(photo: Irving Lopez/Johnson City Cardinals)

Daniel Castano’s dominant mound effort led State College to one of the system’s three wins on Sunday.  Austin Gomber pitched a gem for Springfield while Player of the Day Irving Lopez’ two-bomb night helped Johnson City to victory.

Results from games played Sunday, July 30^th.

Memphis 4 at Reno 6

The Redbirds were clipped by the Aces, 6-4, evening the series at one game apiece with two on tap.  Memphis (70-37) remains 19 games ahead of Nashville (OAK) despite the loss with a magic number to clinch of 17.

Dakota Hudson kept his team in the game in his Triple-A debut, tossing seven frames with six hits and three walks permitted.  The 22-year-old was touched for two two-run innings and uncorked two wild pitches, one of which let a runner score.

The seventh finished with the visitors down 4-2, but Tyler O’Neill launched a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to take Hudson off the hook for a loss.  The long ball was the center fielder’s second hit in four at bats to go with a double, two runs scored and three driven in.  Breyvic Valera singled twice in four at bats, crossing home once, as he was the only other Redbird with more than one of the team’s six hits.

But that 4-4 tie lasted only until Ryan Sherriff (L, 5-1) gave up two hits, a base-on-balls, sac fly and wild pitch resulting in two scores in the home eighth.

Monday’s game:  at Reno (63-45) (ARI), 7:05 pm PDT, Jack Flaherty (2-1, 3.09)

Springfield 6 at Northwest Arkansas 3

Austin Gomber tossed seven excellent frames as the S-Cards flew past the Naturals, 6-3.  First-place Springfield (24-13) claimed the series, three games to one, and lead Tulsa (LAD) by one game in the North Division of the Texas League.

Gomber (W, 5-7) allowed just four base runners over the minimum during his seven innings on the mound.  The righty surrendered a solo bomb in the fourth, one of three hits and one free pass yielded.  Gomber fanned five with nine ground- and three fly-ball outs.  He threw 68 of his 92 pitches for strikes.

The eighth was not so kind to Tyler Bray, who gave up two runs on three hits.  Rowan Wick worked around two free passes for his fourth save.

Springfield outhit Northwest Arkansas (14-23), 12 to six, with eight of nine starters garnering at least one hit.  First baseman John Nogowski led the way, going 3-for-5 and touching home once.  Tommy Edman doubled twice in five at bats, scored one and knocked in another.

One of Darren Seferina’s two hits in five at bats was his third home run of 2017, coming with the bases clean.  Oscar Mercado’s only hit in five at bats was a two-run long ball, capping the scoring in the ninth.

Monday’s game:  at second-place Tulsa (23-14) (LAD), 7:05 pm CT, Zac Gallen (4-2, 2.74)

Palm Beach at Bradenton – postponed

The second of four games between Palm Beach (17-18) and Bradenton was rained out and has been rescheduled as part of a double header on Monday, July 31^st.  The fifth-place Beach Birds took the series opener and trail the Marauders by five games.

Monday’s games:  at first-place Bradenton (22-13) (PIT).  Game one – 4:00 pm ET, Mike O’Reilly (1-0, 4.20)/Ramon Santos (1-2, 5.81)

Wisconsin 3 at Peoria 1

The Chiefs were stopped at home by the Timber Rattlers, 3-1, on Sunday, their third consecutive loss and second in a row to fifth-place Wisconsin.  Third-place Peoria (20-16) trails Quad Cities (HOU) by two games in the West Division.

The Chiefs mustered just six hits in all, two by Nick Plummer.  Peoria’s lead-off hitter singled and doubled in four at bats, knocking in one and notched an outfield assist at third.  Dylan Carlson went 1-for-4, scoring the Chiefs’ only run.  Rehabber Stephen Piscotty doubled once in four at bats.

The sole blemish against Evan Kruczynski in 5 1/3 was a two-run long ball, one of seven hits yielded.  Colton Thomson hurled 1 2/3 scoreless innings, his third straight scoreless outing since his promotion from State College, but Bryan Dobzanski was touched for a run on three hits over two.

Monday’s game:  vs. Wisconsin (17-19) (MIL), 12:00 pm CT, Sam Tewes (league debut)

State College 2 vs. Auburn 1

Daniel Castano was outstanding over 7 2/3 as the Spikes edged the Doubledays, 2-1, in the series’ opener.  State College (21-17) is in fourth place in the tight Pinckney Division, 2 ½ games in back of Mahoning Valley (CLE).

Castano (W, 7-1) retired eight of his first nine before a throwing error, wild pitch and single brought about a play at the plate for the third’s final out.  The southpaw went on to set down 10 of his next 11 before yielding a double, his second and final hit permitted to go with two free passes.  The Florida native departed with two gone in the eighth and a runner on second via a hit batsman and sac bunt.

Reliever Noel Gonzalez did not record an out, issuing two free passes to jam the sacks full for Spencer Traynor.  Traynor (S, 2) put out that fire but gave up a tally on a walk and two singles the next inning.

Monday’s game:  vs. Auburn (15-24) (WSH), 7:05 pm ET, Johan Oveido (league debut)

Johnson City 9 at Pulaski 3

Irving Lopez’ two home run night led the Appy Birds over the Yankees, 9-3, the first of three at Calfee Park.  Third-place Johnson City (19-19) kept pace with division leader Elizabethton (MIN) with the win, a team they trail by five games.

Lopez’ bombs were part of his three-hit performance, with the second baseman accounting for six of his squad’s tallies.  The Player of the Day went 3-for 4 with a walk, two long balls, three runs scored and five driven in.

Catcher Julio Rodriguez’s three hits in five at bats also included a home run, a three-run blast that broke a one all tie in the fifth.

One of the three hits given up by Franyel Casadilla (W, 1-3) over 5 1/3 was a solo shot, putting Pulaski up 1-0 after one.  The righty allowed a walk and three runs in all, two of them scoring on Will Changarotty’s watch.

Changarotty permitted a hit and two walks while recording just one out but Jake Walsh left all three of Changarotty’s runners on.  Walsh fanned three in 2 1/3, yielding a hit.  Jacob Patterson tossed a scoreless ninth.

https://twitter.com/jwgravley/status/891835478651129856

GCL Cardinals 7 at GCL Marlins 8

The Gulf Birds scored big early but the GCL Marlins (14-15) scored bigger late, resulting in an 8-7 defeat by the Cardinals (13-16).  The loss broke a third-place tie between the two squads, leaving the Cardinals 6 ½ behind the Nationals.

The visitors capitalized on a lack of control by the Marlins’ starter, who did not record an out, transforming a hit, five walks and an error into six tallies.  But the Fish bullpen held the Cardinals’ offense to just one more tally the rest of the way while their offense laid in wait for the Gulf Birds’ relievers.

The Cardinals accumulated nine hits, all singles, with four players having two hits each:  Jonatan Machado, Dariel Gomez, Donivan Williams and Brian Sanchez.  Williams generated the most results, touching home twice with two RBI while Machado stole two bases.

Starter Noel De Jesus held the opposition to a first-inning run plus a two-run home run in his fifth and final inning of work.  De Jesus allowed seven hits and two walks.

De Jesus exited with a 7-3 lead, which held until the bottom of the seventh.  Wilberto Rivera permitted three scores in his second inning of work before Gabriel Gentner (BS, 2) (L, 2-2) let both inherited runners score plus two of his own before recording an out.

Monday’s game:  at GCL Astros (16-12), 12:00 pm ET, Winston Nicacio (2-1, 3.52)

DSL Cardinals – off

The Dominican Summer League does not play on Sundays.

Monday’s game: DSL Cardinals (19-28) at DSL Mets1 (32-16), 10:30 am ET, Allinson Benitez (0-1, 6.16) or Jose Moreno (0-3, 3.55)

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On a 4-3 Thursday across the St. Louis Cardinals system, strong bullpen work powered Springfield and Peoria (doubleheader sweep) to a trio of wins. Player of the Day Frederis Parra tossed a seven-inning complete game for the Chiefs.

Results from games played Thursday, July 27^th.

Memphis vs. Salt Lake – suspended  

Thursday’s contest between Memphis (68-35) and Salt Lake was suspended due to rain with the Redbirds up 3-1 and one gone in the home half of the second.  Play is scheduled to resume on Friday at 5:35 pm with the regularly scheduled game to follow.

Matt Pearce yielded a run on three hits through two.  Nick Martini tripled and scored in the first, driven in on a single by Rangel Ravelo.  Wilfredo Tovar doubled in Patrick Wisdom and Breyvic Valera, who both worked second-inning free passes.  Alberto Rosario followed Tovar with yet another walk when the game was halted.

Friday’s games:  vs. Salt Lake (54-50) (LAA).  Game 1 – 5:35 pm CT, TBA/Kevin Herget (3-1, 4.08)

Springfield 6 at Northwest Arkansas 2

Two three-inning frames lifted the S-Cards over the Naturals, 6-2, in the series opener.  First-place Springfield (22-12) has a two-game advantage over Tulsa (LAD) in the North Division.

Jacob Wilson led the visitors’ 12-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with two RBI.  Three S-Cards had two hits apiece:  Randy Arozarena, Anthony Garcia and Tommy Edman.  Arozarena launched a two-run bomb, one of his two runs scored in three at bats.  Garcia also touched home twice, joining Arozarena by going 2-for-3 with a base-on-balls.  He swiped a bag as well. Edman singled and doubled in four at bats, knocking in two.

With Dakota Hudson a late scratch from his start, four Springfield relievers combined to hold their hosts to just two tallies.  Trey Nielsen yielded a long ball, one of three hits and two walks allowed over three.  Tyler Bray, Corey Littrell and Landon Beck each tossed two innings, Beck giving up a tally on three hits and a walk but picking up his second save.

Friday’s game:  at Northwest Arkansas (13-21) (KC), 7:05 pm CT, Sandy Alcantara (6-5, 4.85)

Palm Beach 4 at Tampa 10

Palm Beach (16-17) lost its third straight at Tampa, this time by a score of 10-4.  The fifth-place Beach Birds have fallen six games off the pace set by Bradenton (PIT).

The visitors clung to a 3-2 lead through six, but a seven-run seventh flipped that into an insurmountable hole.  Reliever Ross Vance (BS, 3) (L, 2-3) was charged with all seven tallies on five hits and two walks, retiring two.  Estarlin Arias recorded the final two outs but let two of three inherited runners score.

Jake Woodford tossed the first 5 2/3, permitting two runs on nine hits and three bases-on-balls. Infielder Leobaldo Pina allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth.

Pina led the hitting, going 3-for-4 with a run scored.  Thomas Spitz and Andy Young each went 2-for-4, Spitz touching home once and Young doubling one time.  Spitz went 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts.

Friday’s game:  at Tampa (22-11) (NYY), 7:00 pm ET, Ryan Helsley (8-2, 2.69)

Peoria 3 vs. Cedar Rapids 1 (7) – Game 1

Peoria 4 vs. Cedar Rapids 0 (7) – Game 2

The Chiefs swept a pair from the Kernels, 3-1 and 4-0, clinching the home series with one to play.  Second-place Peoria (20-13) has climbed to within a game of Quad Cities (HOU) and holds a four-game winning streak.

Cedar Rapids struck first in the opener with a tally against Frederis Parra (W, 2-3) but that was all they would get as Parra tossed a complete-game five-hit effort.  The righty issued one free pass and hit a batter.

The home team answered right back with two in the bottom of the first.  The big hit was Brian O’Keefe’s two-run single scoring Stefan Trosclair (single) and Vince Jackson (double).  It was the first of Jackson’s two doubles, as the designated hitter was the only Chief with more than one of the team’s six hits.

Danny Hudzina capped the scoring in the fourth with his seventh home run of 2017. Stephen Piscotty began his rehab by going hitless in three at bats. The right fielder was not scheduled to play in the finale.

A trio of Peoria pitchers held the opposition to just three hits in the nightcap while garnering nine strikeouts.  In his first start since May 3, Ronnie Williams fanned four over four, issuing just one free pass.  Colton Thomson (W, 1-0) struck out two in 1 1/3, giving up a hit before Yeison Medina fanned three in 1 2/3, working around two hits and a walk.

Peoria managed just five hits but worked six free passes, three resulting in runs.  Their first tally was generated by a hit batsman, two walks and Jackson’s sac fly scoring Nick Plummer.

The Kernels’ starter walked the bases full to begin the fifth, leading to his departure.  Kramer Robertson, Trosclair and Jackson all eventually scored on a bases-clearing double by Juan Yepez.

Friday’s game:  vs. Cedar Rapids (14-19) (MIN), 7:00 pm CT, Austin Warner (1-0, 0.00)

State College 11 at Batavia 1

The Spikes pounded the Muckdogs, 11-1, in the first of three games between the two squads at Batavia.  State College (20-15) moved into third place with the win, three games in back of West Virginia (PIT).

The visitors’ steady offense effort featured 17 hits, six walks and scoring in six of nine innings.  Third baseman Evan Mendoza led the way, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and three driven in out of the three hole.

Four Spikes accumulated three hits each:  Zach Kirtley, Yariel Gonzalez, Bryce Denton and Edwin Figuera.  Kirtley did what a lead-off batter is supposed to do – get on base.  The second baseman went 3-for-6 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI.

But the bottom of the order really came through, as Gonzalez, Denton and Figuera combined for eight scores.  Gonzalez and Denton both went 3-for-6, the former doubling twice and Denton finishing a home run shy of the cycle.  Figuera singled three times in five at bats, crossed home once, knocked in one and stole his fourth bag of the season.

That was more than ample offense for Spikes’ hurlers.  Jonathon Mulford (W, 2-3) gave up a run on five hits and three walks through 5 1/3 with five strikeouts.  That run scored with Spencer Traynor on the mound, as he stranded one of Mulford’s two runners and fanned four in 2 2/3.  Robbie Gordon tossed a one-two-three ninth.

Friday’s game:  at sixth-place Batavia (11-24) (MIA), 7:05 pm ET, Andrew Summerville (1-0, 2.35)

Johnson City 1 at Danville 4

The JC-Cards opened their three-game series at Danville with a 4-1 defeat.  Johnson City (16-19) is in third place, 4 ½ behind Elizabethton (MIN).

Edwar Ramirez took the loss, his fifth in six decisions, yielding three runs on five hits and two free passes in 5 1/3.  He struck out five.  Jake Dahlberg gave up a tally on two hits and a base-on-balls over 2 2/3 but left both inherited runners aboard.

The visitors generated just five hits, three in the ninth to prevent the shutout.  Delvin Perez singled once in four at bats in his return to the Appalachian League.

Friday’s game: at Danville (18-17) (ATL), 7:00 pm ET, Alvaro Seijas (2-1, 6.51)

GCL Cardinals – off

The GCL Cardinals (12-13) will try to halt a five-game losing skid when they play a Friday home-and-away twin bill with the GCL Mets.

Friday’s games: vs/at GCL Mets (7-18).  Game 1 – 11:00 am ET, TBA/TBA

DSL Rockies 4 at DSL Cardinals 2

Like their big-league parents would experience that evening, one big inning was all it took for the Dominican Birds to drop a 4-2 decision to the DSL Rockies (23-23).  The seventh-place Cardinals (17-28) are 16 ½ games in back of the Twins in the South Division.

Diego Cordero (L, 1-4) blanked his opponents before giving up four scores, three earned, in his fifth and final inning of work.  The southpaw permitted four hits and two free passes, striking out five.

Allinson Benitez, Anthony Trompiz and Hector Soto held the Rockies hitless over the final four innings.  Benitez fanned three in his two-inning stint while Trompiz and Soto each went a frame.

All of the Dominican Cards’ offense was generated by third baseman Francisco Hernandez, who launched solo shots in the fifth and eighth.  Three of his teammates singled once.

Friday’s game:  vs. sixth-place DSL Yankees (19-27), 10:30 am ET, Francis Ventura (1-2, 4.09)

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On a 4-4 Tuesday across the St. Louis Cardinals system, two outfielders went deep twice and plated three. Blake Drake did it in Palm Beach’s 12-inning loss and Wadye Ynfante helped Johnson City to a win.

Results from games played Tuesday, July 25^th.

Memphis 3 vs. Salt Lake 2

Tyler O’Neill’s first Redbirds home run helped Memphis slip past Salt Lake, 3-2, in the first of four games between the American Southern and Pacific Southern Division leaders.  The Redbirds (67-35), who have won six straight and 20 of 24, lead Nashville (OAK) by 19 games.

O’Neill’s bomb came with Nick Martini (single) aboard and knotted the game at two all after the Bees had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh.  The designated hitter entered the game as a pinch runner after Aledmys Diaz was struck on the hand and exited the contest in the second.

Adolis Garcia followed O’Neill’s blast with his first Triple-A three-base hit, and scored the game winner ahead of an inning-ending double play.  It was Garcia’s only hit in three at bats and one of only five Memphis hits on the game.  Martini singled twice in three at bats.

With starter Luke Weaver a late scratch due to St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright being placed on the disabled list, reliever Miguel Socolovich was handed the starter’s reins and came through admirably.  Socolovich struck out five over the first four innings, issuing just one free pass.

Mark Montgomery tossed two scoreless frames, working around two hits and a walk.  But Ryan Sherriff (W, 5-0) was dinged for two runs on two hits and two bases-on-balls in the seventh.  Josh Lucas blanked Salt Lake for the final six outs, earning his 10^th save.

Sherriff’s errant pickoff attempt snapped a string of 119 2/3 error-free innings by the Memphis defense.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Salt Lake (54-49) (LAA), 7:05 pm CT, Jack Flaherty (2-1, 3.24)

Tulsa 4 at Springfield 3

Springfield’s bullpen could not hold a late lead as the S-Cards fell to the Drillers, 4-3.  First-place Springfield (20-12) has lost the first two of three versus second-place Tulsa, whom they lead by a game in the North Division.

Jacob Evans (BS, 1) (L, 0-1) carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth but yielded a two-run long ball in his third appearance since being called up from Palm Beach.  Evans tossed two frames, giving up three hits.

Austin Gomber fanned seven over the first 5 1/3, permitting two runs on five hits and two walks.  Corey Littrell followed Evans to the mound, retiring both batters faced.  Landon Beck tossed a clean ninth.

The home team generated nine hits, all singles, but went just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10.  Andrew Knizner and Gomber were the only S-Cards with more than one hit, Knizner singling twice in four at bats with an RBI and Gomber going 2-for-2.  Defensively, Gomber picked off a runner at first.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Tulsa (19-13) (LAD), 6:30 pm CT, Zac Gallen (3-2, 2.70)

Palm Beach 6 at Tampa 7 (12)

In the road series opener, Palm Beach rallied for a ninth-inning lead only to fall to Tampa in 12, 7-6.  The Beach Birds (16-15) are tied for fourth with Charlotte (TB), four games in back of Bradenton (PIT).

Blake Drake’s second home run of the game flipped a 5-4 deficit into a 6-5 lead.  It followed his fifth-inning solo shot and came with Jose Martinez (single) on base, Drake, the co-Player of the Day, went 3-for-4 with a walk and two long balls, three runs scored and three RBI. He was also hit by a pitch.

But Palm Beach could not hold the lead despite using three relievers in the ninth. Dailyn Martinez allowed a lead-off triple, Brady Bowen struck out his only batter but Estarlin Arias gave up the RBI single, sending the game into extras.  Hector Mendoza was tagged with his second loss against no wins, giving up a run that was only unearned because of his own throwing error.

Starter Mike O’Reilly fell prey to the home run, with all five tallies charged to him over seven being generated by three long balls.  The righty gave up nine hits in all and did not issue a free pass.

Wednesday’s game:  at Tampa (20-11) (NYY), 7:00 pm ET, Junior Fernandez (5-3, 3.73)

Peoria – off

Second-place Peoria (18-13) opens a seven-game home stand against West Division rivals Cedar Rapids (MIN) and Wisconsin (MIL).  The Chiefs trail Quad Cities by two games.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. fifth-place Cedar Rapids (14-17), 7:00 pm CT, Frederis Parra (1-3, 2.91)

State College 3 vs. Mahoning Valley 2

Sam Tewes pitched into the eighth as the Spikes edged the Scrappers, 3-2, in the decisive third game of the series.  Fourth-place State College (19-15) is three games behind West Virginia (PIT) in the tight Pinckney Division.

Tewes (W, 3-3) limited second-place Mahoning Valley (21-14) (CLE) to a run on four hits and a walk through seven but exited after giving up another tally on two more hits the next frame.  He struck out five.

Will Latcham notched two of his four K’s to leave Tewes’ last runner aboard but only recorded his second save thanks to overly aggressive base running in the ninth.  Latcham allowed three singles and a walk but was not scored upon because the lead-off batter was nailed trying to stretch a single into a double.

The home team collected just five hits, one walk and a sac fly, but grouped them together to put up a straight number in three separate innings.  The difference in the game ended up riding on shortstop Wood Myers’ first Spikes triple, which opened the seventh.  A sac fly by first baseman Yariel Gonzalez brought Myers across.

Wednesday’s game:  Off

Johnson City 5 vs. Burlington 2

Center fielder Wadye Ynfante went deep twice in the Appy Birds’ 5-2 victory over Burlington.  Third-place Johnson City (16-17) has won four in a row, including the first two of three versus the Royals, and trail first-place Elizabethton (MIN) by four games in the West Division.

Ynfante, our co-Player of the Day, accounted for three of his team’s five scores, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three knocked in.  Third baseman Stanley Espinal launched a solo shot, his only hit in three at bats, while shortstop Imeldo Diaz singled and doubled in four at bats, crossing home once.

Right-hander Evan Guillory (W, 1-0) struck out six through five scoreless, allowing just two hits in his first start after 10 appearances out of the bullpen.  Franyel Casadilla surrendered a two-run home run, one of four hits and a base-on-balls yielded over 2 1/3.  Fabian Blanco fanned three in 1 2/3 for his third save.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Burlington (13-19), 7:00 pm ET, Jacob Schlesener (1-1, 2.78)

GCL Cardinals 6 at GCL Marlins 7 (11) – Game 1

GCL Marlins 10 at GCL Cardinals 9 (10) – Game 2

The GCL Cardinals suffered a pair of extra-inning defeats at the hands of the GCL Marlins, losing 7-6 in 11 in the opener and 10-9 in 10 in Game 2.  The Gulf Cardinals (12-11) are in third, three behind the GCL Nationals.

The opener completed the July 20^th contest suspended due to lightning with the score knotted at six all through 10.  The Gulf Birds were unable to cash in on beginning the 11^th with a runner on second but the Gulf Marlins did in the bottom of the frame.  A sac bunt advanced the runner to third, putting him in position to score on a wild pitch by Gabriel Gentner (L, 2-1).

Junior Gonzalez started the contest on Thursday, yielding four runs on five hits and three walks.  Enrique Perez was tagged for a score in 1 1/3, Chris Hunt retired all five batters faced but Patrick Dayton (BS, 3) could not work around his own hit batsman and missed catch error that sent the game into extras.

Andres Luna was the only Gulf Bird with more than one of the team’s eight hits, singling twice in five at bats while touching home twice. The outfielder swiped his first bag.

In the finale, the home team twice rallied late to tie the score, only to go down in 10.  Jonatan Machado led the team’s 12-hit attack, going 3-for-5 with a solo shot, scoring twice and knocking in two.  Rehabbing Eliezer Alvarez, Elehuris Montero and Terry Fuller each had two hits, the first two doubling once while Montero and Fuller drove in three and two, respectively.

All three tallies charged to Winston Nicacio through five were unearned, part of a three-run second.  Nicacio struck out six and gave up seven hits.

C.J. Saylor (BS, 1) was on the receiving end of four more unearned runs, generated by his own throwing error that was one of three miscues.  Saylor jammed the sacks full with one run already across but Chris Hunt served up the salami that scored the final three.  Hunt went on to give up one of only two earned runs yielded by GCL Cardinals’ hurlers on the game. Kevin Hamann (L, 0-1) was touched for an unearned tally, sending the game into extras and an earned run for the loss.

Wednesday’s games: DH vs. GCL Astros (12-9).  Game 1 – 12:00 pm ET, TBA

DSL Cardinals 3 at DSL Nationals 10

Starter Enmanuel Solano could not finish the fourth as the Dominican Birds were flattened by the Nationals, 10-3.  The Cardinals (17-26) are 14 ½ games behind the Twins in the South Division.

Solano (L, 3-1) suffered his worst outing since being moved into the rotation on June 27^th.  The 18-year-old was touched for five runs, two earned, on four hits, two walks and two plunked batters in 3 1/3.

Nelson Prada allowed Solano’s last two runners to score, giving up two tallies of his own while recording just one out.  Wilman Madera also retired just one batter, giving up a run on three hits.

Roy Garcia hurled two scoreless but Leonardo Taveras permitted two runs, one earned, over 1 2/3.  Jose Geromino allowed one of his three inherited runners to score but secured the final out.

The visitors managed just six hits, two by Franklin Soto.  The shortstop singled and doubled in four at bats, crossing home once.  Right fielder William Jimenez accounted for all three tallies, going 1-for-4 with a double, run scored and two RBI.

Wednesday’s game:  at DSL Rockies (21-23), 10:30 am ET, Wilfredo Pereira (1-5, 3.26)

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Sandy Alcantara spun seven scoreless innings in Springfield’s road series-clinching win and Jordan Hicks tossed six run-free innings for Palm Beach. Memphis moved to 30 games over .500 on a 6-1 Sunday across the St. Louis Cardinals system.

Results from games played Sunday, July 23^rd.

Memphis 7 vs. Las Vegas 5      

A four-run first propelled Memphis past Las Vegas, 7-5.  The Redbirds (65-35) have won the first three of the four-game set and 19 of their last 23. The club reached the 30 games over .500 mark for the first time in a dominating season.

The first-inning scoring was comprised of two-run bombs by Alex Mejia and Patrick Wisdom.  Mejia led the 11-hit effort, going 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI while Wisdom’s solo long ball was his only hit in four at bats.

Rangel Ravelo made the score 5-1 through three with his fourth home run of 2017.  Aledmys Diaz singled twice in four at bats, the only other Redbird with a multi-hit performance.

Batting fifth, Tyler O’Neill made his Cardinals system debut with a hit and run scored, but the left fielder also fanned twice in four at-bats.

Traded Marco Gonzales’ rotation turn was comprised of three relievers plus an erstwhile starter fresh off the disabled list.  Kevin Herget scattered six hits, one walk and one run over the initial 3 1/3.

Josh Zeid (W, 6-2) surrendered a three-run home run, one of his three hits and two base-on-balls over 2 2/3.  Arturo Reyes allowed a solo shot, his only hit in his two-inning stint.  It was his first appearance since returning from Palm Beach.  Mark Montgomery tossed a one-two-three ninth for his fifth save.

Monday’s game:  vs. Las Vegas (37-64) (NYM), 7:05 pm CT, John Gant (1-5, 3.45)

Springfield 3 at Arkansas 1

Springfield (20-10) claimed the Sunday finale over Arkansas, 3-1, for a three-games-to-one series victory.

Player of the Day Sandy Alcantara (W, 6-5) pitched a gem, limiting the Travelers (13-17) to three hits and two walks over seven.  Tyler Bray walked the bases full in the eighth, leaving Rowan Wick in a one-out jam.  Wick left two of three runners aboard, permitting a sac fly and two free passes in 1 2/3.

The S-Cards maximized their offense, transforming six singles and a free pass into three tallies.  Oscar Mercado went 2-for-4 with a run scored.  It was his aggressive base-running going first to third on Darren Seferina’s single up the middle that forced an errant throw, allowing him to put Springfield on the board.  Mercado, Seferina and Tommy Edman each stole a base.

The other key hit was a two-run single by Magneuris Sierra in the eighth, scoring Andrew Knizner (single) and Jacob Wilson (walk).  It was Sierra’s only hit in four at bats.

Monday’s game:  vs. Tulsa (17-13) (LAD), 6:30 pm CT, Chris Ellis (2-4, 4.19)

Charlotte 3 at Palm Beach 0

The Beach Birds’ offense was held to just four hits in their 3-0 home loss to Charlotte.  Palm Beach (15-14) has dropped the first two of the three series games.

Andy Young had half of his squad’s offense, singling twice in three at bats.  Singles by Blake Drake and Shane Billings made up the rest.

Defensively, center fielder Drake was credited with an assist at home.  The PB-Cards committed two miscues but neither figured in the scoring.

Jordan Hicks tossed his best effort in his three Palm Beach starts, fanning six over five frames of one-hit ball.  He was charged with an error on a pickoff attempt.

Brennan Leitao (L, 3-2) retired four batters but allowed a solo shot, one of his two hits permitted.  Hector Mendoza stranded Leitao’s last runner but gave up two runs on three hits and two walks in 1 1/3.

Ramon Santos limited Mendoza’s damage by retiring his only batter, leaving two aboard.  Estarlin Arias worked around a hit and free pass for a scoreless ninth.

Monday’s game:  vs. Charlotte (15-14) (TB), 6:30 pm ET, Connor Jones (6-4, 4.16)

Peoria 10 at Bowling Green 5

Peoria (17-13) came out on top of a see-saw battle, stopping the Hot Rods, 10-5, to even the road series at one game apiece with one to play.

The Chiefs jumped out to a 4-0 lead through four, thanks to three home runs, two by Stefan Trosclair and a solo bomb by Danny Hudzina.  Trosclair, Hudzina and Dylan Carlson each had two of Peoria’s 12 hits, with all nine starters garnering at least one.

But Bowling Green tied it up in the fifth, and went up 5-4 after six.  All five scores were against Ian Oxnevad, four on two long balls.  Oxnevad allowed nine hits and two walks through six.

Peoria was not finished at the plate, however, tying the game at five all on an unearned run in the seventh before a five-run explosion put the game out of reach after eight.

Bryan Dobzanski picked up his second win in seven decisions, tossing three frames and allowing two hits with two strikeouts.

Monday’s game:  at Bowling Green (18-12) (TB), 12:05 pm CT, Evan Kruczynski (1-1, 5.48)

State College 5 vs. Mahoning Valley 1

State College (18-14) downed Mahoning Valley, 5-1, in the home series opener.

The Spikes accumulated 10 hits, paced by Evan Mendoza and Dennis Ortega.  Both Spikes went 2-for-4 with a run scored, Mendoza tripling once while knocking in two while Ortega drove in one.

Paul Balestrieri (W, 1-0) yielded just one unearned run on seven hits and two bases-on-balls over 5 2/3.  The right-hander struck out five.  Levi MaVorhis shut down the Scrappers on a hit over the final 3 1/3, leaving one inherited on, for his first save.

Monday’s game: vs. Mahoning Valley (20-13) (CLE), 7:05 pm ET, Daniel Castano (6-0, 2.03)

Johnson City 8 vs. Danville 5

Chase Pinder’s three-hit game led Johnson City (14-17) over Danville, 8-5, in the rubber game of the series.

Pinder accounted for four runs, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and one driven in.  Wadye Ynfante and Jonathan Rivera singled and doubled in three and four at bats, respectively.  Ynfante crossed home twice with a stolen base and Rivera scored once.

Alvaro Seijas (W, 2-1) struck out eight over 6 2/3, giving up four runs on eight hits, including a home run.  Will Changarotty allowed a run on five hits in 1 2/3, stranding two of three inherited runners.  That run crossed with Jacob Patterson on the mound, as Patterson retired both batters faced but let one of Changarotty’s runners score.

Monday’s game:  vs. Burlington (13-17) (KC), 7:00 pm ET, Johan Oviedo (1-1, 5.96)

GCL Cardinals 5 at GCL Mets 3

The Gulf Birds (11-8) flew past the GCL Mets (6-13), 5-3, completing a July 18^th contest suspended in the first inning due to rain.

Delvin Perez was on first with a walk when play resumed, one of three times the lead-off batter reached base.  Jonatan Machado greeted the new pitcher with a home run, making the score 2-0.  It was the outfielder’s first long ball of his professional career, and only hit in five at bats.

Perez and Elehuris Montero each had two of the team’s nine hits, both singles.  It was Perez’ fourth multi-hit effort in his last five games and eighth time in his last nine games in which the shortstop has had a hit.  Defensively, he committed his second error, one of two miscues by the Birds.  Montero touched home once with a run driven in, one of seven Cardinals with either a run scored or RBI.

Brian Pirela hurled a solid effort, yielding three runs, two earned, on five hits and two walks through six.  One of the three tallies was via a solo home run.  Kodi Whitley struck out three in two one-two-three innings before Jim Voyles faced the minimum in the ninth for his first professional save.

Monday’s game:  at GCL Nationals (14-9), 12:00 pm ET, TBA

DSL Cardinals – off

The Dominican Summer League is idle on Sundays.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals (16-25) vs. DSL Nationals (16-26), 10:30 am ET, TBA

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Harrison Bader was a Swiss army knife for Memphis in its road win with two walks, a stolen base, a home run, two RBI and four runs scored. Mike O’Reilly pitched well in his Palm Beach debut, but the system overall went just 2-5 on Thursday.

Results from games played Thursday, July 20^th.

Memphis 10 at Oklahoma City 8

The Redbirds withstood a late charge to top the Dodgers, 10-8, for a split of the four-game road set.  Memphis (62-35) leads Nashville (OAK) by 16 ½ in the American Southern Division.

The bats got to work early, pushing across a four-spot in the first plus one more the next frame and built a 9-2 lead through six.  Wilfredo Tovar led the 14-hit attack, going 4-for-5 with a double, walk, run scored and RBI.  Nick Martini, Alex Mejia and Patrick Wisdom had two hits apiece, Wisdom hitting a two-run bomb that was his 21^st home run of 2017 to go with a double in four at bats.  Mejia also doubled once in five at bats, knocking in three while Martini crossed home twice.

Harrison Bader added a solo shot for his 19^th blast, his only hit in four at bats.  Bader was very involved in the scoring throughout, walking twice, touching home four times, driving in two and swiping his ninth base.

Luke Weaver (W, 9-1) tossed a solid effort for Memphis despite going just five innings.  The righty held Oklahoma City (52-45) to a run on four hits and a walk.

The big damage done by the Dodgers was against Josh Zeid, who was touched for six runs on six hits and a walk in 1 1/3.  Two of the scores were via one long ball and the last runner crossed under Mark Montgomery’s watch.

Montgomery yielded the final tally on four hits and a base-on-balls over 1 1/3.  Ryan Sherriff recorded the eighth’s final out, stranding two inherited, but got the hook after putting his next two batters on via a hit batsman and free pass.  Josh Lucas worked around that jam for his eighth save.

Friday’s game:  vs. Las Vegas (37-61) (NYM), 7:05 pm CT, Jack Flaherty (1-1, 3.82)

Springfield 3 at Arkansas 6

The S-Cards were clipped by the Travelers, 6-3, in the road series opener, halting their seven-game winning streak.  First-place Springfield (17-10) leads Tulsa (LAD) by a game in the North Division.

Austin Gomber (L, 4-7) simply did not have it, yielding five runs on nine hits – including a three-run home run, in just three innings. The big lefty issued one base-on-balls and did not record a strikeout.

Pedro Echemendia hurled the next three, allowing a run on two hits.  Andrew Morales and Rowan Wick each tossed a scoreless frame.

Seven of Springfield’s nine starters garnered at least one of the team’s nine hits, all singles.  Second baseman Darren Seferina was the only Cardinal with more than one hit, going 3-for-5 with a run scored.

Friday’s game:  vs. third-place Arkansas (13-14) (SEA), 7:10 pm CT, Zac Gallen (2-2, 2.35)

Palm Beach 4 vs. Daytona 2

A rain delay at the onset did not bother the Cardinals, as their Thursday victory clinched the four-game set, three games to one.  Danny Diekroeger’s two-run bomb gave Mike O’Reilly a winning Florida State League debut as the Beach Birds downed the Tortugas, 4-2. Palm Beach (14-12) sits in third, four games in back of Fort Myers (MIN).

The blast came with Shane Billings (force) aboard in the bottom of the fifth, widening the lead from 2-1 to 4-1.  It was the third baseman’s only hit in four at bats.

Billings was one of six PB-Cards with a hit apiece, singling once in four at bats with two runs scored.  Leobaldo Pina’s double was the only hit to go for extra bases.

O’Reilly (W, 1-0) was impressive in his maiden A-Advanced effort, limiting Daytona (3-23) to just three hits over eight.  Both of the tallies given up by the righty were solo home runs.  O’Reilly struck out six with seven ground- and seven fly-ball outs.  He threw 73 of his 100 pitches for strikes.

Ian McKinney recorded two outs but issued two free passes.  Estarlin Arias caught his only batter looking for his sixth save.

Friday’s game:  vs. fifth-place Charlotte (13-13) (TB), 6:30 pm ET, Junior Fernandez (5-3, 3.98)

Peoria 5 at Dayton 6 (13 innings)

An unearned run in the 13^th doomed the Chiefs to a 6-5 walk-off loss at Dayton.  Second-place Peoria (15-12) has lost the first two of the three-game series, leaving them trailing Quad Cities (HOU) by three in the West Division.

Max Almonte (L, 2-1) could not work around back-to-back fielding errors by right fielder Dylan Carlson and left fielder Mick Fennell.  The miscues came with two gone in the 13^th, the latter allowing the tie-breaking tally to score.

Almonte was the sixth Peoria hurler, beginning with Frederis Parra.  Parra permitted two runs on seven hits in 5 1/3, striking out four.

Then the bullpen took over and they were not particularly effective.  Keaton Siomkin gave up a run on a hit while retiring one.  Bryan Dobzanski (BS, 1) and Yeison Medina (BS, 1) each retired five batters while allowing two hits and multiple walks, the former permitting two tallies.  Siomkin, Dobzanski and Medina all let their only inherited runner score.  Dewin Perez settled the scoring down for three innings before Almonte took over.

Peoria banged out 11 hits, paced by catcher Brian O’Keefe, who went 4-for-6 with a double and two runs scored.  The only other hit to go for extra bases was Nick Plummer’s three-run home run, one of his two hits in five at bats.  Carlson went 2-for-5 as well.

Friday’s game:  at Dayton (10-17) (CIN), 6:00 pm CT, Austin Warner (league debut)

State College 2 at West Virginia 8

The Spikes (17-13) came out on the losing end of the battle between the Pinckney Division co-leaders, falling to the Black Bears, 8-2, in the first of three contests.

Starter Jonathon Mulford (L, 1-3) and State College’s defense put the team into an early hole from which they could not recover.  The right-hander surrendered a five-run first plus a solo shot in the third, only two of the six runs over 4 2/3 earned.  Mulford permitted nine hits and three walks.

Will Latcham struck out three in 2 1/3 but allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits, including a solo bomb.  Leland Tilley tossed a clean eighth.

Designated hitter Joshua Lopez led his squad’s eight-hit effort, going 3-for-4 with a double.  Left fielder Brandon Benson singled and doubled in four at bats with a solo home run that was one of his two RBI.

Friday’s game:  at West Virginia (18-12) (PIT), 7:05 pm ET, Andrew Summerville (1-0, 1.86)

Johnson City 1 at Burlington 8

The JC-Cards were bombed at Burlington, 8-1, preventing them from making a three-game series sweep.  Johnson City (12-16) is tied for third with Kingsport (NYM), six behind Elizabethton (MIN).

Five of the six tallies charged to Franyel Casadilla (L, 0-3) in five were produced by three long balls – a grand slam plus two solo shots.  Casadilla allowed the Royals (10-17) eight hits and three walks in all.  He also hit a batter.

Evan Guillory (2 IP) and Paul Salazar (0.2 IP) were each touched for a run.  Jacob Patterson retired his only batter, leaving two inherited aboard.

The Appy Birds had just five hits generated by five players. Alexis Wilson, Walker Robbins and Wadye Infante all doubled once. Julio Rodriguez drove in Irving Lopez (single) for his team’s only run.

Friday’s game:  vs. Danville (14-14) (ATL), 7:00 pm ET, Jacob Schlesener (1-1, 3.38)

GCL Cardinals 6 at GCL Marlins 6 (suspended, 10 innings)

Thursday’s contest between the second-place GCL Cardinals (11-8) and the fourth-place GCL Marlins (8-11) was suspended due to lightning with the score knotted at six all through 10.

Andres Luna had two hits, a stolen base and two runs scored. Starting pitcher Junior Gonzalez was charged with four runs over the first five innings, but still left with a 6-4 lead.

The game is scheduled to be completed as part of a twin bill on Tuesday, July 25^th.

The Gulf Birds trail the GCL Nationals by 1 ½ in the East Division.

Friday’s game:  at third-place GCL Astros (11-9), 12:00 pm ET, TBA

DSL Cardinals 4 at DSL Twins 5 (10 innings)

The Dominican Birds’ bullpen was unable to hold a 10^th-inning lead, resulting in a 5-4 walk-off loss to the division-leading Twins (29-11).  The Cardinals (15-25) are in eighth and last place, 14 games behind.

Hector Soto (BS, 2) (L, 3-2) retired just one batter, surrendering two runs, one earned, on an RBI triple, two intentional free passes and a wild pitch.  The first run was due to the runner beginning the extra frame on second base.

Diego Cordero went the first six, giving up three tallies on 10 hits.  Dionis Zamora fanned four over the next three, walking two.

Only one of the Dominican Birds’ 10 hits went for extra bases, a double by center fielder Carlos Soler, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored.  Shortstop Franklin Soto and catcher Ivan Herrera had three hits apiece, Soto crossing home twice in four at bats and Herrera knocking in two in five at bats.

Friday’s game:  at fourth-place DSL Angels (19-21), 10:30 am ET, Francis Ventura (1-2, 3.77)

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Results from games played Tuesday, July 18^th.

Memphis 1 at Oklahoma City 4

The Redbirds dropped a 4-1 decision at Oklahoma City, snapping a seven-game winning streak and evening the series at one game each with two on tap.  Memphis (61-34) is 17 ½ games ahead of Nashville (OAK) in the American Southern Division.

Marco Gonzales (L, 6-4) was not at his best, yielding a three-run third plus another score the next frame, allowing six hits, two walks and a hit batsman through six.  Trey Nielsen and Miguel Socolovich each tossed an inning.

The visitors matched their hosts’ seven hits but, unlike the Dodgers, the Redbirds’ hits were not grouped together.  Nick Martini singled twice in three at bats with an RBI, the only player with more than one hit. The right fielder drove in Gonzales who singled to open the third.

Wednesday’s game:  at Oklahoma City (51-44) (LAD), 7:05 pm CT, John Gant (1-4, 3.13)

Springfield 8 vs. Northwest Arkansas 3

The S-Cards (16-9) transformed 11 hits into eight tallies in their 8-3 victory over the Naturals, clinching the four-game set with one to play.  Springfield’s sixth consecutive win has left them atop the North Division, a game in front of Tulsa (LAD).

Three Springfield players went yard: Anthony Garcia, Jacob Wilson and Bruce Caldwell.  Those home runs generated six of their eight scores.  Garcia padded a 2-0 lead in the third with a three-run bomb, his 15^th of 2017 and only hit in four at bats.  Wilson’s solo shot was part of a three-run eighth, the third baseman adding a sac fly to his 1-for-3 effort.

Caldwell was one of three S-Cards with a multi-hit performance, joining Andrew Knizner and Randy Arozarena.  Caldwell went 2-for-3 with a two-run blast and walk, touching home twice while Knizner led the hitting by singling three times in four at bats.  Arozarena singled and doubled in four at bats, scoring twice.

Sandy Alcantara (W, 5-5) put together a solid effort, holding Northwest Arkansas to a run on seven hits and three free passes in 5 2/3.  Jacob Evans retired all four batters faced, stranding two inherited.  Dailyn Martinez was touched for two runs on six hits, both tallies produced by a long ball.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. third-place Northwest Arkansas (11-14) (KC), 6:30 pm CT, Chris Ellis (2-4, 3.82)

Palm Beach vs. Daytona – suspended

The first of three contests for Palm Beach (12-11) versus Daytona was suspended due to rain with two gone in the bottom of the second and the Beach Birds up 1-0 with a runner on second.  The game will be completed on Wednesday, July 19^th, as part of a twin bill.

The Cards are tied for fourth with Jupiter (MIA), 4 ½ in back of Fort Myers (MIN).

Wednesday’s games:  vs. Daytona (2-21) (CIN), 6:30 pm ET, Connor Jones (6-4, 4.03)

Peoria – off

The second-place Chiefs (15-10) look for their third consecutive series’ win as they begin six-game road trip through Eastern Division rivals Dayton (CIN) and Bowling Green (TB).  Peoria is two games behind Quad Cities (HOU) in the Western Division.

Wednesday’s game:  at Dayton (8-17), 7:00 pm ET, Evan Kruczynski (1-1, 4.50)

State College 9 at Williamsport 3 (7) – Game 1

State College 3 at Williamsport 1 (8) – Game 2

Center fielder Scott Hurst’s bat lifted the Spikes to a double-header sweep at Williamsport, 9-3 and 3-1, clinching the three-game series with one contest remaining.  The sweep moved State College (16-11) into a three-way tie for first with Mahoning Valley (CLE) and West Virginia (PIT).

Hurst, our co-Player of the Day, garnered five hits, accounting for six tallies over the two games.  The center fielder was one of two Spikes to go 3-for-4 in the opener, along with Bryce Denton, who finished a home run shy of the cycle with three runs scored and one driven in.  He followed that up by singling and doubling in three at bats with a base-on-balls, touching home twice.

The opener’s balanced offensive attack featured 16 hits spread among eight starters.  Denton crossed home once but it was Ricardo Bautista’s third long ball of the season that got the scoring started.  It came with two aboard in the first and was one of his two hits and two runs scored in four at bats.  Tyler Lancaster, Matt Davis and Edwin Figuera each had two hits, the latter two scoring once.

Daniel Castano fanned nine in 5 1/3, surrendering three runs in eight hits to improve his record to a perfect 6-0.  Noel Gonzalez worked around two hits over 1 2/3, leaving Castano’s last runner aboard.

Game 2 was a low-scoring affair, each team manufacturing just five hits.  Hurst had two, singling and doubling in three at bats with a walk.  The Cal State Fullerton product scored both his squad’s first and last runs.  The second of right fielder Brandon Benson’s two singles in three at bats knocked in Hurst for an insurance run in the eighth.

Reliever Spencer Traynor picked up his third win in four decisions despite being charged with his second blown save.  The right-hander entered the game with one gone in the seventh and his team clinging to a 1-0 lead.  But one of his two free passes plus two singles sent the game into extras.  Traynor tossed a one-two-three eighth.

Levi MaVorhis went the initial 3 2/3, permitting two hits and a base-on-balls, striking out four.  Leland Tilley retired four straight, leaving on one inherited runner.  Colton Thomson used three K’s to maneuver around a hit and walk in 1 1/3.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Williamsport (14-12) (PHI), 7:05 pm ET, Sam Tewes (2-2, 4.30)

Johnson City 6 at Burlington 3

A four-run third resulted in the JC-Cards’ 6-3 win over Burlington in the road series opener.  Johnson City (11-15) is tied for third with Kingsport (NYM), five behind Elizabethton (MIN) and Greeneville (HOU).

The Appy Birds banged out 11 hits, led by Chase Pinder and J.D. Murders, who had three apiece.  Pinder doubled once in five at bats with a run scored and two RBI while Murders touched home once in four at bats with his first stolen base.  Catcher Julio Rodriguez doubled twice in four at bats, scored one and knocked in two, the only other player with more than one hit.

Reliever Jake Walsh was perfect over 3 1/3 frames and was credited with the victory, his third in as many decisions.  Thomas St. Clair tossed the final two innings for his second save.

Both pitched in relief of Alvaro Seijas, who was unable to finish the fourth.  Seijas yielded all three (earned) tallies over 3 2/3 in that inning, giving up six hits and two walks in all and hitting a batter.

Wednesday’s game:  at Burlington (9-16) (KC), 11:00 am ET, Johan Oviedo (1-1, 3.57)

GCL Cardinals at GCL Mets

The contest between the GCL Cardinals (10-8) and GCL Mets (5-12) was suspended due to rain in the top of the first after Delvin Perez had worked a free pass.  The game is scheduled to be completed on Sunday, July 23.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. GCL Nationals (12-5), 12:00 pm ET, Winston Nicacio (1-2, 7.24)

DSL Cardinals 12 at DSL Phillies Red 2

Their bats were hot and starter even hotter as the DSL Cardinals (15-22) rolled to a 12-2 victory over the DSL Phillies Red (15-22). The win moves the Dominican Birds into a three-way tie for fifth, along with the Phillies Red and Yankees.  All three trail the division-leading DSL Twins by 11.

For the second straight start, 18-year-old Enmanuel Solano tossed a one hitter. The only batter to reach against him through six innings was his second batter faced whom he hit with a pitch.  The righty, our co-Player of the Day, retired the next 17 straight before running into trouble when he allowed a walk-RBI triple sequence to his first two faced.  A sac fly scored the second tally, ending Solano’s day.  He fanned two with 11 ground- to three fly-ball outs.

Two relievers took care of the last eight outs:  Roy Garcia and Anthony Trompiz.  Garcia recorded five outs, issuing two free passes and Trompiz worked around shortstop Raffy Ozuna’s fielding error in the ninth.

The en fuego offense generated 12 runs, all earned, on 18 hits and eight base-on-balls. Second baseman Franklin Soto led the charge, singling four times in six at bats, crossing once and driving in three.

Three players had three hits apiece:  left fielder Alexander Samuel, third baseman Pablo Gomez and catcher Ivan Herrera.  Samuel accounted for five runs, scoring three with two RBI, with his triple the only one of the 18 hits to go for extra bases.

Wednesday’s games:  doubleheader vs. first-place DSL Twins (26-11).  Game one – 10:30 am ET, TBA

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(photo: Marco Gonzales/Memphis Redbirds)

Player of the Day Marco Gonzales retired 13 straight for Memphis, in one of the system’s five wins in nine tries on Thursday.  Peoria’s Stefan Trosclair had four hits and Wadye Ynfante went deep twice for Johnson City.

Results from games played Thursday, July 13^th.

Memphis 6 vs. Round Rock 2       

The Redbirds flew past the Express, 8-2, at AutoZone Park on Thursday, the first of four games between the two squads.  Memphis (57-33) holds the best record in the Pacific Coast League, leading Nashville (OAK) by 14 ½.

Facing Round Rock for the second consecutive start, Player of the Day Marco Gonzales (W, 6-3) fanned eight over six strong frames.  The lefty was touched for two first-inning tallies on a walk and two hits but retired the next 13 in a row before allowing a single to open the sixth.

Zach Duke hurled a one-two-three seventh, K’ing one, the third scoreless inning since his rehab assignment moved to Triple-A.  Mark Montgomery struck out two over the last two frames.

The home team’s 12-hit attack was spearheaded by Breyvic Valera, who singled three times in four at bats, touching home twice and going 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts.  Three Redbirds gathered two hits apiece:  Aledmys Diaz, Rangel Ravelo and Patrick Wisdom.  Diaz went 2-for-4 with a run scored and one driven in but was one of three Memphis players to be caught stealing, joined by Ravelo and Nick Martini.  Ravelo doubled twice in three at bats with a base-on-balls and RBI.

But it was Wisdom who brought the big fire power that accounted for half of his team’s scores.  The third baseman launched his 18^th home run of the season, a three-run shot that flipped a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead that was never relinquished.

Friday’s game:  vs. Round Rock (41-50) (TEX), 7:05 pm CT, John Gant (1-4, 3.33)

Springfield 4 at Arkansas 1

Sandy Alcantara tossed six solid innings as the S-Cards stopped the Travelers, 2-1, evening the road series at one game each with two on tap.  Springfield (11-9) moves into sole possession of second with the victory, two behind Tulsa (LAD).

The only blemish on Alcantara’s night (W, 4-5) was a solo blast that was one of only two hits permitted.  The righty did issue four free passes and threw a wild pitch.

Andrew Morales spun two one-two-three innings, matching Alcantara’s three strikeouts.  Making his first appearance for Springfield since being activated from Memphis’ disabled list, Rowan Wick worked around a one-out walk for his first save.

Springfield’s offense consisted of eight hits, led by two players with two hits apiece:  Randy Arozarena and John Nogowski.  Both players went 2-for-4, Arozarena tripling once with a run scored and Nogowski doubling one time with one knocked in.

Friday’s game:  at Arkansas (9-10) (SEA), 7:10 pm CT, TBA

Jupiter 8 at Palm Beach 1 (Game 1)

Jupiter 4 at Palm Beach 1 (7 innings) (Game 2)

The Beach Birds dropped a twin bill to the Hammerheads, 8-1 and 4-1, extending their losing streak to six.  Palm Beach (10-10) has fallen into fourth place, 5 ½ behind Fort Myers (MIN).

The first contest completed Wednesday’s game that was suspended due to rain in the home half of the second with the PB-Cards trailing 2-0.  Jake Woodford took the loss, his fifth in 10 decisions, yielding two runs on two hits, a free pass and a plunked batter in his only inning of work.

Reliever Ross Vance took over when play resumed Thursday, and went four frames, permitting a three-run home run, one of two hits and a base-on-balls given up.  He struck out five, hit two batters and picked off one.  Brady Bowen and Ramon Santos tossed two innings each, Bowen fanning two and Santos allowing three runs on six hits.

Blake Drake and Andy Young both went 2-for-4 with a double, with Drake scoring the lone run.

It was more of the same in the seven-inning finale, as Palm Beach generated just four hits, one of them Drake’s fourth long ball of 2017.

Jordan Hicks (L, 0-1) struck out seven through five in his A-Advanced debut, allowing three runs on five hits and a free pass.  Ian McKinney yielded two hits and a walk the next frame, one of whom scored but the other two were stranded by Hector Mendoza.  Mendoza retired all four batters faced, two via strike outs.

Friday’s game:  vs. Jupiter (11-9) (MIA), 12:00 pm ET, Connor Jones (6-4, 4.20)

Peoria 4 vs. Lake County 1

Stefan Trosclair had a perfect night at the plate as the Chiefs downed the Captains, 4-1, clinching the three-game series with one to go.  Second-place Peoria (13-8) maintained pace with first-place Quad Cities (HOU) with the win, a team they trail by three.

Trosclair finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with a walk, double and solo bomb.  His double drove in Kramer Robertson after the latter singled to open to the first, Robertson’s only hit in four at bats.  Trosclair alsoswiped his 12^th stolen base.

J.R. Davis blasted one out of Dozer Park as well. The bases empty shot broke a 1-1 tie the next inning.  Davis added a single to his home run, driving in two.

That was more than enough offense for Evan Kruczynski, who held the opposition to a run on five hits and a walk through six, picking up his first professional win against one loss.  The southpaw struck out six.

Bryan Dobzanski fanned three in 1 2/3, allowing two hits.  His final runner was stranded by steady Eric Carter, who retired all four faced, two on strikeouts, for his eighth save.

Friday’s game:  vs. Lake County (9-11) (CLE), 7:00 pm CT, Frederis Parra (1-2, 3.06)

State College 7 at Tri-City 6

Tyler Lancaster’s grand slam built an early lead as the Spikes held on to edge the ValleyCats, 7-6, in the decisive third game of the series.  State College (13-10) remains tied for second with Mahoning Valley (CLE), a game in back of West Virginia (PIT).

Lancaster’s first long ball came with a run already across in the third.  The first baseman also doubled in three at bats with a walk and the aforementioned run scored.  Shortstop Imeldo Diaz singled twice in four at bats, driving in two, the only other State College player with more than one of the team’s 10 hits.

The bomb by Lancaster gave the Spikes a 7-2 lead midway through three – and the team needed every single run.  Daniel Castano (W, 5-0) fanned six over 5 2/3, permitting three runs, two earned, on seven hits and a base-on-balls.  His own fielding miscue was responsible for the unearned tally.

But the bullpen made the game interesting, with two of the Spikes’ three relievers being scored upon.  Steven Farinaro retired his first batter, stranding one inherited, but was touched for a run on a triple and ground out in the seventh.  Farinaro’s night ended after he began the eighth by hitting the lead-off batter.

Leland Tilley maneuvered around a walk for a scoreless frame but Spencer Trayner picked up his first save the hard way.  Trayner surrendered a two-run home run, bringing the visitors within one, but managed to secure the final out.

Friday’s game:  at Brooklyn (6-16) (NYM), 6:40 pm ET, Jonathon Mulford (0-2, 5.40)

Bristol 16 at Johnson City 7

The Appy Birds were keelhauled by the Pirates, 16-7, leaving them trailing in the series, two games to none, with one to play.  Johnson City (8-13) has lost three straight, falling into fourth in the West Division, six in back of Elizabethton (MIN).

It got ugly pretty quickly with Alvaro Seijas (L, 1-1) allowing 11 runs, six earned, on nine hits and two free passes over three plus.  Seijas, who did not retire any of the seven Pirates that came to the plate in the fourth, fanned four.

The game did not get much better when the bullpen entered the game, as the next three relievers all were scored upon.  Jake Dahlberg pitched the fourth through sixth, yielding a run on three hits.  Paul Salazar gave up three tallies on two hits and two walks in his inning on the bump.  Juan Alvarez tossed a clean eighth but left the sacks jammed with none out the next inning on two walks sandwiched around a double.  The only one of those three runners to score off Evan Guillory was on a double play ball.

The JC-Cards’ bats generated enough offense for a win in most cases, accumulating 11 hits and five free passes.  Wadye Ynfante and Luis Bandes each had three hits in four and five at bats, respectively.  In fact, Infante had a multi-hit home run night, sending two over the wall that accounted for three of his four RBI.  Chase Pinder and Wood Myers had two hits apiece.

Friday’s game:  vs. fifth-place Bristol (7-14) (PIT), 7:00 pm ET, Johan Oviedo (1-1, 2.70)

GCL Cardinals 9 vs. GCL Mets 8

The Gulf Birds came out on top of a wild one, walking off with a 9-8 win over the Mets (5-9).  The second-place Cardinals (7-7) kept pace with the Nationals, who won their fifth straight, although they trail the division leaders by 3 ½.

After squandering leads of 5-1, 8-4 and 8-5 – the last lead with three outs to go – the home team scored the margin of victory sans benefit of a hit.  Second baseman Moises Castillo, a defensive substitution in the top of the frame, opened with a base-on-balls.  Two sac bunts and Delvin Perez’ sac fly brought Castillo across.  (Yes, that is three outs but second baseman/center fielder Luis Flores reached base on his sac bunt with neither a hit nor error attributed.)

Flores was one of three Gulf Birds with two hits, joining right fielder Sanel Rosendo and third baseman Donivan Williams.  All three went 2-for-4, Flores tripling once with an RBI and Rosendo doubling once while driving in three. Williams scored once and committed his first error.

Center fielder Jonatan Machado singled once in three at bats with a walk, hit-by-pitch and crossed home three times while Perez went 1-for-4 with a walk, double, sac fly, stolen base, strikeout and run scored.

It took six Gulf Birds pitchers plus rehabbing Arturo Reyes to navigate nine innings.  Five of the seven were not scored upon but wowzers, did the other two get lit up!

One was starter Winston Nicacio, who was pitching for only the second time in 12 days.  Nicacio fell prey to the long ball, as three of the four runs charged to him came via on two home runs.  Both bombs came in the three-run fourth, the latter finishing his day.  The 20-year-old allowed eight hits and a walk in 3 1/3.

C.J. Saylor began a string of four Gulf Cards’ hurlers not scored upon.  Saylor retired both batters faced before handing the ball off to Reyes, who worked the fourth.  Cory Malcom gave up a hit and walk in 1/3 of an inning but both runners were left on by Enrique Perez, who retired five.

But reliever Noel DeJesus did not fare as well.  DeJesus gave up an unearned run in the eighth plus three earned runs the next frame that allowed the Gulf Mets to knot the game at eight all.  Gabriel Gentner (BS, 1) (W, 2-0) let DeJesus’ last runner touch home before he recorded the final out.

Friday’s game:  at GCL Nationals (10-3), 12:00 pm ET, Junior Gonzalez (1-0, 3.95)

DSL Cardinals 1 at DSL Mets1 7

The Dominican Birds trailed from the start in their 7-1 loss to the second-place Mets1. The sixth-place Cardinals (14-20) trail the Twins by 11 games.

Diego Cordero (L, 1-3) took a tough loss as he received little benefit from either his defense or offense.  The southpaw went five frames, allowing two unearned tallies on two first-inning miscues plus an earned score in the third on five hits and a walk in total.

Right-hander Jose Geronimo tossed the next 1 2/3, permitting three runs on three hits and a free pass.  Anthony Trompiz allowed a run on two hits and a hit batsman over 1 1/3.

Second baseman and lead-off batter Pablo Gomez had two of his team’s five hits, singling twice in four at bats.  The Cards’ only run came after shortstop Franklin Soto reached base on a fielding error, advanced to third via back-to-back walks and scored when third baseman Francisco Hernandez grounded into a 4-6 force.

Friday’s game:  vs. DSL Mets1 (24-11), 10:30 am ET, Francis Ventura (1-2, 2.92)

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Results from games played Tuesday, July 11^th.

Memphis – off     

The Redbirds are in the midst of the Pacific Coast League All-Star break.  The Triple-A All-Star Game will take place on Wednesday, July 12^th, at 8:00 pm CT at Cheney Field, home of the Tacoma Rainiers (SEA).  Three Memphis players, catcher Carson Kelly, lefty reliever Ryan Sherriff and right-handed starter Luke Weaver, were named to the team, with Weaver having since been promoted to St. Louis, then returned.

Wednesday’s game:  off

Springfield – off

Fresh off a 6-4 home stand versus two South Division rivals, second-place Springfield (10-8) heads out on a brief four-game road trip to fourth-place Arkansas (SEA).

Wednesday’s game:  at Arkansas (8-10), 7:10 pm CT, Dakota Hudson (7-3, 2.63)

Palm Beach – off

Third-place Palm Beach (10-8) will try to halt a four-game losing skid as they begin a three-game series with fourth-place Jupiter (MIA) at Roger Dean Stadium.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Jupiter (9-9), 6:30 pm ET, Jake Woodford (5-4. 2.96)

Peoria – off

Second-place Peoria (11-8) opens a six-game home stand versus Eastern Division foes, Lake County (CLE) and Fort Wayne (SD).

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Lake County (9-9), 7:00 pm CT, Ian Oxnevad (3-8, 4.11)

State College 0 at Tri-City 7

The Spikes (11-10) were blanked by Tri-City, 7-0, in the road series opener Tuesday evening.

All five runs charged to Anthony Shew (L, 2-2) over 6 2/3 came in the third, two of them products of a home run.  The righty gave up seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts.  Noel Gonzalez allowed two runs on a hit and three walks in 1 1/3.

The visitors were limited to five hits in all, three by catcher Joshua Lopez, who doubled once in four at bats.  He was also charged with his fourth passed ball of 2017.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Tri-City (8-12) (HOU), 7:00 pm ET, Sam Tewes (1-2, 4.84)

Johnson City – off

Johnson City (8-11) hosts Bristol (PIT) for three before beginning a six-game road trip.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Bristol (5-14), 7:00 pm ET, Edwar Ramirez (1-2, 6.32)

GCL Cardinals 3 at GCL Astros 4

The Gulf Birds (6-7) could not recover from an early deficit, falling to the GCL Astros, 4-3.

Starter Brian Pirela (L, 0-2) was bitten by the long ball, surrendering a two-run blast in the first plus solo shots in the third and fourth.  The righty went five innings in all, permitting seven hits and two free passes.

A quartet of relievers shared the final four frames.  Chris Hunt and Enrique Perez each tossed a one-two-three inning but Jim Voyles got into trouble by walking two after retiring his first two faced.  Patrick Dayton cleaned up the mess by inducing a 6-4 force out.

The GCL Cardinals generated six hits, with Jonatan Machado the only player having more than one.  In his 2017 debut, the center fielder singled twice in four at bats, scoring once.  Catcher Robbie Coman’s only hit in three at bats was his first professional home run.  Shortstop Delvin Perez had a rough day in his first game back in the GCL after being sent down from Johnson City, going hitless in five at bats with three strikeouts.

Wednesday’s game: off

DSL Cardinals 2 vs. DSL Yankees 1

Enmanuel Solano spun seven frames of shutout ball as the DSL Cardinals (13-19) slipped past the DSL Yankees, 2-1.

Solano (W, 2-0) had a perfect game through six and faced just two over the minimum overall.  The seventh was a bit rocky, however, after the 18-year-old Dominican right-hander issued a free pass to his first batter and line drive single to left to his second.  But Solano escaped via a force out at third, pop out and ground out.

Roy Garcia gave up a single and walk and was charged with an unearned tally when a steal of third resulted in a throwing error by catcher Ivan Herrera, allowing the lead runner to come home.  Dionis Zamora survived a two-out single and wild pitch for his fifth save.

The home team capitalized on three Yankees’ miscues to score unearned runs in the third and seventh.  First baseman Cristhian Longa generated almost all of his team’s offense, going 4-for-4, but did not figure in the scoring.

Wednesday’s game:  at DSL Yankees (14-18), 10:30 am ET, Wilfredo Pereira (0-4, 3.00)

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Results from games played Sunday, July 9^th.

Memphis 2 at Nashville 1 (10)

A 10^th-inning home run by Breyvic Valera gave the Redbirds a 2-1 victory over the Sounds in the rubber game of the three-game series.  Memphis leads second-place Nashville (42-48) (OAK) by 14 1/2 in the American Southern Division.

Valera’s long ball was his only hit in four at bats and one of just six for the team.  Rangel Ravelo and Adolis Garcia had two hits apiece, with Ravelo driving in Harrison Bader after the center fielder singled with two gone in the sixth.  Garcia swiped two bags.

A quintet of Redbirds hurlers held Nashville to six hits as well.  Josh Zeid gave up three hits and a walk through five.  Zeid was in line for the win until Trey Nielsen (BS, 1) yielded a tally on two hits and a base-on-balls in the sixth’s home half.

The second Memphis appearance for Zach Duke on his rehab trail consisted of working around a hit for a scoreless seventh.  Miguel Socolovich faced the minimum in the eighth while Josh Lucas (W, 6-0) retired all six batters faced, three on strikeouts.

Monday’s game:  Off for the Pacific Coast League All-Star break

MLB All-Star Futures Game – USA 7, World 6

The only Cardinal in this year’s Futures Game was Jack Flaherty of Memphis. The right-hander pitched the sixth inning with a 7-1 lead. Despite throwing 14 of 17 pitches for strikes, Flaherty gave up two runs on two hits, a leadoff single, followed by a double. The runs came home on a sac fly and a ground out.

Springfield 12 vs. Frisco 8

The S-Cards twice rallied from deficits to fly past the RoughRiders, 12-8. Springfield (10-7), which has clinched the three-game series with one to go, moves into sole possession of second place with the win, a game behind Tulsa (LAD).

With Springfield down 3-0 midway through three, Randy Arozarena’s two-run bomb in the bottom of the frame capped a four-run drive, putting Springfield up 4-3.  But in the sixth, Austin Gomber (W, 4-6) served up his second two-run long ball, which only inspired his squad to score six more times when they came to bat that inning.  That scoring was finished off by Kolten Wong’s three-run blast.  The home team padded their lead with two more scores in the seventh.

Wong, making his third rehab start for Springfield, was one of three S-Cards accumulating three hits, joining Andrew Knizner and John Nogowski.  The second baseman added a double and single to his bomb in five at bats, scored twice and drove in four.  Knizner also went 3-for-5, doubling once and touching home twice while Nogowski went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI out of the eight hole.  Arozarena and Jacob Wilson added two hits apiece.

The home runs permitted by Gomber were two of only five hits the lefty gave up over seven innings.  He issued one free pass and fanned five.

Kevin Siegrist was touched for two runs on three hits and a base-on-balls in the seventh, the second outing since his rehab assignment began.  Andrew Morales allowed a hit and walk in his inning on the bump.

Monday’s game:  vs. Frisco (8-9) (TEX), 6:30 pm CT, Matt Pearce (9-5, 3.03)

Palm Beach 2 at Fort Myers 4

Two late tallies doomed the third-place Beach Birds to a 4-2 loss at the hands of the Miracle.  Palm Beach (10-7) will try to salvage the finale of the four-game set on Monday.

Half of the home team’s runs were generated by two solo shots by Fort Myers’ number nine batter.  The second blast came off Hector Mendoza (L, 0-1), breaking a 2-2 eighth-inning tie.  A run charged to Ross Vance later that frame sealed the loss.

Junior Fernandez went the initial 4 1/3, yielding a run on a hit and three walks.  That run scored under Brennan Leitao’s watch, after Fernandez was forced to depart with an arm injury.  It was his first outing after coming off the disabled list. Leitao was charged with a run of his own on three hits over 1 1/3.  Estarlin Arias recorded the eighth-inning’s final out.

The visitors were held to just five hits, the big one a two-run home run by Danny Diekroeger that scored Chris Chinea (single).  Any Young was the only PB-Card with a multi-hit effort, singling twice in three at bats with a stolen base.

Monday’s game:  vs. first-place Fort Myers (11-4) (MIN), 7:05 pm ET, Ryan Helsley (7-2, 3.01)

Peoria 1 at Cedar Rapids 2

The Chiefs came out on the wrong end of a low-scoring affair, losing to the Kernels, 2-1.  Peoria (10-8), which drops into a tie for second with Cedar Rapids with the loss, will try to salvage the fourth and final game of the series on Monday.

The difference was an unearned tally with Juan Perez (L, 2-2) pitching in the seventh.  The righty had limited his opponents to a solo long ball, one of four hits allowed over six.  But Perez was his own worst enemy the next inning.  He fanned his lead-off batter swinging only to have the runner end up on second because of a wild pitch and his subsequent throwing error.  His day ended after an attempted sac bunt resulted in runners at the corners due to another throwing error by Perez.

Keaton Siomkin limited the damage, yielding a sac fly and single before notching two swinging K’s.  Two of the three outs recorded by Yeison Medina were strikeouts.

The visitors’ only run occurred in the second after Stefan Trosclair and Danny Hudzina singled back-to-back with one gone.  Trosclair scored on a sac fly by Juan Yepez.  Peoria managed just one more hit the rest of the game.

Monday’s game:  at Cedar Rapids (9-8) (MIN), 12:05 pm CT, Mike O’Reilly (7-2, 1.76)

State College 12 at Auburn 13 (12)

The Spikes mounted a big ninth-inning rally only to fall to Auburn in 12 innings, 13-12, in the decisive third game of the series.  State College (11-9) slides into a two-way tie for second with Williamsport (PHI) with the defeat, two in back of West Virginia (PIT).

The six-run ninth was generated by four of the team’s 14 hits plus three of their 10 free passes.  Five Spikes produced a multi-hit game, paced by center fielder Scott Hurst, who singled three times in six at bats with a run scored.  Zach Kirtley, Joshua Lopez, Ricardo Bautista and Imeldo Diaz each had two hits, with Kirtley doubling twice and Bautista once and adding a two-run home run.

Only four of 13 runs by the sixth-place Doubledays (7-13) (WSH) were earned, thanks to two State College miscues.  Four of the seven runs allowed by starter Paul Balestrieri in just 2 2/3 were unearned, the righty permitting five hits and two bases-on-balls.

Noel Gonzalez was charged with an earned run, the final score in Auburn’s six-run third.  Andrew Summerville struck out six over the next three, temporarily calming Auburn’s offense.

But four more unearned scores were in the offing, one with Colton Thomson (1 plus IP) and three with Leland Tilley (0.2 IP) at the controls.  Steven Farinaro’s pitching provided respite for the next 2 1/3 before he gave way to Spencer Traynor.  Traynor (L, 2-1) tossed a clean 11^th but permitted the winning tally the next inning.  Erstwhile starter Levi MaVorhis kept the Spikes within one by stranding two inherited runners, but the offense could not answer in the home 12th.

Monday’s game:  Off

Johnson City 2 at Elizabethton 1

The Appy Birds capitalized on Twins’ miscues to edge Elizabethton, 2-1, snapping a six-game losing streak.  Third-place Johnson City (8-10) trails in the series, two games to one, with one on tap.

Each team committed more errors (three apiece) than they scored runs, with all of the game’s tallies unearned.  Two JC-Cards’ flubs put Elizabethton up 1-0 after seven but Johnson City replied with two of their own via a passed ball and two throwing errors by the Twins’ hurler in the eighth.

Reliever Jake Dahlberg (W, 1-0) was assigned the win despite being on the mound when his defense was misfiring in the seventh.  Jacob Patterson struck out three over the next two for his third save.

Dahlberg and Patterson pitched in relief of Brett Seeburger, who fanned six over the first six, blanking his opponents on four hits and one free pass.  That performance in his second professional start earns the southpaw our Player of the Day nod.

Monday’s game:  vs. second-place Elizabethton (12-6), 7:00 pm ET, Jacob Schlesener (0-1, 1.54)

GCL Nationals 4 at GCL Cardinals 3

Four early scores against starter Angel Rondon resulted in a 4-3 loss by the third-place Gulf Cardinals to the first-place Nationals (8-3).

All four tallies, three earned, scored in the first two of Rondon’s four-inning outing.  The 19-year-old allowed eight hits, absorbing his second loss against no wins.

Memphis reliever Rowan Wick continued his rehab assignment with a one-two-three fifth, his fourth scoreless outing in four appearances.  Enrique Perez and Kodi Whitley’s scoreless frames were sandwiched around Alex Fagalde’s two-inning effort.  Fagalde fanned three.

The home team managed eight hits spread among seven players.  Designated hitter Donivan Williams went 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored but was picked off first once.  Center fielder Terry Fuller got his team on the board with a second-inning solo blast, his only hit in four at bats with three strikeouts.

Monday’s game:  at second-place GCL Marlins (6-5), 12:00 pm ET, Kevin Hamann (0-0, 10.80)

DSL Cardinals – off

The Dominican Summer League does not play on Sundays.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals (12-18) vs. DSL Rockies (15-15), 10:30 am ET, Jose Moreno (0-1, 3.72)

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Results from games played Thursday, July 6^th.

Memphis 7 at Round Rock 4     

The Redbirds used a five-run fourth to build a commanding lead for a three-game road sweep of the third-place Express (39-48) (TEX), 7-4.  Memphis (54-32) has won four straight and sits a whopping 13 1/2 up on second-place Nashville (OAK).

All seven tallies were generated via home runs from Harrison Bader, Patrick Wisdom and Aledmys Diaz.  Bader, who went yard for the third consecutive game, and Wisdom both hit it out with one on and Diaz did it with two aboard.  It was their only hit in four, three and five at bats, respectively.

Nick Martini did what a lead-off hitter is supposed to do – get on base.  The left fielder went 4-for-5 with two runs scored.  Adolis Garcia had two more of Memphis’ 10 hits, singling twice in four at bats.

A quartet of Memphis hurlers took the mound, starting with Mike Mayers, who likely was not fully stretched out after his recent 10 days in St. Louis’ bullpen. The reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Month went three frames, giving up a run on six hits and a walk.

Tyler Bray (W, 1-0) was charged with three runs, two earned, on four hits in two.  Trey Nielsen grounded the Express’ offense on a hit over the next three and Mark Montgomery struck out the side for his third save.

Friday’s game:  at Nashville (41-46), 7:05 pm CT, Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.27)

Springfield 2 vs. Midland 1

Andrew Knizner’s big bomb gave the S-Cards a 2-1 walk-off win over the RockHounds, clinching the three-game series with one to play.  Springfield (8-6) is tied for second with Northwest Arkansas (KC), both teams trailing Tulsa (LAD) by a game.

WALK OFF WINNER FOR YOUR SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS!!! pic.twitter.com/uVMhBvywlh

— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 7, 2017

Knizner’s home run, his second since joining Springfield from Peoria, was his only hit in three at bats and one of only six hits overall by the S-Cards.  Magneuris Sierra singled and doubled in four at bats with an RBI, his first multi-hit game since June 24^th.  His double drove in Randy Arozarena, who had reached on a fielding error by Midland’s first baseman.  Arozarena ended up at third on the play.  Designated hitter Gabriel Lino singled twice in four at bats.

Randy Arozarena with one of the craziest plays we've seen in years! #SCTop10 @espn @MLB @MiLB pic.twitter.com/qtb3rVeIm1

— SpringfieldCardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 7, 2017

But this game belonged to the S-Cards’ pitching staff, who scattered a collective nine hits and four free passes.  Dakota Hudson used eight strikeouts over the first seven innings to negate seven hits, three walks and a hit batsman.  Hudson allowed Midland’s only tally.

Blake McKnight permitted a two-out double in his inning on the bump.  Andrew Morales worked a scoreless ninth despite a hit and walk yielded, putting him in line for his first win of the season.

Friday’s game:  vs. Midland (3-11) (OAK), 7:10 pm CT, Sandy Alcantara (3-5, 5.57)

Palm Beach 4 vs. Bradenton 3 (12)

It took 12 innings, but the Beach Birds finally prevailed over third-place Bradenton, 4-3, in the rubber game of the series.  The victory keeps Palm Beach (10-4) a half game up on second-place Fort Myers (MIN) heading into their three-game road series.

Thomas Spitz worked his second free pass of the game with one gone in the 12^th.  A two-out single by Danny Diekroeger moved Spitz to third and Blake Drake’s bunt single back to the mound gave the PB-Cards the walk-off win.

Diekroeger’s single was his third hit in six at bats, as he joined Chris Chinea, who scored one and knocked in another.  Drake and Andy Young both singled twice with an RBI. Drake was one of three Beach Birds with a stolen base along with Spitz and Lane Thomas.

The home team had a chance to win it in regulation, but the Marauders (8-6) (PIT) tied it up with a ninth-inning tally against the combination of Ramon Santos and Jacob Evans (BS, 2).  Santos struck out two but allowed a double, with the baserunner scoring on the only hit Evans allowed in 1 1/3.

Jake Woodford tossed six strong frames, holding his opponents to a run on eight hits.  He left with his team up 2-1, but Ross Vance (BS, 2) gave up a tally in the first of his two-inning stint.  Chandler Hawkins finished the game by maneuvering around a hit and two walks over two for his third win in four decisions.

Friday’s game:  at Fort Myers (9-4), 7:05 pm ET, Derian Gonzalez (4-7, 4.09)

Peoria 4 vs. Beloit 0

Ian Oxnevad compiled his best start of the season as the Chiefs blanked the Snappers, 4-0, for a three-game series sweep.  Second-place Peoria (10-5) kept pace with league-leading Quad Cities (HOU) with the victory, the latter having won six straight.

Oxnevad (W, 3-8) shut down Beloit (8-7) on just five hits and two free passes through seven.  It was the first time in 15 games that the lefty had held his opponents scoreless.  Oxnevad struck out four with 12 ground- to just two fly-ball outs, earning a co-Player of the Day nod.

Max Almonte and Yeison Medina each worked around two hits for a scoreless frame.

Eight of nine players took part in the Chiefs’ balanced offensive effort with either a hit or RBI.  Danny Hudzina, Dylan Carlson and Mick Fennell went 2-for-4, Hudzina scoring once and the other two knocking in one.  Nick Plummer got a hit for the third time in his last four games.

Friday’s game:  at fourth-place Cedar Rapids (7-8) (MIN), 6:35 pm CT, Frederis Parra (1-1, 3.03)

State College 9 at Williamsport 0

Behind a huge night from Brandon Benson, the Spikes drove past the Crosscutters, 9-0, salvaging the third and final series game versus Williamsport (8-9).  State College (10-7) is tied for second with Mahoning Valley (CLE), a game in back of West Virginia (PIT).

Co-Player of the Day Benson ignited his team’s offense, taking part in seven of nine tallies.  The right fielder, St. Louis’ 20^th round pick last month, went 4-for-5 with a triple and grand slam.  Benson crossed home twice. His big fly was the Spikes’ first grand slam in three years and his six total RBI tied the team’s single-game record.

Infielders Evan Mendoza and Zach Kirtley each had three more of 14 team hits, both in four at bats.  Mendoza singled three times with a walk and three runs scored out of the three hole while Kirtley drove in one from the bottom of the order.

That was more than enough firepower to make a winner out of Sam Tewes, who recorded his first victory as a professional in three decisions.  Tewes finished an out shy of seven full frames, permitting six hits and plunking a batter.  Leland Tilley allowed a hit and walk in 2 1/3.

Friday’s game:  vs. sixth-place Auburn (5-12) (WSH), 7:05 pm ET, Daniel Castano (3-0, 1.71)

Johnson City 5 at Greeneville 6 (11)

The JC-Cards’ bullpen blew a four-run lead in the ninth, eventually falling to the Astros, 6-5, in 11.  First-place Greeneville’s (10-4) three-game sweep of Johnson City (7-8) leaves the third-place Appy Birds 3 1/2 behind the division leader.

Reliever Thomas St. Clair began the ninth-inning slide, yielding three runs on a hit and two walks while recording just one out.  His last base runner scored under Robert Calvano’s watch.

Calvano (BS, 1) (L, 0-3) gave up an unearned score that sent the game into extras.  The Missouri native tossed a clean 10^th but departed after a base-on-balls and sac bunt put the winning run at second.  Evan Guillory did not retire either of his two batters, issuing a free pass and RBI single.

That end spoiled a strong showing by starter Alvaro Seijas, who scattered eight hits and a walk producing one run over six.  He fanned five.  Jake Walsh matched that strikeout total in just two frames.

Six JC-Cards totaled seven hits, with first baseman Luis Bandes the only one with a multi-hit effort.  The clean-up hitter singled and doubled in four at bats, his double knocking in two in a four-run eighth.  Right fielder Carlos Rodriguez got the scoring started with a solo bomb in the fourth, his third long ball of 2017.

Friday’s game:  at second-place Elizabethton (10-5) (MIN), 7:00 pm ET, Johan Oviedo (1-0, 2.00)

GCL Cardinals 11 vs. GCL Astros 10 (10)

A see-saw battle ended with the Gulf Birds winning their fifth straight, this time in walk off fashion, as they downed the GCL Astros 11-10 in 10.  The GCL Cardinals (5-4) are tied for second with the Marlins, a half game in back of the Nationals.

The Astros (4-5) struck first, plating four third-inning runs against starter Brian Pirela, the only frame in which the 19-year-old would be scored upon.  The visitors held a 5-3 lead midway through six, at which point the Gulf Cards pushed across four, taking their first lead.

That advantage held until a three-run top of the ninth resulted in the home team trailing 9-8.  And it took a play at the plate to end the Astros’ scoring.  But the Cardinals capitalized on an error and two wild pitches for an unearned score that sent the game into extras.

The Astros were not done at the plate, however, going up 10-9 with three outs to go.  But the Birds struck last, scoring two times, one earned, for the walk off win.

Pirela headed a sextet of Cardinals’ hurlers, five of whom were scored upon.  Chris Hunt and Noel De Jesus each tossed a frame, Hunt allowing one run and De Jesus holding the distinction of pitching a one-two-three scoreless inning.

Cory Malcom followed DeJesus to the mound, yielding a tally on three hits.  Righty Jim Voyles was charged with three runs while retiring just one batter but two of his runners scored with Patrick Dayton on the mound.  Dayton (BS, 1) (W, 1-0) allowed a run of his own in the 10^th, although it was unearned because of the new rule in which each inning after regulation begins with a runner at second.

The offense exploded for 14 hits, paced by two Cardinals garnering three hits each:  catcher Carlos Soto and left fielder Daniel Gomez.  Third baseman Taylor Bryant and designated hitter Robbie Coleman each had two hits, including Bryant doubling twice.  But the biggest hit belonged to center fielder Terry Fuller, whose single drove in Bryant for the decisive tally.

Friday’s game:  Off

DSL Cardinals 9 vs. DSL Nationals 8

The Dominican Birds slipped past the DSL Nationals, 9-8, snapping a four-game losing skid.  The seventh-place Cardinals (11-17) trail the Twins by 12 games.

Two Cardinals had two each of the team’s seven hits: second baseman Pablo Gomez and left fielder Alexander Samuel.  Both went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, including Gomez’ first professional home run.  Carlos Soler had a very active day, both at the plate and in the field.  The center fielder singled once in two at bats, touched home twice, swiped a base, twice was hit by a pitch and was credited with an outfield assist at second.

On the mound, Diego Cordero held his opponents to a tally over the first five but did not retire any of the four batters faced the next inning.  The southpaw’s final line was five runs allowed on seven hits and a walk.  One of the seven hits was a three-run long ball.

17-year-old right-hander Larimel Soriano picked up his first win despite giving up an unearned run on three hits in the sixth.  Rodard Avelino began the seventh, yielding two hits and a base-on-balls resulting in two tallies, one earned, in 2/3 of an inning.  Dionis Zamora recorded the last seven outs, issuing just one free pass, for his fourth save.

Friday’s game:  at eighth-place DSL Nationals (10-19), 10:30 am ET, Francisco Ventura (1-2, 3.20)

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Results from games played Tuesday, July 4^th.

Memphis 10 at Round Rock 1

The Redbirds banged out 19 hits, romping past the Express, 10-1, in the first of their three-game series.  Memphis (52-32) has increased its American Southern Division lead to 12 games over Nashville (OAK).

The offensive onslaught, in which all nine starters garnered at least one hit, was spearheaded by Player of the Day Adolis Garcia, who reached base five times, going 4-for-4 with a run scored.  He was also hit by a pitch once.  Harrison Bader went 3-for-5, with a two-run long ball, his 15^th home run of the season.

Breyvic Valera went 3-for-5 as well, touching home once and knocking in two.  Three Redbirds had two hits apiece:  Nick Martini, Aledmys Diaz and Rangel Ravelo.

Starter Jack Flaherty surrendered a solo shot, one of four hits allowed and reached his 65-pitch limit after 3 2/3 innings. The top prospect fanned four.

Working well in long relief, Josh Zeid (W, 5-2) struck out five over 4 1/3, permitting four hits.  Ryan Sherriff faced the minimum in the ninth.

Wednesday’s game:  at third-place Round Rock (39-46) (TEX), 7:05 pm CT, Marco Gonzales (4-3, 2.68)

Springfield 11 at Frisco 4

Anthony Garcia’s grand slam set the tone in the S-Cards’ 11-4 drubbing of Frisco (7-5) (TEX), salvaging the third and final series game.  Springfield (6-6) sits one game behind co-leaders Northwest Arkansas (KC) and Tulsa (LAD) in the North Division.

Garcia’s 11^th bomb of 2017 gave his team a 5-0 lead after four before Springfield poured on a five-run fifth and Bruce Caldwell’s solo shot capped the scoring the next frame – all before their hosts ever got on the scoreboard.  Garcia and Caldwell each went 3-for-4 with a walk, Garcia scoring twice and Caldwell four times.  Garcia swiped his third bag of the season.

Catcher Gabriel Lino added a double to two singles in five at bats, touching home once with an RBI.

The visitors’ mound effort consisted of a trio of hurlers.  Austin Gomber tossed a quality start over seven, permitting three runs on six hits and a base-on-balls.  All three tallies were generated by two home runs.  Ian McKinney yielded a hit and walk in the eighth, resulting in a score before Landon Beck pitched a one-two-three ninth.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Midland (3-9) (OAK), 6:30 pm CT, Matt Pearce (8-5, 2.98)

Bradenton 3 at Palm Beach 1

Beach Birds’ bats were held to just four hits in their 3-1 loss to Bradenton in the home series opener.  The loss puts Palm Beach (8-4) and the Marauders into a tie atop the South Division, a half game in front of Fort Myers (MIN).

Brennan Leitao (L, 3-1) gave up two runs on seven hits and an intentional walk in three, his first start in 21 appearances for Palm Beach this season.  Hector Mendoza tossed three scoreless frames in his second relief effort since being promoted from the DSL.

Zach Duke’s rehab assignment moved from one side of the Jupiter complex to another, going from the GCL team to the PB-Cards.  But for the first time in three appearances, Duke was inserted into the middle of game action, allowing a hit and hit batsman in the seventh.  Jacob Evans struck out four over the final two frames with a run on two hits.

The home team’s sole score came in the fifth after Andy Young singled.  Luke Dykstra sacrificed him to second and FSL Player of the Week Darren Seferina’s two-out single drove him in.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Bradenton (8-4) (PIT), 6:30 pm ET, Ryan Helsley (7-2, 3.01)

Peoria 5 vs. Beloit 1

The Chiefs began their three-game home series versus the Snappers with a 5-1 victory.  The win allows second-place Peoria (8-5) to keep pace with division-leading Quad Cities (HOU), which holds a slim one-game margin over Peoria and Beloit.

A trio of Chiefs’ pitchers joined forces to hold their opponents to just four hits:  Juan Perez, Keaton Siomkin and Eric Carter.  Facing the Snappers for the second consecutive start, Perez kept them to a run on two hits and three free passes over six.  Those results are much improved from his June 29^th start, when he permitted five tallies in eight innings.  Siomkin gave up two hits in his two-inning stint and Carter struck out two in his one-two-three ninth.

Seven Peoria starters accumulated nine hits, with Stefan Trosclair and Ryan McCarvel garnering two apiece.  Both players hit home runs. McCarvel’s was with a runner aboard, and he touched home twice on the evening.

Wednesday’s game:   vs. co-second place Beloit (8-5) (OAK), 7:00 pm CT, Mike O’Reilly (6-2, 1.95)

State College 2 at Williamsport 4

Four late Crosscutters tallies produced a 4-2 loss by the Spikes in the first of three games at Williamsport.  With the defeat, State College (9-6) fell into a two-way tie for second with Mahoning Valley (CLE), a game behind West Virginia (PIT).

Starter Anthony Shew (L, 2-1) held his opponents to just two hits and a walk over the first six but gave up two singles and a two-run double the next frame.  He struck out eight and hit a batter.

Steven Farinaro let Shew’s last runner score before recording the seventh’s final out.  Farinaro was charged with a run on three hits and three bases-on-balls, one intentional, in 1 1/3.

Timely hitting was key in the Spikes’ two scores since they were held to just three singles.  All three hits occurred in the third, combined with a fielding error and wild pitch, generating two runs.

Wednesday’s game:  at fourth-place Williamsport (7-8) (PHI), 7:05 pm ET, Levi MaVorhis (0-0, 7.11)

Johnson City 1 at Greeneville 4

The Appy Birds could not recover from an early deficit, falling to Greeneville, 4-1, in the road series opener.  Third-place Johnson City (7-6) trails the first-place Astros by 1 1/2 games in the standings.

Three of the four tallies charged to Franyel Casadilla (L, 0-2) in just 2/3 of an inning were generated by a home run, one of the three hits and three walks given up.  The Cards had strong efforts in long relief as Will Changarotty and Fabian Blanco both pitched 2 2/3-inning efforts, with Changarotty working around four hits and a walk.  Juan Alvarez retired all six batters faced.

The JC-Cards translated five hits into just one score, a home run by right fielder Carlos Talavera.  Second baseman Wood Myers singled twice in four at bats.

Wednesday’s game:  at Greeneville (8-4), 7:00 pm ET, Edwar Ramirez (1-1, 4.09)

GCL Cardinals 3 at GCL Nationals 2

Single scores in three straight innings rallied the Gulf Birds to a 3-2 win over the first-place GCL Nationals (5-2).  Winners of three straight, the GCL Cardinals (3-4) are tied for third with the GCL Astros, two behind the Nationals.

Down 2-0 through five, the visitors pushed across a run each in the sixth and seventh before Terry Fuller’s first professional home run snapped a 2-2 tie in the eighth.  Fuller led his team’s 11-hit effort, going 3-for-4 out of the five hole.

Elehuris Montero and rehabber Andrew Brodbeck added two hits each, with Montero going 2-for-4 with a run scored and sac fly.  Brodbeck singled twice in five at bats and was one-for-two in stolen base attempts.

Angel Rondon pitched a strong game, yielding two runs on five hits and a walk through six.  Rondon surrendered a solo home run and struck out six.

Right-hander Alex Fagalde limited the opposition to a hit over 1 2/3 for his first professional win.  Patrick Dayton stranded Fagalde’s runner, working around two hits in 1 1/3, for his first save as a pro.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. second-place GCL Marlins (4-3), 12:00 pm ET, Brian Pirela (0-1, 6.00)

DSL Cardinals 5 at DSL Angels 6

The Dominican Cards rallied late to tie but could not break through, suffering a 6-5 walk-off loss to the DSL Angels.  The DSL Cardinals (10-16) are in sixth, 11 behind a red-hot Twins club which holds the best record in the Dominican Summer League.

Oneiver Diaz (L, 0-1) gave up the tie-breaking run on a hit and three walks, one intentional, while recording three outs.  Enmanuel Solano went the first five plus, permitting three runs on five hits and a hit batsman.

Wilman Madera pitched the sixth, allowing a run on three hits and a free pass.  Roy Garcia was charged with a tally on two hits and two walks, one intentional, in 1 2/3.

The visiting Cards struck early with a run in the first, that slim lead holding up until Solano tired in the sixth.  Down 5-1 after seven, the Cardinals tied it up after eight but would score no more.

Six Dominican Birds split eight hits, with catcher Ivan Herrera reaching base four times.  Herrera singled twice in two at bats, worked two free passes, scored one and knocked in another.  First baseman Freddy De Jesus went 2-for-5 with a run scored, striking out twice.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. DSL Angels (13-13), 10:30 am ET, Wilfredo Pereira (0-3, 2.81)

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Results from games played Monday, July 3^rd.

Memphis 4 vs. New Orleans 1

Nick Martini had a three-hit night and the bullpen delivered a strong performance in the Redbirds’ 4-1 victory over the Baby Cakes (30-53) (MIA).  Memphis (51-32) took three games of the four-game set.

Martini finished the night a home run shy of the cycle in four at bats and scored once.  Harrison Bader singled and doubled in three at bats, crossed home once and knocked in one.  The center fielder was the only other Redbird with more than one of the team’s nine hits.

Kevin Herget went the first three innings, permitting a tally on three hits.  Herget took Luke Weaver’s start after St. Louis recalled Weaver earlier Monday.  Trey Nielsen allowed three hits over the next two frames.

Miguel Socolovich (W, 2-1) hurled a scoreless sixth and seventh, yielding one hit.  Mark Montgomery retired all six faced for his second save.

Tuesday’s game:  at third-place Round Rock (39-45) (TEX), 7:05 pm CT, Jack Flaherty (1-1, 4.33)

Springfield 1 at Frisco 4

The S-Cards were held to just four hits in their 4-1 loss at Frisco.  Springfield (5-6) has lost the first two games of the series with one to go.

Chris Ellis (L, 0-4) fell one out shy of finishing the fourth, permitting two runs on six hits, two bases-on-balls and a hit batsman.  Dailyn Martinez stranded two inherited runners while pitching the next 2 1/3, yielding two tallies on seven hits.  Pedro Echemendia gave up two hits and plunked a batter during his two innings on the mound.

Bruce Caldwell reached base each time he came to the plate, singling twice in two at bats with two walks.  The team’s only tally came when Magneuris Sierra singled in Casey Turgeon after the latter worked a free pass and stole his third base of 2017.

Tuesday’s game:  at Frisco (7-4) (TEX), 7:05 pm CT, Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.10)

Palm Beach 8 at Charlotte 4

The Beach Birds scored in six of nine innings for an 8-4 victory over Charlotte (4-6) (TB).  Palm Beach (8-3) took the road series, three games to one.

The visitors banged out 14 hits with six PB-Cards having two hits each:  Thomas Spitz, Darren Seferina, Danny Diekroeger, Andy Young, Blake Drake and Luke Dykstra.  Young knocked in three, Spitz and Drake touched home twice and the other three scored once.  Drake hit a solo shot, his third home run of the season.

Connor Jones (W, 6-4) allowed five hits and three walks over 5 2/3, resulting in three scores.  Chandler Hawkins left Jones’ final runner aboard, striking out three in 2 1/3.  Ramon Santos yielded a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. second-place Bradenton (7-4) (PIT), 6:00 pm ET, TBA

Peoria 4 at Kane County 5

The Chiefs (7-5) could not get out of an early hole, falling 5-4 to the Cougars (7-5) (ARI).  The two second-place teams split the four-game series.

Starter Evan Kruczynski (L, 0-1) was touched for four of the five scores, giving up seven hits in 3 2/3.  Three of the four runs were produced by a first-inning long ball.

Kruczynski’s final run scored under Frederis Parra’s watch. Parra then allowed a tally of his own on four hits over 2 1/3.  Max Almonte and Yeison Medina each tossed a scoreless frame.

All of Peoria’s scoring occurred in the seventh, when they generated four of their five hits for the game.  The big blow was Juan Yepez’ two-run double, scoring Brian O’Keefe (single) and Ryan McCarvel (walk).  Dylan Carlson had singled to open the inning, touching home on a single to right by Vince Jackson.  In turn Jackson scored his team’s final run via J.R. Davis’ sac fly.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. co-leader Beloit (8-4) (OAK), 5:30 pm CT, Juan Perez (1-1, 2.70)

Batavia 5 at State College 4

Three late scores sent State College (9-5) to a 5-4 defeat at the hands of Batavia (6-8) (MIA).  The loss prevented a three-game series sweep by the Spikes.

The home team led 3-2 after six but that was flipped with a two-run seventh.  Both tallies were against reliever Colton Thomson, who struck out eight over three, stranding three inherited, but yielded two hits and a walk.

Paul Balestrieri held the Muckdogs scoreless over the initial three, giving up a hit and two walks.  Andrew Summerville recorded just two outs, allowing two runs on three hits and two free passes.  Robbie Gordon (BS, 1) (0-1) was charged with a run on two hits and a walk in 2 1/3 and let Thomson’s last runner cross.

Three Spikes garnered two hits apiece:  Evan Mendoza, Ricardo Bautista and Edwin Figuera.  Mendoza drove in one in five at bats while Bautista singled and doubled in four at bats with a walk and RBI.  Figuera went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Tuesday’s game:  at fourth-place Williamsport (6-8) (PHI), 1:05 pm ET, Anthony Shew (2-0, 0.84)

Pulaski 7 at Johnson City 1

Long balls by the visitors and a quiet night at the plate by the Cardinals resulted in a 7-1 Johnson City loss to Pulaski (9-3) (NYY) in the decisive third game of the series.

Only one of the six hits by third-place Johnson City (7-5) went for extra bases. Shortstop Delvin Perez’ triple drove in Julio Rodriguez (single) for his team’s only tally.  No Appy Bird had more than one hit.

A quartet of JC-Cards pitchers combined to allow just seven hits, but two were home runs, accounting for four tallies.  Jacob Schlesener’s four-inning outing was a mixed bag. The righty (L, 0-1) struck out nine Yankees but walked four, hit a batter and served up a two-run bomb.

Jake Dahlberg was touched for a run on two hits in the sixth before handing the ball off to Paul Salazar.  Salazar surrendered a two-run home run, allowing four runs in all on two hits and two walks while retiring two.  He also plunked a batter.  Evan Guillory quieted things down with 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball, but by then the game was out of reach.

Tuesday’s game:  at second-place Greeneville (7-4) (HOU), 7:00 pm ET, Franyel Casadilla (0-1, 1.29)

GCL Cardinals 12 vs. GCL Mets 1

The Gulf Birds (2-4) used a balanced offense to pound the GCL Mets, 12-1, for their second consecutive win after losing the first four of the season.

All nine starters either had at least one of 11 team hits or drove in a run.  First baseman Leandro Cedeno and right fielder Sanel Rosendo each went yard, Cedeno with one and Rosendo with two runners aboard.  Cedeno, Rosendo and shortstop Taylor Bryant had two hits apiece, with Cedeno adding a double and Bryant tripling once while scoring twice.

Junior Gonzalez (W, 1-0) tossed five frames of shutout ball, scattering seven hits and a free pass.  Memphis’ Rowan Wick began his rehab assignment by fanning all three batters faced – two swinging and one looking.

Noel De Jesus faced the minimum in the seventh but Chris Hunt was charged with a run on two hits and a walk in his inning of work.  Gabriel Gentner permitted a hit in the ninth.

Tuesday’s game:  at GCL Nationals (5-1), 12:00 pm ET, Angel Rondon (0-1, 1.50)

DSL Cardinals 0 at DSL Twins 3 (7) – Game 1

DSL Twins 8 at DSL Cardinals 5 (7) – Game 2

The DSL Cardinals (10-14) suffered a double-header sweep at the hands of the DSL Twins (19-5) on Monday, 3-0 and 8-5.

The Dominican Birds managed just three hits in the opener, with Ivan Herrera’s double the only one to go for extras.  The catcher did not fare as well on the base paths, being picked off second and caught trying to steal third.

Jose Moreno (L, 0-1) yielded two runs on four hits over four.  He did not issue a free pass.  Nelson Prada was charged with an unearned tally in his two innings of work.

Hector Soto took the loss in the finale, his first against two wins, allowing two runs on four hits in three.  Soto struck out five.  It was the 18-year-old’s first start in six appearances.

Rodard Avelino had a hard time finding the strike zone, issuing more free passes (three) than he recorded outs (two).  Avelino was charged with three runs.

Leonardo Taveras limited further damage to Avelino by leaving the latter’s last runner aboard but allowed three hits and a walk over 2 1/3.  All three of the runs charged to Taveras crossed home with Dionis Zamora on the mound.  Zamora struck out the side but gave up a hit and walk.

The DSL Cardinals supplemented their five hits with five bases-on-balls.  Second baseman Erik Pena and first baseman Freddy De Jesus each had two hits, Pena doubling once with two runs scored and De Jesus touching home one time.

Tuesday’s game:  at DSL Angels (12-13), 10:30 am ET, Enmanuel Solano (1-0, 4.91)

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Results from games played Sunday, July 2^nd.

New Orleans 10 at Memphis 3     

It was a long Sunday afternoon for Redbirds’ hurlers as New Orleans thumped Memphis, 10-3.  The Redbirds (50-32) lead the series, two games to one, with one on tap. The club is 10 games up on second-place Nashville (OAK).

Four Memphis pitchers took the mound against the team with the weakest record in the entire Pacific Coast League and three of them gave up runs.  John Gant took the loss, his fourth in five decisions, yielding four runs, three earned, on 10 hits and a walk through five.  He fanned six and served up a two-run long ball.

Tyler Bray pretty much ended any hopes his team might have had of a comeback, surrendering five runs on five hits and a free pass in 1 2/3.  Trey Nielsen stranded one inherited runner but allowed a tally on two hits the next frame.  Josh Lucas tossed a clean ninth.

Two of the home team’s three scores came off solo shots by Harrison Bader and Wilfredo Tovar.  They were two of three Redbirds with two hits each, joined by Adolis Garcia.

Monday’s game:  vs. New Orleans (29-52) (MIA), 6:35 pm CT, Luke Weaver (7-1, 1.93)

Springfield 4 at Frisco 8

Four late scores against the S-Cards’ bullpen for the second time in the last three games sent them to an 8-4 loss at Frisco in the series opener.  Springfield (5-5) is a game behind co-leaders Northwest Arkansas (KC) and Tulsa (LAD) in the North Division.

Blake McKnight allowed three runs in the eighth, his second inning of work, leaving him with his fifth loss in six decisions.  Cory Littrell plunked his only batter faced, leaving Andrew Morales to permit all three baserunners to score on a walk and two-run single.

Sandy Alcantara started, yielding four tallies on five hits and two free passes through six.  Two of the four runs came on a long ball.  Alcantara fanned six.

Eight of nine Springfield players had at least one hit with Tommy Edman the only one with multiples.  Edman singled and tripled in four at bats, scoring once.  John Nogowski added a two-run shot and Casey Turgeon launched a solo bomb, his first of 2017.  Defensively, left fielder Turgeon was credited with an outfield assist, throwing a runner out at third.

Monday’s game:  at Frisco (6-4) (TEX), 7:05 pm CT, Chris Ellis (0-3, 5.09)

Palm Beach 8 at Charlotte 1

Five late tallies blew open a close game, resulting in the Beach Birds flying past the Stone Crabs, 8-1.  First-place Palm Beach (7-3) holds a two-games-to-one series lead with one to play and is a half of a game in front of both Bradenton (MIL) and Fort Myers (MIN).

The visitors scored early and late, pushing across three tallies in the initial two frames plus five more in the seventh through ninth.  The 16-hit attack featured either a hit or RBI from eight of nine players and multi-hit performances from six starters.  Shane Billings led the way, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and a strikeout.  The left fielder is our Player of the Day.

Center fielder Thomas Spitz went 3-for-4 with a solo shot, walk and stolen base.  Four PB-Cards had two hits apiece:  Darren Seferina, Danny Diekroeger, Jose Godoy and Luke Dykstra.  Seferina, like Spitz, went yard once with a stolen base. Defensively, the shortstop committed his sixth error.

Derian Gonzalez (W, 4-7) tossed a strong effort, limiting Charlotte to an unearned run over six.  The righty yielded six hits and two free passes.  Hector Mendoza walked one in the seventh before Brady Bowen scattered three hits over the last two innings.

Monday’s game:  at Charlotte (4-5) (4-4), 6:05 pm ET, TBA

Peoria 8 at Kane County 1

Jordan Hicks’ pitching and Brian O’Keefe’s two-bomb night helped the Chiefs down the Cougars, 8-1.  Peoria (7-4) has clinched the three-game series with one to go and is in a three-way tie for first with Beloit (OAK) and Quad Cities (HOU), a game ahead of Kane County.

O’Keefe’s first home run came with the bases clear and was part of a two-run fourth that put the visitors up 2-0.  He launched his second long ball with two aboard, providing half of his squad’s tallies in the ninth.

Designated hitter Vince Jackson accounted for three scores, doubling three times in four at bats with a run scored and two driven in.  Jackson was one of three Chiefs to be caught stealing.

Mick Fennell also had three hits, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and RBI.  Fennell was another of the Peoria players to be nailed trying to swipe a bag.

Hicks (W, 8-2) had a stellar outing, fanning nine over eight scoreless frames.  The 20-year-old gave up just four hits and two bases-on-balls.  Dewin Perez surrendered a solo bomb in the ninth.

Monday’s game:  at Kane County (6-5) (ARI), 6:30 pm CT, Evan Kruczynski (0-0, 0.00)

State College 3 vs. Batavia 1

The Spikes muzzled the Muckdogs, 3-1, taking a two-games-to-none series lead with one on tap.  First-place State College (9-4) has a one-game advantage over Both Mahoning Valley (CLE) and West Virginia (PIT) in the Pinckney Division.

First baseman Tyler Lancaster had a perfect night at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and one driven in.  Right fielder Brandon Benson singled twice in four at bats, touched home one time with an RBI and stolen base.  State College had seven hits in all.

Jonathon Mulford struck out six over five scoreless, working around four hits and five walks.  He left with his team up 1-0 but an unearned run against Spencer Traynor (BS, 1) (W, 2-0) prevented Mulford from picking up the win.  Will Latcham fanned three over two frames for his first professional save.

Monday’s game:  vs. Batavia (5-8) (MIA), 7:05 pm ET, Anthony Shew (2-0, 0.84)

Pulaski 3 at Johnson City 2 (7) – Game 1

Johnson City 4 at Pulaski 2 (7) – Game 2

Johnson City split its double-header series opener with Pulaski, falling 3-2 in the opener, but claiming the finale 4-2. The extra game covered Friday’s rainout. The Appy Birds (7-4) are in a three-way tie for first with Elizabethton (MIN) and Greeneville (HOU).

Johan Oviedo yielded two runs in the first of his three-inning stint.  He allowed two hits, walked two, hit a batter and committed two balks.

Robert Calvano (L, 0-2) fanned four over three but permitted the difference-making score on three hits and a walk.  Jake Walsh tossed a one-two-three seventh.

Delvin Perez, the only JC-Card with more than one of the team’s six hits, singled twice in three at bats out of the eight hole.  Wood Myers went 1-for-2 with a run scored while J.D. Murders scored the other run.

In the nightcap, the home team snapped a 2-2 tie with a two-run sixth.  Walker Robbins’ sac fly scored Chase Pinder (walk) for the go-ahead tally and Irving Wilson added an insurance run when he doubled home Carlos Rodriguez (single).

Wilson’s perfect night at the plate ended a home run shy of the cycle, as the designated hitter went 3-for-3 with two walks and run scored.  Pinder singled and doubled in two at bats with a base-on-balls, crossed home twice and threw a strike from right field that nailed a Yankee baserunner at the plate.

Monday’s game:  vs. Pulaski (8-3) (NYY), 7:00 pm ET, Jacob Schlesener (0-0, 0.00)

GCL Cardinals – off

The fifth-place GCL Cardinals (1-4) look to build on their first win of the season from Saturday when they face the third-place Mets on Monday.

Monday’s game:  vs. GCL Mets (2-3), 12:00 pm ET, Junior Gonzalez (0-0, 6.75) or Austin Warner (0-0, 0.00)

DSL Cardinals – off

The Dominican Summer League is idle on Sundays.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals (10-13) at DSL Twins (18-5), 10:30 am ET, Wilfredo Pereira (0-3, 2.81)

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(photo: Evan Kruczynski/East Carolina University)