photo: Mike O’Reilly (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

On a 3-1 Wednesday across the St. Louis Cardinals system, pitching led the way. Springfield’s Mike O’Reilly yielded just an unearned run over six innings and Austin Warner spun seven scoreless frames for Palm Beach.

Recaps of games played on Wednesday, May 2.

Memphis Redbirds 8, Oklahoma City Dodgers 7

A trio of two-run innings helped the Redbirds shade the Dodgers by an 8-7 score in Wednesday evening’s contest at Memphis’ AutoZone Park.

Busy box scores occurred on both sides. Redbirds starter Daniel Poncedeleon walked five and allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Sean Gilmartin, the winning pitcher, allowed one unearned run in 2 1/3 innings, and Derian Gonzalez was charged with two runs in the seventh inning. John Brebbia secured a two-inning save, but not without giving up a run in the top of the ninth. The game ended on a strikeout with the potential tying run at second base.

Right-fielder Tyler O’Neill had three singles, and five Redbirds had two hits: second baseman Max Schrock, third baseman Yairo Munoz, first baseman Patrick Wisdom, shortstop Wilfredo Tovar, and catcher Carson Kelly. Kelly batted in two runs, and Munoz and Wisdom each scored twice. Memphis had seven hits in 16 at-bats with runners in scoring position, yet the Redbirds stranded 10 runners on base.

Thursday’s game: Dakota Hudson (3-0, 3.90) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers, 7:05 PM Central time.

Springfield Cardinals 7 at Northwest Arkansas Naturals 2

Propelled by a six-run second inning, the Cardinals rolled to a 7-2 road win over the Naturals Wednesday afternoon.

Designated hitter Victor Roache hit his seventh home run of the season. Center fielder Lane Thomas and first baseman John Nogowski each batted in two, and seven of the nine starters in the Springfield line up scored. Cardinals hitters fanned out 10 times but did get hits when it mattered most – a 5-for-14 mark with runners in scoring position.

Mike O’Reilly, our Player of the Day, fired six frames of one-run ball and improved to 2-0 since his promotion to Springfield. The only run – and the lone hit the right-hander allowed in his outing – came in the first inning. The unearned run came after the leadoff batter reached on a fielding error and came around to score on that one hit.

Landon Beck allowed a solo homer in his two innings in relief before Hector Mendoza logged a scoreless ninth.

Thursday’s game: Jake Woodford (2-2, 6.17) at Northwest Arkansas Naturals, 7:05 PM Central time.

Palm Beach Cardinals 6 at Florida Fire Frogs 3

With both sides scoreless until the final two innings, the Cardinals then doubled up the Fire Frogs for a 6-3 road win.

Austin Warner pitched very well, firing seven shutout frames. Warner fanned 10 and allowed just six singles, a triple and a walk in his no-decision outing. Jesus Cruz finished the game, yielding two runs in the eighth and another in the ninth. Thus, Cruz was tagged with a blown save (since the Cardinals scored in the top of the eighth) and the win, as he remained the pitcher when Palm Beach recaptured the lead.

Palm Beach put up one run in the eighth and five more tallies in the ninth, going 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position for the game. Three Cardinals went 2-for-4: third baseman Evan Mendoza, center fielder Johan Mieses, and designated hitter Andy Young. Left fielder Stefan Trosclair scored two of the team’s six runs. Of their nine total hits, all were singles. The Cardinals made the most of six walks and two ninth-inning errors by the Fire Frogs.

Thursday’s game: Ian Oxnevad (1-2, 3.86) at Florida Fire Frogs, 5:30 PM Central time.

West Michigan Whitecaps 5 at Peoria Chiefs 3

The Whitecaps took advantage a rocky outing from Peoria’s starter to win Wednesday’s match-up by a 5-3 final score.

Johan Oviedo took his second loss of the season after logging 5 1/3 innings of four-run ball. All four were earned, as Oviedo allowed six hits and walked as many batters. Oviedo, now with a 1-2 record, has walked 18 batters in his five starts. In relief, C.J. Saylor pitched two scoreless frames; nonetheless, Peoria’s offense fell a bit short.

Center fielder Nick Plummer and backstop Julio Rodriguez hit their second and fourth home runs of the season, respectively, accounting for all the Chiefs scoring. Plummer’s was a two-run blast and Rodriguez’ solo shot was part of his 2-for-4 day. Third baseman Elehuris Montero and right fielder Scott Hurst also had two hits apiece, although the team went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and stranded six.

Thursday’s game: Evan Guillory (2-1, 2.22) vs. West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:30 PM Central time.

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photo: Casey Meisner (Chris Lockard/Oakland Clubhouse)

In a 2-2 Tuesday across the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system, Palm Beach pitcher Casey Meisner and Peoria second baseman Irving Lopez share top honors. Memphis and Peoria chalked up narrow home wins.

Results from the games played Tuesday, May 1^st.

Memphis 5 vs. Oklahoma City 4

Memphis (18-8) edged Oklahoma City, 5-4, evening the series between the Pacific Coast League’s two top teams at one game apiece with two yet to play.

The Redbirds never trailed, leading 3-0 after four and 5-2 through six. The balanced offensive effort featured six Memphis players with at least one of the team’s nine hits, paced by Patrick Wisdom and Yairo Munoz, with two hits each. Wisdom went yard with Munoz aboard for his fourth home run of 2018. The third baseman added a single in three at bats with a base-on-balls while Munoz singled twice in four at bats with two RBI.

John Gant (W, 4-0) tossed six solid frames in his return to Triple-A, limiting the Dodgers to two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Ryan Sherriff pitched a shaky seventh, yielding two tallies on four hits. The southpaw needed an outfield assist at home by right fielder Tyler O’Neill to keep the tying run from scoring and finish his third rehab appearance. Sam Tuivailala fared better in his third rehab outing, holding the opposition to a single over the final two innings for his first save.

Wednesday’s game: vs. Oklahoma City (18-5), 6:35 pm CT, Daniel Poncedeleon (1-2, 1.59)

Springfield 2 at Northwest Arkansas 4

The S-Cards (13-10) were clipped by the Naturals, 4-2, the first of four games between the two squads.

Conner Greene (L, 2-2) fell one out shy of six frames, permitting four runs on eight hits and a base-on-balls. Jacob Evans went 1 1/3 with one free pass issued and one inherited runner stranded. In his Double-A debut, Yeison Medina worked around a one-out single for a scoreless eighth.

Springfield’s six through nine hitters garnered seven of the team’s eight hits with three players each going 2-for-4: Victor Roache, Blake Drake and Luke Dykstra. Roache touched home once while Drake doubled twice and Dykstra once. Despite all that hitting, the team only scored twice because they were a pathetic 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on.

Wednesday’s game: at Northwest Arkansas (8-16) (KC), 11:05 am CT, Mike O’Reilly (1-0, 0.00)

Palm Beach 2 at Florida 3

A late-inning bullpen meltdown squandered Casey Meisner’s outstanding start as Palm Beach (13-12) fell to Florida, 3-2, in the road series opener.

Co-Player of the Day Meisner was superb through six, limiting the Fire Frogs to just three hits and a walk. The 22-year-old struck out six with five ground- and five fly-ball outs.

The righty was in line for his first Cardinals system win after the Beach Birds broke through for two in the top of the seventh. That lead was halved in the home half of the frame via an unearned score with Paul Balestrieri pitching. But the victory evaporated when Will Latcham (BS, 1) (L, 1-2) yielded two runs on two hits, an intentional base-on-balls and a hit batsman.

Kramer Robertson led his team’s seven-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with a double and one knocked in. The shortstop was the only PB-Card with more than one hit.

Wednesday’s game: at Florida (9-16) (ATL), 6:31 pm ET, Austin Warner (1-1, 5.66)

Peoria 5 vs. West Michigan 4 (10)

Twice the Chiefs came from behind, with the latter rally giving Peoria (11-11) a 5-4 walk-off victory in 10.

The Whitecaps struck fast, scoring three runs against Jake Walsh, who did not finish the first inning. Levi MaVorhis doused the fire, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless frames and leaving Walsh’s last two runners aboard.

Peoria backed MaVorhis with a two-run fourth then tied the game in the sixth. Reliever Noel Gonzalez, just activated from Extended Spring Training and making his Class-A debut, recorded the first two of his four outs to end the fifth, leaving a MaVorhis runner on. But Gonzalez interspersed two outs with three free passes the next inning, giving way to Kodi Whitley.

Whitley (W, 2-0) kept the ball the balance of the game, keeping West Michigan off the board until the 10^th when he was touched for a run. However, Peoria kicked off their second rally, with Irving Lopez doubling home Edwin Figuera after the latter began the inning at second, to re-tie the game at four all. Yariel Gonzalez’ line drive single to left brought Lopez across for the walk-off win.

Lopez, one of three Chiefs with a multi-hit night, went 3-for-5 with said double, driving in the tying run and scoring the winner. The second baseman also swiped his first bag of 2018. That earns him a co-Player of the Day nod. Gonzalez and Juan Yepez had two hits apiece, the latter doubling and scoring once.

Wednesday’s game: vs. West Michigan (14-10) (DET), 11:00 am CT, Johan Oviedo (1-1, 6.35)

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photo: Johnny Rodriguez and Victor Roache (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

Outfielder Victor Roache’s multi-home run performance led Springfield to the system’s sole win on Monday’s two-game schedule for the St. Louis Cardinals system. Memphis was blanked while both Palm Beach and Peoria were idle.

Results from the games played Monday, April 30^th.

Oklahoma City 6 at Memphis 0

The Redbirds (17-8) were shut out by the Dodgers, 6-0, in the first of a four-game set between the leaders of the American Northern and American Southern Divisions.

Memphis batters mustered just four hits, all singles, and did not work a free pass.

Kevin Herget took the loss, his second in three decisions, in a bullpen start by Redbirds’ hurlers. Two of the three runs charged to the right-hander over three frames resulted from a long ball, one of five hits and one walk permitted.

Andrew Morales had mixed results in his return to Triple-A, striking out six in three innings but yielding three tallies on four hits, including a solo shot. Arturo Reyes was touched for a tally on two hits and a base-on-balls over two before Edward Mujica faced the minimum in the ninth.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Oklahoma City (18-4) (LAD), 6:35 pm CT, John Gant (3-0, 2.25)

Springfield 8 vs. Arkansas 4

Player of the Day Victor Roache twice went yard as the S-Cards rallied past the Travelers, 8-4, for a three-games-to-one home series win. The victory allows second-place Springfield (13-9) to keep pace with first-place Tulsa (LAD), a team they trail by just one-half of a game.

Both of Roache’s bombs came with a runner aboard, accounting for half of his team’s scores. The left fielder’s first long ball scored John Nogowski (walk), giving Springfield a brief 2-0 lead through four.

But Arkansas (11-11) (SEA) responded with four runs against reliever Ian McKinney (W, 1-0) in the southpaw’s 2018 return to Double-A. McKinney permitted three runs in the fifth, the first of his four-inning stint, plus another tally the next stint. The 23-year-old yielded four hits, including a solo shot, and two free passes while fanning three. He pitched in relief of Ramon Santos, who was given a spot start after seven relief appearances. Santos hurled the first three innings, allowing four hits and a walk.

Down 4-2 after six, the S-Cards flipped the lead with a four-run seventh which was capped by Roache’s second home run, again with Nogowski (single) aboard. Nogowski figured in the eighth’s scoring, as well. After Edmundo Sosa’s RBI single brought Jeremy Martinez (single) home, Nogowski strode to the plate with the sacks jammed and two away. The first baseman was hit by a pitch, forcing in his team’s last run.

Springfield banged out 11 hits, led by Tommy Edman who reached base four times out of the lead-off slot. Edman went 3-for-4 with a walk and run scored, his multi-hit effort joined by Roache, Martinez and Luke Dykstra, who had two hits apiece.

But Springfield may have saved the best for last, the very last. After Estarlin Arias pitched a one-two-three eighth, the righty loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Exit Arias and enter Hector Mendoza (S, 3) who benefited from his team’s rare triple play, this one scored 4-6-3-1-5-4-6.

Tuesday’s game: at fourth-place Northwest Arkansas (7-16) (KC), 7:05 pm CT, Conner Greene (2-1, 3.26)

Palm Beach – off

Palm Beach (13-11) takes its modest two-game winning streak to Osceola County Stadium, home of the Florida Fire Frogs, for a three-game series.

Tuesday’s game: at Florida (8-16) (ATL), 6:31 pm ET, Evan Kruczynski (3-0, 2.73)

Peoria – off

After a rather brutal seven-game road trip during which Peoria claimed only two wins, the Chiefs (10-11) open a six-game home stand against Eastern Division rivals West Michigan (DET) and South Bend (CHC).

Tuesday’s game: vs. West Michigan (14-9), 6:30 pm CT, Jake Walsh (1-0, 1.61)

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photo: Austin Warner (Allison Rhoades/Peoria Chiefs)

As the St. Louis Cardinals system went 4-1 on Thursday, standouts included Austin Warner and Andy Young of Palm Beach and Peoria’s Julio Rodriguez.

Results from the games played Thursday, April 26^th.

Round Rock 6 at Memphis 1 (seven innings) – Game 1
Memphis 2, Round Rock 1 (seven innings) – Game 2

Memphis split a pair with Round Rock, falling in the opener, 6-1, but bouncing back to claim the finale, 2-1. The second game of the twin bill made up Wednesday’s rainout. The Redbirds (15-5) have three games remaining with the Express.

Each team scored in the initial stanza of Game 1, but the visitors scored twice in the third and three more times in the sixth. Four of the six tallies were unearned due to fielding miscues by second baseman Max Schrock and third baseman Patrick Wisdom.

Daniel Poncedeleon suffered his second loss in three decisions, yielding all six runs on nine hits, three walks and a hit batsman in 5 2/3. Arturo Reyes inherited a bases-loaded jam and could not record the sixth’s final out before allowing two of three to touch home. Reyes pitched a clean seventh.

The initial focus of Game 2 was the first rehab appearance of St. Louis’ San Tuivailala. The right-hander got in his work immediately, tossing a clean first. Tuivailala K’d his first batter swinging the recorded a fly out to center. A line drive single to left ensued, but a 6-4 force out both finished the frame and the pitcher’s night. The California native threw 10 of his 15 pitches for strikes.

Kevin Herget (W, 1-1) took over from there, holding his opponents to a run on two hits over four. The sole tally resulted from a long ball. Herget struck out four. Preston Guilmet finished the final two frames with only one base-on-balls permitted for his fifth save.

Memphis pushed across single tallies in the second and fourth, both via a sac flies by Wisdom. Adolis Garcia doubled and scored the tying run, his only hit in three at bats while Luke Voit accounted for the second tally. Voit opened with a single, advancing to third on Yairo Munoz’ single and came home on Wisdom’s fly out to center. Voit added a double in three at bats, the only Redbird with more than one hit.

Friday’s game: vs. Round Rock (7-13) (TEX), 7:05 pm CT, Dakota Hudson (3-0, 4.15)

Springfield 4 vs. Northwest Arkansas 3

Reliever Ronnie Williams’ Texas League debut garnered him a winning decision as the S-Cards (10-8) rallied past the Naturals, 4-3, for a three-game sweep. Springfield’s win moves them into a three-way tie for first with Arkansas (SEA) and Tulsa (LAD).

Williams’ first taste of Double-A included plenty of action. The 22-year-old entered the sixth in a jam – a run already across, runners at the corners and two gone. A passed ball on Andrew Knizner, one of two charged to him on the night, moved both runners into scoring position but Williams squashed the threat with a 4-3 groundball out. The right-hander retired seven of eight batters faced, allowing one single. Hector Mendoza worked around a one-out triple for his second save.

Both hurlers pitched in relief of Conner Greene, who went the first 5 2/3. Greene was charged with all three scores on four hits and three free passes.

Held by the Naturals’ starter to a single run over six, Springfield’s bats doubled that output against him the next frame. Center fielder Lane Thomas provided what proved to be the winning margin when he launched his sixth home run of 2018 in the eighth.

Thomas was the only Springfield player with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with the aforementioned bomb and two runs scored. Five S-Cards had one hit apiece, including Victor Roache and Edmundo Sosa, who both singled once in three at bats and crossed home once.

Friday’s game: vs. co-leader Arkansas (10-8), 7:10 pm CT, Mike O’Reilly (league debut)

Palm Beach 6 at St. Lucie 2

Palm Beach (11-10) scored in four of their first five innings to fly past the Mets, 6-2, the first of four weekend games at Port St. Lucie.

The Beach Birds banged out 11 hits, paced by tri-Player of the Day Andy Young. The second baseman accounted for four of his squad’s six tallies, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and three driven in. Three players had two hits each – Stefan Trosclair, Evan Mendoza and Jose Godoy. The latter went yard for the first time this season, a two-run shot in the fourth that made the score 5-2.

Right fielder Dylan Carlson’s second game in the Florida State League was a mixed bag. On the positive side, the 19-year-old had his first hit (a seventh-inning single), first run scored (reaching on a force ahead of Godoy’s bomb) and first outfield assist (a first-inning play at the plate that ended the frame). The negative side was his first error, a fielding miscue that generated no further damage and his other three at bats, in which he did not produce. Carlson is The Cardinal Nation’s 20^th-ranked prospect.

After a bit of a shaky start, Austin Warner, tri-Player of the Day, settled down to pitch eight impressive innings. Four of the seven hits and the sole walk permitted by the lefty occurred in the Mets’ two-run first. At one point, Warner retired 10 consecutive batters, striking out nine.

Friday’s game: at St. Lucie (9-11) (NYM), 6:30 pm ET, Ian Oxnevad (1-2, 4.50)

Peoria 12 at Beloit 2

After three straight one-run losses, the Peoria Chiefs fired on all cylinders Thursday night. Two five-run innings, coupled with a strong starting pitching performance, vaulted the Chiefs over the Snappers, 12-2. The win enabled Peoria (9-9) to prevent a four-game sweep at Beloit (8-7) (OAK).

Those two big innings bookended the game’s scoring, coming in the first and seventh. Peoria exploded for 14 hits, with all nine starters gathering at least one. Catcher Julio Rodriguez, our third Player of the Day, blasted two home runs accounting for three tallies. In total, the 20-year old had three hits in five at bats with four RBI.

Yariel Gonzalez, Elehuris Montero and Jonatan Machado each had two hits. Machado produced a line that may have won him the Player of the Day nod on other days, adding a double to his single with a walk, two runs scored and a whopping five knocked in. Nick Plummer went yard with the bases clean, his only hit in five at bats.

Starter Evan Guillory (W, 2-1) composed a very strong effort for the Chiefs, holding his foes to two runs on seven hits over eight innings. The righty fanned five and did not issue a free pass. Cory Malcom faced the minimum in the ninth, striking out two.

Friday’s game: at Wisconsin (5-15) (MIL), 6:35 pm CT, Alvaro Seijas (0-1, 2.87)

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photo: John Nogowski (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The hitting of John Nogowski and pitching of Ryan Helsley sparked Springfield to a Tuesday win. The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-2 as Palm Beach split a doubleheader, Peoria lost and Memphis was off.

Results from the games played Tuesday, April 24^th.

Memphis – off

After a day off to recharge from their seven-game road trip, Memphis (15-4) hosts two teams with diametrically different records. The Redbirds begin with an opportunity to feast on last-place Round Rock (TEX) in a rare five-game series before taking on Oklahoma City (LAD), leaders of the American Southern Division.

Wednesday’s game: vs. Round Rock (6-13), 6:35 pm CT, Daniel Poncedeleon (1-1, 1.06)

Springfield 3 vs. Northwest Arkansas 1

Starter Ryan Helsley and first baseman John Nogowski keyed the S-Cards’ 3-1 victory over the Naturals at Hammons Field on Tuesday. Springfield (9-8) has taken the first two games with two yet to play.

Co-Player Player of the Day Helsley (W, 1-1) hurled six strong frames, striking out eight with seven ground- and one fly-ball outs. Two of the four hits permitted during that span came in the second, resulting in Northwest Arkansas’ only tally. The right-hander issued one free pass.

Nogowski, our other Player of the Day, drove in two of the three tallies, both times knocking in third baseman Ramon Urias. His first RBI came via a sac fly that brought Urias (single) across home, knotting the game at 1-1 after four. The first baseman strode to the plate in the sixth with Urias (hit-by-pitch) on second and two gone. Nogowski stroked a go-ahead single to left, bringing Urias in again. Right fielder Victor Roache’s second triple of the season drove in Nogowski.

Wednesday’s game: vs. Northwest Arkansas (6-11) (KC), 11:10 am CT, Conner Greene (2-1, 2.63)

Palm Beach 5 vs. Jupiter 4 (7) – Game 1

Jupiter 3 at Palm Beach 0 (7) – Game 2

Palm Beach (10-9) split a pair with Jupiter, taking game one, 5-4, but dropping the second stanza, 3-0. The extra game made up Monday’s postponement.

In the opener, starter Evan Kruczynski claimed his second win against no losses by tossing five frames of one run, six hits and two walks ball. He fanned five.

Reliever Jesus Cruz worked around a two-out double in the sixth but could not match that feat the next inning. Cruz yielded three runs on two singles and a walk. His final runner crossed under Yeison Medina’s watch. Medina (S, 1) allowed an RBI double to his first batter faced before recording the game’s last two outs.

The Beach Birds trailed 1-0 after one but their fortunes were changed by a three-run fourth and two-run fifth. Two of the three fourth-inning tallies were generated by third baseman Evan Mendoza’s first bomb of 2018. Mendoza, one of seven PB-Cards with one hit apiece, touched home twice. Kramer Robertson, Stefan Trosclair and Johan Mieses all scored a run as well.

In the concluding contest, Palm Beach matched the Hammerheads’ five singles. But Jupiter grouped three hits around two free passes, resulting in a three-run second for the visitors. That was all of the offense yielded by starter Ian McKinney (L, 2-1) during his brief 1 2/3-inning stint.

Colton Thomson quieted the opposition’s bats over four strong frames, stranding two inherited runners. The southpaw struck out four with a hit and walk given up. Paul Balestrieri was touched for a hit while retiring four.

Wednesday’s games: vs. Jupiter (15-4) (MIA), 6:30 pm ET, TBA

Peoria 2 at Beloit 3

The Chiefs’ bullpen could not hold a late lead in their 3-2 defeat at Beloit. Peoria (8-8) has lost the first two of the four-game series.

The game remained scoreless until the visitors broke through for single scores in the sixth and seventh. Designated hitter Juan Yepez singled twice in four at bats with an RBI, the only Chief with more than one hit. But Yepez was nailed trying to steal home for the seventh’s last out. That was the second straight inning in which a Peoria player was thrown out at home.

Those runs placed starter Jake Walsh in position for his second win of 2018, as the Florida native was impressive over the initial six innings. Walsh limited Beloit to four singles and two walks while fanning seven.

But the lead evaporated after Cory Malcom (BS, 1) (L, 0-1) relieved Walsh. Malcom, who did not record an out, was charged with three runs on three hits and two free passes. Kodi Whitley kept the game close by leaving Malcom’s last two runners aboard. Whitley blanked the Snappers on one walk in two innings.

Wednesday’s game: at Beloit (7-6) (OAK), 6:30 pm CT, Johan Oviedo (1-1, 7.36)

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photo: Austin Gomber (Scott Rovak/USA TODAY Sports)

Austin Gomber’s dominant eight-inning mound performance sent Memphis on its way to a road win, one of two victories in three games played across the St. Louis Cardinals system on Monday.

Results from the games played Monday, April 23^rd.

Memphis 3 at Iowa 0

Left-hander Austin Gomber threw eight dominant frames as Memphis blanked Iowa, 3-0, for a three-game series’ sweep. The Redbirds have won fifteen of their first 19 games for the best record in the Pacific Coast League.

Player of the Day Gomber (W, 2-0) fanned 16 Cubs during his stint, tying the franchise single-game record for K’s. The Cardinal Nation’s 14^th-ranked prospect allowed just six hits and one hit batsman, throwing 85 of his 112 pitches for strikes. Defensively, Gomber participated in a 1-2-3 double play. Mike Mayers faced the minimum in the ninth for his second save.

The visitors pounced on the Iowa starter, scoring all three of their tallies in the first. Oscar Mercado led off with a double, coming home via Max Schrock’s RBI single. Two outs later, Yairo Muñoz launched his first home run of 2018, scoring Rangel Ravelo, who reached on a force that wiped out Schrock.

Schrock and Muñoz each had two of the team’s seven hits. Schrock singled twice in three at bats with a walk and the aforementioned RBI while Munoz went 2-for-4 with the long ball driving in two.

Tuesday’s game: Off

Springfield 6 vs. Northwest Arkansas 5

The S-Cards opened an eight-game home stand by surviving a late rally, edging the Naturals, 6-5. Springfield (8-8) sits a game behind co-leaders Arkansas (SEA) and Tulsa (LAD) and two ahead of Northwest Arkansas in the North Division.

The home team built a 6-1 lead through seven only to watch their guests cross home plate four times in the final two frames.

John Nogowski paced the offense, going 3-for-4 with a two-run bomb comprising two of his three knocked in. Second baseman Ramon Urias and right fielder Victor Roache each went yard, one of their two hits in four at bats.

Andrew Knizner continued his torrid hitting, singling twice in four at bats for his sixth straight multi-hit effort. The 23-year-old catcher‘s .435 batting average leads the Texas League by almost 30 points.

Not to be outshone by the offense, spot starter Chris Ellis turned in a noteworthy performance. The righty held the opposition to a run on four hits without a walk over six. The only blemish against the Alabama native was a long ball in his initial inning of work.

The bullpen, on the other hand, made things a tad more interesting than the home crowd might have liked. Estarlin Arias successfully navigated the seventh before surrendering three the next frame, capped by a two-run home run.

Andrew Morales recorded the final two outs of the eighth, but after returning for the ninth, could not get the game’s final out before yielding a run. Hector Mendoza entered with runners at the corners and induced the Naturals’ number two batter to ground out, 6-3, for his first professional save.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Northwest Arkansas (6-10) (KC), 6:30 pm CT, Ryan Helsley (0-1, 7.47)

Palm Beach vs. Jupiter – postponed

The first of three games between third-place Palm Beach (9-8) and the division-leading Hammerheads was rained out. The contest has been re-scheduled as part of a twi-night double-header at Roger Dean on Tuesday, April 24^th.

Tuesday’s games: vs. Jupiter (14-3) (MIA), 6:30 pm ET, Evan Kruczynski (1-0, 3.38), TBA

Peoria 1 at Beloit 2 (10 innings)

An unearned walk-off tally resulted in the Chiefs going down to the Snappers, 2-1, in 10 innings. The first of four games between the two squads kicks off a seven-game road excursion for Peoria (8-7) through the bottom half of the Western Division.

The Chiefs could not score in the top of the 10^th, as Taylor Bryant was thrown out at the plate. That put the pressure on reliever Bryan Dobzanski (L, 1-1). The right-hander began his second frame on the bump by issuing an intentional free pass to the number two hitter to set up a force with the runner beginning the inning on second rule. But the walk-off defeat ensued as Dobzanski gave up an RBI single.

Starter Winston Nicacio tiptoed around five hits and four walks over 5 2/3 scoreless, aided by Thomas St. Clair, who stranded Nicacio’s last runner. St. Clair tossed a one-two-three seventh but gave way to Fabian Blanco after issuing a one-out base-on-balls the next inning. Back-to-back singles against Blanco knotted the game at one all, handing Blanco his second blown save.

Peoria’s sole score occurred in the sixth, generated by four straight two-out singles. Elehuris Montero ignited the singles parade, followed by Juan Yepez and Dylan Carlson’s RBI liner to right. Bryce Denton’s hit jammed the sacks full for Nick Plummer, who got caught looking at strike three to squash the scoring opportunity.

Tuesday’s game: at Beloit (6-6) (OAK), 6:30 pm CT, Jake Walsh (1-0, 2.20)

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photo: Jack Flaherty (Memphis Redbirds)

Jack Flaherty’s seven-inning complete game sent Memphis on its way to a road twin bill sweep. John Nogowski launched a grand slam for Springfield for the third win as part of St. Louis minors’ 3-2 Thursday.

Results from the games played Thursday, April 19^th.

Memphis 6 at Omaha 2 (7) – Game 1
Memphis 2 at Omaha 1 (7) – Game 2

The Redbirds took a pair at Omaha, 6-2 and 2-1, for a two-games-to-one series lead with one to go. Memphis (12-3) leads the American Southern Division by 3 ½ over Nashville (OAK), which have won five straight.

Player of the Day Jack Flaherty (W, 3-0) went the distance in the opener, holding the Storm Chasers to two runs, one earned, on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman. The 22-year-old struck out six.

All of the scoring action against Flaherty occurred with one gone in the fourth. A fielding error by right fielder Adolis Garcia put one on just before the next batter was plunked. A two-run double brought both runners across but the righty recovered to retire his next eight batters before issuing a free pass and single in the seventh.

The visitors banged out 10 hits, the big blow coming off Wilfredo Tovar’s bat. The second baseman launched a three-run bomb that was part of a four-run second. It was Tovar’s first home run of 2018 and one of his two hits in three at bats. He drove in five.

Yairo Munoz and Max Schrock both went 2-for-4, Munoz touching home twice. Carson Kelly reached base three times, singling once in two at bats with two walks and two runs scored.

Game 2 was a low-scoring affair as a quartet of Redbirds’ relievers combined to hold Omaha to a single score despite giving up eight hits. Sean Gilmartin went the first two, yielding a tally on three hits and a walk.

Edward Mujica (W, 2-0) held the opposition to three hits over two, striking out one. Derian Gonzalez retired four batters, giving up a hit and walk. John Brebbia sent down four of his five batters retired via the strikeout, stranding Gonzalez’ final runner and earning his first save.

Memphis relied on a long ball for all of their scoring. Garcia’s second home run of the season came with Alex Mejia (single) aboard, putting his team up 2-1 after four. Six Redbirds each had one of the team’s six hits.

Friday’s game: at Omaha (3-11) (KC), 7:05 pm CT, Daniel Poncedeleon (1-0, 0.82)

Springfield 6 at Arkansas 4

John Nogowski’s grand slam led Springfield over Arkansas, 6-4, in the first of four contests between the two squads. Springfield’s (7-6) fourth straight win gives them sole possession of second place in the North Division, a game in back of Tulsa (LAD).

Nogowski’s bomb capped a five-run seventh that broke a one-all tie. The first baseman was one of five S-Cards with two hits, along with Tommy Edman, Andrew Knizner, Victor Roache and Thomas Spitz. Edman singled twice in five at bats, crossing home twice, while Knizner and Roache each went 2-for-4, Knizner scoring one time and Roache doubling once. Spitz went 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored.

Aided by three double-play balls, Conner Greene (W, 2-1) held the Travelers to a run on four hits and four walks through six. The right-hander fanned three and plunked one.

Hector Mendoza and Brady Bowen each tossed a clean frame before the Springfield bullpen ran into trouble in the ninth. Landon Beck was ineffective, permitting three runs on three hits, including two doubles, and a walk with just one batter retired. Jacob Evans salvaged the game by getting both of his batters on a fly out and swinging K for his first save.

Friday’s game: at third-place Arkansas (6-7) (SEA), 7:10 pm CT, Sam Tewes (0-2, 7.56)

Palm Beach 2 at Bradenton 4

Palm Beach (9-5) fell to Bradenton, 4-2, in the road series finale, preventing a three-game sweep by the Beach Birds. That loss puts the PB-Cards in a tie for second with the Marauders (PIT), as both trail Jupiter (MIA) by two games.

The visitors put up a single tally in each of the first two frames to go up 2-0. They held that lead until the home half of the sixth when starter Mike O’Reilly (L, 1-1) served up a three-run blast. O’Reilly struck out seven in 5 1/3, allowing four hits and a walk. Jacob Patterson (1 2/3) and Ronnie Williams shared pitching duties the rest of the way. Williams was touched for a run on a hit and three walks in the eighth.

Shane Billings led Palm Beach hitters, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base out of the seven hole. Eight hitter Ryan McCarvel was the only other Beach Bird with more than one of the team’s eight hits. The catcher went 2-for-4 with his first home run of 2018.

Friday’s game: at sixth-place Charlotte (6-8) (TB), 6:35 pm ET, Austin Warner (0-0, 8.22)

Peoria 1 at Quad Cities 2 (10)

Peoria (5-6) was edged by Quad Cities, 2-1, in 10 innings. Each team won one of the weather-shortened two-game series. The Chiefs are in a fifth-place tie with Burlington (LAA), three games behind Cedar Rapids (MIN).

The decisive unearned tally scored without benefit of a hit. With a runner beginning the frame at second, Thomas St. Clair (L, 0-2) issued an intentional free pass to set up the force. But plans went awry after the right-hander beaned the next batter who had to leave the game with a head injury. That jammed the sacks full and may well have rattled the Chiefs’ reliever, who uncorked a wild pitch that gave Quad Cities the walk off victory.

Jake Walsh was outstanding during his six-inning stint, holding his opponents to a run on three hits and two free passes. Walsh fanned nine. Levi MaVorhis worked around a one-out walk and balk for a clean seventh. But Fabian Blanco could not get it done the next frame. Blanco recorded the first out then hit a batter, wild pitched him to second and walked one. St. Clair got out of that jam but could not duplicate that feat in the 10^th.

Peoria was fortunate to score one run, as the offense was held to just one hit. Shortstop Edwin Figuera opened the third with a bunt single and ended up at third, thanks to two errors on the play. A passed ball during the next at bat brought Figuera across, knotting the game at one all.

Friday’s game: vs. eighth-place Wisconsin (3-10) (MIL), 6:30 pm CT, Johan Oviedo (0-1, 16.20)

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photo: Chris Ellis (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

Chris Ellis’ noteworthy relief effort sealed Springfield’s victory as St. Louis’ minors went 3-1 on Tuesday. Palm Beach and Peoria joined the S-Cards in the win column but Memphis coughed up a lead in extra innings.

Results from the games played Tuesday, April 17^th.

Memphis 3 at Omaha 4 (10)

Memphis (10-3) could not hold an extra-inning lead, dropping a 4-3 decision at Omaha, in the first of three games versus the Storm Chasers.

In the 10^th, Kevin Herget (BS, 1) (L, 0-1) was unable to protect a 3-2 lead, allowing a single, three walks, one intentional and a sac fly that plated Omaha’s runner who began the inning at second. Herget retired two batters.

That spoiled a strong start by Austin Gomber, TCN’s 14^th-ranked prospect per the April rankings, who gave up just two runs on five hits and three walks over seven innings. Mike Mayers tossed two scoreless, permitting a hit and two free passes with two strikeouts.

Playing without their clean-up hitter, Rangel Ravelo, who was placed on the Temporarily Inactive list, the Redbirds still outhit their hosts, nine to seven, but went just 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.

Oscar Mercado, TCN’s 19^th-ranked prospect, garnered a third of the hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, two RBI and two stolen bases. Carson Kelly and Alex Mejia had two hits apiece. Kelly doubled once in five at bats and drove in one and Mejia singled twice in four at bats.

Wednesday’s game: at Omaha (3-9) (KC), 6:35 pm CT, Jack Flaherty (2-0, 2.77)

Springfield 7 vs. Frisco 5

Springfield (6-6) rode a four home-run performance to a 7-5 victory over Frisco (3-9) (TEX). The win gave the S-Cards a three-game series sweep and a 5-1 record for the just completed home stand.

Four players went yard, accounting for five of the team’s seven tallies. Lane Thomas, who debuts at no. 32 in the new prospect rankings, John Nogowski, Chris Chinea and Darren Seferina all sent one over the wall, the first three as three of the four S-Cards with two hits each. Thomas’ and Nogowski’s bombs occurred in their squad’s four-run seventh, Thomas’ coming with Edmundo Sosa (triple) aboard. Chinea and Seferina launched their solo shots in the second to put Springfield up 2-0.

Sosa had an active day at the plate as well, adding a double to his triple in five at bats. TCN’s 23^rd-ranked prospect scored twice with one knocked in but struck out three times.

Ryan Helsley was good through six, giving up two runs on four hits and four free passes but got the hook after walking his first two batters in the seventh. Landon Beck (BS, 1) (W, 1-0) could not strand either runner but kept his own runners from crossing home plate. Beck allowed a hit and two walks, one intentional, but escaped further damage via a double-play ball that ended the frame.

Ramon Santos was ineffective during his time on the bump, permitting consecutive singles to his first four batters that scored one run and brought Chris Ellis into the game. Player of the Day Ellis (S, 2) was masterful in retiring all six batters faced, using a strikeout looking and two force outs to escape the eighth-inning jam before going one-two-three with a swinging K to finish off the win.

Wednesday’s game: Off

Palm Beach 2 at Bradenton 1

Kramer Robertson scored both of the Beach Birds’ runs as Palm Beach took the low-scoring series’ opener, 2-1, at Bradenton. The win moves the PB-Cards (8-4) into a tie for second with the Marauders, a game behind Jupiter (MIA).

Robertson singled twice in four at bats, knocked in by Evan Mendoza in the fourth and Johan Mieses in the ninth. The shortstop was the only Palm Beach player with more than one of the team’s five hits.

Anthony Shew made the fourth-inning score hold up until the sixth when he gave up a lead-off single. The hit was one of only four hits yielded in 5 2/3 to go with a walk and five K’s.

But Jesus Cruz (BS, 1) could not get the frame’s final out before letting the unearned tally cross the plate. Cruz advanced the runner two bases on an errant pick-off attempt then was called for a balk, knotting the game at one all. Ian McKinney faced the minimum over two, striking out four, for his second win against no losses.

Wednesday’s game: at Bradenton (8-4) (PIT), 6:30 pm ET, Evan Kruczynski (0-0, 4.50)

Peoria 6 at Quad Cities 2

One big inning resulted in a 6-2 Peoria victory at Quad Cities, the first of three between the two teams. The Chiefs (5-5) have now won four straight.

Trailing 2-0 after seven, the visitors put six on the board the next inning. Peoria matched the River Bandits’ five hits but capitalized on four Quad Cities miscues to score three unearned tallies.

Seven Chiefs took part in the run making with either a hit, RBI or some combination thereof. Center fielder Dylan Carlson, TCN’s 20^th-ranked prospect, accounted for three runs, singling once in four at bats, touching home one time and driving in two.

Zach Prendergast (W, 2-0) kept his opponents off the board on two hits and a walk over the seventh and eighth before Kevin Hamann handled the ninth. Prendergast and Hamann worked in relief of starter Winston Nicacio, who allowed two runs on three hits and three walks through six.

Wednesday’s game: at Quad Cities (2-6) (HOU), 6:35 pm CT, Jake Walsh (1-0, 2.61)

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photo: Tyler O’Neill (Memphis Redbirds)

A multi-bomb day by Tyler O’Neill led Memphis to one of two victories on a quiet Monday schedule across the St. Louis Cardinals system. Springfield played a little long ball themselves in their win while both Palm Beach and Peoria were off.

Results from the games played Monday, April 16^th.

Memphis 7 vs. Iowa 4

Twice Tyler O’Neill went yard, pacing the Redbirds to a 7-4 home win over the Iowa Cubs (3-7). Memphis (10-2) claimed the four-game set, three games to one.

O’Neill’s fifth and sixth home runs of 2018 were two of his three hits in five at bats, accounting for two of his three runs scored and three of four runs driven in. His six blasts places him atop the Pacific Coast League for home runs while his .432 batting average is fourth in the league.

Batting right ahead of O’Neill, second baseman Max Schrock matched the 3-for-5 effort, doubling once, scoring twice and knocking in one. Five Redbirds garnered one hit each, including Oscar Mercado, who began the bottom of the first with his second home run, temporarily tying the game a 1-1.

Dakota Hudson went six strong innings, yielding two runs on seven hits and a free pass for his third win in as many decisions. Andrew Morales was touched for a run on two hits and a walk in the seventh. The only hit given up by Preston Guilmet (S, 4) over the last two innings was a long ball. Guilmet struck out three.

Tuesday’s game: at Omaha (2-9) (KC), 6:35 pm CT, Austin Gomber (1-0, 4.22)

Springfield 6 vs. Frisco 1

Darren Seferina and Edmundo Sosa each blasted their first bomb of 2018 in the S-Cards’ 6-1 home victory over the RoughRiders. Springfield (5-6) has taken the first two of the three-game series, moving them just 1 ½ games behind first-place Tulsa (LAD) in the North Division.

Seferina’s long ball came with Granden Goetzman (error) aboard in the second, breaking a one all tie. The second baseman doubled home two more in the fifth, giving him a line of 2-for-3 with a walk, double, home run and four RBI. Seferina also reached base via a throwing error but was caught stealing in his only attempt.

Sosa posted nearly identical numbers, going 2-for-4 with a walk, double and long ball, batting in the two hole. The third baseman scored twice but was picked off first by the RoughRiders’ starting pitcher.

Andrew Knizner was the final Springfield player with a multi-hit performance. Knizner singled twice in three at bats with a walk and run scored. The two hits upped the catcher’s batting average to .379, fifth in the league.

Starter Jake Woodford (W, 1-1) worked around four hits and four bases-on-balls in five frames, holding his opponents to a single tally. He fanned five. The win was the 21-year-old’s first in Double-A ball.

Estarlin Arias, Ramon Santos and Chris Ellis shared pitching duties the rest of the way. Arais tossed two frames with one hit allowed while Santos and Ellis each faced the minimum in their inning of work. Arias and Ellis both struck out two.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Frisco (3-8) (TEX), 11:10 am CT, Ryan Helsley (0-1) (8.38)

Palm Beach – off

Palm Beach (7-4) travels to Bradenton, co-leaders of South Division, for a four-game set.

Tuesday’s game: at Bradenton (8-3) (PIT), 6:30 pm ET, TBA

Peoria – off

Fresh off their first series sweep, Peoria (4-5) heads to Davenport for three against the Quad Cities River Bandits.

Tuesday’s game: at Quad Cities (2-5) (HOU), 6:35 pm CT, Winston Nicacio (0-0, 18.00)

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photo: Elehuris Montero (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 3-1 on Thursday. Co-Players of the Day are Evan Kruczynski, who allowed two runs in six innings for Palm Beach, and Peoria third baseman Elehuris Montero, who reached base all five times, including twice via doubles.

Results from games played Thursday, April 12^th.

Memphis 5 vs. Omaha 4

Memphis (7-1) edged the Storm Chasers (1-6) (KC), 5-4, on Thursday for a three-game series sweep.

What proved to be the decisive score came in the eighth, generated without a hit. Adolis Garcia worked a free pass to begin the frame, advancing to second via his second stolen base of 2018. Identical 5-3 groundouts by Patrick Wisdom and Carson Kelly advanced Garcia, who scored on Kelly’s at bat.

The home team’s eight hits were spread among seven players, with Tyler O’Neill the only Redbird with more than one. The left fielder singled twice in four at bats, scoring once. Max Schrock and Rangel Ravelo both went 1-for-4 with a double, Schrock touching home twice and Ravelo knocking in two.

Austin Gomber earned his first Triple-A win in his initial decision of the season. The lefty gave up six hits, including a solo bomb, and two walks in 6 2/3, resulting in three runs. Gomber fanned four with eight ground- and five fly-ball outs. Derian Gonzalez retired four batters, issuing a base-on-balls. Edward Mujica (S, 1) was charged with a run on two hits in the ninth, but had enough cushion to get the save.

Friday’s game: vs. Iowa (2-4) (CHC), 7:05 pm CT, Jack Flaherty (1-0, 1.29)

Springfield 10 vs. Midland 5

A six-run third launched Springfield (2-5) to a 10-5 victory over Midland in their home opener. It was the S-Cards’ first win in four tries against the RockHounds in the young season.

11 Springfield players came to the plate that frame, pecking to death Midland’s starter on six singles and a double. The S-Cards banged out 13 hits in all, as five players had two apiece: Edmundo Sosa, Lane Thomas, Andrew Knizner, Victor Roache and Thomas Spitz. Thomas and Roach each went yard with the bases clear while Sosa had one of his team’s two doubles. Darren Seferina had the other two-base knock, his only hit in four at bats.

Estarlin Arias was credited with the win, his first at Double-A, after working around two hits and a walk for 1 2/3 scoreless. Arias pitched in relief of Ryan Helsley, who fell two outs shy of five innings. Helsley yielded four runs on five hits and four walks, with three of the tallies generated by two long balls.

Ramon Santos allowed a home run of his own in the eighth, the second of his two frames on the bump. Santos struck out three. Chris Ellis pitched the ninth, giving up one hit.

Friday’s game: vs. Midland (5-2) (OAK), 7:10 pm CT, Conner Greene (0-1, 16.20)

Palm Beach 4 vs. Dunedin 3

Palm Beach (5-3) won the Battle of the Birds on Thursday, clipping the Blue Jays, 4-3, for a three-games-to-one home series win.

Dunedin (4-4) (TOR) struck the initial blow, scoring twice in the first off Beach Birds’ starter Evan Kruczynski. Both tallies resulted from one home run. But co-Player Player of the Day Kruczynski blanked his opponents the next five frames, striking out eight over six. Three of the six hits and the only walk permitted by the southpaw overall occurred in the first.

Kruczynski departed in line for his first Florida State League win as Palm Beach clung to a slim 3-2 advantage. Luke Gregerson, making his third rehab appearance, held that lead. The righty gave a single to his first batter faced but used a 4-6-3 double play to erase the runner for a one-two-three frame.

But an unearned run off Yeison Medina (BS, 1) (W, 1-1) in the eighth knotted the score at three all. Medina allowed two singles, the latter of which – combined with a fielding error by shortstop Jose Martinez – allowed the tying run to score. An assist at third by left fielder J.B. Woodman ended both the threat and the frame.

The PB-Cards answered right back in the home half of the eighth, as Brian O’Keefe doubled in Stefan Trosclair after the latter led off with a walk. Palm Beach generated 10 hits in all, eight starters garnering at least one each. Evan Mendoza singled and doubled in four at bats with a run scored while Jose Godoy went 2-for-3 with a walk and RBI. O’Keefe’s double was his only hit in four at bats but the designated hitter led the team with two RBI.

Palm Beach then turned the ball over to Jesus Cruz, who had jumped from short-season ball in 2017 to open 2018 in the Florida State League. Cruz worked around a one-out single for his first full-season save.

Friday’s game: vs. Florida (2-6) (ATL), 6:30 pm ET, Austin Warner (0-0, 3.86)

Peoria 5 vs. Cedar Rapids 9

The Chiefs (1-5) could not hold an early lead, falling to the undefeated Kernels, 9-5. Peoria lost all four games of the series, held at Dozer Park.

The home team’s bats led to a 4-0 lead through five but Chiefs’ starter Jake Walsh gave three of those back while recording just one out the next frame. All three runs occurred in one blow, the home run finishing Walsh’s appearance. The righty had dominated to that point, allowing just two singles through five with five K’s.

Fabian Blanco recorded four outs, but not before allowing two runs on three hits and two walks for his first blown save of 2018. Thomas St. Clair (L, 0-1) effectively put the game out of reach in his only inning of work, giving up four runs, three earned, on two hits and two walks. Levi MaVorhis joined St. Clair in stranding an inherited runner, as MaVorhis retired four with one hit permitted.

Peoria garnered 11 hits in all, led by co-Player of the Day Elehuris Montero, who was on base all five times. Along with two walks, the third baseman went a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles, two free passes, two runs scored and one knocked in. The only blemish on his performance was a throwing miscue, his first of the season.

Batting right behind Montero, Dylan Carlson accounted for three tallies too, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two walks, scoring once and driving in two from the five hole. The final Chief with a multi-hit performance was catcher Julio Rodriguez, who singled and doubled in four at bats with two RBI.

Friday’s game: vs. Wisconsin (3-4) (MIL), 6:30 pm CT, Johan Oviedo (0-1, 135.00)

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photo: John Gant (Memphis Redbirds)

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds earned a shutout in their home opener behind the pitching of John Gant. Springfield and Peoria lost and Palm Beach was rained out as the St. Louis Cardinals system went 1-2 on Tuesday.

Results from the games played Tuesday, April 10^th.

Memphis 7 vs. Omaha 0

John Gant went seven strong frames as Memphis (4-1) blanked Omaha, 7-0, in the Redbirds’ home opener.

Gant (W, 2-0) topped his first start of the year, a six-inning/one-run effort, by holding the Storm Chasers scoreless on five hits and two walks. The 25-year-old threw 70 of his 101 pitches for strikes with five strikeouts. Kevin Herget and Edward Mujica each went one frame.

The nine hits from the Redbirds’ offense were spread among eight starters. Seven players each scored a run and six drove in at least one. Alex Mejia was the only Redbird with more than one hit, as the designated hitter went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI out of the seven hole.

Wednesday’s game: vs. Omaha (1-4) (KC), 11:05 am CT, Dakota Hudson (1-0, 5.06)

Springfield 4 at Frisco 11

The S-Cards fell at Frisco, 11-4, in the rubber match of their three-game series. Springfield finished its first road trip of the year with a dismal 1-5 mark.

None of the Cards’ four pitchers kept the RoughRiders (3-3) (TEX) off the board during their time on the mound. Jake Woodford (L, 0-1) went the first five, yielding five runs, four earned, on six hits and four bases-on-balls. Four of those five scores came in the fourth.

Tyler Bray and Jacob Evans retired three batters each, permitting two runs on three hits and Bray issued one intentional free pass. Brady Bowen was touched for two tallies on a hit, walk and hit batsman.

Springfield banged out nine hits, paced by Tommy Edman and Lane Thomas who both went 2-for-4. Edman swiped his first bag of 2018 while Thomas doubled and touched home once. Right fielder Victor Roache launched a solo shot, giving his team a brief 1-0 lead after two.

Wednesday’s game: Off

Palm Beach vs. Dunedin – postponed

Palm Beach (3-2) and Dunedin were unable to play the second of their four-game set due to rain. The contest has been rescheduled as part of an April 11^th double-header. The Beach Birds took the series opener.

Wednesday’s games: vs. Dunedin (3-2) (TOR). Game one – 5:00 pm ET, Anthony Shew (0-0, 0.00/Evan Kruczynski (0-0, 6.75)

Peoria 6 vs. Cedar Rapids 8

Chiefs’ pitching dug an early hole from which they could not recover, resulting in an 8-6 defeat to the Kernels. Peoria (1-3) has dropped the first two of the four-game home series.

All three tallies charged to starter Alvaro Seijas (L, 0-2) crossed the plate in the second of his five-inning stint. Seijas gave up seven hits and one walk in all.

But the dagger to Peoria’s chance for a win occurred in the sixth when Cedar Rapids scored four times off Kodi Whitley. Whitley allowed five runs in total on seven hits and two walks over three. Thomas St. Clair pitched a clean ninth.

Held scoreless over the initial four frames, the Chiefs put runs on the board in four of five remaining innings. Hot-hitting Juan Yepez went 3-for-5 with a double and two triples to spearhead his team’s 10-hit effort. The designated hitter touched home twice and knocked in one.

Right fielder Bryce Denton and second baseman Taylor Bryant each went 2-for-5, Denton doubling once with two RBI and Bryant scoring once. First baseman Yariel Gonzalez reached base four times, singling once in two at bats with three free passes and two runs scored.

Wednesday’s game: vs. Cedar Rapids (4-0) (MIN), 6:30 pm CT, Winston Nicacio (season and level debut)

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photo: Kramer Robertson (Allison Rhoades/Peoria Chiefs)

Shortstop Kramer Robertson’s hot bat assisted Palm Beach to one of two wins in St. Louis’ minors on Monday. Springfield notched its first win of the season while Memphis went down for the first time. Peoria fell as well.

Results from the games played Monday, April 9^th.

Memphis 2 at Round Rock 4

One big inning led to Memphis’ first loss of 2018, 4-2, at Round Rock (1-4) (TEX). The Redbirds claimed the season-opening road series, four games to one.

Making his first start since May 2017 when he was hit in the head by a line drive, Daniel Poncedeleon battled control problems during his five frames on the mound. The righty issued four free passes to go with two hits but kept the Express off the board, aided by five K’s.

Sean Gilmartin was not nearly as effective in the sixth, yielding four runs, the big blow being a three-run bomb by Hanser Alberto, Round Rock’s shortstop. Andrew Morales struck out four over the final two innings, but walked two.

The visitors outhit the home team, eight to six, but went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Max Schrock garnered three of the eight hits, going 3-for-4 with an RBI out of the two hole. The second baseman swiped two bases and was the only Redbird with more than one hit.

Tuesday’s game: home opener vs. Omaha (1-3) (KC), 7:05 pm CT, John Gant (1-0, 1.50)

Springfield 4 at Frisco 3

Springfield (1-4) finally broke through in the win column, edging the RoughRiders, 4-3. The victory evens the series at one game apiece with one to play.

The balanced offensive effort featured seven S-Cards with either a hit or run scored. Third baseman Tommy Edman and center fielder Lane Thomas each had two of the team’s eight hits. Edman singled twice in three at bats with a run scored, RBI and strikeout. Thomas went 2-for-4 with a double, drove in one and struck out once. Defensively, Edman committed his second error, this one charged to his fielding.

Connor Jones (W, 1-0) tossed the first five innings, all three tallies coming in the second. The Connecticut native yielded six hits and three bases-on-balls, striking out two. Landon Beck and Chris Ellis both went two frames, Beck fanning four and Ellis three. Ellis’ effort netted him his first save since 2014, his first pro season.

Tuesday’s game: at Frisco (2-3) (TEX), 7:05 pm CT, Jake Woodford (0-0, 9.00)

Palm Beach 9 vs. Dunedin 1

Palm Beach (3-2) tallied in four consecutive innings to squash the visiting Blue Jays, 9-1, in the series opener.

Cardinals bats exploded for 15 hits, as all nine starters accumulated at least one and six of them crossed home. Player of the Day Kramer Robertson led the way at the top of the order, opening the game with a solo blast that was one of his four hits in five at bats. The shortstop scored three times and swiped his first bag of the early season.

Third baseman Evan Mendoza and catcher Jose Godoy were the only other Beach Birds with a multi-hit performance. Mendoza went 3-for-5 with an RBI while batting third, while Godoy singled twice in four at bats and scored twice out of the eight hole. Mendoza was charged with his team’s sole miscue.

In his high-A debut, Ian Oxnevad (W, 1-0) pitched five strong frames, permitting a run on four hits with five strikeouts. Luke Gregerson continued his rehab stint with a scoreless sixth. Gregerson sandwiched two swinging K’s around a two-out single.

Ian McKinney fanned three over two innings, walking one. Yeison Medina worked around a hit and two walks in the ninth.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Dunedin (3-2) (TOR), 6:30 pm ET, Anthony Shew (0-0, 0.00)

Cedar Rapids 3 at Peoria 1

The Chiefs (1-2) opened a four-game home set versus the Kernels with a 3-1 loss.

Peoria displayed little results for its nine hits. Jonatan Machado, Yariel Gonzalez and Elehuris Montero each had two, Machado in five at bats and the latter two in four. Gonzalez doubled, the only Chiefs’ hit to go for extra bases, and drove in his team’s only run via a sac fly in the fifth that scored Taylor Bryant.

That tally gave the home team a very brief 1-0 advantage which starter Evan Guillory (L, 0-1) could not hold. Guillory struck out seven over 5 2/3, yielding two runs on nine hits and a walk.

Levi MaVorhis stranded Guillory’s final runner, keeping the game close until the ninth, when he allowed the visitors’ final score. MaVorhis gave up just two hits in three frames, his last runner left aboard by Fabian Blanco.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Cedar Rapids (3-0) (MIN), 11:00 am CT, Alvaro Seijas (0-0, —) (full season debut)

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photo: Rangel Ravelo (Memphis Redbirds)

Results from games played Thursday, April 5^th.

Memphis 8 at Round Rock 4

A five-run sixth broke open a tight contest, resulting in an 8-4 Redbirds’ victory over the Express in their 2018 Pacific Coast League opener.

Memphis held a 3-1 advantage going into the inning and the Redbirds further capitalized on five hits, a walk and a sac fly to go up 8-1. The scoring was capped by a three-run bomb by second baseman Max Schrock. Schrock, The Cardinal Nation’s #15 prospect, was acquired by St. Louis in the trade that sent Stephen Piscotty to Oakland. It was his only hit in five at bats.

Player of the Day Rangel Ravelo led his team’s 11-hit attack, as the designated hitter went 3-for-4 with three runs scored out of the five hole. Carson Kelly and Patrick Wisdom each had two hits with a run scored. Wisdom doubled once, worked a base-on-balls and knocked in two. Defensively, both left fielder Tyler O’Neill and right fielder Adolis Garcia were credited with an outfield assist at home.

John Gant (W, 1-0) hurled six strong frames, permitting a run on six hits and two base-on-balls. He struck out five. Daniel Poncedeleon used a double play ball to erase the one-out single he allowed.

40-man roster pitcher Derian Gonzalez was not nearly as successful in his Triple-A debut, however. The 23-year old righty, who vaulted past Double-A Springfield to join the Redbirds, was charged with three runs on four hits and did not retire a single batter. Preston Guilmet relieved Gonzalez and pitched the final two frames, stranding one of two inherited runners.

Friday’s game: at Round Rock (0-1) (TEX), 7:05 pm CT, Dakota Hudson (season debut)

Springfield 5 at Midland 6

Springfield (0-1) could not hold a late lead, falling to Midland 6-5 in their Texas League season opener.

The S-Cards were up 5-4 with six outs to go, but the RockHounds plated two against the bullpen combination of Chris Ellis and Jacob Evans (BS, 1) (L, 0-1). Ellis pitched 3 1/3 noteworthy innings of relief, retiring 10 of 11 faced before departing after giving up a one-out single. But a single and sac fly by Evans knotted the game at five all prior to an RBI double that proved to be the difference in the game. Landon Beck replaced Evans and retired his only batter on a swinging K.

Starter Jake Woodford was pretty shaky in his maiden Double-A effort. The 21-year-old permitted two runs each in his first and fourth innings of work, the latter his last inning on the mound. Woodford, TCN’s #18 prospect, allowed seven hits and two bases-on-balls in all.

The visitors matched the home team’s 12 hits, with Tommy Edman and John Nogowski both going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Edman added an RBI while two of Nogowski’s three hits went for extra bases – a double and solo bomb accounting for one of his two driven in. In his Double-A debut, center fielder Lane Thomas singled and doubled in three at-bats with a run scored and walk, the only other S-Card with a multi-hit performance.

Friday’s game: at Midland (1-0) (OAK), 7:00 pm CT, Ryan Helsley (season debut)

Jupiter 3 at Palm Beach 2

A pitching duel was decided by the bullpens as Palm Beach (0-1) was clipped by Jupiter in their Florida State League season opener, 3-2.

The contest was knotted at zeros through six before the Beach Birds broke through for one in the home half of the seventh. The Hammerheads responded with a three-run eighth before Palm Beach closed to within one in the bottom of the frame. But that was all the offense the PB-Cards mustered on a four-hit night.

Designated hitter Johan Mieses, recently acquired by the Cardinals in the Breyvic Valera trade, led the team with a single and double in four at bats. The Dominican native touched home as well. Kramer Robertson was hitless in two at bats but reached base twice, via a free pass and on a hit-by-pitch. The shortstop scored his squad’s other tally. Right fielder Shane Billings was credited with the team’s sole RBI.

Yeison Medina was charged with the loss after plunking his first two batters faced in the eighth. Medina recorded one out as did Jacob Patterson, who jammed the sacks full with a base-on-balls before giving way to Mitchell Osnowitz (BS, 1). Osnowitz, a minor league free agent signee, surrendered a bases-clearing triple and two walks in his bumpy 1 1/3 inning Cardinals debut to finish the night.

Right-hander Anthony Shew kept the opposition off the board over the first five frames, yielding three hits and two free passes while fanning five. Jesus Cruz tossed a one-two-three sixth.

New St. Louis closer Greg Holland took the mound for the seventh, an inning that took him just seven pitches to complete. Holland fanned Jupiter’s clean-up hitter swinging before inducing identical 6-3 ground outs.

Further details on Holland’s outing can be found in TCN’s Ryan Finkelstein’s report.

Friday’s game: vs. Jupiter (1-0) (MIA), 6:30 pm ET, Evan Kruczynski (season debut)

Peoria 4 at Burlington 2

The Chiefs opened with a Midwest League road win over the Bees, 4-2, the result of a balanced offensive effort.

Seven of nine Peoria starters had at least one of the team’s 10 hits, led by three players with two hits each: Nick Plummer, Elehuris Montero and Juan Yepez. Designated hitter Plummer doubled twice in three at bats, crossed the plate once and worked a free pass. Third baseman and clean-up hitter Montero singled and doubled in four at bats, touched home once and knocked in one while first sacker Yepez drove in two, going 2-for-3 with a walk.

Five Chiefs pitchers combined on a one-hitter, which sounds impressive until you find out this quintet issued nine free passes, uncorked two wild pitches and committed a balk. Starter Jake Walsh fanned five through five scoreless and hitless frames, working around four walks to pick up the win in his full-season debut.

Relievers Kodi Whitley and Cory Malcom both retired two batters while Fabian Blanco went 1 2/3. Whitley and Blanco were each charged with a tally on two walks and a wild pitch. Blanco committed the balk. Thomas St. Clair struck out the side in a one-two-three ninth for his first full-season save.

Friday’s game: at Burlington (0-1) (LAA), 6:30 pm CT, Johan Oviedo (full-season debut)

Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation: Last-Minute Cardinals Minor League Roster Changes

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