivals Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Giovanny Gallegos has been strong out of the bullpen. Our weekly history feature looks back at major Cardinals events during the week of July 15-21.


Game recaps

Monday, July 15 – Cardinals 7, Pirates 0

Miles Mikolas (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals blanked the Pirates in the first game of a three game series at Busch Stadium on Monday. Starter Miles Mikolas was brilliant, pitching a complete game shutout.  The right hander scattered eight hits and struck out three.

The offense started in the first inning when Paul Goldschmidt drew a walk and Tyler O’Neill reached on a fielding error by the Pirates left fielder.  Goldschmidt scored on the error.  The Cardinal first baseman drove a run in the third inning on a double that plated Matt Carpenter.  After an O’Neill single, Goldschmidt scored on a sac fly by Dexter Fowler.

In the fifth, O’Neill increased St. Louis’ lead with a two run home run to center field.  O’Neill again hit a two run long ball in the seventh to bring the score to the final 7-0.  He was 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored.

Carpenter was picked off first base.  O’Neill made a fielding error and Fowler had an outfield assist.


Tuesday, July 16 – Cardinals 1, Pirates 3

The Cardinals were the losers in the second game of the series, the result of a lack of offense, a consistent theme of the 2019 Cardinals.

Starter Jack Flaherty shouldered the burden, in more ways than one.  In addition to good pitching, the right hander drove in his team’s only run.  In the fifth inning, Harrison Bader doubled, then stole third base.  Flaherty doubled to left to score Bader.

Tyler O’Neill had two of the team’s five hits.

Flaherty pitched seven strong innings, giving up only one run on three hits.  The right hander fanned eight and walked three.  Giovanny Gallegos pitched a scoreless eighth. Carlos Martinez surrendered two runs in the ninth and took the loss.


Wednesday, July 17 – Cardinals 6, Pirates 5

Tyler O’Neill (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals edged the Pirates in the rubber game of the series on Wednesday.  Starter Daniel Ponce De Leon pitched only 3 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked two.  Dominic Leone got the last out of the fourth.  Chasen Shreve, John Brebbia, and Andrew Miller combined to toss the next four scoreless innings.  Carlos Martinez surrendered one run in the ninth.

The Pirates struck the first blow on a solo home run by Starling Marte in the first inning.  The Cardinals answered with the tying run in the bottom of the first on Tyler O’Neill’s RBI single.  The Redbirds took the 2-1 lead in the second on a sac fly by Jose Martinez.

The Pirates regained the lead with three runs in the fourth.  O’Neill hit a solo home run in the fifth to cut the lead to 4-3.  Then in the seventh, the Cardinals took the lead back in the seventh on a three run bomb by Paul Goldschmidt.

The Pirates added a run in the ninth, but the win belonged to the Cardinals.

O’Neill and Tommy Edman each had two hits.


Thursday, July 18 – Cardinals 7 at Reds 4

Tommy Edman (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals began a four game series in Cincinnati on Thursday and put this first game in the victory column.  The Cardinals fell behind early 3-0 but launched a comeback in innings five and six.  It began with a two run home run by Paul DeJong in the fifth to reduce the lead to 3-2.  In the sixth, DeJong drove in a run on a single.  Two batters later, Tommy Edman blasted a grand slam to give the Cardinals the 7-3 lead.  The Pirates added a run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Redbirds held the lead.

Starter Dakota Hudson pitched five innings and gave up three runs on six hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked two.  John Gant surrendered a run in the sixth while recording only one out. Giovanny Gallegos finished the sixth and returned to pitch a scoreless seventh.  John Brebbia pitched a scoreless eighth followed by a scoreless ninth for Andrew Miller.  Hudson earned his ninth win, Miller his second save.


Friday, July 19 – Cardinals 12, Reds 11

Jose Martinez (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

It was a wild ride in the second game of series at Great American Ballpark on Friday.  It started out badly for the Redbirds, as they fell into a 7-0 deficit through the first four innings.  Adam Wainwright did not pitch well, lasting only 3 1/3 innings and giving up seven runs on nine hits.  The right hander struck out four.  Michael Wacha, back in the bullpen, pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.  Chasen Shreve threw 2/3 of a scoreless inning following Wacha.  John Gant tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.  Dominic Leone surrendered two runs in the eighth while not recording an out and was replaced by Andrew Miller who got the three outs without further damage.  Carlos Martinez allowed two runs in the ninth, but got the shaky save, his seventh.  Wacha got the win.

The Cardinals entered the top of the sixth behind 7-0.  Harrison Bader singled to center to get the ball rolling.  Tommy Edman and Jose Martinez singled.  Paul Goldschmidt’s sac fly scored Bader.  Tyler O’Neill singled, Yairo Munoz singled, and Kolten Wong’s sac fly plated Martinez.  Paul DeJong doubled, and O’Neill and Munoz scored.  Andrew Knizner singled and DeJong scored.  The lineup came back around, and Bader drew a walk. Edman reached on an error and Knizner scored.  Then Martinez hit a three run home run to center field to give the Cardinals their first lead.  It ended when Goldschmidt struck out, but by then the Cardinals had scored 10 runs.

The Cardinals increased the lead to 12-7 on DeJong’s two run home run in the seventh.  The Reds mounted a comeback of their own, scoring two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth to make it close – but not close enough.


Saturday, July 20 – Cardinals 2, Reds 3

The Cardinals were edged by the Reds in Game 3 of the series on Saturday.  It was a pitcher’s duel up to the sixth inning, when the Cardinals struck first on Matt Wieters’ solo home run.  The Reds answered in the seventh to take the 3-1 lead.

In the eighth, Jose Martinez plated a run on a single to decrease the lead to 3-2, but the Redbirds were unable to score further.  Tommy Edman had three hits, though none resulted in run.

Miles Mikolas did not repeat his nine-inning previous start, but pitched six innings and gave up three runs on six hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked two.  Ryan Helsley pitched the final two scoreless innings. Mikolas took the loss.


Sunday, July 21 – Cardinals 3, Reds 1     

Giovanny Gallegos (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals took the series from the Reds with a win on Sunday.  Starter Jack Flaherty pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits while striking out seven and walking two.  Flaherty got into a bases loaded jam with one out in the fifth and was replaced by Giovanny Gallegos.  Gallegos struck out the next two hitters in the fifth to escape the jam. Gallegos returned to pitch a scoreless sixth.  Andrew Miller surrendered one run in his 1 1/3 innings of relief before John Gant got the final two outs of the eighth.  Carlos Martinez pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his eighth save.

The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  Yairo Munoz singled to plate a run, then Harrison Bader reached on an error and Munoz scored.  That lead held until the eighth inning, when Miller gave up a solo home run to pinch hitter Phillip Ervin.  Munoz gave the Cardinals an insurance run in the ninth with a solo home run to finish his 3-for-4 day.

The Cardinals were busy on the base paths with Tyler O’Neill, Munoz, Andrew Knizner and Bader all stealing a base.  Paul DeJong was caught stealing.


The Big Picture

The Cardinals won two series this week, taking two of three from the Pirates and three of four from the Reds.  The team ended the week 5-2 and a remain in third place in the NL Central, 2.5 games back of the Cubs and a half game back of the Brewers.

Offense remains the primary issue with this team.  The ability to score many runs exists and was demonstrated in both series, but the consistency is not there.  The hitters expected to put up the numbers are not doing so.  Though Paul Goldschmidt has shown flashes of his former self here and there, he continues to have games where he struggles mightily.  For example, he struck out in all four at bats in Friday’s game.  Matt Carpenter went back on the injured list, but his output has been low all season so far.  Paul DeJong hasn’t been very consistent either.  Dexter Fowler has hit .111 over his last six games, not including Sunday.  Jose Martinez has been hit or miss, batting .182 over the last seven days, but with an OPS of .866.  One home run and five walks account for that anomaly.  Much of the offense over the last week has come from Tyler O’Neill, Kolten Wong, and Tommy Edman.

Starting pitching has started to come around.  Miles Mikolas pitched a complete game shutout against the Pirates.  Jack Flaherty has been up and down but has generally lacked run support.  Dakota Hudson has been fine.  Adam Wainwright pitched poorly in his last start, as did Daniel Ponce De Leon.  The fifth starter position remains uncertain, with Michael Wacha coming and going from rotation to bullpen.

Giovanny Gallegos has taken on more responsibility in the bullpen and has shined. Carlos Martinez has not dominated, but is generally getting the job done in the ninth.

The defense has been fine, though the outfield continues to be less than it could be with Harrison Bader struggling at the plate and hence not starting often.  He comes in late in games mostly at this point, so he appears in almost every game but has less innings in the outfield.

Baserunning has been the Cardinals strength this season. There is a much different look on the base paths than there has been in prior seasons.

The Cardinals play the Pirates for four games in Pittsburgh, then come home to play the Houston Astros for three games.  The Astros series will be tough.  The Pirates, though they have a losing record, are no pushovers, especially in their home ballpark.  The Cardinals should take at least 3 of 4 from the Pirates.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
Chicago 54 45 0.545
Milwaukee 53 48 0.525 2
St. Louis 51 47 0.520 2.5
Pittsburgh 46 52 0.469 7.5
Cincinnati 44 53 0.454 9

Carlos Martinez (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

Derrick Goold of the Post Dispatch reported on an earlier rumor from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the Cardinals are making RHP Carlos Martinez, and OFs Tyler O’Neill and Lane Thomas available for trade.  Goold wrote that the Cardinals are open to trading O’Neill and Martinez but are not aggressively shopping them.  Goold also threw Harrison Bader into the mix, though Bader’s struggles offensively would make him a sell-low candidate.  Goold quoted President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak as saying he “doesn’t see anybody on the current roster we are looking to move”.  However, Goold states that the Cardinals are exploring interest in trading RHP Michael Wacha, who hits free agency at the end of the season.


Transactions 

  • 7/16 The Cardinals placed 3B Matt Carpenter on the 10 day injured list. Right foot contusion.
  • 7/16 The Cardinals recalled SS Edmundo Sosa from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/20 The Cardinals optioned SS Edmundo Sosa to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/20 The Cardinals recalled RHP Ryan Helsley from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/21 The Cardinals optioned RHP Ryan Helsley to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/21 The Cardinals optioned RHP Dominic Leone to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/21 The Cardinals recalled 1B Rangel Ravelo from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/21 The Cardinals recalled LHP Tyler Webb from the Memphis Redbirds.

Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60 day injured list. Cecil had been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period since spring training.  The left hander has had a setback in his rehab and it remains unclear when he will return.
  • RHP Mike Mayers (right shoulder lat strain) continues on the 60-day injured list and has been pitching on a rehab assignment with Memphis since the end of June. No announcement of a return to the roster has been made.
  • 3B Jedd Gyorko remains on the 10 day injured list. Gyorko originally was placed on the list due to lower back issues, was then reported to have recurring calf issues, and at present is suffering from a wrist ailment for which he had arthroscopic surgery on June 24.  It was reported Gyorko began swinging off a tee as of July 17. The timetable for Gyorko’s return is possibly the middle or end of August, but may not be until September.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • LF Marcell Ozuna (fractured right fingers) was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 29. Ozuna suffered the injury diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt.   It was reported the swelling has gone down in the hand and he has been cleared for baseball activities.  Ozuna may begin a rehab assignment late in the week.
  • C Yadier Molina (right thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 11, retroactive to July 8. He has been shut down from all baseball activities.  Molina is expected to be re-evaluated in late July.
  • 3B Matt Carpenter (right foot contusion) was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 16. Carpenter has resumed baseball activities and may begin a rehab assignment this week.

Looking Ahead

On Monday, July 22, the team opens a four-game series in Pittsburgh. The Cardinals then return home for a weekend interleague series with the Houston Astros.

After an off day on Monday, July 29, the Chicago Cubs come to Busch Stadium for a three game set.  St. Louis has another off day on Friday, August 2 to travel to Oakland to play a two game interleague series beginning Saturday with the Athletics.  The West Coast trip continues with a stop in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers in a three game series beginning August 5.

The Cardinals have a travel day on Thursday, August 8 and return home to a weekend series with the Pirates.  It is a short home stand, as the Cardinals have an off day Monday and begin a two game series in Kansas City against the Royals

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

This week in Blast from the Past, we look at significant happenings for each day in history over the period July 15 through July 21.  In some cases, there will be multiple entries.

Bob Gibson

July 15 

  • On July 15, 1967, in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson was hit in the right leg by a line drive comebacker off the bat of Pirates legend Roberto Clemente. Gibson pitched to three more hitters, unaware his leg bone was fractured. At that point, his fibula bone snapped just above the right ankle.  Gibson returned to play in September, the Cardinals won the pennant, and went on to win the World Series against the Boston Red Sox.
  • In the second game of a doubleheader against the Pirates in 1962, Stan Musial took his 10,428th at bat in the seventh inning, setting a new National League record, surpassing Honus Wagner’s record set in 1917. Musial singled to right field.

July 16

  • Gibson pitched career complete game #237 on this day in 1973. The opponent was the Giants as Gibson gave up two earned runs, walked four and struck out one.

July 17

  • Jesse “Pop” Haines, future Hall of Famer, throws a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox at Sportsman’s Park on this day in 1924.
  • Gibson gets his 3,000th strikeout, fanning Geronimo Pena in a 6-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on this day in 1974. The strikeout ball now resides in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

July 18

  • On this day in 1961, future National League president Bill White tied Ty Cobb’s record for hits in consecutive doubleheaders. White collected 14 hits over doubleheaders on July 17 and 18 against the Cubs.  Ironically, July 17, 1961 was the day Cobb passed away.

July 19

  • On July 19, 1993, the Cardinals game against the Braves is delayed for an hour when a fire broke out in the press box area of Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta.
  • Gibson pitched complete game #50 in a 7-6 win over the Mets in 1964. Gibson gave up six earned runs, struck out 11, and walked three.
Albert Pujols (USA TODAY Sports Images)

July 20

  • In 2004, against the Cubs, Albert Pujols went 5-for-5, including three home runs and five RBI in an 11-8 win over their NL Central rivals. This was Pujols first career three home run game.

July 21

  • On this day in 1975, in a game against the San Diego Padres, catcher Ted Simmons hit a home run to lead off the fourth inning. The manager of the Padres, John McNamara, asserted that Simmons’ bat contained illegal grooves above the bat handle.  Umpire Art Williams inspected the bat, determined McNamara was correct, and called Simmons out.  The bat was confiscated. The at bat is described in the boxscore as an out to the catcher.  The game was continued under protest, but the Cardinals won the game 4-0, making the protest moot.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 21, 2019

photo: Yariel Gonzalez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 4-5 on Saturday. Four of the losses were by one or two runs, including two defeats suffered in the final inning. Our Player of the Day is third baseman Yariel Gonzalez, who was 3-for-5 including a home run and three RBI in Springfield’s win.

Results for games played Saturday, July 20.


Memphis 5 at Omaha 6

Ramon Urias (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds lost a Saturday heartbreaker in a walk off following their comeback from a 5-0 deficit.  Memphis was held scoreless until the seventh with the Storm Chasers up by five.  The Redbirds began a rally by scoring two runs on RBI singles by Adolis Garcia and Johan Mieses.  They continued in the eighth when Ramon Urias crushed a three run home run to left center field to knot the score at 5-5.

Memphis was unable to score again in the ninth, but Omaha’s second baseman Erick Mejia’s solo home run in the bottom of the frame off Mike Mayers ended the game.

Urias went 2-for-3 with three RBI and Mieses was 2-for-4 with one driven in.

Pressed into duty when Ryan Helsley was promoted to St. Louis, bullpen starter Seth Elledge pitched two innings and gave up one run on three hits. The right hander struck out three and walked two.  Jesus Cruz surrendered three runs in his 1 1/3 innings of relief.  Chris Ellis allowed one run in 2 2/3 relief innings.  Chris Beck pitched two scoreless innings, and Mayers took the loss for his work in the ninth.

Garcia stole second and third base in the seventh inning after driving in the first run.

Memphis is 40-60 on the season and in last place in the PCL North, 15 games back of the Iowa Cubs.

Sunday’s game:   at Omaha, Jake Woodford (5-6, 3.70) 2:05 CT.


Springfield 5 at Corpus Christi 2

Yariel Gonzalez (Peoria Chiefs)

The Cardinals topped the Hooks in Corpus Christi on Saturday behind a 3-for-5 night by third sacker Yariel Gonzalez.  After the Hooks took the 1-0 lead in the first inning, Gonzalez tied it up in the third with a solo home run to left field.  A sac fly by Alberto Triunfel in the fourth gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.

The Hooks knotted it up with one run in the bottom of the sixth, but Springfield answered in the seventh with Gonzalez’ second RBI of the game via a ground out.  Rayder Ascanio followed suit with an RBI groundout in the eighth to increase the lead to 4-2.  In the ninth, Gonzalez drove in his third run on a single to right field.

Starter Roel Ramirez pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits.  The right hander fanned four and issued one free pass.  Jacob Patterson followed with 3 2/3 innings in which he surrendered one run.  Patterson got the win.  Connor Jones tossed two scoreless innings to earn his third save.

Gonzalez’ three hit, three RBI performance was slightly marred by a caught stealing.

The Cardinals are 15-14 in the second half, 45-54 overall, and in third place in the Texas League North.

Sunday’s game:  at Corpus Christi, Angel Rondon (4-2, 3.23) 4:15 CT.


Palm Beach 1 at Jupiter 3

Dennis Ortega (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Palm Beach was no-hit by Jupiter lefty Will Stewart until the offense finally broke through with two outs in the ninth. Bryce Denton doubled to center and Dennis Ortega drove him home on a single to center.  It was too little too late for Palm Beach, as they fell, 3-1.

Cardinals starter Michael Baird took the loss, pitching 2 2/3 innings and giving up two unearned runs on four hits.  The right hander struck out three.  Ben Yokley surrendered one run in 3 1/3 innings and Zack Thompson followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.  Patrick Dayton got the last two outs of the eighth.

A missed catch error by first basement Luken Baker in the third inning led to the two unearned runs.

The Cardinals are 10-21 in the second half, 45-50 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South.

Sunday’s game:  at Jupiter, Alvaro Seijas (0-0, 4.30) 12:00 pm CT.


Peoria 7 at Lake County 2

Connor Thomas (State College Spikes)

The Chiefs blew past the Lake County Captains on Saturday and gave starter Connor Thomas his first win since he joined Peoria from State College. Thomas pitched five innings and gave up one run three hits while fanning five and walking one.  Thomas St. Clair followed with a scoreless sixth.  Logan Gragg tossed the final three innings and surrendered one run to earn the save.

The Chiefs offense put up two runs in the first inning on a home run by Ivan Herrera.  Two more scores were added in the third on a double by Delvin Perez and a groundout by Brady Whalen that plated Perez.

The Captains finally scored in the fourth to cut the lead to 4-1, but Peoria answered with three runs in the top of the fifth.  A line drive double to left field off the bat of Whalen brought the first run across the plate.  Herrera then drove in two on a single to right field. Lake County put up one additional run in the eighth.

Brendan Donovan went 3-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.  Whalen and Herrera each had two knocks.

The Chiefs committed three errors, two throwing errors by Josh Shaw and Perez had a fielding miscue.

The Chiefs are 6-22 in the second half, 36-61 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Sunday’s game:  at Lake County, Parker Kelly (2-1, 1.69) 12:30 CT.


State College 4, Williamsport 5 (10 innings)

Shane Benes (State College Spikes)

The Spikes were edged by the Williamsport Cross Cutters in extra innings on Saturday.  The Spikes took and early lead and maintained the lead until the seventh inning.   Terry Fuller hit an RBI single in the first inning to give State College the 1-0 lead.  In the second, Shane Benes hit a two-run home run, his first as a professional, to increase the lead to 3-0.

Williamsport began chipping away at the lead with one run in the seventh, one run in the eighth, and the tying run in the ninth.  The game went into the 10th, and the Cross Cutters put up two runs to take the 5-3 lead.

The Spikes tried to rally in the bottom half of the 10th by scoring on a ground out by Carlos Soto, but the rally ended there.  Dariel Gomez was the only Spike with multiple hits, with two.

State College starter Andre Pallante pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, fanning four and walking one.  Jacob Schlesener followed with 2 1/3 scoreless frames.  Cameron Dulle surrendered one run in the seventh, Fabian Blanco did the same in the eighth.  Leonardo Taveras gave up the tying run in the ninth, then returned for the 10th and surrendered two more runs for a total of three runs allowed in 1 1/3 innings.  Jack Ralston came in and got the final two outs of the 10th.  Taveras was charged with a blown save and the loss.

Catcher Pedro Pages stole his first base of his career.  Andrew Warner and Donivan Williams were both caught stealing.  Pages had a passed ball.

The Spikes are 17-18 on the season and are in third place in the New York/Penn League Pinckney Division.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Williamsport, Scott Politz (1-2, 7.30) 5:05 CT.


Johnson City 2, Danville 4

Todd Lott (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals fell to the Danville Braves in a low scoring contest on Saturday.  The Johnson City offense put up two runs on six hits, with the first run scoring in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by Todd Lott, his first as a pro.

The Cardinals didn’t score again until the eighth, when Carlos Soler cracked an RBI double to right field.  In between, Cardinals pitching gave up four runs to the Braves.  Lott went 3-for-4 on the evening.

Cardinals starter Julio Puello pitched six innings and gave up two runs on six hits, but still took the hard-luck loss.  The right hander struck out five.  Alex Gallegos surrendered two insurance runs in the seventh.  Wilberto Rivera tossed the final two scoreless relief innings.

Kevin Vargas made a throwing error.

Johnson City is 15-15 on the season and is in second place in the Appalachian League West.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Danville, Jake Sommers (1-1, 3.24) 4:00 CT.


GCL Cardinals 3 at GCL Mets 0

Jean Selmo (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Cardinals blanked the Mets in Port St. Lucie on Saturday.  It was a pitcher’s duel until the top of the seventh inning when the Cardinals scored three.  Jean Selmo doubled to left field to score two and Tyler Reichenborn’s sac fly drove the third run home.  Selmo had two hits.

Making his professional mound debut, Cardinals starter Blake Drake pitched one scoreless inning, allowing no hits, striking out one and walking one. Merandy Gonzalez, on a rehab assignment from Springfield, followed with two scoreless innings.  Regular starter Ludwin Jimenez hurled the final six scoreless innings to earn the win.

The Cardinals are 11-12 on the season and are in third place in the GCL East.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled.


DSL Cardinals Red 4 at DSL Rangers2 8

The Cardinals Red were defeated by the Rangers2 on Saturday.  The Rangers took a 3-0 lead in the second inning.  The Cardinals answered with one run in the top of the third on an RBI double by Sander Mora.  The Rangers scored one in the bottom of the third to increase the lead to 4-1.

In the top of the fourth, Jesus Orrechia plated a run on a sac fly to make the score 4-2.  Again, the Rangers responded with one run in the bottom half of the fourth.  The Rangers added two runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth for an 8-2 lead.

In the top of the seventh, RBI singles by Albert Inoa and Fernando Brazaban made the score 8-4, which was the eventual final score.  Brazaban and Endri Salas each had two hits.

Starter Diorys Guerrero pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on four hits.  The left hander struck out one and walked three and took the loss.  Hemerson Cordero surrendered one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief.  Luis Garcia allowed two runs in the fifth, before Larimel Soriano relinquished one run in the sixth.  Hansel Marcelino and Augusto Calderon pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth.

Smith Vargas stole his 12th and 13th bases of the season.  Bryan Matute swiped his fifth bag.  Cordero and Erick Thomas each made throwing errors.

The Cardinals Red are 17-24 on the season and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled


DSL Cardinals Blue 11, DSL Phillies Red 2

The Cardinals Blue gave the Phillies Red a shellacking on Saturday.  The Blue offense put up nine runs in the first inning to take a commanding lead after the Phillies had scored one run in the top of the inning.

The Blue burst began with a solo home run off the bat of leadoff hitter Darlin Moquete.  Hansel Otamendi walked and Darlyn Del Villar singled.  Gustavo Rodriguez drove them both home on a single to left field.  Brandon Hernandez and Leudy Pena walked. Luis Rodriguez singled to plate Gustavo Rodriguez.  Fernando Diaz drew a bases loaded walk and Hernandez scored. Pena scored on a Carlos Arcia walk.  Moquete drove in Luis Rodriguez on a sac fly.  The lineup rolled over back to G. Rodriguez and he drew a walk to plate Diaz.  Hernandez walked and Arcia scored.  The inning finally ended with a Pena strike out as the Cardinals had scored nine runs, mostly on singles and walks.

The score remained 9-1 until the bottom of the eighth, when the Cardinals added two more scores.  Arcia drove in a run on a force out and Moquete hit an RBI single. The Phillies added one more run in the ninth.

Moquete and Del Villar each had two hits.  The offense drew a total of 16 walks.

Starter Wilmer Ortega pitched six innings, giving up one run on three hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked two to earn his fourth win.  William Miranda pitched a scoreless seventh.  Nelson Prada tossed a scoreless eighth. Victor Villanueva surrendered one run in the ninth.

Pena made a throwing error.  Luis Rodriguez picked a runner off first base.

The Cardinals Blue are 24-13 on the season and are in third place in the DSL South.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled.


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

State College Spikes Notebook – 2019 Week 5


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© 2019 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 20, 2019

photo: Adolis Garcia (Frank Ramirez/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 7-2 on Friday. Player of the Day, Memphis right fielder Adolis Garcia, powered two home runs and plated three. Springfield’s Evan Kruczynski, Palm Beach’s Edgar Gonzalez and State College’s Dalton Roach made strong mound starts.

Results for games played Friday, July 19.


Memphis 8 at Omaha 4

Adolis Garcia (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Four long balls powered Memphis to an 8-4 victory over the unhappy Storm Chasers in Omaha on Friday.  The Redbirds fell behind 2-0 early but came back in the fourth to take the lead and keep it.  The inning began with a single by Ramon Urias, followed by a two run home run by John Nogowski.  Adolis Garcia immediately followed with a solo blast to left field.  Jose Godoy singled and scored on a single by Jose Martinez.

Garcia increased the lead in the fifth with his second long ball, a two run shot.  Omaha would add two runs in the sixth to cut the lead to 6-4.  In the eighth, the fourth Redbird home run came off the bat of Johan Mieses, a solo shot to left center.  Memphis added a final run in the ninth on a Urias single.

Godoy went 3-for-4 and the top four in the lineup, Randy Arozarena, Urias, Nogowski and Garcia, had two hits each.

Starter Harold Arauz was ejected after pitching 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked three.  Arauz’ first pitch after an Omaha batter launched a two-run home run in the sixth hit the next Storm Chasers batter, Nick Dini, on the head, leading to the pitcher’s immediate ejection. Dini left the game.

The fireworks resumed in the ninth when Storm Chasers pitcher Heath Fillmyer plunked Redbirds outfielder Lane Thomas. The Omaha pitcher and his manager were given the boot by the home plate umpire.

Tyler Webb followed Arauz’ ejection with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.  Mike Mayers tossed a scoreless eighth, and Hunter Cervenka hurled a scoreless ninth.  Arauz got the win.

Arozarena was caught stealing for the third time.  Garcia had an outfield assist.

Memphis is 40-59 on the season and is in last place in the PCL American North, 15 games behind the Iowa Cubs.

Saturday’s game:  at Omaha, Ryan Helsley (2-3, 5.06) 7:05 CT.


Springfield 2 at Corpus Christi 3

Evan Kruczynski (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals were edged 3-2 by the Hooks in Corpus Christi in a walk off on Friday.  Springfield lefty Evan Kruczynski notched his second straight seven-inning start, giving up two runs on four hits while fanning seven and walking two.  Will Latcham tossed a scoreless eighth.  Ronnie Williams surrendered the walk off run in the ninth and took the loss.

The Hooks capture a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but the Cardinals responded with two scores in the fourth to take the lead away.  Rayder Ascanio plated Justin Toerner on a single to center, and Ascanio scored on a sac fly by Dylan Carlson.

Corpus Christi tied it in the fifth, and there the score remained until the bottom of the ninth, when a walk off single brought the victory to the Hooks.

Kruczynski made an error on a pickoff attempt.

The Cardinals are 14-14 in the second half, 44-54 overall, and are in third place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  at Corpus Christi, TBA 7:15 CT.


Palm Beach 6 at Jupiter 2

Edgar Gonzalez (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Cardinals blew past the Hammerheads at Roger Dean Stadium thanks to good pitching and a five-run fourth inning.

Jupiter scored first with a run in the second inning, but in the fourth, the Cardinals took off offensively.  Juan Yepez drew a leadoff walk and Nolan Gorman singled.  Two batters later Nick Plummer doubled to left to plate Yepez and Gorman.   Plummer scored on a single by Imeldo Diaz, along with Zach Gahagan, who reached base on a walk. Diaz came home on a Bryce Denton single.

The Hammerheads added one run in the seventh for a 5-2 lead.  In the eighth, Nick Dunn hit an RBI single to bring the final score to 6-2.  Gorman and Diaz each had two hits.

Starter Edgar Gonzalez reversed his recent struggles, tossing six innings and giving up one run on two hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked four.  Zach Prendergast surrendered one run in two innings of relief.  Edgar Escobar pitched a scoreless ninth.

Diaz was caught stealing for the second time.  Gahagan made a fielding error.

Palm Beach is 10-20 in the second half and 45-49 overall.  The Cardinals are in last place in the FSL South in the second half.

Saturday’s game:  at Jupiter, Michael Baird (0-0, 0.00) 4:30 CT.


Peoria 6 at Fort Wayne 4

Brendan Donovan (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs defeated the Tin Caps in Fort Wayne on Friday.  Peoria scored first, as they have done in four straight games, on an RBI single by Edwin Figuera.  The 1-0 lead was quickly lost in the third when a two run home run by Fort Wayne’s shortstop and leadoff hitter put the Tin Caps in the lead.  Fort Wayne added another run in the fourth to take the 3-1 lead.

Brendan Donovan led off the fifth with a single, increasing his hitting streak to 10 games.  Donovan advanced to third on a bunt by Delvin Perez and a single by Brady Whalen, then came home on a sac fly from Ivan Herrera.  That score was only the start, as four more runs crossed the plate on a double by Jonatan Machado, a single by Leandro Cedeno, and a two-run double by Figuera.

Fort Wayne add one in the seventh, but the 6-4 lead held.  Donovan had a 3-for-4 game, and Figuera also had three knocks.  Herrera and Cedeno each had two hits.

Starter Michael Brettell went six innings and gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits.  The right hander struck out four and issued two free passes.  Evan Sisk surrendered one run in the seventh.  Tony Locey and Sebastian Tabata combined to toss the final two scoreless nnings.  Brettell earned the win and Tabata the save.

Brettell committed a throwing error and Sisk erred on a pickoff attempt.

The Chiefs are 5-22 in the second half, 35-61 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Saturday’s game:  at Lake County, Connor Thomas (0-0, 0.00) 6:00 CT.


State College 6 at West Virginia 2

Dalton Roach (Robert Kell)

The Spikes came away with the Friday win at the Virginia Black Bears with an offensive surge in the later innings.  The State College offense was held scoreless until the sixth, when Martin Figueroa doubled to left field.

The Spikes took the 6-2 lead in the seventh, after scoring five runs via the long ball.  Terry Fuller immediately followed Carlos Soto’s grand slam with a solo home run to left center field.

Fuller was 3-for-4 and Figueroa and Dariel Gomez each had two knocks.

Spikes starter Dalton Roach pitched six innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits.  The right hander struck out six and walked one.  Eric Lex followed with two scoreless relief innings, and Fabian Blanco added a scoreless ninth.

Fuller and Moises Castillo each made fielding errors.  Soto had a passed ball.

The Spikes are 17-17 and are tied for third place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Williamsport, Andre Pallante (1-0, 3.09) 6:05 CT.


Johnson City 4, Bristol 7

John Witkowski (Boston College)

The Cardinals fell to the Bristol Pirates on Friday, the victim of a ninth inning bullpen failure.  The lead changed hands twice before the Pirates barreled past at the end.

The Pirates took the lead with two runs in the top of the first, but the Cardinals responded with two runs of their own in the bottom frame, via home runs by Jhon Torres and Chandler Redmond.

The Cardinals took the lead with a run in the fourth on a single by Victor Garcia.  The Pirates tied it again in the fifth.  The score remained at 3-3 until the ninth, when the Pirates put up four runs.

The Cardinals managed one run in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Zach Jackson, but the rally fell short.  Jackson and Kyle Skeels each had two hits.

Johnson City starter Francisco Justo pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked one.  John Witkowski followed with 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings.  Tyler Peck began the ninth and surrendered the four runs in 2/3 of an inning.  Alex Gallegos got the last out of the ninth.  Peck took the loss.

Redmond stole his second base of the season.  Skeels made a throwing error, and Liam Sabino had a missed catch error.  Diomedes Del Rio had two outfield assists.

Johnson City is 15-14 on the season and is in second place in the Appalachian League West.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Danville, Julio Puello (2-1, 5.00) 5:30 CT.


GCL Cardinals 3 at GCL Nationals 2

Thomas Hart

The Cardinals edged the Nationals at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Friday.  The Cardinals fell behind 2-0 in the first inning but tied it up with one run each in the second and third innings, via an RBI single by Yowelfy Rosario and Tyler Reichenborn’s solo home run, his first as a Cardinal.

The winning run scored in the seventh on a single by Joerlin De Los Santos.  Rosario and William Jimenez each had two hits.

Rehabber Jake Walsh started for the Cardinals but didn’t finish the first inning.  Walsh gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits, but the bullpen tossed scoreless ball the rest of the way. Thomas Hart relieved Walsh and went 3 1/3 innings to earn the win, his second in two professional decisions.  Conner Coward followed with two frames, Tyler Statler one, and Luis Ortiz closed with two more to earn the save.

Jimenez stole his third base of the season but was also caught stealing. Luis Montano was picked off and caught stealing.  Rosario was caught stealing for the third time this season.

Walsh made an error on a pickoff attempt.  Pablo Gomez committed a throwing error. Hart picked a runner off second base.

The GCL Cardinals are 10-12 on the season and are in fourth place in the GCL East.

Saturday’s game:  at GCL Mets, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 10, DSL Rangers2 7

The Cardinals Red claimed a 10-7 victory over the Rangers2 on Friday.  The Red offense put up one run in the first inning on a triple by Sander Mora.  In the third, Luis Andujar drove in a run on a sac fly, and Endri Salas added an RBI single.

The Rangers plated two runs in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 3-2.  In the bottom of the fourth a wild pitch score increased the Cardinal lead to 4-2.  The Rangers made it 4-3 with a run in the top of the fifth.

Smith Vargas’ RBI triple and a double by Fernando Brazaban in the sixth made the score 6-3 in favor of the Red.  The Rangers weren’t done, however, and put up four runs in the seventh to take the lead, 7-6.

The Cardinals responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth.  Mora plated one on a single.  A wild pitch brought another run home.  Albert Inoa single to score Mora, and Inoa came home on a double by Andujar.  The 10-7 lead held for the Cardinals’ win.

Vargas and Mora each had two hits.

Cardinal starter Henry Gomez pitched five innings and gave up three runs on four hits.  The right hander fanned three.  Brayan Ramirez surrendered four runs, three earned, in 1 1/3 innings of relief.  Oliver Lopez blew the save by allowing inherited runners to score in the seventh but pitched scoreless ball in the eighth and ninth to get the win.

Inoa and Mora each stole a base.  Endri Salas was caught stealing.  Ramirez made a throwing error.

The Cardinals Red are 17-23 and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Saturday’s game:  at DSL Rangers2, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Blue 8 at DSL Mets1 6

The Cards got by the Mets1 by a two-run edge on Friday.  The Cardinal offense got on the board first with one run in the second inning, when Jose Zapata led off with a single and later scored on a sac fly by Darlin Moquete.  The Cardinals added two in the fourth on an RBI single by Moquete and a wild pitch.

The lead increased to 4-0 in the fifth.  Zapata was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Diego Velasquez.  The lead increased further with two additional scores in the sixth on a Zapata RBI single and a sac fly off the bat of Fernando Diaz.

In the bottom half of the sixth, the Mets finally got on the board with three runs and added a run in the seventh to cut the lead to 6-4.

The Cardinals made it 7-4 in the eighth with a run that came home on an error by the Mets pitcher on a pickoff attempt.  The Mets scored two in the bottom frame to pull to within a run at 7-6.

The Blue scored one run in the top of the ninth on a triple by Moquete and that was the end of the scoring as the Cardinals took home the victory.

Zapata and Moquete each had two hits.

Luis Tena took the mound initially for the Blue but pitched only one scoreless inning.  Right hander Yordy Richard then tossed 4 2/3 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits.  Richard ultimately was awarded the win.  Eduar Pimentel followed Richard and surrendered three runs in two innings pitched. Americo Lugo hurled the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional save.

Elvin De Jesus stole his seventh base of the season.  Erik Pena stole his fifth base.  Velasquez had a throwing error and Darlyn Del Villar committed a fielding error.

The Cardinals Blue have a record of 23-13 and are in third place in the DSL South.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL Phillies Red, TBA 9:00 am CT.


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

Memphis Redbirds Notebook – 2019 Week 15


Not yet a member?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system. Annual members may purchase the new 2019 Prospect Guide PDF for less than half price. In addition, our limited edition printed and bound Guides are $5 off, so get yours today!

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© 2019 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of July 8-14

photo: Paul DeJong (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals came out of the All-Star break with a series win over visiting Arizona. New closer Carlos Martinez saved both wins. Our weekly history feature remembers prior years when St. Louis had just one All-Star, as in 2019 with Paul DeJong.


Game recaps

Monday, July 8 through Thursday, July 11 – All Star Break


Tuesday, July 9 – American League All-Stars 4, National League All-Stars 3

Paul DeJong was St. Louis’ lone representative in the 2019 All-Star Game in Cleveland.  The third shortstop to enter the game for the NL walked in his only plate appearance, in the eighth. DeJong stole third base as part of a double steal, but representing the tying run, did not score. Defensively, the Cardinal started a double-play in the home ninth.


Friday, July 12 – Cardinals 2, Diamondbacks 4

Daniel Ponce de Leon (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

In the first series on return from the All-Star break, the Cardinals took on the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three game series at Busch Stadium.  In the opener, the Cardinals fell to the Diamondbacks 4-2.

Daniel Ponce de Leon made the start as a replacement for Adam Wainwright, who was scratched from the start due to back spasms.  Ponce de Leon pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up one run on three hits.  The right hander fanned seven.  Andrew Miller surrendered a home run to his only batter was removed without recording an out.  John Gant got the final out of the seven and remained for the eighth.  Gant allowed two runs in his 1 1/3 innings.  John Brebbia pitched a scoreless ninth.  Miller took the loss.

The offense was kept off the board until the fifth inning, when Matt Wieters’ solo home run to right field put the Cardinals on the board.  St. Louis added a second run in the eighth on a single by Paul DeJong.

Jose Martinez made a fielding error.


Saturday, July 13 – Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 2

Tyler O’Neill (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Fortunes were reversed as well as the score as the Cardinals were the 4-2 victors on Saturday.  The Cardinals got on the board in the first inning on a two-run double by Tyler O’Neill.  The Diamondbacks answered in the top of the second to make it 2-1.

In the third, the Cardinals added to their lead with two runs provided again by O’Neill, but this time on a two run home run.  Arizona was able to cut the lead to 4-2 with a second score in the fifth, but that score held for a St. Louis victory.  O’Neill and Matt Wieters each had two hits.

Starter Dakota Hudson pitched six innings and gave up two runs on three hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked four.  Giovanny Gallegos followed with 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings. For the second night in a row, Andrew Miller replaced Gallegos but did not record an out, walking the only batter he faced on four straight pitches.  Carlos Martinez got the last out of the inning, then returned to pitch a scoreless ninth. Hudson received his eighth win and Martinez earned his fourth save.

Yairo Munoz was picked off and caught stealing.


Sunday, July 14 – Cardinals 5, Diamondbacks 2    

Adam Wainwright (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals were again the victor over Arizona to take the game and series on Sunday.  Adam Wainwright returned after he was scratched on Friday due to back spasms.  Wainwright pitched well, tossing seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits, fanning seven and walking one.  The right hander earned his sixth win of the season.  Dominic Leone pitched a scoreless eighth.  John Brebbia began the ninth and gave up two runs on eight hits.  Carlos Martinez came in to get the last out of the ninth to collect his fifth save.

Tyler O’Neill again drove in the first run on a double.  In the third, Yairo Munoz singled to plate a run.  Paul Goldschmidt added to the lead with a two run home run to left field against his former team.  A fifth run was added in the fourth on a sac fly by Matt Carpenter.  Goldschmidt, Dexter Fowler, and Kolten Wong each had two hits.

Kolten Wong was picked off and caught stealing.


The Big Picture

Paul Goldschmidt (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

In this short post All-Star break week, the Cardinals took 2-of-3 from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The first game of the series was a disappointment, as it was much similar to the team’s play before the break – meager offense.  The offense somewhat improved in the last two games of the series, but aside from the Sunday home run by Paul Goldschmidt most of the production came from Tyler O’Neill.

The offense still is not operating on all cylinders.  Matt Carpenter came back from the injured list, but continues to struggle, albeit for only three games.  Another struggler, Harrison Bader, got his first extra base hit in a month in Sunday’s game; whether this is a sign of some improvement remains to be seen.  Bader has posted a very low BABIP, especially against LHP, once a strength for him, which indicates part of his struggles is a result of bad luck.  Matt Carpenter has a low BABIP as well, so one hopes there is some end coming from the slumps of both.  Paul Goldschmidt is showing marked signs of improvement.

Carlos Martinez (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Defense in the short term is fine, in the shadows of a horrendous outing for the outfield in the series before the break.  Nothing much can be expected defensively from Jose Martinez, who is in the lineup for his bat.

Ponce de Leon, Dakota Hudson, and Adam Wainwright all pitched well in the series.  The bullpen is mostly fine, save some recent hiccups from John Brebbia and Andrew Miller, who couldn’t record an out in his two appearances over the weekend. Carlos Martinez collected two saves.

The Cardinals play a three game series at home against the Pirates to begin the week, with a series in Cincinnati against the Reds following.  Both teams are back of the Cardinals in the division, by 2.5 and 3.5 games respectively. Neither team can be underestimated as both play the Cardinals very tough.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
Chicago 50 43 0.538
Milwaukee 48 46 0.511 2.5
St. Louis 46 45 0.505 3
Pittsburgh 44 48 0.478 5.5
Cincinnati 42 48 0.467 6.5

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported that the Cardinals have renewed interest in left handed reliever Will Smith of the San Francisco Giants.  The Cardinals are said to have first had talks with the Giants about acquiring Smith during the offseason, but the two sides could not come to an agreement.


Transactions 

  • 7/8 The Cardinals optioned LHP Tyler Webb to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals activated 3B Matt Carpenter from the 10-day injured list.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals placed C Yadier Molina on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 8. Right thumb tendon strain.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals transferred RHP Jordan Hicks from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Torn UCL in right elbow.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals optioned 1B Rangel Ravelo to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals selected the contract of LHP Chasen Shreve from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/11 The Cardinals recalled C Andrew Knizner from the Memphis Redbirds.

Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60 day injured list. Cecil had been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period since spring training.  The left hander has had a setback in his rehab and it remains unclear when he will return.
  • RHP Mike Mayers (right shoulder lat strain) continues on the 60-day injured list and has been pitching on a rehab assignment with Memphis since the end of June. No announcement of a return to the roster has been made.
  • 3B Jedd Gyorko remains on the 10-day injured list. Gyorko originally was placed on the list due to lower back issues, was then reported to have recurring calf issues, and at present is suffering from a wrist ailment for which he had arthroscopic surgery on June 24.  The timetable for Gyorko’s return has been pushed back to the middle or end of August.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • LF Marcell Ozuna (fractured right fingers) was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 29. Ozuna suffered the injury diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt. The outfielder is still dealing with swelling in the hand and has been unable to test his grip strength.  The team is hoping for a return by the end of July or early August.
  • C Yadier Molina (right thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 11, retroactive to July 8. Molina is expected to remain out for at least three weeks.

Special good wishes go out to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, who is in an Omaha hospital battling pancreatic cancer.


Looking Ahead

The home stand will continue with a three game series with the Pirates from July 15-17. Due to a last minute change to the rotation because of a mild injury to Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas did not make the Sunday start as previously scheduled but will make the Monday start against the Pirates.  Jack Flaherty will make the Tuesday start.  Michael Wacha has been moved to the bullpen and Daniel Ponce de Leon will take his place Wednesday.

The Cardinals travel to Cincinnati to take on the Reds in a four game series beginning Thursday, July 18. On Monday, July 22, the team flies to Pittsburgh for a four game series. The Cardinals then return home for a weekend interleague series with the Houston Astros.

After an off day on Monday, July 29, the Chicago Cubs come to Busch Stadium for a three game series.  St. Louis has another off day on Friday, August 2 to travel to Oakland to play a two game interleague series beginning Saturday with the Athletics.  The West Coast trip continues with a stop in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers in a three game series beginning August 5.

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

Paul DeJong (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The 2019 All-Star Game has come and gone.  The Cardinals had only representative this year, shortstop Paul DeJong. This was the first time since 2007 that St. Louis had only one All-Star, when Albert Pujols was the team’s representative.

This week’s Blast from the Past looks at the prior years when there was only one Cardinal All Star and points out similarities.

2007 is recent enough for most fans to recall that this was the year following the World Championship in 2006.  It is not uncommon for a World Series winning team to not play well in the next year.  Last year’s winner, the Boston Red Sox, is an example of this phenomena.  The 2007 Cardinals posted a losing record of 78-84, another example and likely why only Albert Pujols was the only All-Star.

Ducky Medwick

The All-Star Game started in 1933, so we are looking back 86 years in total.  In 1938, the Cardinals sent only Joe “Ducky” Medwick to the game.  The team had a losing record of 71-80 that year, after posting a winning record the prior season.  A few other Cardinals besides Medwick had good seasons, but without probing into whether there were better players at those positions from other teams, one would have to conclude the reason was likely the team as a whole wasn’t good. (Remember at this time, the league had just eight teams.)

Fast forward to 1965, the next year there was only one All-Star Cardinal.  That year it was Bob Gibson, and the reason for his selection should be fairly obvious.  The team had won the World Series the previous year but posted a losing record in 1965.

Bake McBride was the single All-Star in 1976.  The entire decade of the 1970s featured mediocre Cardinals teams.  The 1976 team posted a record of 72-90.  There was again only a single Cardinal in the All-Star game in 1978, Ted Simmons.  The 1978 team was worse, with a record of 69-93.  The reason for these snubs isn’t difficult to comprehend. This author lived through that decade of Cardinals baseball and those teams were bad.

Bruce Sutter was St. Louis’ representative in 1981.  The teams during the decade of the 1980s teams were much better, but not every year was a winner.  A record of 59-43 in that strike-shortened year wasn’t bad, as the Cardinals were beginning to come out of the tough decade of the 1970s.  They would win the World Series the next year.

Ozzie Smith (Getty Images)

Ozzie Smith went to the All-Star Game in 1986.  The 1986 team had a losing record of 79-83, the year following a trip to the World Series in which lost to the Kansas City Royals and their good friend Don Denkinger.

Smith was again the lone All-Star Cardinal in 1990.  That team had a losing record of 70-92 as the team played musical chairs with managers.  First, Whitey Herzog resigned, then Red Schoendienst followed on an interim basis, and lastly Joe Torre.  A lot of upheaval.

In the year of the home run race, 1998, as one would imagine, Mark McGwire was an All-Star, but he was the only Cardinal so honored.  That team posted a winning record, barely, but was third in the NL Central.  The 1990s weren’t really one of the best decades for Cardinal baseball either, though it was better overall than the 1970s.

The next year of a sole Cardinal was 2007, so we’re back where we started. What conclusion should be drawn from the perusal of this history of Cardinal All-Star one-hit wonders?  Nothing concrete, other than the general theme that bad teams don’t always produce All-Stars in multiples.  Some of these teams weren’t very bad, but other considerations, like the competition from other teams at each position, likely played into it as well.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 14, 2019

photo: Brendan Donovan (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-7 on Saturday, including three double headers. Our Player of the Day, Peoria second baseman Brendan Donovan, was 2-for-4 with a grand slam and a double.

Results for games played Saturday, July 13.


Memphis 3, Oklahoma City 2 (seven innings, Game 1)

Edmundo Sosa (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

In the first game of a twin bill, the Redbirds edged the Dodgers 3-2 on Saturday. Memphis’ runs all came on long balls. The first was a solo shot by Randy Arozarena in the first inning.  Edmundo Sosa blasted a two run shot in the third.  Irving Lopez’ single was the only other Redbird hit.

St. Louis rehabber Mike Mayers pitched the first two innings, giving up one run on two hits while striking out two.  Harold Arauz followed with 4 1/3 innings in which he surrendered one run on three hits.  Hunter Cervenka got the final out of the seventh to earn his first save.


Memphis 5, Oklahoma City 8 (seven innings, Game 2)

Lane Thomas (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds were the losers in the second game of the twin bill despite an attempt to rally from an early 8-0 deficit.  Memphis starter Chris Ellis gave up seven runs, six earned, in the second inning of a 1 2/3 inning start for the right hander.  Seth Elledge followed with 2 1/3 innings, surrendering the eighth run in the fourth.  Junior Fernandez, Jesus Cruz, and Tyler Webb finished with a scoreless inning each.  Ellis took the loss.

A rally began in the bottom of the fourth, on a three-run home run by Lane Thomas.  The offense added two more in the fifth on a two run single by Jose Godoy.  The scoring ended there.  Godoy and Rangel Ravelo each had two hits.

John Nogowski stole his first base of the season.  The Redbirds made two errors, a fielding error by Ravelo, and a throwing miscue by second sacker Kramer Robertson.

Memphis is 37-57 on the season and in last place in the PCL North, 16.5 games back of the Iowa Cubs.

Sunday’s game:   Off.


Springfield 1, Arkansas 5

Evan Kruczynski (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals were the losers of a 5-1 contest at Hammons Field in the third of a four game series with the Travelers on Saturday.  The loss snapped Springfield’s four game win streak.

Starter Evan Kruczynski had a quality start, going seven innings and giving up three runs on four hits.  The lefty struck out four and walked four.  Ronnie Williams surrendered two runs in the final two innings.  The loss was Kruczynski’s fifth of the season with Springfield.

The Cardinals’ only score came from a solo home run by Yariel Gonzalez. This long ball followed Gonzalez’ walk off home run on Friday and was his fourth.  The Springfield third sacker was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.  He also stole his third base of the season.

The Cardinals are 11-12 in the second half, 41-52 overall, and in fourth place in the Texas League North.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, Alex FaGalde (2-1, 1.11) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 0, Jupiter 8 (seven innings, Game 1)

The Cardinals were blanked by the Jupiter Hammerheads in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.  The lackluster offense managed only three hits, doubles by Julio Rodriguez and Nolan Gorman, and a single from Nick Dunn.  They were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left six men on base.

Starter Diego Cordero lasted only 1 2/3 innings.  Cordero gave up six runs, three earned, on six hits while striking out one and walking two and took the loss.  Zach Prendergast surrendered two runs, one earned, in is 2 1/3 innings in relief of Cordero.   Infielder Zack Gahagan pitched a scoreless seventh.

The Cardinals made two errors on defense, a missed catch by first baseman Luken Baker, and a throwing miscue by shortstop Imeldo Diaz.


Palm Beach 3, Jupiter 4 (seven innings Game 2)

Nolan Gorman (Peoria Chiefs)

The Cardinals were edged by Jupiter 4-3 in the second game of the twin bill.  Palm Beach took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a home run by Cole Kreuter.  Jupiter knotted it up in the top of the third, then added two more runs in the fifth for the 4-2 lead.

Nolan Gorman hit his third home run in a Palm Beach uniform in the sixth.  It was a solo shot to right field to make it 4-3, the eventual final score.  Gorman and Baker each had two hits.

Starter Ramon Santos pitched four innings and gave up two runs on five hits.  The right hander fanned four.  Cole Aker surrendered two runs, one earned, in his two innings of relief.  C. J. Saylor pitched a scoreless seventh.  Aker took the loss.

Palm Beach again made two errors, throwing errors by Nick Dunn and catcher Dennis Ortega.

The Cardinals are 8-17 in the second half, 43-46 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Jupiter, TBA 12:00 pm CT.


Peoria 7, Great Lakes 4

Brendan Donovan (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs defeated the Great Lakes Loons at Dozer Park on Saturday, aided by a big inning that put them over the top. In doing so, Peoria snapped its 12-game losing skid.

Peoria entered the bottom of the fourth inning behind 3-0.  A six run surge in the fourth gave the Chiefs the necessary cushion for victory. Ivan Herrera reached base first with a walk.  Brandon Riley doubled to left and Bryce Denton walked.  Wit the bases juiced, Brandon Benson drew a walk and Herrera scored.  After a pitching change, Edwin Figuera walked and Riley scored.  Next up to the plate was Brendon Donovan, who blasted a 2-2 pitch to left for a grand slam.  The fourth inning ended with the Chiefs ahead 6-3.

Brady Whalen increased the Peoria lead to 7-3 with an RBI single in the seventh.  Great Lakes added a run in the top of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Peoria lead.

Player of the Day Donovan doubled to go with the grand slam, for a two hit night. Delvin Perez also had two knocks, a double and a single.

Chiefs’ starter Michael Brettell pitched four innings and gave up three runs on six hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked five.  Eli Kraus followed with three scoreless innings and was the winning pitcher.  Parker Kelly surrendered one run in his two frames.

Catcher Alexis Wilson made an error on a pickoff attempt.

The Chiefs are 4-18 in the second half, 34-57 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Great Lakes, Franyel Casadilla (3-3, 4.91) 5:05 CT


State College 13, Staten Island 14

Andrew Warner (State College Spikes)

The Spikes were edged by the Staten Island Yankees in a Saturday slugfest.  Spikes’ pitching failed early on, serving up the big inning twice.

Starter Jacob Schlesener couldn’t get past the first inning.  The left hander gave up five runs while recording only two outs.  Logan Gragg relieved and surrendered three runs, two earned, on three hits.  Eric Lex took over in the fourth inning and allowed five runs on five hits.  All eight runs given up by Gragg and Lex came in the fourth inning.  Jack Ralston followed and was the only Spikes pitcher not to give up runs. Ralston tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings.  Fabian Blanco allowed one run in his two innings of relief.  Schlesener suffered his third loss.

The first score for State College came home on a double play from Andrew Warner in the bottom of the first inning.  David Vinsky doubled in the second for a second run.

In the fifth, Moises Castillo plated a run on a double.  Carlos Soto and Pedro Pages each drove in a run on a sac fly.  Vinsky doubled again in the sixth to score two runs.

In the seventh, Warner hit a solo home run.  Shane Benes plated a score on a ground out in the eighth.  Warner homered again in the ninth, a two run shot.  Stanley Espinal drove in a run on a sac fly.

Vinsky went 5-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.  Donivan Williams had three hits.  Castillo, Warner, and Brylie Ware each had two knocks.

Schlesener made a fielding error, and Castillo had a throwing miscue.

The Spikes are 15-14 on the season and are in third place in the New York/Penn League Pinckney Division.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Staten Island, Andre Pallante (1-0, 4.70) 5:05 CT.


Johnson City 2 at Elizabethton 3

Michael YaSenka (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals were edged by the Elizabethton Twins in a Saturday walkoff.  The offense scored two runs on nine hits, all singles.  Todd Lott was 3-for-4, while Liam Sabino and Kyle Skeels were each 2-for-4.

The Cardinals’ two runs scored on a single by Terry Fuller in the seventh and a Trejyn Fletcher single in the eighth. The Twins scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the walk off win.

Cardinal starter Michael YaSenka pitched five scoreless innings, allowed no hits, fanned eight and walked two.  Tyler Peck followed with two scoreless relief innings.  John Witkowski surrendered one run in the eighth.  Cameron Dulle pitched the ninth and gave up the losing scores.

Lott, Fletcher, and Carlos Soler each stole a base.  Fuller was picked off and caught stealing.

Johnson City is 13-10 on the season and are in second place in the Appalachian League West.

Sunday’s game:  at Elizabethton, Francisco Justo (2-1, 2.53) 4:00 CT.


GCL Cardinals 2 at GCL Marlins 0 (seven innings, Game 1)

Patrick Romeri (IMG Academy)

The Cardinals blanked the Marlins in the first game of a twin bill on Saturday in Jupiter.  Starter Luis Ortiz pitched well, going 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, striking out three and walking four.  Ortiz earned his first win of the season.  Roy Garcia got the last two outs of the seventh inning to earn his third save.

The Cardinals scored on a two-run home run by Patrick Romeri in the fourth inning.  Romeri was 2-for-2 and was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.  Romeri also stole his first base as a professional.

Catcher Joyser Garcia made a throwing error.


GCL Cardinals 4 at GCL Marlins 12 (seven innings, Game 2)

The Cardinals did not fare well in the second game of the twin bill as the Marlins blew past them for a 12-4 victory.

The Marlins took a 5-0 lead in the second inning.  The Cards answered with three runs in the third to cut the lead to 5-3. A Franklin Soto double plated two, and the third run scored on a wild pitch.

The Marlins responded with four runs in the bottom of the third, then added a score in the fourth.  Two more runs were plated in the sixth to give the Marlins the 12-3 lead.

The Cardinals managed to score one run in the top of the seventh on a sac fly by Jean Selmo. Joerlin De Los Santos had three hits in the game, while Franklin Soto had two knocks.

William Jimenez stole his second base of the season.  Catcher Zade Richardson made two throwing errors.  Freddy DeJesus and Yowelfy Rosario each committed fielding errors.

The Cardinals are 7-10 on the season and are in fourth place in the GCL East.

Sunday’s game:  vs. GCL Nationals, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red – Off day

Sunday’s game:  DSL All-Star Game


DSL Cardinals Blue – Off day

Sunday’s game:  DSL All-Star Game.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 13, 2019

photo: Yariel Gonzalez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 6-3 on Friday. Our Player of the Day is Springfield designated hitter Yariel Gonzalez, whose 11th inning three-run home run walked off a win. Behind three home runs, Palm Beach scored 10, but Johnson City gave up 11. Trejyn Fletcher had three outfield assists.

Results for games played Friday, July 12.


Memphis 3, Oklahoma City 6

Austin Warner (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

The Redbirds lost a heartbreaker to Oklahoma City on Friday at AutoZone Park.  The lead changed hands twice in the first six innings, but Memphis held a slim 3-2 lead heading into the ninth.  Then, reliever Chris Beck gave up four runs to end the night on a losing note.

Starter Austin Warner pitched six innings and gave up two runs on six hits.  The left hander struck out four and walked one.  Jesus Cruz and Tyler Webb held on with a scoreless inning each.  Webb pitched the ninth and surrendered the four runs on four hits.  Beck was tagged with the loss and a blown save.

The Dodgers went up 1-0 in the first inning.  Memphis answered with two scores in the second on Lane Thomas’ two-run home run.

Oklahoma City tied it in the fourth.  In the sixth, the Redbirds took the lead 3-2 on a sac fly by Joe Hudson.  Memphis could not come back in the ninth.

Thomas, Adolis Garcia, and Randy Arozarena each had two hits.  Arozarena stole his third base with the Redbird.  Garcia and Thomas each had an outfield assist.

Memphis will play a doubleheader on Saturday.  Sunday’s game was moved to Saturday in anticipation of inclement weather due to Tropical Storm Barry.

Memphis is 36-56 on the season and is in last place in the PCL American North, 16 games behind the Iowa Cubs.

Saturday’s games:  vs. Oklahoma City, Harold Arauz (4-2, 6.59)/Chris Ellis (3-4, 6.96) 4:05 CT


Springfield 9, Arkansas 7 (11 innings)

Yariel Gonzalez (Peoria Chiefs)

The Cardinals won Friday in dramatic walk off fashion in extra innings.  The Cardinals fell behind in the first inning, following three Travelers scores against starter Tommy Parsons.  Parsons pitched six innings giving up only the three runs, while keeping Arkansas off the board for the next five innings.  Parsons fanned 10 Travelers and walked two.  Mitchell Osnowitz and Kodi Whitley followed with two scoreless innings each.  Roel Ramirez surrendered four runs, three earned, in the 11th but still received the win.

Springfield’s offense was held scoreless until the sixth inning, when Brian O’Keefe broke through with an RBI single to right.  Zach Kirtley followed with a second RBI single to cut the lead to 3-2.  Rayder Ascanio tied it up in the ninth with a single to center.

Neither team scored in the 10th, but in the 11th, Arkansas put up four runs against Ramirez.  Not to be outdone, the Cardinals responded with six runs in the bottom half of the 11th.  Kirtley blasted a two-run home run to left field.  Lars Nootbaar followed with an RBI single.  The final blow came from Yariel Gonzalez, who smashed a three-run home run to right center field to give the Cardinals the 9-7 walk off win.

Nootbaar led the offense with three hits.  Gonzalez, Kirtley, and Ascanio each had two.

Alberto Triunfel stole his first Springfield base. Gonzalez was caught stealing for the second time.  Triunfel and Ascanio both made throwing errors.

The Cardinals are 11-11 in the first half, 41-51 overall, and are tied for second place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, Evan Kruczynski (2-4, 6.99) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 10, Jupiter 6

Nolan Gorman (Peoria Chiefs)

The Cardinals blew past the Jupiter Hammerheads at Roger Dean Stadium on Friday, putting on an offensive display that included three long balls.  It was the first time Palm Beach put up 10 or more runs in consecutive games, after scoring 12 runs on Thursday.

The first of the three long balls came off the bat of Julio Rodriguez, a two-run shot in the second inning to put Palm Beach in the lead.  Nick Dunn hit a two-run single in the third to increase the lead to 4-0.

The final offensive blow was struck by Palm Beach in the fourth.  It began with a two-run home run by Nick Plummer.  Ramon Urias drove in another on a single to center field.  Following a single by Juan Yepez, Nolan Gorman thumped a two-run shot to left to bring the score to 10-0.  The long ball was Gorman’s second since his promotion to Palm Beach.

The Hammerheads battled back with six runs over the next three frames, but the Cardinals hung on to win.  Urias, Yepez, Dunn and Plummer each had two hits.  Gorman has eight RBI over his last two games.

Starter Perry DellaValle pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on seven hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked two to earn his fifth win of the season.  Edgar Escobar surrendered four runs in one inning pitched.  Patrick Dayton closed it down with 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings.

Palm Beach will play a doubleheader on Saturday to make up the postponed game from June 19.

Palm Beach is 8-15 in the second half and 43-44 overall.  The Cardinals are in last place in the FSL South in the second half.

Saturday’s games:  vs. Jupiter, TBA/TBA 3:00 CT


Peoria 2, Lansing 8

Brady Whalen (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs fell to the Lansing Lugnuts on Friday, their 12th consecutive loss.  Peoria got on the board with a run in the second inning on an RBI single by Leandro Cedeno.  Lansing took the lead away in the fourth with three runs against starter Colin Schmid.

Behind 6-1, the Chiefs did not score again until the eighth, when Brady Whalen singled to drive in one.  Lansing added two more in the ninth.

Whalen had three of his team’s eight hits.  Brandon Riley had two knocks.

Starter Colin Schmid pitched six innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.  The left hander fanned five and walked one.  Thomas St. Clair surrendered three runs in 1 1/3 relief innings.  Evan Sisk finished the game and allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings.  Schmid suffered his fifth loss of the season.

Josh Shaw made a throwing error, his sixth defensive miscue of the season.

The Chiefs are 3-18 in the second half, 33-57 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West

Saturday’s game:  vs. Great Lakes, Michael Brettell (2-6, 5.43) 6:35 CT.


State College 6 at Tri-City 4 (10 innings)

Carlos Soto (State College Spikes)

After falling behind early, the Spikes came back to beat the Tri-City ValleyCats in extra innings on Friday.  The Spikes were held scoreless until the sixth, behind 2-0.  Carlos Soto gave State College a 3-2 lead with a three-run home run to right center field.

The Spikes added a run in the ninth on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.  Tri- City tied it up with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings.

In the 10th, Matt Duce hit an RBI double to break the tie, and Brylie Ware plated a run on a single to make it 6-4. Tri-City failed to score in the bottom of the frame.

Martin Figueroa had two hits.

Starter Enmanuel Solano pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked four.  Hector Villalobos pitched 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings.  Leonardo Taveras surrendered two runs, one earned, in the ninth.  Taveras was charged with the blown save but also got the win.   Junior Gonzalez pitched a scoreless 10th to earn his first save.

Andrew Warner stole his first base of the season.  Jonatan Machado was caught stealing for the second time.  Figueroa committed a fielding error and Dariel Gomez made a throwing error.  Solano picked a runner off second base.

The Spikes are 15-13 and are in third place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Staten Island, Jacob Schlesener (1-2, 3.76) 6:05 CT.


Johnson City 0 at Bristol 11

Trejyn Fletcher/MLB Player Development Program

The Cardinals were the victims of a shellacking at the hands of the Bristol Pirates on Friday.  Johnson City starter Jose Moreno pitched four innings and gave up seven runs on 11 hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked two.  Wilberto Rivera surrendered two runs in two innings of relief.  Enrique Perez pitched a scoreless seventh.  Alex Gallegos allowed two runs in the eighth.  Moreno took the loss.

The Cardinals offense managed just four singles by Todd Lott, Kyle Skeels, Aaron Antonini, and Raffy Ozuna.

Liam Sabino was caught stealing for the first time.   Trejyn Fletcher had three outfield assists, all at third base.  Terry Fuller had an outfield assist at first base.  Antonini had a passed ball.

Johnson City is 13-9 on the season and are in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Saturday’s game:  at Elizabethton, Michael YaSenka (0-0, 1.08) 5:30 CT.


GCL Cardinals 4, GCL Astros 2

Merandy Gonzalez (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals defeated the Astros at in Jupiter on Friday.  The Cardinals took the lead with three runs in the first inning.  After a wild pitch scored one, a triple off the bat of Yowelfy Rosario plated two.

In the fourth inning, the Astros scored twice.  It remained 3-2 until the bottom of the eighth, when a wild pitch scored the fourth and final run for the Cardinals.

Starter Merandy Gonzalez, on a rehab assignment from Springfield, pitched a scoreless first inning.  Jake Walsh, also on a rehab assignment (from Palm Beach) added a scoreless second.  Nathanael Heredia tossed the next five innings, giving up two runs on three hits.  Hector Soto hurled the final two scoreless innings.

William Jimenez and Franklin Soto each stole a base.  Francisco Hernandez made a throwing error.  Joerlin De Los Santos had an outfield assist.

The GCL Cardinals are 6-9 on the season and are in fourth place in the GCL East.

Saturday’s games:  at GCL Marlins, TBA/TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 11 at DSL Phillies White 6

The Cardinals Red surged in the late innings to defeat the Phillies on Friday.  The Red fell behind 3-0 in the fourth, but the offense cut the lead to 3-1 in the fifth on a sac fly Juan Sanchez.  The Phillies answered with two in the bottom of the fifth to increase the lead to 5-1.

In the sixth, a fielding error allowed a Red run to score to make it 5-2.  Then in the seventh, the Cardinals tied it up with three runs.  Luis Andujar doubled, and Albert Inoa walked.  Sander Mora plated Andujar and Inoa on a double.  Mora later scored on a wild pitch.

The Cardinals took the lead 6-5 in the eighth on a run scored on a double play.  In the ninth, a five run outburst gave the Cardinals a commanding lead.  It began with leadoff walks by Roblin Heredia and Diowill Burgos.  Fernando Brazoban reached on a fielding error.  Claudio Ramirez walked, and Heredia scored.  Juan Sanchez then doubled to plate Burgos and Brazoban.  Albert Inoa singled, Ramirez and Sanchez scored.

Starter Henry Gomez pitched four innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on five hits.  Jesus Jaquez surrendered two runs, one earned, in the fifth.  Hector De Los Santos allowed one unearned run in his 2 2 2/3 innings pitched.  Ramon Sanchez tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings and earned the win.

The Cardinals Red are 14-21 and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Saturday’s game:  No game scheduled.


DSL Cardinals Blue 6, DSL Orioles2 0

The Cardinals Blue blanked the Orioles on Friday, behind excellent pitching from starter Wilmer Ortega.  Ortega delivered five scoreless innings on only one hit.  The right hander struck out four.  William Miranda, Americo Lugo, Cristoffer Zapata, and Luis Tena each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Ortega earned his third win.

Neither team scored until fourth inning, when the Cardinals put four runs on the board.   Back to back doubles by Brandon Hernandez and Leudy Pena resulted in Hernandez scoring.  Luis Rodriguez’ single plated Pena.  Elvin De Jesus drove in two on a double.

The Cardinals added to their lead in the eighth on a two-run home run by Jose Rodriguez.

Hernandez and Jose Rodriguez each had two hits.

Catcher Jose Zapata was caught stealing for the second time.  Carlos Arcia was picked off second base.

The Cardinals Blue have a record of 21-11 and are in second place in the DSL South.

Saturday’s game:  No game scheduled.


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

Memphis Redbirds Notebook – 2019 Week 14


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St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of July 1-7

photo: Jack Flaherty (Sergio Estrada/Imagn)

The St. Louis Cardinals head into the break treading water as a 3-3 week made for a 44-44 mark on the season. Jack Flaherty narrowly missed a no-hitter and instead, one mistake meant a loss to conclude the first half. Our weekly history feature uncovers a Cardinals two-game defensive lapse like no other.


Game recaps

Monday, July 1 – Off day


Tuesday, July 2 – Cardinals 4 at Mariners 5

Jose Martinez (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

St. Louis traveled to Seattle for a three game interleague series.  The first game was close, but it didn’t go the Cardinals way.  St. Louis took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Jose Martinez.  The Mariners came back in the second inning with two runs to take the lead and added two more runs in the fifth.

The Cardinals did not score again until the sixth, when Martinez again hit a solo home run.  In the seventh, St. Louis knotted the score as Kolten Wong doubled, and Yairo Munoz followed with a two-run blast to left center field.   Seattle was not done as they regained the lead at 5-4 in the eighth.  The Cardinals were unable to respond in the ninth.

Martinez and Tyler O’Neill each had two hits.

Jack Flaherty made the start and pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. The right hander fanned seven and walked four.  Dominic Leone got the last out of the fifth and the first out of the sixth before Tyler Webb secured the next two outs.  Webb returned for the seventh and retired the first two batters, then was replaced by Giovanny Gallegos, who got the final out.  Gallegos surrendered the winning run in the eighth.  Andrew Miller got the final out of the inning.  Gallegos took the loss.

Paul DeJong was caught stealing for the second time this season.


Wednesday, July 3 – Cardinals 5 at Mariners 2

Tommy Edman (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals fared better in the second game with the Mariners.  Adam Wainwright made the start and pitched five innings, giving up two runs on four hits.   The right hander struck out six and walked three.  Tyler Webb recorded two outs before John Brebbia finished the sixth and a scoreless seventh and eighth.  Andrew Miller and Carlos Martinez handled the ninth.  Brebbia got the win.

St. Louis offense did not get going until the last inning.  Jose Martinez singled to lead off the ninth. Following a strikeout by Paul DeJong, Paul Goldschmidt singled.  Tyler O’Neill drew a walk to load the bases.  Dexter Fowler singled to score Martinez.  Yadier Molina’s sac fly plated Goldschmidt. Tommy Edman then smacked a three-run home run to left center field.  The Mariners couldn’t answer and the Cardinals won 5-2.


Thursday, July 4 – Cardinals 5 at Mariners 4

Dexter Fowler (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals took the series with a win in the final game by the same score as their loss in game one.  Seattle scored in the first inning, but the Cardinals tied it on Matt Wieters’ solo home run in the third.

The Mariners regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third.  The Cardinals answered in the fourth to tie it up on a two-run home by Dexter Fowler.  Seattle scored one in the bottom of the fourth to retake the lead 4-3.

The score remained 4-3 until the seventh inning.  Fowler drew a walk and Harrison Bader singled to left.  Wieters walked, then Tommy Edman singled to right to score Fowler and Bader.

Starter Michael Wacha had one of his substandard outings.  Wacha lasted only 3 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on six hits. He walked two.  Daniel Ponce de Leon tossed the next 2 2/3 scoreless innings.  John Gant, Andrew Miller, and Carlos Martinez each pitched a scoreless inning.  Ponce de Leon got the win, and Martinez the save, his third.


Friday, July 5 – Cardinals 9 at Giants 4

Paul Goldschmidt (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

St. Louis took the momentum from the Seattle series into San Francisco, at least for the first game, as the offense scored nine runs on 14 hits.

The Redbirds offense put three runs on the board in the first inning.  It began with a solo home run by Jose Martinez.  Paul DeJong singled, and Paul Goldschmidt followed with a two-run home run to center field.

The Giants answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, then added a third run in the third inning to tie the game.  The Cardinals retook the lead in the top of the fourth on a triple by Tommy Edman.  St. Louis added two more scores in the fifth on an RBI single by Matt Wieters, and a ground out RBI from Kolten Wong.

The scoring continued in the seventh, when Dexter Fowler plated a run on a triple and Kolten Wong singled to score a second run.  Fowler hit a solo home run in the ninth to increase the lead to 9-3.  The Giants added a run in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short of a rally.

Dakota Hudson made the start and was a little wobbly at the beginning. Hudson pitched five innings and gave up three runs on six hits. The right hander fanned six and walked three.  Giovanny Gallegos tossed two scoreless relief innings.  Dominic Leone pitched the final two innings and allowed one run.  Hudson earned his seventh win.


Saturday, July 6 – Cardinals 4 at Giants 8

The momentum didn’t carry over into the second game of the series.  The Cardinals did score in the first inning on a single by Paul Goldschmidt, but the Giants tied it up in the bottom half of the inning.

The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth, when some bumbling and stumbling by the Cardinals outfield loaded the bases with one out.  Giants pinch hitter Tyler Austin came to the plate and tattooed a Miles Mikolas pitch for a grand slam to right field.  Balls not getting caught that should have been caught by outfielders lit the fuse and Mikolas tossed the grenade.

It got worse as the Giants scored three more runs in the seventh.  The Cardinals attempted a comeback in the eighth. Jose Martinez singled and Paul DeJong was hit by a pitch. Paul Goldschmidt brought them in via a three-run home run to right field.  It was too little too late for the Redbirds.

Mikolas lost his ninth game of the season.  He lasted four innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on six hits.  He did strike out six.  Daniel Ponce de Leon pitched two scoreless innings.  Tyler Webb surrendered three runs in the seventh and was relieved by John Brebbia, who got the final out of the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth.

Tyler O’Neill was given a fielding error.


Sunday, July 7 – Cardinals 0 at Giants 1

Jack Flaherty (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Cardinals lost the final game, and thus the series, to the last-place Giants.  Jack Flaherty was very good, throwing a no hitter into the seventh, until that pesky home run thing happened.  An errant pitch by Flaherty was smacked by Evan Longoria over the left field wall.  This by itself wouldn’t have been so bad if the Cardinals offense had decided to show up.

Flaherty finished the seventh inning having given up the one run on two hits (after the Longoria home run, he gave up a single).  Flaherty fanned six and walked one.  John Gant pitched a scoreless eighth.

Yairo Munoz had two of St. Louis’ six hits.  Flaherty decided he needed to give Munoz some help so he hit a double, the team’s only extra base hit.

Munoz also stole his fourth base and Tommy Edman stole his third.  Paul DeJong was caught stealing.


The Big Picture

The Cardinals came into the All-Star break with a record of 3-3 for the week.  The team took 2 of 3 from the Seattle Mariners, but lost 2 of 3 to the San Francisco Giants.  Both teams are in last place in their divisions.

Concluding a 25-game stretch against a number of weaker teams, the Cardinals went just 13-12 and sit at 44-44 overall. The only consolation is that the other NL Central division clubs are struggling in a comparable manner.

The offense began to show improvement this week, until they laid an egg in the final game on Sunday.   Paul Goldschmidt, Jose Martinez, Dexter Fowler, Kolten Wong, Tommy Edman and Tyler O’Neill all had pretty good weeks at the plate.  Matt Wieters and Yairo Munoz held their own.  Paul DeJong had a somewhat down week, and Harrison Bader continued to struggle offensively.

Adam Wainwright (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The starting pitching was the issue.  Adam Wainwright was the best of the bunch, though Jack Flaherty improved on his Tuesday performance with a gem on Sunday.  Michael Wacha, unfortunately, looks like he needs to go back to the bullpen.  Miles Mikolas has not come near his 2018 performance so far this season.

The run differential this week was plus three.  Not great, but better than last week.  The improved offense helped, the pitching hurt.

The defense in the outfield had some issues over the weekend.  Specifically, in Saturday’s game, there were balls not caught that should have been caught.  The most egregious was a routine fly ball to left field, that Tyler O’Neill should have caught, but which fell between him and CF Dexter Fowler.  O’Neill was given an error and explained after the game that he had a read on the ball, but thought he heard Fowler call him off.   O’Neill was recently called up to replace the injured Marcell Ozuna.  The usually reliable Harrison Bader was not in the starting lineup on Friday and Saturday, so the outfield did not have its best defensive alignment.  It showed.  The error was followed by a grand slam that cost the Cardinals the game.

The Cardinals go into the All-Star break in third place in the NL Central, two games back of the Cubs and 1.5 games back of the Brewers.

After the break, the Cardinals play a weekend series at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team with a better record than the Cardinals.  After that they play the Pirates, who have been hot and are only a half game back of St. Louis.  The second half needs to start off better than the first half ended.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
Chicago 47 43 0.522
Milwaukee 47 44 0.516 0.5
St. Louis 44 44 0.500 2
Pittsburgh 44 45 0.494 2.5
Cincinnati 41 46 0.471 4.5

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

Giants beat writer Hank Schulman offers the following:


Transactions 

  • 7/2 The Cardinals activated RHP John Brebbia from the paternity list.
  • 7/2 The Cardinals placed 3B Matt Carpenter on the 10 day injured list retroactive to June 29. Lower back strain.
  • 7/3 The Cardinals optioned RHP Ryan Helsley to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/5 The Cardinals optioned CF Lane Thomas to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 7/5 The Cardinals recalled 1B Rangel Ravelo from the Memphis Redbirds.

Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60 day injured list. Cecil had been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period since spring training surgery.  The left hander has begun a throwing program.  Cecil could begin a rehab assignment in early July and possibly return to the roster by the end of the month.
  • RHP Mike Mayers (right shoulder lat strain) was transferred from the 10 day injured list to the 60 day injured list on June 20. Mayers was sent on a rehab assignment to Memphis on June 26.  The right hander could return to the roster sometime in July.
  • 3B Jedd Gyorko remains on the 10 day injured list. Gyorko originally had lower back issues, was then reported to have recurring calf issues, and at present is suffering from a wrist ailment for which he had arthroscopic surgery on June 24.  It is expected the infielder will not return to baseball activities for three weeks after the surgery.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • LF Marcell Ozuna (fractured right fingers) was placed on the 10 day injured list on June 29. Ozuna suffered the injury diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt.  No timetable for a return has been announced.
  • C Yadier Molina (right thumb) has been out of the starting lineup since July 4 with soreness in his right thumb. Molina had previously been on the injured list with the thumb.  Molina made a pinch hit appearance on July 5.  It is expected Molina will be back in the lineup after the All-Star break.
  • 3B Matt Carpenter (lower back) was placed on the 10 day injured list on July 2 retroactive to June 29. Carpenter has resumed baseball activities as of Sunday, and is expected to be reinstated after the break.
  • 2B Kolten Wong (left calf) was hit by a pitch during an at bat in the July 6 fame. Wong was not in the starting lineup on July 7.  He is considered day to day.

Looking Ahead

The Cardinals return from the All Star Break on Friday, July 12 to play the Arizona Diamondbacks in a weekend series at Busch Stadium.  Adam Wainwright is scheduled to make the Friday, July 12 start against Arizona.  Dakota Hudson will make the Saturday start, followed by Miles Mikolas on Sunday.

The home stand will continue with a three game series with the Pirates from July 15-17. The Cardinals leave St. Louis after the Pirates series and travel to Cincinnati to take on the Reds in a four game series beginning Thursday, July 18.

On Monday, July 22 the team flies to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates again for four. The Cardinals then return home for a weekend interleague set with the Houston Astros.

After an off day on Monday, July 29, the Chicago Cubs come to Busch Stadium for a three game series.  St. Louis has another off day on Friday, August 2 to travel to Oakland to play a two game interleague series beginning Saturday with the Athletics.

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

An avoidable error in a game against the Giants over the weekend led to a brutal loss for the Cardinals.  Such errors happen of course, as baseball players are human, but some mistakes just seem worse than others when they could have easily been avoided.  Such was the case over the weekend.

1909 St. Louis Cardinals

So, this week’s blast from the past takes a look at two games of a doubleheader played by the Cardinals against the Cincinnati Reds in 1909 in which 17 errors were committed over both games.  This two game set that demonstrates that it can always be worse.

On July 3, 1909, the Cardinals took on the Cincinnati Reds for a doubleheader at Robison Field in St. Louis.  The Cardinals lost the first game 10-2. Perhaps the six errors in the game were a contributing factor.

There is no inning by inning breakdown of these games available, so it is unknown the circumstances of the errors themselves.  What is known is who made the errors and how many.  Three Cardinals players, one outfielder and two infielders, were the culprits.  Right fielder Steve Evans made two of the six errors.  Those two errors gave Evans a total of six errors up to that point in the season.  The second player was second baseman Chappy Charles, who only made one of the errors, but that one gave him a total of 24 errors.  Chappy probably wasn’t the best second baseman ever.  Finally, third baseman Bobby Byrne made three errors, increasing his total to 27.  That Cardinal infield needed some work.

The second game of the doubleheader made the first game seem like a regular day at the ballpark in comparison.  The Cardinals made a total of 11 errors, as six players were implicated in this fielding cataclysm.  One was Chappy, who made three errors in Game 2. Now, old Chappy had 27 errors.  The other five were catcher Ed Phelps with two errors, first baseman Ed Konetchy who had just one error, center fielder Joe Delahanty who made one error, (and it was his first of the season), shortstop Rudy Hulswitt with three, and pitcher Bob Harmon with one (also his first).

The Cardinals also lost the second game 13-7.  This should surprise no one.  The Reds, the happy victors in both of these games, committed one error in each.

Games like these should remind all Cardinals fans that no matter how bad it is, it can always be worse.  Tyler O’Neill has nothing on Chappy and the gang.


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Gulf Coast League Cardinals Notebook – 2019 Week 2


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 7, 2019

photo: Randy Arozarena (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-7 on Saturday. Our Player of the Day is Memphis center fielder Randy Arozarena, who drove in the winning two runs. DSL Blue also won. Five of the seven losses were by one or two runs. Springfield fell in extras despite exceptional pitching as the offense remains in a funk.

Results for games played Saturday, July 6.


Memphis 5 at Iowa 4

Randy Arozarena (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds edged the Cubs in Des Moines on Saturday.  The Cubs took the early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Redbirds tied it up quickly with a corresponding run in the second inning.  Andrew Knizner singled and scored on an Irving Lopez double.

Memphis put up a four-run fourth inning to take the lead.  Adolis Garcia was hit by a pitch and Knizner drew a walk. Lane Thomas singled to center and Garcia scored.   Jose Martinez walked, and pitcher Harold Arauz singled to plate Knizner.  Randy Arozarena singled to score Thomas and Martinez.

The Cubs cut the lead with three runs in the fifth, but neither team scored further.

Thomas had two hits but no other Redbird had more than one.

Starter Harold Arauz pitched five innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits.  The right hander struck out one and walked one.  Mike Mayers pitched a scoreless sixth, Chasen Shreve tossed a scoreless seventh, and Ryan Helsley finished with two scoreless innings.  Arauz earned his fourth win and Helsley earned his first career save.

Martinez made a fielding error. Garcia had an outfield assist.

Memphis is 36-53 on the season and in last place in the PCL North, 15 games back of the Iowa Cubs.

Sunday’s game:   at Iowa, Genesis Cabrera (3-3, 5.34) 1:08 CT.


Note: The MLB All-Star Futures Game is Sunday night 6 p.m. CT on MLB Network and streaming at MLB.com. Nolan Gorman and Dylan Carlson are on the NL team.


Springfield 1 at Arkansas 2 (11 innings)

Johan Oviedo (Peoria Chiefs)

The Cardinals were edged by the Travelers in extra innings in Little Rock on Saturday.  Springfield got on the board first with one run in the second inning, their only score in the three games of the series to date.  Zach Kirtley hit a leadoff double, then scored on a ground rule double off the bat of Yariel Gonzalez.  Arkansas tied it up with a run in the fifth and won on a walk off in the 11th.

The Cardinals had five total hits, raising their three-game total to eight.  No Springfield hitter had more than one hit on Saturday.

Starter Johan Oveido pitched six innings and gave up one run on six hits.  The right hander fanned three and walked three.  Ronnie Williams added two scoreless relief innings.  Jacob Patterson tossed 2/3 of a scoreless inning, while Roel Ramirez finished with 1 1/3 innings during which he allowed the winning run.

Scott Hurst had an outfield assist.

The Cardinals are 6-10 in the second half, 36-50 overall, and in last place in the Texas League North.

Sunday’s game:  at Arkansas, Tommy Parsons (2-2, 5.56) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 3 at Fort Myers 4

Zach Gahagan (North Carolina)

The Cardinals were edged by the Miracle in Fort Myers on Saturday.  Palm Beach got on the board in the second inning with two runs on a sac fly by Nick Plummer and a double by Dennis Ortega.  The Cardinals led 2-1.

The Beach Birds increased their lead to 3-1 in the fourth with an RBI double play ball by Andres Luna.  Fort Myers added a run in the fifth, then went ahead with two runs in the seventh.  The Cardinals were unable to rally in the last two innings.

Zach Gahagan had three hits and Ortega and Wadye Ynfante each had two.

Starter Alvaro Seijas pitched five innings in his Palm Beach debut, giving up two runs on four hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked two.  Zach Thompson also had his first Palm Beach action with a scoreless sixth.  Ben Yokley surrendered two runs, one earned, in the seventh, taking a blown save and the loss.   Patrick Dayton pitched a scoreless eighth.

Plummer stole his third base of the season.  Gahagan and Imeldo Diaz each made a fielding error.  Seijas picked a runner off first base.

The Cardinals are 4-13 in the second half, 39-42 overall, and are in last place in the FSL South.

Sunday’s game:  at Fort Myers, TBA 12:00 pm CT.


Peoria 2 at Burlington 9

Edwin Figuera (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs were overmatched by the Bees in Burlington on Saturday.  Peoria’s offense scattered 10 hits but managed only two runs, both in the sixth inning.  The inning began with an Edwin Figuera single, followed by a single from Delvin Perez. Perez was eliminated on a force out.  Brendan Donovan walked to load the bases, then Bryce Denton was hit by a pitch and Figuera scored.  Brandon Riley drew a walk and the final run came home.

Figuera and Perez each had three hits.

Starter Colin Schmid pitched five innings and gave up five runs, one earned, on 10 hits.  The left hander struck out two and walked one.  Sebastian Tabata pitched 2/3 of an inning and surrendered four runs.  Eli Kraus tossed 1 1/3 scoreless.  Evan Sisk pitched a scoreless eighth.  Schmid took the loss.

Brandon Benson was caught stealing.  Figuera made a fielding error.  Catcher Ivan Herrera had a passed ball.  Schmid picked a runner off first base.

The Chiefs are 3-13 in the second half and 33-52 overall and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Sunday’s game:   at Burlington, Michael Brettell (2-6, 5.58) 2:00 CT.


State College 4 at Mahoning Valley 6

Moises Castillo (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Spikes came out on the losing end of the contest at Mahoning Valley on Saturday.  The Snappers held a 4-0 lead going into the fourth inning, when the Spikes were finally able to score.  The inning began with a single by Carlos Soto.  Andrew Warner also singled and both advanced on a wild pitch.  A passed ball allowed Soto to cross the plate.  Stanley Espinal flied into a sacrifice double play that plated Warner.  The lead was reduced to 4-2.

The Snappers added a run in the bottom of the fourth.  The Spikes answered with a run in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Moises Castillo.  In the seventh, State College added another run on a passed ball.  The score stood at 5-4.  The Spikes did not score in the ninth, but the Snappers added an insurance run, making the final score 6-4.

Castillo had three of his team’s five hits and stole two bases.

Spikes starter Jeremy Randolph pitched only 1 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked two.  Adrian Mardueno allowed two runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief.  Jack Ralston tossed two scoreless relief frames before Eric Lex allowed one run in his two innings.

Donivan Williams committed a fielding error and Lex made a miscue on a pickoff attempt.

The Spikes are 13-9 on the season and are in second place in the New York/Penn League Pinckney Division.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Batavia, Enmanuel Solano (1-2, 4.18) 5:05 CT.


Johnson City 5 at Bluefield 7 (seven innings, Game 1)

Aaron Antonini (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals lost a close first game of the doubleheader at Bluefield on Saturday.  This made up Friday’s rainout. The offense was held scoreless until the Cardinals burst out with five runs in the sixth inning.  Chandler Redmond doubled as did Carlos Soler, who plated Redmond.   Liam Sabino and Terry Fuller walked to load the bases.  Aaron Antonini then stepped to the plate and hit a grand slam to right field.  This put the Cardinals in the lead 5-4.

The Blue Jays answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.  The Cardinals failed to score in the seventh and lost 7-5.  The total hits for the Cardinals was five, and no Redbird had multiple hits.

Starter Michael YaSenka pitched four innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits.  The right hander fanned four and walked one.  Wilberto Rivera surrendered three runs, two earned, in 1 1/3 innings and took the blown save.  Alex Gallegos allowed two runs in the sixth, earning the loss.

Terry Fuller stole his second base of the season.  Antonini had two throwing errors, YaSenka committed an error on a pickoff, Mateo Gil made a throwing error, and Diomedes Del Rio had a fielding miscue.


Johnson City 2 at Bluefield 6 (seven innings, Game 2)

Cameron Dulle (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals were swept in the doubleheader, as again, the offense was held scoreless until the sixth inning.  Carlos Soler and Diomedes Del Rio hit back to back doubles and both later scored on a fielding error on a ground ball to third by Todd Lott.

The offense had four total hits and no Cardinal had more than one.

Starter Jose Moreno pitched five innings, giving up six runs on five hits.  The right hander walked two.  Cameron Dulle tossed a scoreless sixth.  Moreno took the loss.

Liam Sabino made a throwing error.

Johnson City is 10-7 on the season and is in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Sunday’s game:  at Elizabethton, TBA 4:00 CT.


GCL Cardinals – Off day

The 2-8 Gulf Coast League Cardinals are in fifth/last place in the GCL South Division, five games behind the first-place Marlins.

Sunday’s game:  at GCL Astros, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 2, DSL Tigers1 3 (10 innings)

The Cardinals Red lost a close contest to the DSL Tigers in extra innings on Saturday.  The Red offense scored two runs in the first but failed to add on.  Fernando Brazoban was hit by a pitch, then Claudio Ramirez singled to short.  Alexander Samuel walked to load the bases, and Erick Thomas followed with a walk to score Brazoban.  Juan Sanchez then singled to short and Ramirez scored.  The offense was held scoreless for the rest of the game while the Tigers scored two runs to tie and then one run in extras to get the win.

Sanchez was the only batter with multiple hits, with two.

Starter Henry Gomez pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and fanning three.  Jesus Jacquez followed with two clean relief innings.  Augusto Calderon gave up one run in the seventh.  Luis Garcia surrendered a run in his two innings and was charged with a blown save. Hector De Los Santos allowed the winning run in the 10th and took the loss.

Samuel and Sander Mora were each caught stealing.  Thomas made a throwing error.

The Cardinals Red are 12-19 on the season and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled


DSL Cardinals Blue 3 at DSL Nationals 1

The Cardinals Blue defeated the Nationals in a low scoring contest on Saturday.  The Cardinals pitching staff held the Nationals scoreless until the ninth inning, when the Nationals were able to get one run home.  Starter Wilmer Ortega pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two.  Ortega earned his second win.  Eduar Pimentel tossed two scoreless innings of relief.  William Miranda pitched a scoreless eighth, and Dionys Rodriguez gave up the lone Nationals score in the ninth.

The Cardinals put up two runs in the second inning on a Fernando Diaz double and a ground out by Jose Rodriguez.  The third and last Cardinal run in the game scored on a wild pitch in the sixth.

No Cardinal hitter had multiple hits.  In addition to Diaz’ double, the only other extra base hit was a triple by Brandon Hernandez.

Darlyn Del Villar stole his sixth base of the season. Del Villar, Hernandez, and Diaz each made fielding errors.

The Cardinals Blue are 19-8 and are in second place in the DSL South.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled.


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Cardinals Outfielders on the Move on Saturday


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 6, 2019

photo: Jonatan Machado (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-6 on Friday. Our Player of the Day is State College center fielder Jonatan Machado, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in the Spikes’ big win. Memphis and Springfield fell in similar ways as Thursday. The Redbirds’ pen stumble negated Edmundo Sosa’s grand slam and the S-Cards were shut out again.

Results for games played Friday, July 5.


Memphis 8 at Iowa 9

Edmundo Sosa (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

For the second consecutive night in Des Moines, the Redbirds were edged by the Cubs due to a late-inning relief stumble. It was a slugfest early on, with the score 7-7 through three innings.  Memphis got on the board first with a run in the top of the first on a double by Adolis Garcia.  The Cubs answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

A six-run second for Memphis gave them the 7-2 lead.  Lane Thomas led off with a single. Irving Lopez and Kramer Robertson each drew a walk to load the bases.  Pitcher Austin Warner reached on a fielder’s choice and Thomas scored.  Edmundo Sosa blasted a grand slam to left center field.  Garcia and Andrew Knizner each singled, and Garcia scored on a wild pitch.

The Cubs added three runs in the bottom of the second and two runs in the third to knot the game.  That 7-7 score held until the top of the sixth, when Randy Arozarena thumped an RBI double to give Memphis the 8-7 lead.  Arozarena has hit safely in nine straight starts.  The Cubs came back with two runs in eighth to take the final 9-8 edge.

Garcia, Knizner and Thomas each had two hits.  Sosa’s grand slam was his only hit for the evening.

Starter Austin Warner pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs, six earned, on eight hits.  The left hander struck out four and walked four. Seth Elledge got the last out of the fifth.  Rehabber Mike Mayers and Junior Fernandez combined for the next two scoreless relief innings.  Chris Ellis surrendered two runs in the eighth and was charged with both the blown save and the loss.

Thomas stole his ninth base of the season.  Arozarena was caught stealing for the second time. Robertson committed three errors, two throwing and one fielding.

Memphis is 35-53 on the season and is in last place in the PCL American North, 16 games behind the Iowa Cubs.

Saturday’s game:  at Iowa, Harold Arauz (3-2, 6.75) 7:08 CT.


Springfield 0 at Arkansas 3

Angel Rondon (Palm Beach Cardinals)

On Friday, the Cardinals were blanked by Travelers pitching in Little Rock for the second straight night.  The Springfield offense was held to one meager hit, a single by Rayder Ascanio, after getting just two hits in Thursday’s shutout loss.  They were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left six on base.

Starter Angel Rondon pitched six innings and gave up three runs, one earned, on five hits.  It was a quality start for Rondon, unsupported by his offense.  Rondon fanned five and walked five.  Bryan Dobzanski pitched a scoreless seventh and Kodi Whitley added a scoreless eighth.

Justin Toerner stole his fourth base of the season.  Yariel Gonzalez committed a throwing error, and Zach Kirtley had a fielding miscue.

The Cardinals are 6-9 in the first half, 36-49 overall, and in last place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  at Arkansas, Johan Oviedo (1-4, 6.59) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 0 at Fort Myers 4 (seven innings, Game 1)

Nick Dunn (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Cardinals were blanked by the Miracle in the first game of a doubleheader in Fort Myers on Friday.   The scoreless Cardinal offense scattered six hits, highlighted by two doubles from second sacker Nick Dunn.  Dunn was the only Cardinal with multiple hits.  Singles from Julio Rodriguez, Nick Plummer, Juan Yepez, and Imeldo Diaz rounded out the meager offense.

Starter Griffin Roberts lost his fourth game of the season, pitching 4 2/3 innings and giving up four runs, one earned, on eight hits.  The right hander struck out one and walked three.  C.J. Saylor pitched the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Dunn committed three errors, one fielding and two throwing.  Diaz made a throwing error.  Rodriguez had a passed ball.


Palm Beach 3 at Fort Myers 7 (seven innings, Game 2)

Imeldo Diaz (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Cardinals were losers on both ends of the Friday twin bill, but lost Game 2 with some offense. After falling behind early 6-0, the Beach Birds rallied for three runs in the later innings.  In the fifth, Nick Plummer drew a leadoff walk and Juan Yepez doubled to center.  Imeldo Diaz then singled to left, scoring Plummer and Yepez.

Fort Myers scored in the sixth to make it 7-2.  In the seventh, Nick Dunn plated a run on a sac fly for the final run of the game.

Diaz and Nolan Gorman each had two hits.

Starter Zach Prendergast pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits.  The right hander struck out two.  Edgar Escobar tossed 3 1/3 scoreless relief innings.  Cole Aker allowed one run in the sixth.

Diaz and Yepez each made throwing errors.

Palm Beach is 4-12 in the second half and 39-41 overall.  The Cardinals are in last place in the FSL South in the second half.

Saturday’s game:  at Fort Myers, TBA 5:00 CT.


Peoria 1 at Clinton 4

Brady Whalen (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs fell to the LumberKings in Clinton on Friday.  Peoria’s offense managed only one run on three hits.  It came in the top of the fourth, for a temporary 1-0 lead.  Delvin Perez was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Brady Whalen.  Whalen’s double was the only extra base hit.  Edwin Figuera and Alexis Wilson each singled.

Starter Kyle Leahy pitched six innings and gave up four runs on nine hits.  The right hander fanned six and walked one.  Tony Locey and Freddy Pacheco each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Perez committed a throwing error.

The Chiefs are 3-12 in the second half, 33-51 overall, and are in last place in the Midwest League West.

Saturday’s game:  at Burlington, Colin Schmid (3-3, 5.16) 6:30 CT.


State College 13 at Mahoning Valley 6

Jonatan Machado (Peoria Chiefs)

The Spikes gave Mahoning Valley a shellacking in a game on the road on Friday.  The Spikes offense put up three runs in the top of the first.  RBI doubles by Moises Castillo and Pedro Pages plated two and Stanley Espinal singled to score Pages. State College increased the lead to 4-0 in the second on a double by Player of the Day Jonatan Machado.

The Snappers added a run in the home second.  The Spike answered with a five-run top of the third.  The first two runs scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Martin Figueroa doubled to plate a run, and Luis Flores tripled to drive in another.  Machado hit a sac fly for the fifth run in the inning.

Mahoning Valley scored two in the bottom of the third.  The Spikes took the 9-3 lead into the sixth, when Matt Duce drew a bases loaded walk and Dariel Gomez doubled to plate two.

The Snappers added two runs in the bottom of the sixth and one score in the bottom of the seventh to decrease the lead to 12-6.  In the top of the ninth, Pages plated the final run on a sac fly.

Machado and Flores each had three hits.  Pages and Espinal both had two knocks.

The Spikes are 13-8 and are in second place in the New York-Penn League Pinckney Division.

Saturday’s game:  at Mahoning Valley, Jeremy Randolph (0-0, 3.52) 6:05 CT.


Johnson City at Bluefield (postponed)

The 10-5 Cardinals game at Bluefield was postponed due to rain.  It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Saturday’s games:  at Bluefield, Jose Moreno (1-1, 9.28)/Francisco Justo (2-0, 1.10) 3:00 CT


GCL Cardinals 14 at GCL Mets 7

Patrick Romeri (IMG Academy)

The Cardinals blew past the Mets with an abundance of offense.  A four-run first inning put the team in the driver’s seat.  The first run scored on a ground out off the bat of Luis Montano.  A three-run home run by Patrick Romeri followed.  Trejyn Fletcher thumped a two-run home run in the second inning for a 6-1 lead.

A wild pitch added a Cardinals run in the fourth, following two runs by the Mets in the top of the inning.  The score became 8-3 in the fifth with a run scoring on Zade Richardson’s double.

The Cardinals poured it on in the seventh.  Pablo Gomez hit a sac fly and one run scored, followed by a second run on a fielding error.  Franklin Soto doubled to plate two, and Luis Montano also contributed a two run double. The Cardinals led 14-4.  The Mets added a run in the eighth and two in the ninth, but the rally fell short.

Soto had three hits, and Romeri had two.

Cardinals starter Nathanael Heredia pitched five innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on three hits.  The left hander struck out seven and walked three.  Anthony Green followed with two scoreless innings of relief.  Saniel Santana surrendered one run in the eighth, and Wilman Madera allowed two scores in the ninth.  Heredia earned his first win.

The GCL Cardinals are 2-8 on the season and are in last place in the GCL East.

Saturday’s game:  No game scheduled.


DSL Cardinals Red 9, DSL Brewers 11

The Cardinals Red lost a close one against the Brewers on Friday.  The Red offense took an early 3-0 lead in the second.   The scoring began with a bases loaded walk by Jesus Orrechia.  The second run came home on a ground ball double play by Bryan Matute.  A wild pitch sent in the third run.

The Brewers quickly took the lead with a six-run third inning.  Diowill Burgos hit a sac fly in the bottom of the third to reduce the lead to 6-4.  The Brewers added one in the fifth and two in the sixth for a 9-4 lead.  The Cardinals answered with a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth.

In the seventh, the Brewers went up 11-5.  In the bottom frame, the Cardinals responded with a score on a fielding error.  A wild pitch run in the eighth brought the score to 11-7.  A ninth inning two run home run by Orrechia decreased the lead to 11-9, but the Cardinals failed to add more and suffered the two run loss.

Inoa was the only Cardinal with multiple hits, with two.

Red starter Angel Cuenca pitched three innings and gave up six runs, two earned, on seven hits.  The right hander fanned four and walked one.  Oliver Lopez surrendered three runs, two earned, in 2 1/3 relief innings.  Hemerson Cordero allowed two runs in his 2 2/3 innings.  Larimel Soriano tossed a scoreless ninth.

Albert Inoa, Smith Vargas, Endri Salas, and Roblin Heredia each stole a base.  Inoa committed a fielding error, and Luis Andujar had a throwing miscue.

The Cardinals Red are 12-18 and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL Tigers1, TBA 9:00 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Blue 11 at DSL Yankees 4

The Cardinals Blue roared past the Yankees on Friday.  A big second inning put the Cardinals on top and the pitching did the rest.

An RBI single by Leudy Pena put the Cardinals on the board first.  The Yankees tied it in the bottom of the first, but the Cardinals responded with a six-run second inning.  It began with a bases loaded walk by Darlyn Del Villar.  Gustavo A. Rodriguez then knocked a ground ball single that plated two.  Pena doubled in a run and Brandon Hernandez drove in Rodriguez on a single.  Pena scored on a wild pitch for the final run of the inning.

The Yankees added two runs in the third inning to bring the score to 7-3.  In the top of the fifth, Elvin De Jesus and Handel Otamendi each singled to drive in a run.  Then in the seventh the Blue added two more scores on a triple by De Jesus and a fielding error on a ground ball to short by Del Villar.  The Yankees scored one in the bottom of the ninth, but the victory was in hand.

De Jesus, Del Villar, Otamendi, and Pena each had two hits.

Blue starter Yordy Richard pitched five innings and gave up three runs on six hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked one.  Luis Tena tossed two scoreless relief innings.  In his professional debut, Hansel Marcelino added a scoreless eighth with a strikeout.  Cristoffer Zapata allowed one run in the ninth.  Richard earned his first win.

The Cardinals Blue have a record of 18-8 and are in second place in the DSL South.

Saturday’s game: at DSL Nationals, TBA 9:00 am CT.


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St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of June 24-30

photo: Tommy Edman (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals broke their five-game losing skid to conclude the dreary 1-4 week and 13-13 month. The struggling offense’s top run producer by far, Marcell Ozuna is out, with rookie Tommy Edman performing well. Our weekly history feature is Cardinals no-hitters.


Game recaps

Monday, June 24 – Off day

Tuesday, June 25 – Cardinals 3, Athletics 7

Stephen Piscotty (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The Cardinals reunited with outfielder Stephen Piscotty when his Oakland Athletics came to town for a short two game series.  Unfortunately for St. Louis, the game and the series were a bust.

Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty wasn’t at his best.  Flaherty pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up seven runs on nine hits, including three long balls.  The right hander fanned five and walked one.   John Brebbia tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.  Dominic Leone pitched two scoreless innings, and Tyler Webb hurled a scoreless ninth.

The Athletics scored in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead.  The Cardinals answered with three in the bottom of the inning.  With Yadier Molina and Kolten Wong on base, Matt Carpenter’s triple scored both.  Paul DeJong then smacked a ground rule double to plate Carpenter.  That was it for Cardinals scoring, but the Athletics were not done, plating six more.

Kolten Wong stole his 14th base of the season.


Wednesday, June 26 – Cardinals 0, Athletics 2

The Cardinals were blanked 2-0 to lose the home series.  The offense continues to struggle to score runs and this game was no exception.  The offense scattered five hits, two by Tommy Edman, who led off in replacing struggling Matt Carpenter.  Marcell Ozuna had the only extra base hit, a double.

Adam Wainwright got the start, and pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on seven hits.  The right hander struck out nine and walked one but took the loss.  Giovanny Gallegos followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.  John Gant pitched a scoreless ninth.


Thursday, June 27 – Off day


Michael Wacha (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

Friday, June 28 – Cardinals 1 at Padres 3

The Cardinals began a nine-game West Coast trip with three games in San Diego.  The first game ended in a loss, with the offense once again struggling.  The lone St. Louis run came in the fourth inning.  With Yadier Molina on third base, Michael Wacha’s infield single was initially ruled an out a first base but was overturned on review.  Molina scored on the play.  Adding injury to insult, top Cardinals run producer Marcell Ozuna suffered a fractured hand on a play on the bases.

Wacha tossed seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits. The right hander struck out two and walked one.  Giovanny Gallegos surrendered a Padres insurance run in the eighth inning.


Saturday, June 29 – Cardinals 2 at Padres 12

The second game of the series was a stinker.  It was the worst start of Dakota Hudson’s season.  Not only could Hudson not get anyone out, he made a throwing error that led to six of his seven runs being unearned.  Hudson lasted only 1 2/3 innings and was replaced by Daniel Ponce de Leon, who went the next 5 1/3 innings and surrendered four additional runs.  Both Hudson and Ponce de Leon gave up home runs to Manny Machado and Franmil Reyes.  Dominic Leone took the eighth and he surrendered a home run, too, to Fernando Tatis, Jr.

The balls were flying out of Petco Park, but only one flew out for the Cardinals.  That was in the first inning from leadoff hitter Tommy Edman, a solo shot off Chris Paddack.  The Redbirds would score only one more run, in the eighth inning, on Yairo Munoz’ double.


Sunday, June 30 – Cardinals 5 at Padres 3 (11 innings)

Matt Wieters (St. Louis Cardinals)

The Cardinals narrowly managed to salvage a game in this dreadful series and week, but they had to do it in extra innings.  It started out like most of the games recently, with the offense held scoreless for a long stretch.  The Padres jumped ahead 3-0 and the Cardinals were held scoreless heading into the sixth inning.  A rally finally got going when Jose Martinez walked, Paul DeJong singled, and Paul Goldschmidt walked.  Yairo Munoz then singled, scoring Martinez and De Jong.  Munoz was caught stealing to end the inning.

The Redbirds tied the game in the eighth.  Goldschmidt singled and advanced to second on a throwing error.  Tyler O’Neill followed with a single and Goldschmidt scored with the aid of a fielding error by right fielder Franmil Reyes.

The game went into extra innings.  In the 11th, Kolten Wong singled, and Matt Wieters then whacked a two-run home run to left that went high into the upper decks of Petco Park.  The Padres didn’t score in the bottom of the 11th and the Cardinals left San Diego with a win.

The Cardinals used most of their bullpen.  Miles Mikolas started and went six innings. He gave up three runs on eight hits and struck out four. Giovanny Gallegos and Andrew Miller combined to pitch a scoreless seventh.  Gant started the eighth, struck out one, but was pulled after he walked two batters.   Carlos Martinez pitched the next 2 2/3 scoreless innings to get the win.  Tyler Webb and Dominic Leone combined for the 11th.  Leone got his first save.


The Big Picture

It was a bad week for St. Louis.  Two losses to Oakland, followed by two losses out of three games to San Diego.  The Cardinals missed a 0-5 disaster by a two-run win in extra innings on Sunday.  Miraculously, the Cubs and the Brewers continue to not light the world on fire either, so the Cardinals remain in the hunt, behind three games to both teams, who are in a dead heat for the top spot, but only 2 ½ games out of a share of the division cellar as well.

What can one say about the offense?  Not much, literally and figuratively.  The Cardinals managed to score just 11 runs over five games, while allowing 27 runs.  For the math geeks, that’s a minus 16 run differential.  That’s bad.

Dakota Hudson had a horrible start against the Padres on Saturday.  The rest of the starting pitching has been fine, though Jack Flaherty hasn’t been pitching like Flaherty of last season.  The bullpen is mostly fine as well.

Matt Carpenter (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

So, it’s the offense. It can’t be said enough.  Matt Carpenter has been temporarily replaced (one assumes) by Tommy Edman over the last four games.  It was reported that Carpenter was supposed to start on Sunday but wasn’t feeling well.  Carpenter hasn’t hit well either, which goes to explain why he sat.  Then again, most of the lineup hasn’t hit well, other than Marcell Ozuna who is now on the IL with broken fingers.  Paul Goldschmidt still isn’t the player that was expected.  Paul DeJong, though named to the All-Star Game roster, has struggled recently. The rest of the lineup has been so-so.  Harrison Bader hits them right at fielders, over and over.  He made a terrific catch in the outfield Sunday, but needs some terrific hits.

The team goes to Seattle next for a three-game series.  The Mariners are in last place in the AL West. No team is a pushover, however.  The Miami Marlins are a last place team and the Cardinals struggled to win against them.  The Cardinals then play the San Francisco Giants, another last place team.  Wins must come from these series, as these are opportunities not to be passed up.


NL Central Standings

Team W L Pct GB
Milwaukee 45 39 0.536
Chicago 45 39 0.536
St. Louis 41 41 0.500 3
Pittsburgh 39 43 0.476 5
Cincinnati 38 43 0.469 5.5

 


News and Notes

  • It turned out that the injury to Jordan Hicks was more than tendinitis as originally reported. Hicks has a torn UCL in his pitching arm and opted to have Tommy John surgery.  The right-hander had the surgery on Wednesday and is of course out for this season, and likely a significant part of the 2020 season, as well.  Carlos Martinez was named closer to replace him.
  • Also, on the injury front, the Cardinals lost their best hitter, Marcell Ozuna, to a hand injury suffered in the Padres opener on Friday. Ozuna was diagnosed with fractures to the base of his middle and ring finger of his right hand.  The injury occurred when Ozuna dived back into first base on a pickoff attempt.  No surgery will be required, but no timetable for how long he will be on the IL has been set.  Ozuna returned to St. Louis on Sunday to see a hand specialist.  The Cardinals called up outfielder Tyler O’Neill and Lane Thomas from Triple-A.  O’Neill made the start in LF on both Saturday and Sunday.
  • The rosters for this year’s All-Star Game were announced on Sunday, and the Cardinals’ lone representative to the Midsummer Classic is shortstop Paul DeJong. DeJong was chosen as an infield reserve by the Commissioner’s Office as part of the final step to ensure each team is represented.  It is the first time since 2007 that the Cardinals have only one player selected to the All-Star Game.

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.


Transactions 

  • 6/25 The Cardinals placed RHP Jordan Hicks on the 10 day injured list retroactive to June 23, 2019. Torn right UCL.
  • 6/25 The Cardinals optioned LHP Genesis Cabrera to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 6/25 The Cardinals recalled RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 6/25 The Cardinals recalled RHP Dominic Leone from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 6/26 The Cardinals sent RHP Ryan Helsley on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 6/26 The Cardinals sent RHP Mike Mayers on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 6/29 The Cardinals placed RHP John Brebbia on the paternity list.
  • 6/29 The Cardinals placed LF Marcell Ozuna on the 10 day injured list. Right middle finger fracture.
  • 6/29 The Cardinals recalled CF Lane Thomas from the Memphis Redbirds.
  • 6/29 The Cardinals recalled LF Tyler O’Neill from the Memphis Redbirds.

Injury Report

  • LHP Brett Cecil (carpal tunnel syndrome left wrist) continues on the 60 day injured list. Cecil had been shut down from throwing for an indefinite period since surgery to address carpal tunnel syndrome during spring training.  The left hander has begun a throwing program.  Cecil could begin a rehab assignment in early July and possibly return to the roster by the end of the month.
  • RHP Mike Mayers (right shoulder lat strain) was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on June 20. Mayers was sent on a rehab assignment to Memphis on June 26 and has made two appearances since.  The right hander should return to the roster sometime in the first part of July.
  • 3B Jedd Gyorko remains on the 10-day injured list. Gyorko originally was originally out due to lower back issues, was then reported to have recurring calf issues, and at present is suffering from a wrist ailment for which he had arthroscopic surgery on June 24.  It is expected the infielder will not return to baseball activities for three weeks after the surgery.
  • RHP Ryan Helsley (right shoulder impingement) was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 13. Helsley was sent on a rehab assignment to the Memphis Redbirds on June 26 and like Mayers, has pitched twice with mixed results.
  • RHP Jordan Hicks (torn right UCL) underwent Tommy John surgery on June 26 and is out for the rest of the season.
  • LF Marcell Ozuna (fractured right fingers) was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 29. Ozuna suffered the injury diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt.  No timetable for a return has been announced.

Looking Ahead

The Cardinals have an off day on Monday, July 1 following the series in San Diego.  The team will be in Seattle to take on the Mariners in a three game interleague series.  Jack Flaherty is scheduled to make the Tuesday start, followed by Adam Wainwright go Wednesday with Michael Wacha the likely starter on July 4th.

The Cardinals will travel to San Francisco for a weekend series beginning Friday, July 5.  It will be the final series prior to the All-Star Break.

The Cardinals return from the All-Star Break on Friday, July 12 to play the Arizona Diamondbacks in a weekend series at Busch Stadium.  The home stand will continue with a three game set with the Pirates from July 15-17.

After the Pirates series, the Cards will travel to Cincinnati to take on the Reds in a four game series beginning Thursday, July 18.  On Monday, July 22 the team flies to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates again for four.

The Cardinals’ regular season schedule can be viewed here.


Blast from the Past

During the television broadcast of the Cardinals-Athletics game on Tuesday, the 20-year anniversary of the no-hitter pitched by rookie starter Jose Jimenez on June 25, 1999 was noted.  This led to the subject of this week’s Blast from the Past – the St. Louis Cardinals’ no-hitters over time.

St. Louis pitchers have thrown nine no-hitters in franchise history.  Let’s briefly look at all of them.

The first Cardinals no hitter was thrown on July 17, 1924 by Jesse Haines.  Haines, nicknamed “Pop”, pitched for the Cardinals from 1920-1937.  The no-hitter by Haines was against the Boston Braves.  Haines pitched in three World Championships for the Cardinals, in 1926, 1931, and 1934 as a member of the infamous “Gashouse Gang”.

Paul Dean

Ten years later, on September 21, 1934, a rookie pitcher named Paul Dean pitched a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Dean was the brother of Jay Dean, known as “Dizzy”.  Paul Dean took on the nickname “Daffy”.  The no-hitter was in the second game of a doubleheader.  Both Deans pitched in the 1934 World Series.  Paul would not have the career of his more famous brother, as he was injured a few years later and could no longer pitch effectively.  Paul Dean was taken in the 1939 Rule 5 draft by the New York Giants from the Cardinals.

Lon Warneke threw a no-hitter for the Cardinals on August 30, 1941 against the Cincinnati Reds.  The Cardinals had picked up Warneke from the Cubs in a trade in 1939.  Warneke won 83 games for the Cardinals in 5 ½ seasons with the franchise.

27 years passed until the next no-hitter, thrown by Ray Washburn on September 18, 1968 against the San Francisco Giants.  Washburn pitched for the Cardinals from 1961-1969.  1968 was Washburn’s best season as he posted a 14-9 record with an ERA of 2.26.   He was traded to Cincinnati in 1970 and pitched in relief that year before retiring from baseball.

The most famous and beloved of Cardinals pitchers, Bob Gibson, surprisingly pitched only one no-hitter in his long career with St. Louis.  It occurred on August 14, 1971 against the Pittsburgh Pirates as the Cardinals prevailed 11-0 at Three Rivers Stadium.  The Pirates went on to win the World Series that fall.

Bob Forsch

Then came Bob Forsch, the only pitcher to throw multiple no-hitters for the Cardinals.  The came on April 16, 1978 against the Philadelphia Phillies.  That no-hitter was a bit controversial due to an official scorer ruling on an error by Ken Reitz.  Forsch’s second no hitter was thrown on September 26, 1983 against the Montreal Expos.  There was no reported controversy in this no-hitter.  At the time Forsch was the 25th MLB pitcher to throw more than one no-hitter.

The no-hitter that prompted this article was the June 25, 1999 no-hitter by Jose Jimenez. The opponent was the Arizona Diamondbacks and the opposing pitcher was Randy Johnson, with the outcome a 1-0 win for the Cardinals. Ironically Jimenez’ next start was against those same Diamondbacks and Randy Johnson.  It was also a 1-0 win for St. Louis in which Jimenez allowed two hits. Unfortunately for Jimenez and the Cardinals, those were his brightest career highlights.

The last St. Louis no-hitter was pitched by Bud Smith against the San Diego Padres on September 3, 2001, as the Cardinals won, 4-0.  Smith allowed no hits but did issue four walks and threw 134 pitches.  The right-hander pitched only two seasons for the Cardinals and was traded to the Phillies on July 29, 2002 along with Placido Polanco for third baseman Scott Rolen.  Slowed by injuries, Smith never made a major league appearance for the Phillies and was out of MLB by 2004.


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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – June 30, 2019

photo: Alex Fagalde (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 6-2 on Saturday.  Our Player of the Day is Springfield starter Alex Fagalde, who scattered seven hits while fanning six and issuing no walks over 6 1/3 scoreless innings. Chandler Redmond plated four in Johnson City’s big win.

Results for games played Saturday, June 29.


Memphis 3, New Orleans 6

Andrew Knizner (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

A late rally by the Redbirds fell short, as Memphis suffered defeat at the hands of New Orleans on Saturday.  It was their fifth straight loss and 20th in their last 22 home games.

Memphis’ offense scored only once through seven innings and fell behind 6-1 before a rally in the eighth brought them two more runs.  In the fourth inning, Andrew Knizner hit his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot. In the eighth, John Nogowski’s RBI infield single reduced the lead to 6-2.  Knizner followed with an RBI to make the score 6-3.

Knizner had three hits on the night.  Nogowski extended his hitting streak to 14 games with two knocks.

Starter Mike Hauschild pitched four innings and gave up four runs on four hits while fanning five and walking two.  He took the loss.   Mike Mayers surrendered a solo home run in his second rehab appearance in the fifth.  Junior Fernandes allowed one run in the sixth.  Ryan Helsley, also on his second rehab appearance, tossed a scoreless seventh. Seth Elledge and Tommy Layne finished the game with a scoreless inning each.

Memphis is 33-49 on the season and in last place in the PCL North, 14 games back of the Iowa Cubs.

Sunday’s game:   vs. New Orleans, Austin Warner (0-0, 0.00) 2:05 CT.


Springfield 3, NW Arkansas 1

Alex Fagalde (Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Cardinals were the victors in a pitcher’s duel on Saturday at Hammons Field.  Neither team could score until the Cardinals finally broke the stalemate with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Johan Mieses reached on a throwing error.  Yariel Gonzalez singled but was caught stealing. Brian O’Keefe drew a walk, then Connor Capel smacked a double to right field to score O’Keefe.  Jose Godoy followed with a single to plate Capel.  Jose Martinez singled to bring Godoy home.

In his third Springfield start, Alex Fagalde tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering seven hits and striking out six.  Fagalde was stuck with a no decision after Mitchell Osnowitz surrendered the lone run for NW Arkansas in his one inning pitched in relief, and the reliever received the win.  Jacob Patterson and Kodi Whitley combined to toss the final 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Cardinals are 3-6 in the second half, 33-46 overall, and in last place in the Texas League North.

Sunday’s game:  vs. NW Arkansas, Angel Rondon (2-0, 3.76) 6:10 pm CT.


Palm Beach 0, Charlotte 3

Griffin Roberts (Joe Freiday Sr.)

It was déjà vu for Palm Beach as they were blanked by the Charlotte Stone Crabs at Roger Dean for the second consecutive night, again on just three hits, all singles.  Julio Rodriguez, Scott Hurst, and Michael Perri provided the meager offense.

Starter Griffin Roberts lost his third game since returning from suspension despite his best outing yet.  Roberts pitched six innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on five hits.  The right hander struck out five and walked one.  Ronnie Williams surrendered one run in two innings of relief.  Patrick Dayton pitched a scoreless ninth.

Perri made a fielding error, and Rodriguez committed two throwing errors.

The Cardinals are 3-8 in the second half, 38-37 overall, and are in fifth place in the FSL South.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Charlotte, TBA 12:00 pm CT.


Peoria 6, Burlington 5 (11 innings)

Ivan Herrera (Peoria Chiefs)

After being held hitless for five innings, the Chiefs broke through in the sixth, and eventually walked it off in extra innings against Burlington on Saturday.

Bees starter Luis Alvarado mowed through Chiefs hitters through five innings on Saturday, but in the sixth, Brandon Benson finally tattooed an Alvarado pitch to left field for a solo home run that tied the game at 1-1.

The Bees regained the lead in the top of the ninth with four runs against Peoria reliever Parker Kelly.  The Chiefs responded in the bottom half with four runs of their own to tie the game for the second time and send it into extra innings.

Ivan Herrera smacked a double to center for the first two scores of the ninth.  Brandon Riley reached on a fielding error that allowed a third run to cross the plate.  A bases loaded walk by Brandon Benson scored the fourth run to tie the game and sent it into the 10th.

The game remained in a 5-5 deadlock until the bottom of the 11th.  With Brady Whalen on second to begin the inning, Leandro Cedeno hit a line drive single to center to move Whalen to third, and Riley singled to center to bring Whalen home in a walk off.

Herrera, Cedeno, and Edwin Figuera each had two knocks in the game.

Peoria starter Alvaro Seijas hurled 6 2/3 innings and gave up one run on five hits.  The right hander fanned seven and walked three.  Parker Kelly pitched two innings and surrendered four runs, three unearned.  Thomas St. Clair tossed the final 2 1/3 scoreless to gain the win.

Delvin Perez was picked off and caught stealing.  Juan Yepez and Josh Shaw each made a fielding error.

The Chiefs are 3-6 in the second half and 33-45 overall and are in sixth place in the Midwest League West.


Sunday’s game:   vs. Burlington, Kyle Leahy (4-4, 2.56) 6:35 CT.


State College 8, Auburn 3

Martin Figueroa (State College Spikes)

The Spikes defeated the Auburn Doubledays decisively on Saturday night at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College’s offense put up five runs in the second run to take a lead they never relinquished.

In the second, Dariel Gomez started the scoring with an RBI double to right field.  Jonatan Machado plated a run on a force out. Moises Castillo added an RBI single, and Carlos Soto followed with a two-run single.

After Auburn put up a run in the third, the Spikes added to their lead with two scores in the bottom half of the frame.  Martin Figueroa singled to score a run and Soto drew a bases loaded walk.

The Doubledays added another run in the fourth.  The Spikes plated a run in the seventh on Figueroa’s single.  Auburn scored again in the ninth but fell short of a comeback.

Figueroa and Matt Duce had three hits.  Soto, Gomez, and Andrew Warner each had two knocks.

Spikes starter Connor Thomas pitched four innings and gave up two runs on five hits.  The fifth-round left hander fanned six.  Andre Pallante earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief.  Connor Lunn followed with two run-free innings.  Fabian Blanco allowed the run in the ninth.

The Spikes are 10-5 on the season and are in first place in the New York/Penn League Pinckney Division.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Auburn, Scott Politz (0-0, 4.50) 5:05 CT.


Johnson City 9, Kingsport 4

Chandler Redmond (Robert Kell)

The Cardinals defeated the Kingsport Mets at home on Saturday, scoring runs with both small ball and the long ball.

The Mets took the lead, with home runs in the second and third innings to go up 4-0.  The Cardinals responded with two in the bottom of the third on a single by Mateo Gil and a double by Chandler Redmond.

A wild pitch in the fourth brought the Cardinals’ third run home. In the sixth, Gil doubled to plate a run.  Redmond then thumped a two-run home run to left.

In the eighth, Redmond again doubled to drive in a run.  Liam Sabino then hit a two-run home run to left center field to cement the victory.  Gil and Redmond each had three hits and the latter plated four.

Cardinals starter Will Guay pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on six hits while fanning two and walking none.  Jake Sommers tossed two scoreless relief innings.  Cameron Dulle pitched a scoreless sixth, followed by Enrique Perez, Leonardo Taveras, and Dylan Pearce, each with a scoreless inning.

The Cardinals committed three fielding errors, two by Diomedes Del Rio and one from Guay.

Johnson City is 6-4 on the season and is in first place in the Appalachian League West.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Kingsport, Jose Moreno (0-1, 14.29) 4:00 CT.


GCL Cardinals at GCL Nationals (postponed)

Saturday’s game was postponed due to rain.  It will be made up on July 4.

In the early going, the 1-3 Gulf Birds are three games out of the division lead.

Sunday’s game:  GCL Cardinals at Mets, Nathanael Heredia (0-0, 3.86) 10:00 am ET


DSL Cardinals Red 7, DSL Mets2 6

The Cardinals Red edged the Mets2 on a three-run ninth inning rally on Saturday.  The Red offense was held scoreless until the fifth and fell behind 3-0.  The Cardinals tied it in the fifth with three runs on a ground out by Roblin Heredia, a wild pitch, and a single by Erick Thomas.

The Cardinals took the lead in the sixth with a run scored on a throwing error.  The Mets reclaimed the lead with two in the eighth and another in the top of the ninth.  The Cardinals, behind 6-4, rallied in the bottom of the ninth to put up three scores to win.  The runs came on a bases loaded walk by Albert Inoa, a single by Juan Sanchez, and sac fly by Miguel Marcos.

Sanchez and Thomas each had two hits in the contest.

Starter Henry Gomez pitched three innings and gave up two runs on seven hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked one.  Luis Garcia allowed one unearned run in his two innings of relief.  Jesus Jaquez pitched two scoreless innings.  Hector De Los Santos surrendered two runs in the eighth and was tagged with a blown save.  Ramon Fernandez gave up an unearned run in the ninth, but received the win.

Sanchez stole his first base of the season.  Thomas was caught stealing, and Bryan Matute was picked first base.  Thomas and Matute each made fielding errors.  Smith Vargas had an outfield assist.

The Cardinals Red are 9-16 on the season and are in seventh place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled


DSL Cardinals Blue 12 at DSL Twins 10

The Cardinals Blue squeaked past the Twins in a Saturday slugfest.  The Blue offense scored in every other inning until the big finale in the ninth.  The Twins kept up for the most part but fell short in the end.

The first Cardinals score came in the second inning when the two Rodriguez’s plated a run each.  Luis Rodriguez doubled to drive in a run while Jose Rodriguez did the same on a single. The two runs tied the game but the Twins came back in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-2 lead.

In the fourth, Fernando Diaz and Darlin Moquete singled to plate a run each.  The Twins added three runs in the fifth to re-take the lead at 6-4.

It was the Cardinals’ turn in the sixth.  Darlyn Del Villar smacked a two run double to tie the game.  Blue added a run in the eighth on Leudy Pena’s double.  The Twins responded with a run in the bottom frame to tie the score once more.

The game was decided in the ninth.  The Cardinals put up the crooked number beginning with an RBI single by Del Villar.  Erik Pena scored on a wild pitch, followed by Darlin Moquete who did the same.  Luis Rodriguez contributed a two run double and the Cardinals led 12-7.

The Twins rallied with three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short.

Needless to say, pitching on both sides was coughing up runs frequently. On the Cardinals side, Eduar Pimentel pitched the first inning and surrendered three runs on three hits.  The right hander struck out two and walked one.  Dionys Rodriguez followed with two scoreless innings. Juan Peralta gave up three runs, one earned, in his two innings pitched and was charged with a blown save.  Benjamin Arias tossed 2 2/3 innings and allowed one unearned run.  Cristoffer Zapata finished the eighth inning in relief of Peralta, gave up three runs, but was granted the win.  Victor Villanueva pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save.

Moquete stole his 11th base and Del Villar was caught stealing. Zapata committed two throwing errors and Elvin DeJesus also made a throwing error.

The Cardinals Blue are 15-7 and are in first place in the DSL South.

Sunday’s game:  No game scheduled.


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