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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – September 6, 2021

photo: Patrick Romeri (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals farm system went 2-2 on Sunday. TCN Player of the Day, Palm Beach center fielder Patrick Romeri, had four hits, including two home runs and four RBI. Osvaldo Tovalin and Dionys Rodriguez joined him to lead the Beach Birds to a 10-inning win. Peoria’s Masyn Winn made his mound debut.

Results from games played Sunday, September 5th.

Memphis 4 at Gwinnett 3

Memphis (51-57) won the Long Ball Battle at Gwinnett (61-47) (ATL), with the 4-3 victory earning the visitors a series split.

The four Redbirds’ tallies were generated by three home runs.  Conner Capel was the first of three Memphis players going yard, with the center fielder’s solo shot giving his team a short-lived 1-0 lead midway through two.  Capel went 2-for-3, touching home twice and was the only Redbird with a multi-hit performance.

Conner Capel

Capel singled to open the fifth with Memphis trailing 2-1 but shortstop Evan Mendoza changed that negative equation into a positive with a bomb to right center.  The home run was Mendoza’s first of the season and only hit in three at bats.

Kramer Robertson provided what proved to be the insurance score.  The Redbirds’ third baseman unloaded over the center field wall to kick off the sixth, putting his team up 4-2.  Robertson went 1-for-4 from the two slot.  A single by Nolan Gorman provided the team’s fifth and final hit.

Starter T.J. Zeuch tossed a quality effort, holding the Stripers to three runs on seven hits, including two solo bombs.  The righty issued two free passes, striking out five, for his first win as a Redbird.

Tommy Parsons pitched the seventh, walking one with a K before Jesus Cruz took over for the eighth and ninth.  Cruz (S, 3) retired all six batters faced.

Monday’s game:  Off

Springfield 4 at Tulsa 9

Starter Michael Brettell did not finish the second as the S-Cards were handled by the Drillers, 9-4.  Springfield (40-68) settled for a split of their six-game set at Tulsa (58-50) (LAD).

Brettell (L, 1-5) recorded five outs, yielding five runs on five hits and three free passes issued.  Kyle Leahy stranded two inherited runs but gave up four tallies on four hits and two walks, including a home run with the bases empty in 4 1/3 innings.

Edgar Escobar and Kevin Marnon both tossed a one-two-three frames with one and two strikeouts, respectively.

Lead-off batter Justin Toerner provided much of his team’s offense, smashing his sixth and seventh Double-A long balls of 2021.  One of the center fielder’s home runs occurred with Julio Rodriguez (single) and Moises Castillo (plunked) aboard, giving Toerner four RBI to go with two runs scored in a 3-for-4 performance.

Justin Toerner

Right fielder Leandro Cedeno has two more of Springfield’s seven hits, singling twice in four at bats, batting sixth.

Monday’s game:  Off

Peoria 2 at West Michigan 4

The Chiefs (40-68) were topped by the Whitecaps on Sunday, 4-2, leaving the visitors with only one win in six tries at West Michigan (53-55) (DET).

Starter Logan Gragg (L, 2-6) lasted just three frames, allowing three tallies on four hits and a base-on-balls.

Shortstop Masyn Winn pitched the fourth and in his first official mound appearance, looked really good out there by all accounts.  The righty retired all three batters faced, fanning one, throwing 10 of his 14 pitches for strikes.

Masyn Winn

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson recorded six outs, serving up a solo bomb accounting for one of his two hits allowed.  Diego Cordero and Leonardo Taveras both tossed a clean frame, Taveras walking one.

Peoria matched West Michigan’s six hits but half of the Chiefs’ hits belonged to Jhon Torres.  The right fielder went 3-for-4 with a triple, run scored and RBI.  Third baseman Jordan Walker singled once in four at bats, touched home one time with three strikeouts.

Monday’s game:  Off

Palm Beach 10 at Dunedin 9 (10 innings)

Patrick Romeri’s big offensive day led the Beach Birds past the Blue Jays, 10-9 in 10 innings.  Palm Beach (33-72) won two of their six-game set at Dunedin (50-58) (TOR).

Romeri, our Player of the Day, went yard twice, going 4-for-5 with a two-run bomb and solo shot accounting for two runs scored and three of his four RBI.  A third key hit by the center fielder was his 10th-inning double, driving in Osvaldo Tovalin. The latter had singled home Mack Chambers who began the frame at second.

Patrick Romeri

Elijah Cabell also launched two long balls, with one of his home runs generated with a runner aboard.  The left fielder went 2-for-5, touched home twice and knocked in three.

Tovalin accounted for four scores, going 3-for-5 with a double, crossing home two times and drove in two.  Shortstop Mack Chambers scored all three times he reached base after working three free passes and swiping his first bag.  Palm Beach had 12 hits in all.

Although four Beach Birds pitchers gave up nine tallies on nine hits, it should be noted that five of the nine runs were unearned due to defensive lapses.  Catcher Wade Stauss committed his first pro bobble whereas second baseman Franklin Soto was charged with his 29th of the season – both throwing.

Starter Dionys Rodriguez had a noteworthy day on the mound.  The 21-year-old carried a no-hitter into the sixth, with the only batters reaching against him to that point coming on a base-on-balls and hit-by-pitch.

Dionys Rodriguez

Rodriguez surrendered a solo shot with one away followed by his final free pass issued, taking a one-hitter into the seventh.  The righty was removed, however, after serving up a lead-off home run and double to his first two batters, exiting with eight K’s and a 7-2 lead.

But a combination of a faulty bullpen and defense allowed five runs in the last two frames of regulation for a 7-7 tie after nine.  Roy Garcia retired four batters, permitting four runs, one earned, on a hit and two walks while leaving Rodriguez’ final runner on.

Two of Garcia’s four tallies scored with Inohan Paniagua on the bump.  Paniagua (W, 3-1) (BS,1) was charged with two scores, one earned, on four hits, three walks – one intentional – and a balk in 1 2/3 innings.   Andre Granillo was tagged with an RBI single in the 10th, the tally unearned, but held on for his first professional save.

Monday’s game:  Off

FCL Cardinals – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Florida Complex League.

Monday’s game:  FCL Cardinals (22-22) at FCL Nationals (22-25), 10:00 pm ET/9:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Blue (12-26) vs. DSL Mets1 (17-21), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Red (17-18) at DSL Cubs Red (16-21) , 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Jack Ralston Maps Out Future Plans

Now 20% Off – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.

20% off Blowout Sale now underway on the spiral-bound, printed version.

https://thecardinalnation.com/order-the-cardinal-nation-2021-prospect-guide-now/

Not yet a member?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

© 2021 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – September 3, 2021

photo: Juan Yepez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 5-4 on Thursday, led by Memphis’ road twin bill sweep. The Cardinal Nation Player of the Day Juan Yepez was a factor in both wins and teammate Nolan Gorman had four hits in Game 1.

Results from the games played Thursday, September 2nd.

Memphis 9 at Gwinnett 6 (7 innings) – Game 1
Memphis 3 at Gwinnett 2 (7 innings) – Game 2

Memphis (50-55) swept a pair at second-place Gwinnett, with the wins coming in a totally different fashion.  The 9-6 opening victory was a high-octane affair while the nightcap featured lots of zeros culminating in a 3-2 win.   The visitors lead the series, two games to one, with three yet to play.

The Redbirds claimed Game 1 behind the big bats of their two through five hitters who went a combined 10-for-24, touched home five times and drove in six.  Nolan Gorman spearheaded the charge, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.

Nolan Gorman

Batting behind Gorman in the three slot was Juan Yepez. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Month for August went 3-for-4 with a walk, double, crossing home plate twice and knocking in three.  Clean-up hitter Conner Capel singled three times in five at bats, scored one, drove in two and swiped a base.

Nick Plummer contributed despite going hitless in three at bats.  The center fielder scored all three times he reached base after working two free passes and getting hit by a pitch.  Dennis Ortega’s only hit in three at bats was a two-run double although the catcher did reach base another time via a free pass.

It took five Memphis pitchers to navigate seven frames.  Starter Zack Thompson lasted just 2 2/3 innings, permitting four scores on three hits and five walks, including a two-run home run.  The prospect lefty fanned five.

The next three hurlers all stranded several of their predecessor’s base runners.  Seth Elledge (W, 2-1) left Thompson’s last two runners aboard, recording six outs despite being wild, giving up a hit plus two walks with two hit batsmen.

Jesus Cruz and Evan Kruczynski each left three inherited base runners on with two batters retired.  Cruz yielded a tally on a hit and three free passes issued before Kruczynski struck out both batters faced.  Connor Jones was touched for a run on three hits in his inning of work.

Defensively, the visitors committed four errors, all due to errant throws.  Yepez was charged with his ninth and 10th miscues while both Thompson and Ortega were unsuccessful in attempted pick offs.

Both squads scored early in the finale before the pitching settled into a duel.  The visitors struck with a two-run first. Both scores were generated by Yepez’ 20th home run since joining the Redbirds.  It came with Kramer Robertson (single) aboard and when combined with his Game 1 output, earns the first baseman our Player of the Day nod.  (Another prime candidate for POD, Nolan Gorman, got the finale off.)

https://twitter.com/memphisredbirds/status/1433599813212332035

Juan Yepez

The Stripers answered right back with a two-run long ball of their own off spot starter Austin Warner.  The southpaw fanned five in four frames, yielding three hits and a base-on-balls.

Jacob Bosiokovic’s first taste of Triple-A action was a sweet one.  The righty worked two shutout innings, giving up a hit and walk for his first Triple-A victory.  Tommy Parsons retired the side in order, notching his first save since short-season ball in 2018.

http://thecardinalnation.com/player/jason-bosiokovic/

The contest flowed along as each set of hurlers put up donut holes until the sixth.  Center fielder Scott Hurst launched a ball over the right field wall, putting Memphis ahead 3-2.  The bomb was Hurst’s only hit in three at bats and one of just six for the Redbirds.

Kramer Robertson collected two of those hits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.  The six hits were disbursed among Memphis’ one through five batters.

Friday’s game:  at Gwinnett (59-46) (ATL), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Johan Oviedo (1-5, 7.41)

Springfield 10 at Tulsa 1

The S-Cards’ late offensive explosion resulted in a 10-1 victory at third-place Tulsa.  Springfield (39-66) holds a two-games-to-one series advantage with three contests on tap.

Springfield clung to a slim 2-0 advantage through six, thanks to single tallies in the first two frames, but broke the game open with eight runs over the last three innings.  The visitors matched their 10 hits to their run production.

The offense was carried by five bombs accounting for eight of the 10 runs.  Matt Koperniak got the scoring started in the first, blasting his initial Double-A home run.  The right fielder ended up with a line of 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI.

Next up on the launching pad was Malcom Nunez who went 2-for-5 with a double, touched home twice, drove in one and swiped a base.  His solo shot comprised half of Springfield’s seventh-inning results.

Leandro Cedeno propelled his first Double-A long ball over the left-center wall, scoring Chandler Redmond who drew a free pass to open the eighth.  The first baseman added a single to his bomb in five at bats.  Irving Lopez went yard two batters later and Springfield went up 7-2.

But the biggest blast came last.  Catcher Ivan Herrera homered with Delvin Perez (single) and Koperniak (walk) aboard, as his ninth-inning bomb capped a big night for S-Cards’ bats.

The good news at the plate was matched by good news on the mound.  Making his second rehab start overall and first for Springfield, Dakota Hudson struck out three in 2 2/3 innings, reaching his pitch count cap at that point.  The righty yielded two hits and a walk, throwing 25 of his 43 pitches for strikes, finishing with a swinging K and 6-3 ground out.

Domingo Robles

Domingo Robles (W, 3-9) took his regular turn in the rotation after Hudson and held the Drillers in check until the ninth.  The lefty permitted a lone run on four hits in 6 1/3 frames.

Friday’s game:  at Tulsa (56-49) (LAD), 7:05 pm CT, Dalton Roach (6-9, 5.70)

Peoria 5 at West Michigan 6 (10 innings)

The Chiefs failed to close out two late leads, falling to the Whitecaps, 6-5, in 10 innings on the road.  Peoria (39-66) has yet to put one in the win column in three tries with three games remaining.

The visitors trailed 3-2 going into the ninth but were handed two runs on walks and a fielding error.  Reliever Paul Schwendel melted down in his second inning of work, allowing the tying run to score on a lead-off double, fly out, hit batsman and run-scoring balk.

Springfield gained their last lead with a 10th-inning score but Nick Trogrlic-Iverson (L, 5-5) (BS,2) allowed singles to his first two batters, with both hits scoring a runner and handing Peoria a walk-off loss.

Trogrlic-Iverson was the last of six Chiefs’ pitchers to see action.  Connor Lunn went the initial five frames, striking out eight and permitting two runs on five hits, with both scores coming off one home run.

Diego Cordero pitched a clean sixth but Jacob Schlesener was tagged for a run on three hits the next inning, breaking a 2-2 tie.  Leonardo Taveras walked two and retired one, with both runners stranded by Schwendel who recorded five outs.

Jacob Buchberger

Jacob Buchberger and Todd Lott singled twice in five at bats, with Buchberger touching home once with an RBI and stolen base.  The only one of eight team hits to go for extra bases was a double by Tyler Reichenborn.  It was the center fielder’s only hit in four at bats to go with a run scored.

Friday’s game:  at West Michigan (51-54) (DET), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Wilfredo Pereira (22-8, 3.68)

Palm Beach 1 at Dunedin 4 (7 innings) – Game 1
Palm Beach 1 at Dunedin 7 (7 innings) – Game 2

While Memphis was the sweeper in their twin bill, the Beach Birds were the ‘sweepee’, dropping both ends of a double-header at Dunedin, 4-1 and 7-1.  The two losses put Palm Beach a whopping 40 games under .500 at 31-71, including all three of the series’ first three contests.

The difference in Game 1’s 4-1 defeat was defense, as three of the four runs given up by Beach Birds pitchers were unearned.  Michael McGreevy pitched the first, allowing a run on two hits, which tied the contest at 1-1.

John Beller (L, 0-6) struck out six in five innings, with all three unearned tallies charged to him occurring in his first inning on the bump.  The lefty issued three free passes in all along with three hits.

Palm Beach outhit their hosts by a slim 6-5 margin.  Mike Antico and Elijah Cabell had two hits each but unfortunately were nowhere near each other in the batting order.  Antico’s two hits in four at bats came at the top of the order, with the center fielder scoring his team’s sole tally and stealing his fifth base.  Cabell singled twice in three at bats, batting sixth.

Mike Antico

Third baseman Osvaldo Tovalin committed a fielding error, his fourth.

Although starter Levi Prater (L, 1-7) took the Game 2 loss, the contest was put out of reach by a five-run fifth off reliever Luis Ortiz.  Ortiz allowed five runs, two earned, on five hits, two plunked batters and a wild pitch.

Prater was charged with two runs during his 2 2/3-inning stint, permitting two hits, four walks, a hit batsman and two wild pitches.  Inohan Paniagua bridged the span between Prater and Ortiz, retiring all four batters faced.

Roy Garcia pitched a scoreless sixth, yielding a hit with two strikeouts.

Designated hitter Wade Stauss accounted for the PB-Cards’ only run.  An undrafted free agent signee out of Southeast Missouri State, the catcher went yard for the first time as a professional in the third.  The home run was one of two hits in three at bats for Stauss who was responsible for two of his team’s five hits.

Wade Stauss

Defensively, it was more down than up for Palm Beach again.  Center fielder Mike Antico was charged with his first error (throwing) and shortstop Darlyn Del Villar committed his sixth miscue (also throwing).  Antico was credited with an outfield assist at third.

Friday’s game:  at Dunedin (49-56) (TOR), 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT, Jose Moreno (1-5, 6.42)

FCL Cardinals 1 at FCL Mets 0 (8 innings)

Five Florida Birds hurlers combined on a three-hit shutout as the FCL Cardinals (21-21) edged the FCL Mets (24-19), 1-0, in eight frames.

Nine pitchers, including five Cardinals, took part in the tight pitching duel in which the winning tally scored in the last, extra inning.  Jose Davila was perfect through his four innings of work, 12 up and 12 down.  The 18-year-old struck out three with seven ground- to two fly-ball outs.

José Dávila

Springfield rehabber Johan Quezada continued the perfecto, fanning all three batters faced.  Ben Baird pitched himself into and back out of a sixth-inning jam, the biggest threat mounted by the Mets all day.  The righty loaded the bases with his first three batters reaching via a double, single and walk then coaxed a fly out to center and inning-ending 5-3 double play.

Lefty Alex Cornwell (W, 1-0) faced his own tight situation the next inning.  The USC product retired his initial two batters before loading the bases on a hit-by-pitch, single and base-on-balls.  Cornwell escaped damage when the Mets’ number eight batter flied out to Joshua Baez in center.

Cornwell was the pitcher of record when his teammates scored the game’s only run the next inning, gaining the 22-year-old his first pro victory.  Second baseman Ramon Mendoza began the eighth on second in the scheduled seven-inning game.  Baez was issued an intentional free pass with one away but the walk worked by shortstop Jeremy Rivas was not intentional and filled the bases.

Rivas had garnered one of five hits generated by the Florida Birds as had first baseman Brady Whalen.  Whalen, who is working his way back to form after a month on Peoria’s Injured List, lifted one deep enough to left for Mendoza to race home, gaining a 1-0 lead.

Southpaw Alfredo Ruiz, St. Louis’ sixth-round selection in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, was entrusted with the slim advantage and he came through.  Ruiz sent the side down in order, striking out one, for his first professional save.

Friday’s game:  vs. FCL Astros (23-21), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 4 at DSL Angels 9

The DSL Cardinals Blue (12-24) were downed by the DSL Angels, absorbing a 9-4 road defeat. Since opening the season 10-8, the reeling Blue have lost 16 of their last 18.

The game was tied 2-2 at the fifth’s midpoint as Victor Herrera took over for starter Henry Gomez.  Both scores charged to Gomez were unearned due to first-inning fielding bobble by right fielder Jose Suarez. The righty yielded six hits and a walk.

Herrera (L, 1-5) was tagged for four runs on four hits and a base-on-balls with three outs recorded.  Three more right-handers pitched one inning each:  Uriel Curvelo, Alejandro Cervantes and Esteban Contreras.  Cervantes’s clean seventh was sandwiched between two run-producing frames.  Curvelo yielded two tallies on two hits, a walk and two wild pitches before Contreras a run on a hit, base-on-balls and wild pitch.

http://thecardinalnation.com/player/luis-mario-pino/

C-Blue batters mustered nine hits, led by Suarez and shortstop Maycol Justo who had two hits apiece.  Suarez singled twice in four at bats, scoring once but Justo’s two singles in five at bats did not produce results.  Center fielder Luis Pino’s only hit in five at bats was his fourth home run, this one with the bases clean.

Friday’s game:  vs. DSL Angels (18-16), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red 4 vs. DSL Mets2 1

An eighth-inning rally lifted the DSL Cardinals Red (16-17) over the DSL Mets2, 4-1. Prior to the Thursday win, the Red had dropped four straight and seven of their last eight.

The home team trailed from the second inning onward, thanks to an unearned tally off starter Yonael Dominguez, but the script flipped in the eighth.  Designated hitter Jose Rodriguez smashed a bases-clearing double, scoring second baseman Marcelo Perez (walk), catcher Maikel Hernandez (plunked) and third baseman Samil De La Rosa (walk).  The two-bagger came with two gone and was Rodriguez’ only hit in four at bats.

Jose Rodriguez

The Cardinals Blue scoring was not finished, however.  Right fielder Jeremy Ramos lined a double to center, bringing Rodriguez across the plate.  It was the sixth double of 2021 for the 18-year-old.

The C-Blue offense produced just three hits in all, with the third hit belonging to Hernandez.  The 18-year-old Venezuelan opened the third with a double and his eighth-inning walk was one of six free passes issued by Mets2 pitchers.

Meanwhile on the mound, Dominguez led a pitching trio that held the opposition to five hits and just one walk.  The righty turned in an impressive six-inning performance, yielding three hits and issuing a free pass.

Yonael Dominguez

Angel Luna’s third pro appearance duplicated the results of his prior two efforts.  The six-footer retired the side in order, striking out one.  Darlin Saladin worked around two hits and a plunked batter for his fifth win in as many decisions.

Friday’s game:  at DSL Mets2 (14-20), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 17

Now 20% Off – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.

20% off Blowout Sale now underway on the spiral-bound, printed version.

https://thecardinalnation.com/order-the-cardinal-nation-2021-prospect-guide-now/

Not yet a member?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

© 2021 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – September 1, 2021

photo: Logan Gragg (Peoria Chiefs)

Runs were at a premium across the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system on Tuesday, as the group scored just 12 runs while losing all six games. Two clubs were shut out. The Cardinal Nation Player of the Day Logan Gragg pitched Peoria into a position to win before a bullpen let down.

Results from the games played Tuesday, August 31st.

Memphis at Gwinnett – postponed

The Redbirds’ series opener at Gwinnett was rained out.  The contest has been rescheduled as part of a double-header on Thursday, September 2nd with Game 1 scheduled to start at 5:05 pm ET/4:05 pm CT.

Wednesday’s games:  Memphis (48-54) at Gwinnett (58-44) (ATL), 5:05 pm ET/4:05 pm CT, Matthew Liberatore (6-7, 4.56)/Zack Thompson (2-6, 6.38)

Springfield 2 at Tulsa 15

It was a long night for the S-Cards – and especially their hurlers – as Springfield (37-66) was drilled in the series opener at the Tulsa Drillers, 15-2.

A quartet of pitchers gave up a combined 18 hits and eight walks. Starter Michael Brettell (L, 1-4) yielded eight scores on nine hits and two walks, while retiring just six batters.

Kyle Leahy fared the best of the lot – if using a runs-per-outs-recorded formula.  Leahy was tagged for three tallies on six hits and two free passes issued in 3 1/3 frames.

Salvador Justo recorded four outs, permitting a hit and two walks, resulting in three runs.  All three of his base runners crossed home plate with Alex FaGalde on the mound, who had just been activated off the Injured List.  The score charged to FaGalde was generated by a long ball, one of two hits and two walks permitted.

Chandler Redmond

Springfield mustered eight hits, including three by first baseman Chandler Redmond.  Redmond went 3-for-5 with a double and RBI, batting third.  Designated hitter Nick Dunn reached base three times batting just ahead of Redmond, doubling once in three at bats with two walks and a run scored.  Shortstop Delvin Perez scored the other run, singling once in five at bats.

Wednesday’s game:  at Tulsa (56-47) (LAD), 12:05 pm CT, Grant Black (0-3, 5.59)

Peoria 1 at West Michigan 4

Peoria (39-64) collected just four hits in their 4-1 loss at West Michigan.

Their sole tally was unearned, coming in the first frame via singles by Masyn Winn and Pedro Pages.  Pages’ hit triggered a throwing error by the Whitecaps’ shortstop, allowing Winn to cross home plate.  Winn swiped his 12th bag and Tommy Jew doubled for the third time.

That slim 1-0 lead held through starter Logan Gragg’s five impressive innings on the bump.  Our Player of the Day limited the opposition to four hits with four K’s, tossing 48 of his 66 pitches for strikes, and did not issue a free pass.

Logan Gragg

The lead evaporated the moment the bullpen entered.  Sean Kealey retired only two batters, allowing three tallies on two hits and a base-on-balls.

Kealey’s final two runners scored under Enmanuel Solano’s watch.  Solano recorded the sixth’s last out without damage to his own stat line only to serve up a bomb leading off the seventh.  Jacob Schlesener faced the minimum in the eighth.

Wednesday’s game:  at West Michigan (DET), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Mac Lardner (0-4, 5.51)

Palm Beach 6 at Dunedin 16

Palm Beach (31-69) pitchers allowed runs in six frames, leading to a resounding 16-6 defeat at Dunedin.

All five Beach Birds hurlers were scored upon, beginning with starter Edgar Manzo, who did not finish the third.  Manzo was touched for four runs in his final frame, yielding five hits including a solo shot over 2 2/3 innings.  The righty was one of three PB-Card pitchers to hit a batter.

Manzo exited with his team up 5-4 thanks to Palm Beach scoring in each of the game’s initial three innings.  Three of the five scores were generated by L.J. Jones’ two-run blast plus Elijah Cabell’s first pro rocket.   The home runs were each player’s only hits in five and three at bats, respectively, although Cabell did work a free pass.

LJ Jones IV

The high point of the game occurred after the visitors pushed another run across home in their half of the fourth for a 6-4 advantage.  It was all Dunedin, however, from that point onward.

Nathanael Heredia stranded Manzo’s last base runner but let the Blue Jays knot the game at 6-6 on a hit and four free passes issued against three batters retired.

The pitching pattern continued as Ryan Loutos (L, 0-2) stranded three inherited runners but permitted three scores on three hits and a hit batsman in two innings.  Hard-throwing Edwin Nunez recorded four outs, leaving Loutos’ last runner aboard, but was charged with six runs, five earned, on two hits, three walks and a plunked batter.

Andrew Marrero broke the cycle of stranding inherited runners while giving up tallies of their own but not in a good way.  The 18th-round selection in the recent First-Year Player Draft allowed all three inherited runners to score plus an unearned tally of his own on a hit and walk with three outs recorded.

Palm Beach’s bats accumulated nine hits, with three Beach Birds having two each in four at bats:  Mike Antico, Patrick Romeri and Mack Chambers.  All three players added a base-on-balls. Antico and Romeri touched home once and Romeri and Chambers each drove in one.  Noah Mendlinger continued his strong 2021 debut, going 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored.

Defensively, the Beach Birds’ two miscues were split between reliever Nunez and first baseman Thomas Francisco, both fielding.

Wednesday’s game:  at Dunedin (47-56) (TOR), 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT, Michael McGreevy (0-0, 9.00) (then John Beller (0-5, 4.05))

FCL Cardinals 0 vs. FCL Nationals 4

The FCL Cardinals’ (20-21) offensive struggles continued for a second straight contest, resulting in a 2-0 home defeat to the FCL Nationals (19-24).

A day after generating two runs on seven hits, the home team was shut out on four hits, all singles.  Second baseman Ramon Mendoza garnered half of them in three at bats with a walk, batting seventh.  Right fielder Adanson Cruz reached base twice, going 1-for-3 with a base-on-balls out of the three hole.

Ramon Mendoza

Yordy Richard (L, 3-6) tossed a solid effort, giving up a run on four hits and a walk over four innings.  The righty struck out four.

A quartet of hurlers covered the game’s five-inning balance.  Tyler Statler kept the Nationals off the board through the sixth, permitting two hits and issuing one free pass.  Rehabber Hector Soto was dinged for a tally on three seventh-inning hits prior to Omar Sanchez taking over in the eighth.  Sanchez and Trent Baker retired three batters each, the former maneuvering around two walks and the latter facing the minimum.

Wednesday’s game:  Off

DSL Cardinals Blue 0 at DSL Nationals 4 (7 innings)

The DSL Cardinals Blue (12-23) were blanked by the DSL Nationals (19-15) for the second straight game, losing 4-0 on Tuesday.

The C-Blue’s six hits, all singles, were disbursed among four players.  Shortstop Maycol Justo was a perfect 3-for-3 but was caught stealing in his only attempt.

Maycol Justo

Hancel Rincon was charged with the loss, his first decision in seven starts.  The 19-year-old yielded two tallies on four hits and a base-on-balls.  Both scores occurred in Rincon’s last inning of work, the fifth.  Alexander Beltre posted a line nearly identical to Rincon’s but in just one frame – two runs allowed on four hits and two walks.  The righty did pick a runner off first.

Defensively, first baseman Fernando Diaz was charged with a missed catch error, his ninth overall, while left fielder Robelyn Lopez was credited with an outfield assist at home.

Wednesday’s game:  off

DSL Cardinals Red 3 vs. DSL Giants Black 9

The DSL Cardinals Red (15-17) were downed by the DSL Giants Black (13-14) on Tuesday, 9-3.  It is the fourth consecutive loss by the C-Red and seventh in their last eight.

The C-Red led 3-1 until the visitors’ half of the fourth when the Giants Black put up a six spot.  Starter Branyan Ramirez (L, 0-3) did not retire a batter that inning, permitting five runs in all on five hits and four free passes issued.

Ramirez’ last two base runners scored with Omar Yanez’ on the mound. The 18-year-old had difficulty finding the strike zone, allowing a hit and four walks plus a wild pitch which generated two scores in 2/3 of an inning.

Eduar Pimentel

Eduar Pimentel faced one over the minimum during his 2 1/3-inning stint, issuing a free pass and leaving the bases jammed with Yanez’ base runners.  Juan Severino tossed a one-two-three seventh but Fraimin Marte was tagged with two tallies on two hits and a walk while retiring three batters.  Augusto Calderon faced the minimum in the ninth, fanning two.

All three C-Red scores came in the first.  Second baseman Samil De La Rosa’s first triple drove in shortstop Marcelo Perez who worked a free pass to open the frame.

After right fielder Carlos Carmona also walked, De La Rosa scored on Carmona’s successful steal of second.  A throwing error by the Giants Black’s catcher allowed the right fielder to take third, putting Carmona in position to score on designated hitter Jose Rodriguez’ sac fly to right.

Five C-Red players had one hit apiece, Perez, De La Rosa and third baseman Raul Guzman all reaching base twice.

Wednesday’s game:  off

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 31, 2021

photo: Cardinals Dominican Academy (St. Louis Cardinals)

The St. Louis Cardinals rookie level clubs went 0-3 on Monday, scoring just two runs in 27 innings. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, DSL Blue starter Benjamin Arias, allowed just three baserunners in four scoreless innings.

Results from games played Monday, August 30th.

Memphis – off

After splitting last week’s home series versus Columbus (CLE), fifth-place Memphis (48-54) begins a two-week road trip by facing second-place Gwinnett.

Tuesday’s game:  at Gwinnett (58-44) (ATL), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Matthew Liberatore (6-7, 4.56)

Springfield – off     
Fifth-place Springfield (37-65) kicks off the final three weeks of their season after losing four of six games played at Hammons Field to fourth-place Northwest Arkansas (KC).  The S-Cards’ immediate prospects do not get any brighter with an upcoming road series at third-place Tulsa.

Tuesday’s game:  at Tulsa (55-47) (LAD), 7:05 pm CT, Michael Brettell (1-3, 6.43)

Peoria – off

Like their Triple-A counterparts, sixth-place Peoria (39-63) is opening a two-week road journey, the last for the Chiefs this season, with trips to West Michigan and first-place Quad Cities (KC).

Tuesday’s game:  at West Michigan (48-54) (DET), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Logan Gragg (2-5, 5.13)

Palm Beach – off

Fourth-place Palm Beach (31-68) will not see the confines of Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for the next two weeks as they venture to West Division rivals Dunedin and Fort Myers (MIN).

Tuesday’s games:  at Dunedin (46-56) (TOR), 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT, Edgar Manzo (5-4, 4.45)

FCL Cardinals 2 vs. FCL Marlins 9

Early tallies created an insurmountable obstacle for the FCL Cardinals (20-20) in their 9-2 home loss to the FCL Marlins (19-21).

Starter Reinys Portillo did not complete two frames, surrendering seven runs, earned, on seven hits, three walks, a balk and wild pitch while securing just five outs.

Enrique Saldana was the first of five Florida Birds hurlers following Portillo to the mound.  The 22-year-old recorded seven outs, striking out three, issuing one free pass and stranding an inherited runner.  The righty also committed a missed catch miscue and picked a runner off first.

Zane Mills

Two 2021 signees were successful in their fourth professional appearances.  Zane Mills (4th round) retired five batters, two via K’s, and giving up one hit whereas Bryan Pope (undrafted free agent) allowed two hits in 1 1/3 otherwise clean innings.

20-year-old Victor Villanueva pitched the eighth, permitting two runs, one earned, on a reach-by-fielding-error (by second baseman Brandon Hernandez), hit batsman and two-run double.  18-year-old Italian Ettore Giulianelli tossed a one-two-three ninth, fanning one.

Both of the home team’s scores occurred in the third inning.  Center fielder Joshua Baez lined a single to center, his only hit in five at bats.  A free pass issued to shortstop Jeremy Rivas moved Baez to second before a force at second by rehabbing Brady Whalen advanced Baez to third.

Left fielder Hansel Otamendi singled to left, driving in Baez, his hit preceding a walk by catcher Roblin Heredia, which loaded the bases.  Whalen touched home on a sac fly by designated hitter Edgardo Rodriguez.

The only FCL Cardinals garnering more than one of seven team hits were right fielder Luis Montano and third baseman Darlyn Del Villar, who both went 2-for-4. Del Villar doubled once.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. FCL Nationals (18-24), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 0 vs. DSL Nationals 5

The DSL Cardinals Blue (12-22) were blanked by the DSL Nationals, 5-0, at home.

The contest was scoreless through the first six innings but the visitors finally broke through against the fourth C-Blue pitcher of the day, Randel Clemente.  Clemente (L, 0-4) was charged with two tallies, one earned, on two hits and two walks in 2/3 of a frame.

Oliver Lopez recorded the seventh’s last out, leaving two of Clemente’s runners aboard, but did not retire any of the four batters faced the next inning.  Lopez gave up three runs, earned, on two hits, a walk and hit batsman, giving way to Juan Peralta.  Peralta yielded a sac fly scoring one of two inherited runners but otherwise tossed two scoreless frames.

Benjamin Arias

Our Player of the Day nod goes to starter Benjamin Arias who tossed his best effort this season.  The 19-year-old shut down the opposition on three hits over four innings.  Arias struck out three, did not issue a free pass and did not hit anyone.

Juan Salas and Antoni Cuello bridged the span between Arias and Clemente.  Each pitcher retired three batters, with Cuello walking one.

The DSL Cardinals Blue’s five singles were dispersed among four players.  Second baseman Anyelo Encarnacion went 2-for-4 out of the lead-off slot.

Defensively, the team committed three errors:  one by first baseman Diego Velasquez and two by catcher Leonardo Bernal.

Tuesday’s game:   at DSL Nationals (18-15), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red 0 at DSL Giants Black 4

The DSL Cardinals Red (15-16) were shut out by the DSL Giants Black (12-14), 4-0.

The C-Red managed just two hits, both singles, and two walks.  The singles were by number five batter Felix Taveras and catcher Carlos Linarez from the nine hole.  Samil De La Rosa worked a base-on-balls, batting second, as did number eight batter Raul Guzman.

Starter Wilmer Ortega took the loss, his second in as many decisions.  The right-hander yielded seven hits and a walk, resulting in four scores, two earned, in four innings.

Darlin Saladin

Darlin Saladin allowed two hits in his two-inning stint.  He was succeeded by Engels Martinez and Americo Lugo who each recorded three outs, Martinez working around a hit and walk.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. DSL Giants Black (12-14), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 30, 2021

photo: Tyler Reichenborn (Trevor Travis/Peoria Chiefs)

Peoria collected the only win in four Sunday games across the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. The Cardinal Nation Player of the Day Tyler Reichenborn stroked three doubles, drove in a pair and scored twice for the Chiefs. Of the four weekly series concluded on Sunday, Memphis’ split was the best outcome.

Results from games played Sunday, August 29th.

Memphis 5 vs. Columbus 6 (10 innings)

The Redbirds came out on the downside of a see-saw contest, a 6-5 loss to Columbus (47-53) (CLE) in 10 innings.  Memphis (48-54) settled for a split of the six-game home series.

The game contained three ties and multiple rallies by the home team whose sole lead occurred in the first.  The Clippers’ response to Memphis’ 1-0 advantage was a two-run second off T.J. Zeuch.  Making his first franchise start since being traded from Toronto on July 25th, the 26-year-old righty permitted four runs on seven hits and a walk over five frames.  Three of the four tallies were generated by two long balls.

The Redbirds answered right back with a run, tying the game at two all after two stanzas.  A two-run fourth lifted Columbus back up 4-2 but Memphis pushed across single scores for a 4-4 knot through five.  The two teams traded tallies in the seventh, with the visitor’s run coming off Connor Jones who yielded a hit and two walks with four batters retired.

Austin Warner retired all eight batters faced, striking out four, preserving the 5-5 tie.  But Jesus Cruz (L, 0-3) allowed the decisive tally in his only inning on the bump, with the run scoring on a fielder’s choice/throwing error by third baseman Kramer Robinson.

Juan Yepez

Memphis outhit their guests 10 to eight but neither of the multi-base hits were home runs.  Juan Yepez continued his torrid August pace in which he has posted a line of .355/.453/.763/.1.216 in 76 at bats.  On Sunday, the first baseman went 3-for-4 with a double, intentional free pass, run scored and RBI.  It was the 23-year-old’s third straight multi-hit performance and fourth in his last five games.

Robertson singled and doubled in five at bats, crossing home once and knocking in another.  Left fielder Nick Plummer and second baseman Nolan Gorman also had two hits each with an RBI. Plummer touched home once with a walk in four at bats and Gorman took five at bats.  In addition to Robertson’s bobble, Plummer was credited with an outfield assist at second.

Monday’s game:  Off

Springfield 0 at Northwest Arkansas 1

The S-Cards could not get that key hit, dropping a 1-0 decision to Northwest Arkansas (53-48) (KC) at Arvest Ballpark.  Springfield (37-65) lost the series, two games to four.

Springfield was held to just three hits but were issued six free passes and did not come through in their seven opportunities with runners in scoring position.  The sole Springfield player to reach base more than once was designated hitter Ivan Herrera, who went 0-for-1 with three walks out of the two hole.

Iván Herrera

Kevin McGovern (L, 1-4) blanked the Naturals through five frames before issuing a free pass and RBI double to his first two sixth-inning batters.  The walk was the fifth of the game for the lefty who allowed three hits.

Ramon Santos pitched the last three innings, yielding two hits and a base-on-balls while leaving McGovern’s last base runner aboard.

Monday’s game:  Off

Peoria 7 vs. South Bend 2

Tyler Reichenborn’s strong offensive effort led the Chiefs to a 7-2 victory over the Cubs at Dozer Park.  Peoria (39-63) claimed two of the six games versus South Bend (46-55) (CHC).

Reichenborn, our Player of the Day, accounted for four tallies, doubling three times in four at bats with two runs scored and two knocked in, while batting eighth.  Both of Jhon Torres’ hits went for extra bases, starting with the right fielder’s solo shot that put the Chiefs up 1-0 after one.  Torres also tripled once in four at bats, adding another run scored and RBI.

Tyler Reichenborn

Left fielder Matt Chamberlain also had two of his team’s 11 hits, going 2-for-2 with two walks and two driven in.  Eight of nine starters contributed with a hit, run scored or both.

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson was credited with his fifth win against four losses, tossing 2 1/3 clean frames and permitting two hits and a walk.  The righty pitched in relief of Michael YaSenka for whom Trogrlic-Iverson stranded two inherited runners.

YaSenka retired 11 batters, giving up a run on three hits and four walks.  Leonardo Taveras followed Trogrlic-Iverson to the mound and battled control problems during his brief sixth-inning stint.  Taveras issued four free passes, recording just two outs, leading to one run.

Paul Schwendel retired four batters, hit another and left the sacks jammed with Taveras’ base runners.  Enmanuel Solano allowed a ninth-inning hit.

Monday’s game:  Off

Palm Beach 2 vs. Jupiter 7

Palm Beach (31-68) dropped a 7-2 decision to Jupiter (54-46) (MIA) at Roger Dean Stadium, their fifth defeat of the just completed six-game set.

Starter Dionys Rodriguez (L, 3-5) tossed a strong, albeit brief, effort.  The 20-year-old permitted just five hits over four frames, resulting in one run, earned.  The righty did not issue a free pass and threw 43 of his 61 pitches for strikes.

Dionys Rodriguez

Inohan Paniagua transformed the contest from close to out of reach for the offensively-challenged Beach Birds before his 1 2/3-inning stint was over.  The right-hander was charged with five scores, four earned, on six hits – including a solo shot – a walk, balk and wild pitch.

Gordon Graceffo recorded seven outs, with the first stranding Paniagua’s final two base runners.  Graceffo fanned three with an unearned run yielded on three hits and a wild pitch.  Andre Granillo issued a free pass in his inning of work.

The home team trailed 5-0 before breaking through with single scores in the sixth and seventh off the Hammerheads’ bullpen.  Right fielder L.J. Jones greeted Jupiter’s first reliever with a double, his only hit in four at bats.  The second of first baseman Thomas Francisco’s three hits in four at bats was a single up the middle, advancing Jones to third.  Jones eventually scored on a wild pitch.

The team’s other tally was generated after Franklin Soto was plunked then moved up a base on a ground out to first.  Third baseman Noah Mendlinger lined a two-out single to right, driving in Soto, for his second hit in four at bats.  Francisco, Mendlinger and Jones accounted for all of their squad’s hits.

Defensively, Palm Beach committed five bobbles:  two each by shortstop Mack Chambers and Soto plus one by left fielder Elijah Cabell.

Monday’s game:  Off

FCL Cardinals – off

After the Florida Complex League’s regularly scheduled Sunday off, the FCL Cardinals (20-19) work to extend their modest two-game winning streak as play resumes on Monday.

Monday’s game:  vs. FCL Marlins (18-21), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Blue (12-21) vs. DSL Nationals (17-15), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Red (15-15) at DSL Giants Black (11-15), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 27, 2021

photo: Leandro Cedeno (Trevor Travis/Peoria Chiefs)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-4 on Thursday, with TCN Player of the Day Leandro Cedeño collecting four of his team’s nine hits and plating four of five runs in Peoria’s twin bill split.

Results from the games played Thursday, August 26th.

Memphis 3 vs. Columbus 12

Redbirds hurlers were scored upon in seven of nine innings, resulting in a 12-3 trouncing by the Clippers.  Memphis (46-53) trails in the home series, one game to two.

The peak of the game’s competitiveness occurred in the home half of the second.  First baseman Brendan Donovan doubled with two away, scoring catcher Ali Sanchez (force) and Evan Mendoza (single), tying the game at two all.

https://twitter.com/memphisredbirds/status/1431061337698971650

Brendan Donovan

Columbus scored 10 more times before the Redbirds got on the scoreboard again.  Center fielder Conner Capel walked to begin the ninth, advancing to third on Mendoza’s 12th double.  Left fielder Nick Plummer’s 4-3 ground out brought Capel across home.

Plummer joined Mendoza with two hits apiece. The former reached base four times via a base-on-balls, hit-by-pitch and acquiring his first Triple-A stolen base.  Mendoza’s two hits came on four at bats while three Redbirds had one hit each.

Memphis sent five pitchers to the mound, four of whom were scored upon.  Johan Oviedo (L, 1-5) was tagged for five runs on seven hits and four walks in four innings.

One of two hits yielded by Seth Elledge in his inning on the bump was a solo shot which accompanied two walks, one intentional.  Elledge handed the ball off to Tommy Parsons, who pitched for only the second time since July 15th.

The Redbirds’ former starter gave up a hit in a clean sixth but the same cannot be said for Connor Jones during his two-inning stint.  Jones permitted three runs on four hits and two free passes issued.  Brandon Dickson allowed a three-run ninth on three hits, including a two-run long ball.

Friday’s game:  vs. Columbus (46-51) (CLE), 7:10 pm CT, Jake Woodford (1-3, 4.82)

Springfield at Northwest Arkansas – postponed

Thursday’s contest at Arvest Ballpark between Springfield (36-62) and Northwest Arkansas could not be played due to wet grounds.  The game has been rescheduled as part of a Friday, August 27th double header with Game 1 beginning at 4:30 pm CT.

Friday’s games:  at Northwest Arkansas (50-47) (KC).  Game 1 – 4:30 pm CT, Grant Black (0-2, 5.76)/ Domingo Robles (2-8, 6.29)

Peoria 2 vs. South Bend 3 (7 innings) – Game 1
Peoria 3 vs. South Bend 1 (7 innings) – Game 2

The Chiefs split a pair of low-scoring affairs on Thursday, losing the opener, 3-2, but claiming the finale, 3-1.  Peoria (37-61) has won one of the series’ first three games with three on tap.

Home runs determined Game 1’s outcome as two of the Cubs’ three scores were generated by solo bombs.  Paul Schwendel (L, 2-1) surrendered the decisive blast, which exploded in the seventh, breaking a 2-2 tie.

Reliever Diego Cordero served up the other home run in the sixth, putting South Bend briefly up 2-1.  Those long balls were the only hits yielded by either reliever in their respective one inning of work although Cordero also issued a free pass.

Starter Logan Gragg tossed a fine effort, fanning five in as many innings and giving up a run in his last inning on the mound.  The righty yielded four hits and one walk in all.

Logan Gragg

The offense mustered just three hits but was able to translate them into two runs.  Jordan Walker opened the fourth with a base-on-balls, immediately swiping both second and third.  Leandro Cedeno singled up the middle, driving in the third baseman, for a brief 1-0 advantage.

With the Chiefs down 2-1, Masyn Winn kicked off the sixth with a single, advancing to second on a throwing error by South Bend’s pitcher.  A 4-3 ground out moved Winn to third before Cedeno’s two-out single brought Winn across home plate.

Leandro Cedeño

Cedeno continued to generate results in the second contest which made up the Wednesday, August 25th postponement.  Our Player of the Day singled twice in three at bats, knocking in two of his team’s three tallies.  The balance of the team’s six hits was also singles shared by four Chiefs.  One of the four was Winn, who went 1-for-3 with a walk, run scored, RBI and no less than three stolen bases.

Peoria led wire-to-wire, leading 2-0 before starter Mac Lardner was touched for a third-inning tally.  Lardner pitched four frames, giving up six hits and a base-on-balls with six K’s.

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson (W, 4-4) was credited with the win, negotiating around two hits and a walk in two innings.  Leonardo Taveras (S, 3) issued a free pass in the seventh.

Friday’s game:  vs. South Bend (44-54) (CHC), 6:35 pm CT, Connor Lunn (5-6, 4.03)

Update

How about a day?

Following the games, Cedeno was informed that he has been promoted to Double-A Springfield!

Palm Beach 1 vs. Jupiter 4

Palm Beach (31-65) dropped a 4-1 decision to Jupiter at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium for a two-games-to-one deficit with three games remaining.

Both squads accumulated six hits, but all of the Beach Birds were singles while two of the Hammerheads’ three extra base hits led to scores.  Two of the PB-Cards’ singles came in the first when L.J. Jones’ singled home Mike Antico who singled to lead off the inning.  No player had more than one hit although Antico added a stolen base.

John Beller

Starter John Beller took the loss despite turning a strong performance.  The lefty struck out 11 over seven innings, holding his opponents to two runs on three hits and two free passes issued.  Nathanael Heredia allowed two tallies, one earned, on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts in two frames.

Friday’s game:  vs. Jupiter (51-46) (MIA), 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT, Jose Moreno, 1-5, 6.23

FCL Cardinals – off

Friday’s game:  FCL Cardinals (19-19) vs. FCL Mets (23-16), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 8 at DSL Yankees1 7

Key defensive lapses played the biggest role in the DSL Cardinals Blue’s 8-7 road victory over the DSL Yankees1.

Although the squads committed five bobbles apiece, the Yankees1’s errors proved more costly, generating five unearned tallies to the C-Blue’s two.  The home team led 3-1 after three innings but the C-Blue (11-20) scored five unanswered and unearned runs by midway through the fifth.  Three of the five runs scored on just one hit and no walks.  The sequence – reached on throwing error by shortstop, balk, RBI single, balk, ground out, two-run fielding error by shortstop/throwing error by first baseman.

Up 5-3, the Blue watched their hosts tie the game on single scores in the fifth and sixth.  But a three-run seventh provided enough cushion for the Blue’s win.

Keshawn Rombley

Right fielder Keshawn Rombley led the seven-hit offensive effort, going 2-for-4 with a base-on-balls, three runs scored and his first stolen base.  Designated hitter Jose Suarez and catcher Justin Guerrero singled back-to-back in the seventh, driving in Rombley (walk) and left fielder Robelyn Lopez (walk), the latter RBI generating what proved to be the decisive margin.

Infielders accounted for all five errors.  Going around the horn, first baseman Diego Velazquez committed two fielding miscues to second baseman Adari Grant’s one fielding bobble.  Shortstop Maycol Justo did not participate in the Miscue Mayhem but third baseman Bryan Encarnacion did via an errant throw.  Catcher Guerrero was charged with his first error (throwing).

Henry Gomez pitched the first four innings, permitting three runs, two earned, on two hits and three free passes issued.  Miguel Martinez yielded two tallies in two frames, one earned, on two hits and a walk.  Both hurlers fanned three.

Frankely Guzman maneuvered around a hit and base-on-balls for scoreless seventh, picking up his first professional win in his first decision.  Marlyn Almonte and Esteban Contreras posted nearly identical lines, with each reliever allowing a run on two hits and a walk. Almonte struck out one to Contreras’ two, with the latter earning his third save.

Friday’s game:  vs. DSL Yankees1, 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT

DSL Cardinals Red 4 vs. DSL Brewers1 7

The DSL Cardinals Red (14-13) could not overcome a big early deficit, falling to the DSL Brewers1, 7-4.

All seven tallies charged to starter Yonael Dominguez (L, 1-2) came in the first two of his five-inning stint.  Five of the seven scores resulted from two long balls which were two of the 12 hits yielded by the righty.

Angel Luna did well in his second pro appearance, retiring the side in order as did Omar Yanez in the seventh.  Darlin Saladin tossed two perfect frames.

Multiple squandered opportunities at the plate played its part in the loss, as C-Red batters went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position despite banging out nine hits.  A third of those hits belonged to second baseman Samil De La Rosa who singled three times in five at bats, batting second, but did no further damage.

Samil De La Rosa

Shortstop Elias Reynoso reached base three times, doubling once in three at bats with two walks and a run scored.  Catcher Carlos Linarez’ only hit in four at bats was a two-run double that got his team on the board in the fourth.  The two-bagger drove in third baseman Lizandro Espinosa and designated hitter Miguel Vargas, both of whom reached on free passes.

Friday’s game:  at DSL Brewers1 (16-13), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 25, 2021

photo: Nolan Gorman and Scott Hurst (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

In seven Tuesday games across the St. Louis Cardinals system, Memphis took the lone win behind big performances by Nolan Gorman, Scott Hurst and Matthew Liberatore.

Results from the games played Tuesday, August 24th.

Memphis 8 vs. Columbus 4

A first-inning offensive explosion launched Memphis (46-51) over Columbus, 8-4, in the home series opener.

All eight Redbirds tallies came that inning, with the big blows from second baseman Nolan Gorman and center fielder Scott Hurst, who both went yard.  Third baseman Kramer Robertson led off with a single, immediately followed by Gorman’s ninth long ball with Memphis and 20th overall this season.

https://twitter.com/memphisredbirds/status/1430326633546797058

Nolan Gorman

Designated hitter Alec Burleson worked a one-out walk, advancing to third on left fielder Clint Coulter’s double.  Right fielder Nick Plummer walked in his first Triple-A plate appearance, loading the bases for shortstop Evan Mendoza.  Mendoza was issued the third free pass of the inning, bringing about both a run scored by Burleson and a pitching change.

It was more of the same, however, with another Clipper hurler on the mound as number eight hitter Brendan Donovan worked a base-on-balls, driving in Coulter.  Hurst then lined a pitch just inside the right field foul pole. It was the third grand slam by a Redbirds player this season and his only hit in four at bats.

Scott Hurst

After a four-hit first, Memphis generated only three more hits over the game’s balance.  Gorman was the only player with more than one, going 2-for-5 with the aforementioned two-run home run and his third stolen base.  Plummer was hitless in two at bats in the six slot with a hit-by-pitch (by former Redbird Kevin Herget), free pass and run scored.

The first contained more than sufficient offense for starter Matthew Liberatore (W, 6-7), who pitched seven strong frames.  The lefty gave up eight hits and two walks, resulting in three scores, two earned.

Matthew Liberatore

Brandon Dickson had a shaky eighth, allowing three hits and a hit batsman generating a run while collecting just two outs.  Kodi Whitley limited the damage by stranding the bases full.  The righty retired all four batters faced, striking out two, for his third save.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Columbus (44-51) (CLE), 7:10 pm CT, Zack Thompson (2-6, 6.63)

Springfield 1 at Northwest Arkansas 18

It was a long night for Springfield (35-62) who absorbed an 18-1 thumping at Northwest Arkansas.

The highlight of Kevin McGovern’s night was a scoreless first.  The lefty surrendered three long balls accounting for four of 11 scores charged to him in two plus frames.  McGovern (L, 1-3) allowed 11 hits and two walks in all, his final two runners scoring under fellow ex-independent ball pitcher Kevin Marnon’s watch.

Marnon recorded four outs, while permitting five more runs on five hits and three walks including a two-run long ball.  Kyle Leahy allowed his only inherited runner to score plus two more on four hits in 3 2/3 frames.  All three runs scored were generated by yet another home run. In his fist appearance off the injured list, Salvador Justo issued a free pass but was not scored upon in the eighth.

The S-Cards’ offense accumulated six hits, with their only tally in the third.  Center fielder David Vinsky was issued a leadoff free pass.  Delvin Perez’ single moved Vinsky to second before a throwing error by the Naturals’ second baseman put Vinsky at third.

Nick Dunn

After Perez was caught stealing, second baseman Nick Dunn lifted a fly ball deep enough to left to score Vinsky. In addition to the RBI, Dunn drew two of four of Springfield’s free passes. Perez was one of three S-Cards singling twice in four at bats along with right fielder Matt Koperniak and third baseman Moises Castillo.

Wednesday’s game:  at Northwest Arkansas (50-46) (KC), 7:05 pm CT, Michael Brettell (0-3, 7.02)

Peoria vs. South Bend – suspended

The series opener between Peoria (37-59) and South Bend was suspended with two out in the top of the sixth and the Chiefs trailing 7-2 after a five-run sixth by the Cubs.  The contest is scheduled to be completed as game one of a twin bill on Wednesday, August 25th.

Wednesday’s games:  vs. South Bend (42-53) (CHC).  Game 1 – 5:00 pm CT, TBA/Logan Gragg (2-5, 5.35)

Palm Beach 7 at Jupiter 8 (11 innings) – Game 1  
Palm Beach 0 vs. Jupiter 4 (7 innings) – Game 2

Palm Beach (30-64) was swept in a twin bill with Jupiter, losing the opener 8-7 in 11 frames then dropping the nightcap, 4-0, in seven.

The initial contest completed the July 25th contest suspended with one away in the top of the fifth and Palm Beach trailing 1-0.  Ludwin Jimenez started the July game, striking out six over four frames and yielding a run on two hits.

Edwin Nunez took the mound when play resumed but lasted just 2/3 of an inning.  The 19-year-old was charged with three scores on a hit, two walks and a hit batsman.  His final two runners crossed under Luis Tena’s watch.  Tena permitted two of three inherited runners to score, giving up three hits in all in 1 1/3 frames.

Inohan Paniagua held the Hammerheads scoreless over 2 2/3 innings, permitting one hit.  The righty struck out two.

Andre Granillo (L, 0-1) left Paniagua’s only runner on second in the ninth but was not able to keep Jupiter off the board in either the 10th or 11th.  The 14th-round pick in the recent First-Year Player Draft was given a 5-4 10th-inning lead but allowed the opposition to knot the game at five all. After his teammates handed the right-hander a two-run advantage, Granillo gave up three scores for the walk-off loss.

Palm Beach outhit Jupiter 14 to nine but went 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position.  Three Beach Birds garnered two hits apiece:  Mike Antico, L.J. Jones and Carlos Soto.  Soto claimed one of the biggest hits, a three-run bomb with Osvaldo Tovalin (single) and Antico (single) aboard.  The home run tied the game at 4-4, eventually sending it into extras.

Carlos Soto

Antico’s second hit produced as well.  The designated hitter tripled to begin the 11th, scoring Tovalin who began the frame at second.  A sac fly by Soto drove in Antico for the PB-Cards’ last score.

The Beach Birds bats did not get going in the finale, managing just four singles over seven frames.  Shortstop Mack Chambers went 2-for-3 in the two slot but committed one of two Palm Beach errors, along with second baseman Noah Mendlinger.

Dionys Rodriguez (L, 3-4) struck out 10 in five innings, permitting two runs on three hits and a free pass issued.  Levi Prater recorded six outs, yielding two unearned scores on two hits and a base-on-balls.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Jupiter (50-45) (MIA), 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT, Edgar Manzo (4-4, 4.81)

FCL Cardinals 4 at FCL Marlins 6

The FCL Cardinals (18-18) were outhit and outscored, dropping a 6-4 decision to the FCL Marlins (17-21).

The Florida Birds struck first with a two-run second but their hosts responded with two runs of their own in the home half of the third.  Both tallies came off starter Jose Davila.  Davila fanned six in four plus frames, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks.

The Cardinals went back up 4-2 at the fifth’s midpoint but the Marlins answered with three scores in their half of the frame.  Chris Gerard (L, 0-1) recorded three outs, permitted two runs on two hits and a walk while allowing his inherited runner to touch home plate.

Enrique Saldana faced the minimum in his only inning of work but Alfredo Ruiz was charged with an unearned tally on three hits in the seventh.  Roy Garcia tossed a one-two-three eighth.

Luis Montaño

The FCL Cardinals’ eight-hit attack was spearheaded by designated hitter Luis Montano who went 3-for-4 with a double, run scored and stolen base.  The only one of his teammates with a multi-hit performance was shortstop Jeremy Rivas.  Rivas singled twice in five at bats, crossing home once.

Wednesday’s games:  at FCL Nationals (16-22).  Game 1 – 10:00 am ET/9:00 am CT, TBA/TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 3 at DSL Phillies Red 4

The DSL Cardinals Blue (10-20) could not hold a late lead as they were clipped by the DSL Phillies Red (16-14), 4-3, in walk-off fashion.

The C-Blue led 3-0 with three outs to go but two pitchers could not successfully navigate the ninth.  Alexander Beltre was touched for two runs, earned, on two hits and a base-on-balls with four outs recorded.  Beltre departed with two in scoring position and one out in favor of Alejandro Cervantes.

Cervantes (L, 2-2) (BS,2) yielded a two-run single to his first batter followed by a two-out triple, tying the game at three all.  An intentional free pass proceeded a throwing error by third baseman Javier Boliva on a grounder to third resulted in the walk off defeat.

Hancel Rincón

The ninth-inning meltdown spoiled a fine start by Hancel Rincon, who tossed five scoreless frames, allowing just four hits and striking out seven.  Randel Clemente went two innings, permitting a hit and two walks.

Two of the three tallies scored by C-Blue batters were unearned due to three Phillies Red bobbles.  The visitors matched their hosts’ nine hits, led by right fielder Jose Suarez, who went 3-for-3 with his first double and a walk.  The 17-year-old was picked off first base once.

Shortstop Maycol Justo and designated hitter Justin Guerrero both singled twice in four at bats, with Justo crossing home once.  Catcher Leandro Bernal went 1-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI but committed his team’s only miscue.

Wednesday’s game: off

DSL Cardinals Red 3 vs. DSL Phillies White 11

The DSL Cardinals Red (14-12) were thumped at home by the DSL Phillies White (18-10), 11-3.

Starter Brayan Ramirez took the loss, his second against no wins, after yielding six runs on two hits, four walks and a plunked batter in three plus frames.  Americo Lugo served up a two-run bomb, one of two hits allowed in two innings.  Lugo also hit a batter and let Ramirez’ last two runners score.

Engels Martinez and Samuel Fabian each pitched a clean inning, the only C-Red hurlers to not be scored upon.  Juan Severino and Augusto Calderon both went a frame, Severino giving up a run on two hits and Calderon surrendering a two-run blast.

Jose Rodriguez

The C-Red mustered nine hits with only one going for extra bases.  Designated hitter Jose Rodriguez singled and doubled in four at bats, scoring once and shortstop Marcelo Perez went 2-for-5 at the top of the order.

Wednesday’s game:  off

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 24, 2021

photo: Cardinals Dominican Academy (St. Louis Cardinals)

The Florida Complex League Cardinals notched the sole victory in three rookie-ball decisions in the St. Louis Cardinals system on Monday, but the standout performance belonged to DSL Red’s Miguel Vargas.

Results from games played Monday, August 23rd.

Memphis – off

After going 5-1 versus division rival Nashville (MIL), Memphis (45-51) begins the second half of a two-week home stand by hosting the Midwest Division’s Columbus Clippers.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. Columbus (44-50) (CLE), 8:10 pm ET/7:10 pm CT, Matthew Liberatore (5-7, 4.73)

Springfield – off

Springfield (35-61) launches its last two-week road trip of 2021, travelling to Northwest Arkansas and Tulsa (LAD).  The S-Cards face the former team twice on the road over the final four weeks of the season.

Tuesday’s game:  at Northwest Arkansas (49-46) (KC), 7:05 pm CT, Kevin McGovern (1-2, 4.73)

Peoria – off

Peoria (37-59) is at home this week hosting South Bend before heading out on their final two-week road trip of the season to Quad Cities (KC) and Cedar Rapids (MIN).

Tuesday’s game:  vs. South Bend (42-53) (CHC), 6:35 pm CT, Michael YaSenka (1-8, 6.20)

Palm Beach – off

Palm Beach (30-62) plays ‘roommate’ Jupiter this week. The series kicks off with a double-header.  The second game completes the July 25th game suspended with one away in the top of the fifth and Jupiter hosting.

Tuesday’s games:  vs/at Jupiter (48-45) (MIA).  Game 1 – 2:00 pm ET/ 1:00 pm CT, Edwin Nunez/Dionys Rodriguez

FCL Cardinals 7, FCL Astros 6

The enterprising FCL Cardinals (18-17) walked off with a 7-6 Monday victory over the FCL Astros (21-17) in Jupiter.

The winning tally was scored without any Florida Birds batter making contact.  Center fielder Smith Vargas worked a lead-off base-on-balls, then promptly stole second.  A wild pitch moved the 19-year-old to third just before left fielder Joerlin De Los Santos, the number nine batter, walked as well.  With runners at the corners and none away, designated hitter Joshua Baez was issued an intentional free pass, jamming the sacks full.  The Astros hurler then uncorked his second wild offering, giving Vargas enough time to race home.

Smith Vargas

Offensively, the FCL Cardinals had more errors (five) than hits (three) but patiently walked nine times and took advantage of three Astros’ miscues to score two unearned runs.

Right fielder Adanson Cruz and De Los Santos each went 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. De Los Santos doubled and crossed home once.  Vargas and shortstop Jeremy Rivas posted identical lines, both going 0-for-3 with a base-on-balls and two runs scored.  Baez worked two free passes, touching home once despite going hitless in three at bats.

FCL Cardinals’ pitchers used two double plays to help mitigate 13 hits yielded.  Starter Yordy Richard permitted the bulk of those hits, 10, including a solo shot, and a walk, somehow resulting in only four runs in four innings.

Four relievers held the opposition to just three more hits and two walks over the last five frames.  Victor Villanueva inherited a 4-2 deficit at the fifth’s onset but that changed to 6-5 lead by the time he recorded the sixth’s third out.  The only hit yielded by the righty was a long ball.

Two first-year pitchers, lefty Alex Cornwell and righty Trent Baker, each tossed a scoreless frame, with Cornwell giving up a hit and Baker issuing two free passes.  Omar Sanchez (W, 1-0) (BS,1) was touched for a ninth-inning score on a lead-off triple and throwing error by Vargas.  It was the first run yielded by Puerto Rican in seven relief appearances dating back to July 15th.

Defensively, the team’s five bobbles were spread among three players.  In addition to Vargas, third baseman Brandon Hernandez had two throws go awry and second baseman Albert Inoa’s two miscues were split between throwing and a missed catch.  Catcher Jose Zapata was charged with a passed ball but Cruz was credited with an outfield assist at third.

Tuesday’s game:  at FCL Marlins (16-21), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 4 vs. DSL Phillies Red 8

The DSL Cardinals Blue (10-19) never led in their 8-4 home loss to the DSL Phillies Red.

Starter Benjamin Arias took the loss, his third in four decisions, after yielding four runs, two earned, on three hits, four walks and three wild pitches in four plus frames.

Three relievers shared pitching duties the rest of the way.  Oliver Lopez inherited a two-on/none out jam and induced a 6-4-3 double play limiting the damage to one runner scoring.  The 19-year-old right-hander retired all five batters faced, striking out three.

Uriel Curvelo was not nearly as effective during his 1 2/3 innings on the bump, permitting four runs, earned, on six hits and a walk.  Juan Peralta navigated around two hits and a base-on-balls over 1 1/3 frames, stranding Curvelo’s last runner.

Leonardo Bernal

Three of the Cardinals Blue’s four scores came via two long balls.  Catcher Leonardo Bernal sent one out with center fielder Luis Pino (single) aboard and designated hitter Keshawn Rombley blasted his third rocket.  Shortstop Maycol Justo was the only C-Blue player with a multi-hit performance, singling twice in four at bats.

Defensively, the team turned two double plays and right fielder Christian Avendano was credited with an outfield assist at third.  The C-Blue committed three errors, two by Justo and one by third baseman Javier Bolivar.

Tuesday’s game:  at DSL Phillies Red (15-14), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red 8 at DSL Phillies White 16

Left fielder Miguel Vargas’ grand slam was not enough to prevent the DSL Cardinals Red (14-11) from falling to the DSL Phillies White, 16-8.

Player of the Day Vargas accounted for five of his team’s eight runs, going 2-for-4 with the grand salami that was one of two times he touched home plate.  Jeremy Ramos had two more of 12 C-Red hits, singling and doubling in four at bats with a run scored, two driven in and two stolen bases.

Miguel Vargas

Second baseman Lizandro Espinoza and center fielder Carlos Carmona both singled twice in four and five at bats, respectively.  Espinoza scored twice and Carmona once with his third stolen base.

Although the visitors matched their hosts 12 hits, two other factors played a more prominent role:  lack of control and defensive lapses.  Cardinals Red pitchers issued a whopping 12 free passes to two issued by the Phillies White and the C-Red’s six errors resulted in seven unearned tallies to just one unearned run on one bobble by their opponents.

Five players accounted for the six miscues:  third baseman Samil De La Rosa (two), shortstop Elias Reynosa, starter Wilmer Ortega, reliever Fraimin Marte and second baseman Espinoza.

Ortega did not finish the fourth, giving up three runs, two earned, on three hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings. He also hit two batters.

Eduar Pimental was tagged with six tallies, two earned, on three hits and four walks in 1 1/3 frames and permitted one of two inherited runners to cross home.

Marte and Bruno Lopez retired two batters each and stranded an inherited runner, with Marte allowing four scores, three earned, on three hits and two walks.  Lopez has not permitted an earned run in 9 2/3 frames over eight relief appearances this season and has been scored upon only once.

Bruno Lopez

Darlin Saladin tossed the seventh and eighth, giving up three runs, two earned, on three hits and three free passes issued.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. DSL Phillies White (17-10), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 23, 2021

photo: Matt Chamberlain (Trevor Travis/Peoria Chiefs)

Matt Chamberlain’s extra-inning blast led Peoria to the St. Louis Cardinals system’s only win in four Sunday games. Other standout performances belonged to Alec Burleson, Juan Yepez, Wilfredo Pereira and Nick Plummer.

Results from games played Sunday, August 22nd.

Memphis 13 vs. Nashville 14

The Redbirds rallied three times, twice from substantial deficits, only to be silenced by the Sounds, 14-13.  Memphis (45-51) won the home series, five games to one.

The high-scoring affair included a combined 35 hits and four errors generating nine unearned tallies.  Connor Thomas lasted just two outs, charged with seven of Nashville’s (52-44) eight first-inning scores.  Five of the seven runs were unearned and the lefty yielded five hits and two walks, including a solo shot.

Jesus Cruz allowed all three inherited runners to cross home plate plus one of his own before the first was over.  The righty tossed a clean second, permitting three hits and a base-on-balls in all.

Down 8-0 before even coming to bat, the Redbirds chipped away, generating single scores in the initial three frames, closing the gap to 8-3.  But the Sounds added fourth-inning tally off T.J. Zeuch who was in the midst of his four-inning stint.  Zeuch struck out five during that span, giving up three hits and issuing two free passes.

Memphis made a big push, mounting a five-run fourth to come within one.  A sixth inning run knotted the game at 9-9, with that score holding until the ninth.

Zeuch and Seth Elledge covered most of that period, the latter working around two walks for a clean seventh.  Connor Jones (L, 5-5) was not scored upon the next frame but was tagged for four runs before the ninth was over.

Alec Burleson

Alec Burleson’s three-run bomb increased his day’s RBI count to six and brought his team within one in the last inning. But even with the three unearned tallies, Memphis fell just short of victory.

The Redbirds exploded for 18 hits, including eight for extra bases and all eight starters in the field had at least one.  First baseman Juan Yepez could not be stopped at the plate, going 4-for-4 with four doubles, run scored and two RBI.  Nolan Gorman pinch ran for Yepez in the sixth, taking over at third and going 2-for-2 and crossing home twice.

Juan Yepez

Catcher Dennis Ortega and center fielder Scott Hurst had three hits apiece, in four and six at bats, respectively.  Ortega added a walk and run scored and Hurst touched home three times.  Brendan Donovan sent one over the fences at AutoZone Park with the bases empty, his only hit in five at bats.

Defensively, shortstop Evan Mendoza’s throwing miscue led to six unearned runs while Donovan later committed a throwing error.

Monday’s game:  Off

Springfield 7 vs. Wichita 11

The S-Cards could not hold an early lead, resulting in an 11-7 defeat to Wichita (57-39) at Hammons Field.  Springfield’s (35-61) fifth straight loss meant they had just a Game 1 win in the six-game set.

Nick Plummer and Chandler Redmond both went yard with the bases clean in the first for a 2-0 lead.  It was the first of Plummer’s two solo shots, with the center fielder adding a triple and walk in four at bats with two runs scored and three driven in.

Nick Plummer

But starter Dalton Roach (L, 5-9) permitted six runs, three earned, on six hits and a base-on-balls over five innings.  Three of the six scores were generated by one long ball.

Kyle Leahy was tagged for three tallies on three hits and a walk in his inning of work.  Garrett Williams pitched two scoreless innings, issuing two free passes before Freddy Pacheco permitted two hits and two wild pitches, resulting in two ninth-inning scores.

Plummer’s three hits led Springfield’s 10-hit offense. Redmond was the only other S-Card with a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-5 with the solo shot one of his two runs scored.

Defensively, the S-Cards committed three bobbles.  Roach threw one away during a double steal and first baseman Redmond could not field his position cleanly one time.  Left fielder David VInsky was charged with a fielding bobble.

Monday’s game:  Off

Peoria 6 at Beloit 4 (12 innings)

Right fielder Matt Chamberlain’s two-run bomb propelled the Chiefs past the Snappers, 6-4, in 12 frames.  The win gave Peoria (37-59) a split of their six-game series at Beloit (45-51).

Chamberlain’s bomb, his seventh of 2021 and only hit in five at bats, occurred with Todd Lott aboard after Lott began the frame at second.  The blast capped a lively contest in which the Snappers’ eighth-inning tally sent the game into extras, before both squads traded 11th-inning scores.

Matt Chamberlain

Peoria outhit Beloit, 7-6, but committed a whopping five errors, resulting in three unearned runs.  Third baseman Jordan Walker and first baseman Leandro Cedeno each had two hits. Walker as 2-for-6, crossing home twice.  Cedeno launched a two-run rocket, with his bomb giving the Chiefs a 3-2 lead after six.

Wilfredo Pereira tossed a strong effort, yielding two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks over six innings.  One of the two hits was a home run with the bases empty.

Wilfredo Pereira

Fabian Blanco tossed a clean seventh, issuing a free pass before handing the ball off to Nick Trogrlic-Iverson.  Making his second appearance in relief since coming off the Injured List, Trogrlic-Iverson (BS, 1) was saddled with a blown save despite the tally yielded being unearned.

Leonardo Taveras kept Beloit off the board, sending the game into extras.  Enmanuel Solano (W, 4-0) retired six batters, giving up an unearned run on a hit, two walks and a hit batsman.  Sean Kealey tossed a one-two-three 12th, striking out two, for his first save in affiliated ball.

Monday’s game:  Off

Palm Beach 4 at Daytona 6

Palm Beach (30-62) dropped a 6-4 decision to Daytona (47-49) at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, splitting the six-game set.

Starter Ludwin Jimenez (L, 0-7) retired seven batters, permitting four runs on three hits, a base-on-balls and plunked batter. With the Beach Birds up 2-0, the contest was delayed 48 minutes at the third’s midpoint. When play resumed, the righty struggled to record just one more out. All four tallies charged to him scored after the delay via the two singles, double and hit batsman.

Luis Ortiz went 2 2/3 frames, giving up a tally on two hits and a hit batsman and allowing Jimenez’ final base runner to cross home plate.

Andrew Marrero

Andrew Marrero retired all six batters faced, striking out five, for the best pitching performance on the night.  Nathanael Heredia was touched for a run on two hits and two walks.

Patrick Romeri

The Beach Birds were held to just five hits, including solo shots by Carlos Soto and Patrick Romeri.  Romeri reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two walks before Mike Antico pinch ran for him.

Monday’s game:  Off

FCL Cardinals – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Florida Complex League.

Monday’s game:  FCL Cardinals (17-17) vs. FCL Astros (21-16), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Blue (10-18) vs. DSL Phillies Red (14-14), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Red (14-10) at DSL Phillies White (16-10), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 20, 2021

photo: Nolan Gorman (Memphis Redbirds)

On Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 3-5, with the wins coming from an FCL doubleheader sweep and an extra inning slugfest in Memphis. Nolan Gorman’s double, home run and four RBI paced a Redbirds team that needed all 12 runs.

Results from the games played Thursday, August 19th.

Memphis 12 vs.  Nashville 11 (10 innings)

Two late rallies propelled the Redbirds past the Sounds, 12-11, in 10 innings.  Memphis (44-49) has claimed all three games played so far in their six-game set versus Nashville at AutoZone Park.

The contest was back-and-forth in the early going, with both teams trading two-run frames for a tie after three.  The Sounds put up a single score but the Redbirds’ response was a two-run fifth, going up 4-3.

The visitors seemingly pulled away with three consecutive frames of crooked-number scoring for a 10-5 advantage at the eighth’s midpoint.  Memphis dug deep, rallying for a three-run eighth before their two ninth-inning tallies sent the game into extras.

Memphis, however, needed one more rally for the win.  Nashville pushed across a run against reliever Brandon Dickson (W, 1-0) but Dickson helped his own cause in the bottom of the frame with a bases-loaded two-run single scoring Rayder Ascanio (single) and Kramer Robertson (fielder’s choice) for the walk-off victory.

Dickson was the fifth Redbirds pitcher in a contest that began with Kwang Hyun Kim kicking off his St Louis rehab assignment.  The righty surrendered two solo shots in the first of his two-inning stint, permitting two hits and retiring his last five batters faced.

Zack Thompson took his regular turn in the rotation at that point.  The lefty was tagged for five runs on six hits, five walks and a hit batsman in 4 1/3 frames.  Two of the five scores were generated by a long ball which brought about a pitching change.

Seth Elledge recorded three outs, permitting three tallies on two hits and three walks.  Jesus Cruz could not pitch out of the bases-loaded/one-out jam inherited from Elledge, permitting a single and wild pitch driving in two runners.  Cruz yielded two hits in total with five batters retired.

Dickson allowed two 10th-inning hits before his unexpected offensive contribution in the bottom of the frame.  After a number of seasons in Japanese baseball, the veteran’s hit and victory were his first on American soil since starting for the Redbirds in 2012.

Nolan Gorman

The clear pick for Player of the Day is second baseman Nolan Gorman, who went 4-for-5 with a double and two-run home run comprising two of his four RBI.  The 21-year-old drew a base-on-balls in the 10th, jamming the sacks full for Dickson.

Outfielder Conner Capel reached base five times, going 3-for-3 with two walks, a double, run scored and one knocked in.  Capel was caught stealing in both attempts, potentially limiting further contributions.

The final Redbird with a multi-hit effort was first baseman Juan Yepez who singled twice in three at bats with an RBI via a sac fly.  Yepez was removed from the game in a double switch when Jesus Cruz entered.

Cruz was the only one of four Memphis pitchers taking an at bat who did not get a hit.  Thompson doubled once in two at bats, crossing home once before Elledge went 1-for-1 with a run scored.

Defensively, Capel was credited with an outfield assist at home but third baseman Robertson had a hideous night in the field with three throwing miscues.

Friday’s game:  vs.  Nashville (50-43) (MIL), 7:10 pm CT, Johan Oviedo (1-3, 6.59)

Springfield 6 vs. Wichita 14

Four S-Cards pitchers were blown out by the Wind Surge at Hammons Field, 14-6.  Springfield (35-58) trails in the series, one game to two, with three contests on tap.

With two starters on the Injured List, Michael Brettell (L, 0-3) was pressed into action, with this his first start in 22 appearances spread between Peoria and Springfield in 2021.  The right-hander went four frames, giving up six runs on 10 hits and three free passes issued.

Kevin Marnon was charged with two tallies on four hits, a plunked batter and balk during his 2 1/3 innings on the bump.  The damage to his pitching line was limited by Garrett Williams who stranded Marnon’s last two base runners before later serving up a three-run bomb.  The blast was one of five hits allowed, matching his five batters retired.  Jacob Bosiokovic also surrendered a three-run long ball in the ninth.

Julio Rodriguez

Springfield’s bats banged out 10 hits resulting in six runs but only two of them went for extra bases.  Catcher Julio Rodriguez had a big night at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double, run scored and two knocked in.  Defensively he was called for catcher’s interference.

Nick Plummer had the other extra-base hit, as the center fielder doubled once in four at bats with a base-on-balls and crossed home twice.  He was credited with an outfield assist at second.

Friday’s game:  vs.  Wichita (54-39) (MIN), 7:05 pm CT, Domingo Robles (2-8, 6.58)

Peoria 1 at Beloit 4

The Chiefs were held to just three hits in their 4-1 defeat at Beloit.  Peoria (35-58) has acquired one victory against two losses with three games remaining in the series.

First baseman Todd Lott opened the second with a blast over the left field wall, his fourth overall.  Catcher Pedro Pages doubled once in four at bats while designated hitter Zade Richardson went 1-for-4, hitting right behind Lott in the five slot.  Third baseman Jordan Walker worked one of his team’s two walks and stealing his seven base.

Logan Gragg (L, 2-5) was saddled with the loss despite turning in a quality start.  The righty fanned six in six frames, permitting a three-run third on six hits overall.

Logan Gragg

Southpaw Sean Kealey gave up two hits and two walks, resulting in a run in his inning of work. Leonardo Taveras struck out the side in the eighth.

Friday’s game:  at Beloit (44-49) (MIA), 6:35 pm CT, Mac Lardner (0-3, 4.95)

Palm Beach 4 at Daytona 11

The Beach Birds never led, falling to the Tortugas at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 11-4.  Palm Beach (28-61) has one victory in the first three series games with three to go.

Starter Edgar Manzo took the loss, his fourth against four wins.  The righty was touched for seven scores on nine hits, walk and balk, including a solo blast, in four innings.

Luis Tena worked around a walk and hit batsman for a clean fifth but Edwin Nunez could not get through the sixth.  Nunez permitted four tallies on three hits and three walks in 2/3 of an inning, with his final two base runners stranded by Nathanael Heredia.  Heredia issued a free pass during his 2 1/3-inning stint.

Nathanael Heredia

The only Beach Bird with more than one of seven team hits was right fielder L J Jones who singled and doubled in five at bats.  First baseman Jacob Buchberger and centerfielder Mike Antico both went yard, their only hits in four and three at bats, respectively.

Left fielder Elijah Cabell and catcher Aaron McKeithan both reached base twice. The former went 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored and McKeithan singled once in three at bats with a walk and run scored.

Friday’s game:  at Daytona (46-47) (CIN), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, TBA

FCL Cardinals 11 vs. FCL Nationals 3 (7 innings) – Game 1
FCL Cardinals 4 vs.  FCL Nationals 3 (7 innings) – Game 2

The FCL Cardinals (17-16) swept a double-header from the FCL Nationals (13-21), cruising to an 11-3 victory in Game 1 and edging their opponents 4-3 in the second contest in Jupiter.  Both games went seven innings.

The Florida Birds’ offense pounced immediately in Game 1, scoring five times. Three were unearned due to a passed ball and throwing error by the Nationals’ catcher on two swinging K’s.  The onslaught brought a fresh Nats’ hurler into the game for the second inning.

The FCL Nationals responded with three tallies, closing the gap to 5-3 midway through the fourth.  However, the Florida Cardinals’ next salvo was four more scores in the bottom of the frame to go up 9-3 and knock another Nats pitcher out of the game.  The home team put icing on their victory cake with single runs over the next two innings.

The offense was a team-wide affair with eight of nine starters sharing 11 hits, and all eight touched home at least once.  Shortstop Luis Rivas, right fielder Hansel Otamendi and first baseman Luis Rodriguez had two hits apiece. The first two doubled once with the shortstop reaching another two times via a hit-by-pitch.  Rivas led the team with three runs scored while Otamendi and Rodriguez were two of six FCL Cardinals touching home once.

Otamendi knocked in two, as did catcher Roblin Heredia who went 1-for-3 with a walk, double, run scored and two RBI.  Rodriguez was one of three hitters driving in one.

Austin Love

The contest’s seven frames were split among six hurlers, starting with Austin Love (3rd Round) who pitched a one-two-three first, fanning two in his maiden professional effort.  Thomas Hart retired the next five batters, yielding two runs on two hits and two walks while being credited with his first pro victory.

Victor Villanueva went 1 1/3 innings, permitting a tally on three hits and a walk, leaving Hart’s final batter aboard.  Southpaws Chris Gerard and Alex Cornwell plus Trent Baker each tossed an inning. Gerard issued a free pass with Cornwell and Baker allowing one and two hits, respectively.

In other team stats, Rivas was picked off first once and Heredia was charged with two passed balls.

In the finale, the makeup of the August 7th postponement, the home team broke onto the scoreboard first with a second inning run but the Nationals came right back with single scores in the next two frames.  The Florida Birds’ two-run fourth gave them their second lead, 3-2, but the visitors answered once again with a fifth-inning tally, knotting the game at 3-3.

However, right fielder Luis Montano had the final say in the matter, launching his third bomb, and second hit of the game.  Montano went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI out of the five hole.

Luis Montaño

First baseman Jose Zapata also had two of his squad’s seven hits, singling and doubling in three at bats, knocking in two.  Left fielder Hansel Otamendi followed up his strong opening-game performance by going 1-for-3 with a triple and run scored.  The 19-year-old Cuban is slashing a torrid .400/.478/.700/1.178 in 20 August at bats.

It was a mixed bag in the field.  Second baseman Albert Inoa committed a throwing error whereas catcher Edgardo Rodriguez’ effort contained both a plus and minus.  The 20-year-old backstop picked a runner off third but was also charged with a passed ball.  The team completed three double plays.

Colin Schmid was the first of five FCL Cardinals pitchers to see action.  Schmid yielded two runs, one earned, on five hits, including a solo shot, over 3 1/3 innings.  It was the second straight start for the lefty after five relief appearances, with both starts coming in Game 2 of twin bills.

Enrique Saldana retired both batters faced, leaving Schmid’s last runner on base.  But Alfredo Ruiz (W, 1-0) (BS,1) was not as effective in his second pro effort.  The lefty (6th Round) recorded three outs, giving up a run on two hits and a walk.

Ben Baird tossed a one-two-three sixth, handing the ball off to Omar Sanchez for the seventh.  Sanchez issued two free passes sandwiched around a single, loading the bases with two away.  But the lefty notched a swinging K for his sixth save.

Friday’s game:  Off

DSL Cardinals Blue 2 at DSL Twins 10

Pitching and hitting both played a role in the 10-2 defeat of the DSL Cardinals Blue (10-17) by the DSL Twins.

C-Blue hurlers yielded 14 hits but their offense generated just four.  Starter Henry Gomez (L, 0-5) went four innings, permitting seven runs, earned, on 10 hits, a walk and balk.

Miguel Martinez was the first of three relievers taking the ball next.  Martinez retired six batters, allowing a run on a hit, base-on-balls plus two hit batsmen.  Frankely Guzman also plunked two batters, giving up two tallies on three hits and two free passes issued in one plus innings.  Juan Peralta retired all three batters faced but a sac fly drove in one of three inherited runners.

Anyelo Encarnacion

By the time catcher Leonardo Bernal tripled in the sixth, the Cardinals Blue were down 7-0.  Two plunked batters jammed the sacks full, leaving nowhere to put second baseman Anyelo Encarnacion after he worked a base-on-balls.  Bernal trotted home, ending the shutout.

The team’s final score occurred in the ninth when Encarnacion worked another walk.  Designated hitter Jose Suarez’s single advanced Encarnacion to second before a single by left fielder Jose Cordoba drove Encarnacion across home plate.

Friday’s game: vs.  DSL Twins (10-17), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red 0 vs.  DSL Rangers2 3

Multiple missed offensive opportunities resulted in the DSL Cardinals Red (12-10) dropping a 3-0 decision to the DSL Rangers2.

The bats generated six hits to go with a walk and a hit batsman but the C-Red went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, striking out 14 times.  Shortstop Elias Reynoso’s double was the only one to go for extra bases and was the 17-year-old’s only hit in four at bats.

Defensively, right fielder Jeremy Ramos was charged with a fielding bobble, his second of 2021.  The defense turned a 6-4-3 double play.

Ramos’ error was particularly costly as it resulted in two unearned tallies in the Rangers2’s three-run fourth.  All three scores were charged to starter Engels Martinez (L, 0-2) who yielded the tallies in his fourth and final inning on the mound.  The righty permitted four hits and a base-on-balls overall.

A trio of C-Blue relievers kept the game within reach the rest of the way.  Darlin Saladin and Fraimin Marte pitched two innings each, Saladin issuing a free pass and Marte permitting a hit.  Juan Severino worked out of a bases-loaded jam on a single, hit batsman and free pass for a run-free ninth.

Friday’s game:  at DSL Rangers2 (14-13), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

For more

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Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 15

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 18, 2021

photo: Matthew Liberatore (Memphis Redbirds)

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 3-3. Matthew Liberatore dominated on the mound for Memphis as Ivan Herrera and Chandler Redmond led Springfield’s long ball onslaught.

Results from the games played Tuesday, August 17th.

Memphis 5 vs. Nashville 1

Matthew Liberatore’s impressive start led the Redbirds (42-49) over Nashville in the home series opener, 5-1.

The lefty and reliever T.J. Zeuch, the latter picked up in a July 25th trade with Toronto, combined to silence the Sounds on three hits, facing just three over the minimum.  Liberatore (W, 5-7) struck out his season-tying best nine over seven frames, with the only mark against him a fifth-inning tally generated by a lead-off walk plus two singles.  Our Player of the Day yielded a final single to open the seventh, with the base runner erased via a 5-4-3 double play.

Matthew Liberatore

Zeuch retired all six batters faced for his first career save.  It was the third game appearance as a Redbird for Toronto’s first round pick in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.

Memphis’ balanced offense featured seven players gathering at least one of eight team hits, with all seven scoring or driving in a run.  Catcher Ali Sanchez singled twice in three at bats with a walk and run scored and second baseman Nolan Gorman went 1-for-3 with a base-on-balls, touched home once and drove in one.

Third baseman Kramer Robertson’s triple was one of two hits to go for extra bases, along with a double by first baseman Juan Yepez.  Robertson crossed home twice with a walk and stolen base but committed a fielding bobble while Yepez knocked in one in four at bats.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Nashville (50-41) (MIL), 7:10 pm CT, Angel Rondon (5-4, 4.83)

Springfield 8 vs. Wichita 6

The S-Cards claimed the “Battle of the Long Ball” behind big nights by Ivan Herrera and Chandler Redmond. The result was an 8-6 home victory over division-leading Wichita in the first of their six-game set.

The contest contained five home runs in total with Springfield (35-56) accumulating the majority of them, thanks to catcher Ivan Herrera.  Herrera went yard twice representing both of his hits in three at bats along with two walks and three driven in.

Iván Herrera

The Redbirds’ other blast belonged to first baseman Chandler Redmond who went 3-for-4 with a two-run bomb comprising one of his two runs scored and two of his four RBI.  Shortstop Brendan Donovan and designated hitter Julio Rodriguez worked a free pass to open the first and second frames, respectively, just before Herrera and Redmond went yard.  Five other S-Cards acquired one of their squad’s 10 hits, with three of them generating scores.

Chandler Redmond

On the mound, starter Dalton Roach had a rocky performance, surrendering two home runs making up two of the nine hits and four walks allowed in 4 1/3 innings.  Both long balls occurred with a runner aboard for four of the six tallies charged to the righty.  Roach also hit a batter.

Ramon Santos (W, 5-3) retired seven batters, five on strikeouts, yielding a hit and two walks while stranding one of two inherited runners.  Jacob Bosiokovic fanned three of four batters retired, issuing two free passes before Freddy Pacheco navigated around a hit and base-on-balls for his first Double-A save.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Wichita (52-39) (MIN), 6:35 pm CT, Kevin McGovern (1-1, 4.83)

Peoria 1 at Beloit 3

An out-of-synch offense led to Peoria’s (34-57) 3-1 defeat to Beloit at ABC Supply Stadium.

The Chiefs outhit the Snappers eight to five but were a dismal 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.  Left fielder Matt Chamberlain had the only multi-hit effort, singling and doubling in four at bats out of the nine hole.  His two-out double drove in Tyler Reichenborn (walk) in the ninth, preventing a shutout.

Matt Chamberlain

Reichenborn doubled once in three at bats batting eighth, his base-on-balls one of three for the team.  Right fielder Jhon Torres was issued the other two free passes to go with a single in two at bats.

Wilfredo Pereira (L, 2-8) fanned seven during his 4 2/3 innings on the mound.  The right-hander permitted four hits and three walks, resulting in two runs, both earned.

Diego Cordero recorded four outs, yielding a run on a hit and walk.  The tally was unearned due to his throwing error on an attempted pickoff.

Jack Ralston and Fabian Blanco each tossed a scoreless frame. Both pitchers issued one free pass.

Wednesday’s game:  at Beloit (43-48) (MIA), 6:35 pm CT, Michael YaSenka (0-8, 6.41)

Palm Beach 8 at Daytona 5

Strong offensive performances by a trio of 2021 draft picks led Palm Beach (28-59) over Daytona, 8-5.

Center fielder Mike Antico (8th round), first baseman Thomas Francisco (19th round) and third baseman Osvaldo Tovalin (10th round) took part in seven scores, with all going yard.  Antico went 3-for-5 with a double and ninth-inning solo shot at the top of the order, whereas Francisco’s second pro bomb came with Ryan Holgate (single) and L.J. Jones (single) aboard in the Beach Birds’ four-run fourth.

Thomas Francisco

Francisco went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, with his second time crossing home plate occurring on Tovalin’s three-run long ball in the second.  The blast was the number nine bat’s only hit in four at bats and one of nine Palm Beach hits overall.

Beach Birds hurlers were also bitten by the bomb. Starter Ludwin Jimenez served up a home run accounting for all three tallies yielded on three hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.  The righty struck out seven.

Andre Granillo (W, 2-1) was tagged with the other long ball, a solo shot comprising one of three hits and a base-on-balls allowed yielding two runs in all.  Four of the five outs recorded by the right-hander were strikeouts.

Luis Ortiz fanned all five batters retired, permitting two hits and a base-on-balls.  Inohan Paniagua worked around a walk for his first career save. It was the 21-year-old’s first action since June 12th.

Wednesday’s game:  at Daytona (44-47) (CIN), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, TBA

FCL Cardinals 0 at FCL Astros 4

Yordy Richard’s solid start was not enough to prevent the FCL Cardinals (15-15) from dropping a 4-0 decision at the FCL Astros (19-14).

Richard (L, 3-5) struck out six in five innings, permitting two scores on five hits and a plunked batter.  Both runs came on a two-run long ball in the second frame.

Yordy Richard

Roy Garcia tossed a clean sixth, giving up two hits, before two Florida Birds right-handers made their second pro appearances:  Zane Mills (4th Round) and Bryan Pope (undrafted free agent signee).  Both allowed a run in their inning of work.  Mills’ tally came on a hit batsman, stolen base and RBI single while Pope issued a lead-off free pass with the runner advancing to third on a single and scoring via a sac fly.

The offense mustered six hits but could not break through against rehabbing Ryan Eades plus three pitchers tossing their maiden pro effort.  Third baseman Sander Mora singled twice in four at bats at the bottom of the order and the sole hit to go for extra bases was a double generated by designated hitter Jake Burns.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. FCL Marlins (15-16), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 5 at DSL Rockies 9

A seven-run sixth flipped a Cardinals Blue (10-15) lead into a 9-5 loss to the DSL Rockies (19-7).

The visitors were up 5-2 going into the home half of the sixth.  Five of the seven tallies scored were unearned due to a fielding error by righty Randel Clemente (L, 0-3), who was charged with six scores, one earned, on five hits, two walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch in 1 2/3 innings.

Marlyn Almonte recorded the sixth’s last out, yielding two hits resulting in two inherited runners touching home plate plus one of his own.  Southpaw Alexander Beltre worked around three free passes issued for two clean frames.

All three pitched in relief of Benjamin Arias, who surrendered a two-run bomb plus one more hit and a base-on-balls through the first four frames.

http://thecardinalnation.com/player/luis-mario-pino/

Center fielder Luis Pino and right fielder Christian Avendano each had two of the C-Blue’s nine hits, both taking four at bats.  Pino launched his third home run and added another RBI while Avendano drove in one.

Wednesday’s game:  off

DSL Cardinals Red vs. DSL Tigers – postponed

Tuesday’s contest between the DSL Cardinals Red (12-9) and the DSL Tigers (9-14) was postponed due to rain.  The two teams meet for the last time this season in an away-and-home series on September 9th and 10th.

Wednesday’s game:  off

For more

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Palm Beach Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 15

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 17, 2021

photo: Joshua Baez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Monday’s light schedule got even lighter with only one of three St. Louis Cardinals short-season teams able to take the field. Player of the Day Joshua Baez impressed in the FCL Cardinals’ loss while Tropical Depression Grace wiped out the entire DSL schedule.

Results from games played Monday, August 16th.

Memphis – off   

After a challenging two-week road trip during which they went 3-9, Memphis (41-49) heads back to AutoZone Park for a two-week home stand.  First up is division rival Nashville.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. Nashville (50-40) (MIL), 7:10 pm CT, Matthew Liberatore (4-7, 5.03)

Springfield – off

Springfield (34-56) kicks off their next-to-last home series of 2021 by hosting the division-leading Wichita Wind Surge.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. Wichita (52-38) (MIN), 6:35 pm CT, Dalton Roach (5-8, 5.61)

Peoria – off

The Chiefs (34-56) are on the road for the next week as the ‘guests’ of the Beloit Snappers.

Tuesday’s game: at Beloit (42-48) (MIA), 6:35 pm CT, Wilfredo Pereira (2-7, 3.97)

Palm Beach – off

Weather permitting, Palm Beach (27-59) will play at Daytona, the Class A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.

Tuesday’s game:  at Daytona (44-46) (CIN), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Ludwin Jimenez (0-6, 4.91)

FCL Cardinals 5 vs. FCL Mets 10

Home runs came back to bite the Florida rookie-level Birds in their 10-5 defeat to the FCL Mets (18-15).

Five of the Mets’ 10 tallies were generated by three long balls yielded by three Cardinals’ pitchers.  Starter Reinys Portillo surrendered the first one, a solo shot that was one of six tallies permitted, five earned, on seven hits and a walk in 4 1/3 frames.

Portillo began the fifth with his team up 4-3 but got the hook with one runner having touched home plus two more on base.  Ben Baird recorded the inning’s last two outs but not before allowing both inherited runners to score plus two of his own on a double and two-run bomb.

The third and final long ball was served up by Alex Cornwell, who pitched the sixth.  Cornwell (15th Round) issued a one-out free pass before surrendering the two-out blast in his first taste of pro ball.

A trio of 2021 draftees proceeded to make their professional debuts as well.  Southpaws Chris Gerard (12th round) and Alex Ruiz (sixth round) posted identical lines, as each hurler faced the minimum with two strikeouts.   It should also be noted that Ruiz did hit a batter who was caught stealing.   Right-hander Trent Baker (ninth round) tossed a one-two-three ninth with two ground- and one fly- ball out.

The only FCL Cardinal with a multi-hit performance was center fielder Joshua Baez, our Player of the Day.  The 54th pick in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft doubled and tripled in five at bats, crossed home one time and drove in two.

Joshua Baez

Four of Baez’ teammates had one hit each, including right fielder Hansel Otamendi and left fielder Smith Vargas, who both went 1-for-3 with a walk. Otamendi scored twice and Vargas once.

Tuesday’s game:  at FCL Astros (18-14), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue vs. DSL Rockies – cancelled

Monday’s contest between the DSL Cardinals Blue (10-14) and DSL Rockies was cancelled due to Tropical Depression Grace.

Tuesday’s game: at DSL Rockies (18-7), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red at DSL Tigers – cancelled

The DSL Cardinals Red (12-9) and the DSL Tigers were not able to get their game in due to rain.

Tuesday’s game: vs. DSL Tigers (9-14), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

For more

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Brian Walton’s Cardinals Jupiter News and Notes

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 16, 2021

photo: Carlos Soto (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system went 1-4 as the top three clubs scored a total of four runs in four losses. Palm Beach had all the offense, with seven tallies. Player of the Day Carlos Soto went 3-for-4 including a double, two-run home run and two runs scored.

Results from games played Sunday, August 15th.

Memphis 1 at Norfolk 5 (7 innings) – Game 1
Memphis 1 at Norfolk 3 (7 innings) – Game 2

The Redbirds managed just two runs in 14 Sunday innings, dropping a double header at Harbor Park, 5-1 and 3-1.  Memphis (41-49) won only one game of six played at Norfolk (37-51) (BAL).

Subpar defense combined with little offense led to the loss in the opener.  Starter Jake Woodford took the loss, his third in as many Triple-A decisions in 2021, despite yielding just one earned run over five innings.  The righty was charged with four tallies in all, permitting seven hits and two walks.  Seth Elledge pitched the sixth, allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk.

Jake Woodford

Memphis was held to just three hits, with their sole score generated in the final frame.  Left fielder Alec Burleson worked a free pass, one of three walks taken by the visitors, and moved to third when catcher Ali Sanchez singled to right.  A second free pass issued to Conner Capel loaded the bases for center fielder Evan Mendoza, whose 4-3 ground out scored Burleson.

Players not in their regular defensive positions figured in the outcome. Third baseman Juan Yepez was charged with a fielding error, his seventh miscue overall, leading to three unearned fifth-inning scores.  First baseman Rayder Ascanio committed a throwing bobble the next inning which generated the unearned score charged to Elledge.

In the finale, the make up of their August 14th postponement, starter Connor Thomas turned in a quality start to no avail.  Thomas (L, 5-2) went the distance, yielding three runs on five hits and a free pass issued.  All three scores were generated by two fourth-inning home runs.

Connor Thomas

The sole Redbird with more than one of five team hits was shortstop Kramer Robertson who singled and doubled in three at bats while scoring his team’s only run.  After going hitless in three at bats in the opener, designated hitter Austin Dean went 1-for-3 in the nightcap, his first taste of Triple-A action since landing on the Injured List on May 20th.

Robertson was charged with his fifth and sixth miscues, one fielding and one throwing.

Monday’s game:  Off

Springfield 1 at Arkansas 5

In a game similar to Memphis’, the S-Cards mustered just five hits, falling to the Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park, 5-1.  Springfield (34-56) dropped the series at Arkansas (48-42) (SEA), two games to four.

Catcher Ivan Herrera’s 11th long ball prevented a shutout, temporarily knotting the game at one all midway through four.  Left fielder David Vinsky singled twice in three at bats out of the eight hole, which unfortunately was nowhere near Herrera, who batted third.

Iván Herrera

Pitching on three days’ rest after retiring just four batters in his Wednesday, August 11th start against this same Arkansas lineup, Domingo Robles (L, 2-8) went four frames. Robles was pressed into action after scheduled starter Andre Pallante was placed on the injured list on Saturday. (More details for TCN members here.)

Springfield Loses Weekend Starters to the Injured List

Southpaw Robles permitted a second-inning tally plus three-run fourth, giving up seven hits and a walk.  One of the runs was unearned due to a fielding error by second baseman Nick Dunn, one of two Springfield miscues along with a fielding bobble by first baseman Chandler Redmond.

Cory Thompson retired six batters, allowing a run on two hits and a base-on-balls.  Garrett Williams and Freddy Pacheco each allowed a hit in their inning of work, with Pacheco striking out the side.

Monday’s game:  Off

Peoria 1 at Cedar Rapids 4

In a continuing Sunday theme across the system, the Chiefs’ offense was held to just two hits in their 4-1 loss to the Kernels at Dozer Park.  Peoria (34-56) claimed just two of the six-game home set versus Cedar Rapids (49-41) (MIN).

The Chiefs were on the wrong end of a no-hitter through the game’s first six frames, with the no-no ending on catcher Pedro Pages’ single to start the bottom of the seventh.

Peoria ended the shutout bid in the eighth.  Left fielder Matt Chamberlain was plunked with one away, advancing to third after third baseman Jordan Walker lined a single to right.  Right fielder Jhon Torres K’d swinging with Walker going for his steal of second on the game.  The throw of Cedar Rapids’ backstop did not hit its mark, allowing Chamberlain to race home.

Connor Lunn (L, 5-6) tossed five frames, with both tallies charged to him coming on solo shots.  The right-hander permitted six hits in all, issuing two free passes.

Connor Lunn

Sean Kealey worked around three hits for two scoreless innings, fanning four.  Enmanuel Solano faced the minimum in the eighth before handing the ball to Leonardo Taveras.  Taveras interspersed two outs with four walks, resulting in two runs.  Jacob Schlesener issued a free pass, forcing one of Taveras’ base runners across home plate before recording his only out.

Defensively, the Chiefs committed three errors:  first baseman Todd Lott (fielding), catcher Aaron Antonini (pickout) and Lunn (interference).  Chamberlain was credited with an outfield assist at home and the team turned four double plays.

Monday’s game:  Off

Palm Beach 7 vs. Lakeland 3

The Beach Birds finished their six-game home series versus the Flying Tigers on a high note with a 7-3 Sunday victory.  For the week, Palm Beach (27-59) claimed just two wins against Lakeland (37-52) (DET).

The home team pounced on Lakeland’s pitchers, scoring all seven tallies in the second through fourth frames.  The 12-hit offense was led by catcher Carlos Soto, who finished a triple shy of the cycle.  Our Player of the Day went 3-for-4 including a double and two-run bomb and two runs scored.

Carlos Soto

Shortstop Mack Chambers and left fielder Elijah Cabell both went 2-for-4, with Chambers tripling once with a walk, run scored and two driven in at the top of the order.  Second baseman Noah Mendlinger reached base twice, singling once in three at bats with a base-on-balls, crossing home once.  Right fielder Patrick Romeri’s only hit in four at bats was his third long ball of 2021, the blast coming with Soto (double) aboard.

The contest featured the first professional start by Gordon Graceffo after four relief appearances.  The right-hander, St. Louis’ 5th-round pick in the 2021 First-Year Player draft, shut down Lakeland on two singles through the first three innings before faltering in the fourth.

Graceffo gave up consecutive singles to begin the frame, giving way to Edwin Nunez.  Nunez (W, 3-2) allowed both runners to score via a single and wild pitch but retired nine batters in all, permitting two hits and issuing two free passes.

Ryan Loutos and Levi Prater shared pitching duties the rest of the way.  Loutos gave up a run on three hits and a base-on-balls in two innings before Prater negotiated around a hit batter for a scoreless ninth.

On the basepaths, Cabell was picked off second. In the field, Palm Beach was charged with two bobbles.  Chambers committed his third miscue with an errant throw and first baseman L.J. Jones had a fielding error, his second.  On a plus side, the team turned two double plays.

Monday’s game:  Off

FCL Cardinals – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Florida Complex League.

Monday’s game:  FCL Cardinals (15-13) vs. FCL Mets (17-15), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Blue (10-14) vs. DSL Rockies (18-7), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Red (12-9) at DSL Tigers (9-14), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

For more

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Brian Walton’s Cardinals Jupiter News and Notes

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 13, 2021

Photo: Nolan Gorman (Springfield Cardinals)

Nolan Gorman led Memphis to one of the system’s two extra-inning victories on Thursday.  Springfield eked out a win as well but Peoria and Palm Beach did not.  None of the three short-season clubs were able to get their games in.

Results from the games played Thursday, August 12th

Memphis 7 at Norfolk 6  (11)
Nolan Gorman scored the winning run as the Redbirds stemmed the Tide, 7-6, in 11 innings.  It was the first victory in three tries for Memphis (41-46) at Harbor Park.

Gorman, our Player of the Day, accumulated four of his squad’s 11 hits, going 4-for-5 with a walk, double and three runs scored.  The second baseman began the 11th inning at second base, was wild pitched to third, leaving him in position to score on catcher Ali Sanchez’ sac fly to first in foul ground.

Nolan Gorman

The Redbirds christened the scoreboard with a first inning tally, assisted by three consecutive free passes issued by Norfolk’s starter.  Shortstop Kramer Robertson drew the first base-on-balls, eventually touching home plate via a 6-3 ground out by left fielder Alec Burleson.

Norfolk responded with a score of their own off starter Zack Thompson, one of two tallies yielded by the lefty during his five-inning stint.  Thompson scattered six hits and a walk, tossing 49 of his 75 pitches for strikes.

The hosts led 2-1 until the visitor half of the fifth when the Redbirds generated three runs on five hits.  The big blows were Burleson’s two-run double scoring Gorman (single) and first baseman Juan Yepez (walk), and Burleson touching home plate on a bunt single by centerfielder Evan Mendoza.

Memphis added two more runs the next frame to go up 6-2 at the sixth’s midpoint but the four-run lead evaporated under the bullpen’s watch.  T.J. Zeuch, Toronto’s first-round pick back in 2016, did not impress in his second appearance for Memphis.  The righty was charged with three runs on four hits, including a solo shot, and a base-on-balls, in 1 ½ innings.  Zeuch fanned four.

Jesus Cruz recorded five outs, yielding a hit, handing the ball off to Junior Fernandez.  Fernandez (BS, 1) surrendered a home run that sent the game into extras.  Kodi Whitley (W, 2-0) tossed two clean frames, navigating around two walks.

Kodi Whitley

Three Redbirds had two hits apiece:  Sanchez, Mendoza and third baseman Rayder Ascanio – the former two in five at bats and Ascanio in four.  Sanchez drove in three while Mendoza and Ascanio both worked a free pass, Mendoza knocking in one.

Burleson reached base three times, going 1-for-4 with two walks, a double, run scored and three RBI’s.

The Redbirds’ pitching staff was aided greatly by the four double plays turned by their defense.  Gorman took part in all of them.

Friday’s game:  at Norfolk (34-51)(BAL), 7:05 pm ET/6:05  pm CT, Johan Oviedo (1-2, 6.00)

Springfield 4 at Arkansas 3  (10)
Solid bullpen pen work combined with their host’s shaky defense handed the S-Cards a 4-3 victory over the Travelers in 10 innings at Dickey-Stephens Park.  Springfield (34-53) leads the six-game series, two games to one.

Delvin Perez began the 10th at second, per the rules in place for games going into extra innings,  A fielding miscue by the Tides’ first baseman allowed both designated hitter Irving Lopez to reach and Perez to cross home for the winning margin.  It was one of three bobbles by Norfolk’s defense resulting in two unearned scores.

The contest was tied 3-3 over the last three frames of regulation thanks to the strong efforts by relievers Ramon Santos and Jacob Bosiokovic.  Both hurlers struck out four, Santos issuing two free passes and stranding an inherited runner in 2 2/3 innings.  Bosiokovic (W, 6-3) allowed two hits and plunked a batter over two frames.

Dalton Roach battled control issues and the long ball during his 5 1/3 innings on the mound, issuing six free passes along with three hits yielded.  All three runs given up were products of two home runs.

Springfield mustered six hits, half of them belonging to Ivan Herrera.  The catcher went 3-for-4 with a walk and RBI.  Both Brendan Donovan and Chandler Redmond doubled once in four at bats with one driven in, Donovan scoring once.  Left fielder David Vinsky reached base twice, going 1-for-3 with a base-on-balls, stolen base and run scored.

Iván Herrera

Friday’s game:  at Arkansas (45-42)(SEA), 7:10 pm CT, Kevin McGovern (1-1, 5.17)

Peoria 3 vs Cedar Rapids 10
The Chiefs’ bullpen could not hold a mid-game lead in their 10-3 home loss to Cedar Rapids.  Peoria (33-54) trail in the series versus the Kernels, one game to two.

The home team led 3-2 at the sixth’s onset but the advantage flipped to a 7-3 hole by the time the inning was over.  Jacob Schlesener (L, 4-4)(BS,3) retired just one batter, surrendering five runs on two hits and four walks, including a two-run bomb and run-scoring wild pitch.

Fabian Blanco recorded seven outs, permitting an unearned score on three hits and a base-on-balls, leaving one of Schlesener’s last two runners aboard.  Leonardo Taveras retired his only batter, stranding two inherited runners but Paul Schwendel was tagged for two ninth-inning scores on two hits and a walk.

All three pitched in relief of starter Michael YaSenka who struck out eight in five innings.  The righty was tagged for two runs on four hits and five base-on-balls.

Michael YaSenka

Peoria managed just five hits, Jordan Walker the only Chief with more than one.  The third baseman singled and doubled in four at bats, crossing home plate once.

Designated hitter Todd Lott and catcher Pedro Pages both went yard, their only hit in four at bats.  Lott’s bomb came with the bases empty while Pages sent one over the wall in left center after Walker hit his 10th high-A two-bagger.

Friday’s game:  vs Cedar Rapids (47-40)(MIN), 6:35 pm CT,  Logan Gragg (2-4, 5.89)

Palm Beach 3 vs Lakeland 12
The Beach Birds were mauled by the Flying Tigers, 12-3, at Chevrolet Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday.  Palm Beach has won one of the first three games of the six-game home set.

The contest was knotted at 2-2 until Palm Beach pitchers served up a combined seven tallies over the fifth and sixth frames.  A three-run eighth ensued for Lakeland before the Beach Birds added a ninth-inning score.

Starter Edgar Manzo took the loss, his third in seven decisions.  The right-hander was charged with three runs on four hits and two base-on-balls with five K’s over 4 2/3 frames.

Manzo’s final runner scored with Andrew Marrero on the mound.  Marrero, an 18th-round selection in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, retired just two batters, permitting five scores, three earned, on three hits, two walks and two balks.

Luis Ortiz inherited two base runners and allowed both to cross home plate during his 2 1/3 innings on the bump.  The righty allowed three runs of his own on three hits, including a two-run long ball.  Levi Prater recorded four outs, yielding a run on two hits and two base-on-balls and letting Ortiz’ last runner touch home plate.

Palm Beach’s offense had more scoring opportunities from walks (six) than they did hits (five).  Second baseman Noah Medlinger, an undrafted free agent signee, singled and doubled in two at bats with a walk, hit-by-pitch and run scored out of the nine hole.

Noah Mendlinger

Most of the team’s results were provided by designated hitter Austin Dean who took part in his third game since his rehab assignment began.  The outfielder’s only hit in four at bats was a two-run blast with Medlinger aboard after the latter was plunked.

Austin Dean

Friday’s game:  vs Lakeland (35-51) (DET), 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT, TBA

FCL Cardinals at FCL Marlins – cancelled
Thursday’s contest between the FCL Cardinals (15-13) and the FCL Marlins (12-15) was cancelled.

Friday’s games:  at FCL Nationals (), 10:00 am ET/9:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue vs DSL Mets1 – postponed 
Thursday’s contest between the DSL Cardinals Blue (10-11) and the DSL Mets1 was postponed due to inclement weather.  The game has been rescheduled as part of a home-and-away double header on Friday, August 13th with game one beginning at 10:00 am ET/9:00 am CT.

Friday’s game:  vs/at DSL Mets1 (10-12).  Game one – 10:00 am ET/9:00 CT, TBA/TBA

DSL Cardinals Red at DSL Cubs Red – postponed
The DSL Cardinals Red (9-9 and the DSL Cubs Red were unable to get their game in due to rain.  The contest has been rescheduled as part of a home-and-away twin bill on Friday, August 13th with game one beginning at 10:00 am ET/9:00 am CT.

Friday’s games:  vs/at DSL Cubs Red (9-12).  Game one – 10:00 am ET/9:00 am CT, TBA/TBA

For more

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 11, 2021

Photo: Andre Pallante (Springfield Cardinals)

Andre Pallante’s strong mound work led Springfield to one of two wins in St Louis’ minors on Tuesday.  Jordan Walker shone as well in Peoria’s victory, but the system’s other five teams went down to defeat.

Results from the games played Tuesday, August 10th

Memphis 0 at Norfolk 4
Memphis (40-45) narrowly escaped being no hit in their 4-0 series’ opening loss to Norfolk at Harbor Park.

Alec Burleson’s two-out single in the eighth was all that stood between the Redbirds and an ignominious defeat.  Memphis managed just four walks along with Conner Capel’s hit by pitch and had only one opportunity with runners in scoring position.

Matthew Liberatore (L, 4-7) tossed a fine effort, yielding three runs on seven hits, including a solo bomb.  The lefty fanned seven and did not walk a batter.  Kodi Whitley was touched for a run on two hits and a base-on-balls in the eighth.

Matthew Liberatore

Wednesday’s game:  at Norfolk (33-50)(BAL), 7:05 pm ET/6:05  pm CT, Angel Rondon (5-4, 4.92)

Springfield 9 at Arkansas 0
Andre Pallante and a pair of relievers spun a two-hitter in support of a strong offensive effort as Springfield (33-52) blanked Arkansas at Dickey-Stephens Park, 9-0.

Player of the Day Pallante (W, 4-6) held the Travelers to just one hit and two base-on-balls over six frames with four K’s.  The righty did throw a wild pitch but induced 11 ground- to just two fly- ball outs.

Andre Pallante

Two relievers kept the shutout intact over the final three innings.  Cory Thompson impressed in his Double-A debut, limiting his opponents to a hit and walk with six outs recorded.  Grant Black was successful in his return to Double-A, working around a base-on-balls.

The offense’s results were a team-wide effort, all nine starters taking part in the scoring, generating 10 hits in total.  Four players had two hits apiece:  first baseman Brendan Donovan, shortstop Delvin Perez, right fielder Matt Koperniak and second baseman Nick Dunn.   Donovan and Dunn’s hits came in five at bats with Perez and Koperniak taking four at bats.

Perez added a walk, crossing home twice versus the other three scoring one time.  Donovan drove in two while Koperniak and Dunn knocked in one.  Koperniak doubled in his first Double-A game, the only one of the four to have a hit go for extra bases.  The outfielder is playing at his second new level in under two weeks.  Left fielder David Vinsky reached base three times, going 0-for-2 with two base-on-balls and a hit-by-pitch and touched home twice.

The victory was even more impressive considering the S-Cards were responding to six of their teammates’ sudden exodus to the Injured List, including two starters and a returning rehabber. 

Wednesday’s game:  at Arkansas (44-41)(SEA), 7:10 pm CT, Domingo Robles (2-6, 5.82)

Peoria 7 vs Cedar Rapids 2
Jordan Walker’s three-hit night led Springfield (33-52) over Cedar Rapids, 7-2, in the series’ opener.

Walker accounted for three tallies, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI.  The only other player with more than one of the team’s 10 hits was catcher Pedro Pages who singled and doubled in five at bats, crossing home once and driving in one.

Jordan Walker

Eight of nine starters either scored or drove in a run, including first baseman Leandro Cedeno and second baseman Moises Castillo who did both.  Cedeno went 1-for-5 with a run scored and two knocked in while Castillo singled once in four at bats, crossing home once and driving in one.  Masyn Winn’s only hit in five at bats was his second triple, after which the shortstop scored a run.

Connor Lunn led a trio of Chiefs’ hurlers combining on a three hitter.  Lunn tossed the first four frames before a 93-minute rain delay ensued.  The righty allowed a run on two hits with four strikeouts.

Sean Kealey (W, 1-0) took over when play resumed, shutting down the Kernels on two walks over three innings while fanning three.  It was the lefty’s first A-Advanced victory after being promoted from Palm Beach on July 29th.  Leonardo Taveras surrendered a solo home run during his two-inning stint, the only hit permitted to go with three K’s.

Wednesday’s game:  vs Cedar Rapids (45-40)(MIN), 6:35 pm CT, Wilfredo Pereira (2-6, 3.79)

Palm Beach 3 vs Lakeland 12
The losing streak is now at 18 games and counting for Palm Beach (25-55) who were thumped by Lakeland at home, 12-3.

The contest remained competitive through five innings despite starter Jose Moreno retiring just one batter.  Moreno (L, 0-4) was charged with four runs on three hits and four base-on-balls, putting his team in a 4-0 hole before they ever came to bat.

Nathanael Heredia kept the Beach Birds close with 4 2/3 frames of one-hit, one-walk ball.  The lefty fanned seven, stranding three inherited runners and departed with his team trailing 4-3.

Nathanael Heredia

That was the game’s high point.  Righties Andrew Marrero and Luis Tena combined to surrender seven scores before Palm Beach’s next at bat, putting the game out of reach.

Marrero yielded four runs on a hit, two base-on-balls, a balk and a plunked batter in just two-thirds of an inning.  Tena allowed all three inherited runners to score plus three of his own on three hits, a walk and two wild pitches with one out recorded.

Levi Prater calmed the scoring waters during his inning of work, issuing a free pass.  Luis Ortiz, however, was tagged for a tally on a hit and two walks.

The Beach Birds actually outhit the Flying Tigers, 10-to-9, but were a dismal 2-for-16 with Runners In Scoring Position, stranding 12.  Two Palm Beach players had a multi-hit performance:  centerfielder Mike Antico and first baseman Thomas Francisco.  Antico singled and tripled in five at bats, touching home once whereas Francisco went 2-for-4, batting sixth.

Wednesday’s games:  vs Lakeland (33-55) (DET).  Game one – 2:00 pm ET/1:00 pm CT,  TBA/TBA

FCL Cardinals 0 at FCL Mets 2

The Florida Birds were held to just three hits in their 2-0 loss to the FCL Mets at St Lucie Sports Complex.  The FCL Cardinals (14-13) fell for the fourth time in their last five games with four of five games decided by less than three runs.

Yordy Richard (L, 3-4) pitched a strong effort, striking out nine in six innings while yielding two runs on seven hits.  The right-hander did not issue a free pass.

Yordy Richard

Tink Hence and Thomas Hart went an inning each, Hence facing the minimum and Hart giving up a hit.  Both relievers fanned a batter.

The offense did not have a productive day at the plate, accumulating three singles and five walks while striking out a collective 11 times.  Shortstop Jeremy Rivas went 2-for-4 out of the two hole whereas the only other FCL Cardinal to get a hit was second baseman Brandon Hernandez in the eight slot.

Third baseman Darlyn Del Villar worked two base-on-balls and stole his first base.  Hernandez was caught stealing in his only attempt.

Defensively, catcher Jake Burns was charged with a passed ball, his second.

Wednesday’s game:  vs FCL Astros (17-10), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 4 vs DSL Angels 11
The DSL Cardinals Blue (10-11) were pounded by the DSL Angels, 11-4, in a game that ceased to be competitive fairly early.

The long ball proved to be the C-Blue hurlers’ bugaboo, with three home runs accounting for seven scores.  Starter Randel Clemente surrendered one of those bombs in taking the loss, his second in as many decisions.  The 19-year-old rookie gave up four hits, including a two-run blast, plus a walk that generated four tallies, two earned, in 2 2/3 frames.

Marlyn Almonte left Clemente’s last two runners on base but served up a two-run home run to the same batter as did Clemente.  Those tallies represented two of the three runs allowed on two hits and a base-on-balls over 1 1/3 innings.  Both Clemente and Almonte hit a batter.

All three scores permitted by Alexander Beltre during his two-inning stint came off one home run.  Beltre gave up three hits and issued a free pass.

Juan Peralta pitched two innings, yielding a run on two hits before handing off to Uriel Curvelo.  Curvelo tossed a clean eighth, the sole C-Blue hurler not to be scored upon.

The DSL Cardinals Blue played a bit of long ball themselves as three of their four runs were generated by two bombs.  Centerfielder Luis Pino’s solo shot gave his squad a 1-0 lead after one, the first of his two hits in two at bats with three walks, the aforementioned run scored and RBI.

http://thecardinalnation.com/player/luis-mario-pino/

The other home run came off left fielder Jose Suarez’ bat in the fourth.  The blast occurred with Keshawn Rombley (walk) aboard, narrowing the Angels’ lead to 7-3.  Suarez went 1-for-2 with two base-on-balls, touched home once and knocked in two.  The C-Blue acquired six hits in all and worked eight base-on-balls.

Wednesday’s game:  off

DSL Cardinals Red 1 at DSL Mets2 3  (7)
Like their FCL counterparts, the Cardinals Red (9-9) mustered just three hits, dropping a 3-1 decision to the DSL Mets2 (8-12).

Starter Branyan Ramirez (L, 0-1) lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing a run on three hits, a walk and plunked batter.

Righty Augusto Calderon extended his scoreless streak to 8 2/3 frames over seven appearances.  Today the 20-year-old blanked the Mets2 on a hit, walk and hit batsman with two K’s over 2 1/3 and stranded three inherited batters.

Augusto Calderon

William Miranda did not fare as well as Calderon, permitting two scores on two hits and a plunked batter in 1/3 of an inning. His final run scored on a sac fly with Fraimin Marte on the bump.  Marte retired all five batters faced.

The DSL Cardinals Red did not score until the sixth at which point Elias Reynoso walked to open the frame.  The first baseman was wild pitched to second then advanced to third on a single by second baseman Lizandro Espinoza.  Reynoso scored his squad’s sole tally via centerfielder Carlos Carmona’s force at second.

Acting as the designated hitter, Romtres Cabrera provided the other two hits, going 2-for-3 in the clean-up spot.  Cabrera was nailed trying to steal second.

Defensively, right fielder Jeremy Ramos was credited with an outfield assist at second.

Wednesday’s game:  off

For more

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Springfield Roster Augmented from Above and Below

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 10, 2021

It was a light Monday schedule for St Louis’ minors with only the DSL teams in action.  Romtres Cabrera’s performance helped the Cardinals Red to victory but the Cardinals Blue fell despite a fine offensive effort by Christian Avendano.

Results from games played Monday, August 9th

Memphis – off   
Fifth-place Memphis (40-44) continues their East Coast swing looking to rebound after going 2-4 at first-place Durham (TB).  Next up is sixth-place Norfolk.

Tuesday’s game:  at Norfolk (32-50)(BAL), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Matthew Liberatore (4-6, 5.15)

Springfield – off     
A week after hosting third-place Arkansas, fifth-place Springfield (32-52) travels to Dickey-Stephens Park for six games before heading back home.

Tuesday’s game: at Arkansas (44-40)(SEA), 7:10 pm CT, Andre Pallante (3-6, 4.62)

Peoria – off   
Sixth-place Peoria (32-52) is back at home this week after a disappointing road trip to fifth-place South Bend (CHC) is which they won only two of the six-game set.

Tuesday’s game: vs second-place Cedar Rapids (45-39)(MIN), 6:35 pm CT, Connor Lunn (5-5, 4.16)

Palm Beach – off   
The match up this week features the cellar dwellers of the Low-A Southeast’s East and West Divisions:  Palm Beach (25-54) and Lakeland.  The Beach Birds are still looking for a halt to their losing slide which has reached 17 games.

Tuesday’s game:   vs Lakeland (32-50) (DET), 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT, TBA

FCL Cardinals – off    
The FCL Cardinals’ 2021 schedule is to play four games and have the fifth day off.  Monday, August 9th was a day off.

Tuesday’s game:  FCL Cardinals (14-12) at FCL Mets (13-14), 10:00 am ET/9:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 8 at DSL Angels 9
Four C-Blue errors proved costly in the team’s 9-8 loss to the DSL Angels (11-9).

Those miscues generated six unearned runs with starter Benjamin Arias (L, 1-2) bearing the brunt of the damage.  Only one of the five runs allowed by the right-hander over four innings was earned with Arias yielding six hits and issuing a free pass.

Swing starter Victor Herrera pitched two innings, allowing two unearned scores on three hits and a hit batsman.  Alejandro Cervantes was tagged for two runs, earned, on three hits and a walk in two frames.  The tallies were the first earned runs and only the third score overall yielded by the 20-year-old in 13 2/3 innings, covering seven appearances.

The DSL Cardinals Blue (10-10) garnered 11 hits, four players gathering two hits apiece:  second baseman Anyelo Encarnacion, shortstop Maycol Justo, first baseman Fernando Diaz and right fielder Christian Avendano.  Avendano generated the most results, singling and doubling in four at bats with a walk, two runs scored and three RBI.

Christian Avendano

Justo and Diaz both reached base three times, Justo going 2-for-5 with a base-on-balls and run scored while Diaz singled twice in four at bats with a hit-by-pitch, touching home once.  Encarnacion drove in two with his 2-for-6 effort.

Defensively, players named Encarnacion accounted for three of the four miscues.  Second baseman Encarnacion committed his fourth and fifth bobbles – one throwing and one fielding, while third baseman Bryan Encarnacion was charged with an errant throw, his third error.  The final bobble belonged to Justo who was tagged for his third error, throwing.

Tuesday’s game:  vs DSL Angels (11-9), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red 10 vs DSL Mets2 4
Romtres Cabrera’s big day at the plate led the DSL Cardinals Red (9-8) past the DSL Mets2, 10-4.

Cabrera finished a home run shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a double and triple, crossed home plate twice, drove in two and stole two bases while batting clean up.  The left fielder has earned our Player of the Day designation.

Romtres Cabrera

The two batters on each side of Cabrera in the batting order were quite productive as well:  centerfielder Carlos Carmona and first baseman Santiago Carbonara.  Both players went 2-for-5 with a double. Carbonara added his first triple.  Carmona scored three times out of the three slot and Carbonara touched home once with two knocked in.  The C-Red banged out 13 hits in all.

The home team used five hurlers to navigate nine innings.  Starter Wilmer Ortega lasted just eight batters, permitting three hits and three base-on-balls, resulting in three runs, earned.

18-year-old Omar Yanez retired all four batters faced, stranding an inherited runner before Darlin Saladin took over at the fifth’s onset.  Saladin (W, 3-0) gave up a run, earned, on two hits and two walks in two innings then handed the ball off the Eduar Pimental.

The only batter to reach against Pimental during his two-inning stint was via a free pass.  Righty Bruno Lopez tossed a clean ninth, allowing a hit, and has not yet been scored upon in six game appearances encompassing eight frames.

Bruno Lopez

Defensively, left fielder Cabrera committed his second bobble when he did not field a play cleanly.  Catcher Carlos Linarez was charged with a passed ball.

Tuesday’s game:  at DSL Mets2 (7-12), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Florida Complex League Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 6

2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide Book 20% Off

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 9, 2021

photo: Connor Thomas (Memphis Redbirds)

On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system went 1-3. Nick Raposo tripled, homered and plated five of Springfield’s 10 runs in a narrow home win. Connor Thomas was dominant in Memphis’ late defeat as bullpens struggled to hold leads in three of the four contests.

Results from games played Sunday, August 8th.

Memphis 3 at Durham 4 (10 innings)

The Redbirds’ bullpen twice failed to hold a late lead, resulting in a 4-3 road loss to Durham (55-28) (TB).  Memphis (40-44) dropped the series, two games to four.

The visitors led 2-1 with four outs to go but Garrett Williams (BS, 2) allowed the tying run to cross home on one of two free passes issued, a wild pitch and an RBI single.  The eighth was Williams’ only inning of work.

On to the 10th when catcher Dennis Ortega lined a single to left, driving in Evan Mendoza, who began the frame at second.  The Redbirds were unable to do further damage after Rayder Ascanio grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

Junior Fernandez (L, 1-2) began his second inning tasked with holding his team’s second one-run lead of the night but did not accomplish his task.  Fernandez yielded a lead-off single and double with one away, both hits knocking in a run and sending Memphis to their third straight defeat.

Connor Thomas

Starter Connor Thomas tossed an excellent effort, limiting the Bulls to a single score occurring in the first of his six-inning stint.  The southpaw struck out seven, gave up just four hits and did not walk a batter.  Thomas remained strong, retiring his last 10 batters in order. Seth Elledge faced the minimum in the seventh before his pen-mates let the game get away.

Another bright spot was the offensive performances by prospects Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson who each garnered two of Memphis’ seven hits.  Unfortunately, the two were not near each other in the batting order, with Gorman batting third and Burleson seventh.  Kramer Robertson scored twice, going 1-for-2 with a walk and double out of the two-hole.

It was a down game both on the base paths and in the field.  Burleson was nailed in his only stolen base attempt while Ortega was charged with a throwing error.

Monday’s game:  Off

Springfield 10, Tulsa 9

The S-Cards scored in each of the first six frames then fought off a late rally, topping the Drillers, 10-9, at Hammons Field.  Springfield (32-52) won two of the six-game set over Tulsa (45-39) (LAD).

The home team put up a straight number in the first and fourth through sixth innings, along with a two-run second and four-run third.  But the Drillers answered by scoring seven times from the second through fourth frames, keeping the game close.  Springfield’s 10-7 advantage held firm until the ninth when the visitors pushed across two tallies against two S-Cards relievers.  But the bullpen prevailed by narrowest of margins with the potential tying run in scoring position.

With the final score 10-9, quality pitching was at a premium.  Miles Mikolas did not shine in his latest rehab start, serving up three home runs accounting for five of his seven tallies permitted on 11 hits and two walks in 5 2/3.

Tyler Pike took his regular turn in Springfield’s rotation after Mikolas, retiring eight batters.  The southpaw stranded an inherited runner but was tagged for the two ninth-inning scores, yielding four hits overall.  The last run charged to him touched home under Jacob Bosiokovic’s watch, with Bosiokovic sandwiching two strikeouts around a run-scoring single.

Springfield banged out 12 hits, with all nine starters taking part in the scoring with either a run scored, RBI or both.  Second baseman Nick Dunn led the effort, going 3-for-5, knocking in one.

Nick Raposo

Three S-Cards had two hits each:  designated hitter Nick Raposo, third baseman Malcom Nunez and shortstop Delvin Perez.  Raposo swung the biggest bat, going 2-for-5 with a triple and two-run blast comprising one of his two runs scored and two of his five RBI.  Nunez and Perez both drove in one, Nunez doubling once in five at bats with a run scored and Perez touching home twice in four at bats.

Monday’s game:  Off

Peoria 5 at South Bend 10

The Chiefs (32-52) dropped the series finale at South Bend (37-46) on Sunday. Peoria has lost three straight and took just two of the six-game set against the Cubs.

Peoria scored first with a pair in the second but gave up the lead immediately as the Cubs knotted the score in the bottom of the frame. The Chiefs responded with two more in the fourth, but the home team took control with five runs in the sixth and added three insurance runs in the eighth.

Chiefs starter Mac Lardner yielded two runs in three innings on three hits and two walks. He fanned two. Reliever Fabian Blanco handled the fifth cleanly but ran into major trouble in the sixth. Between he and Jacob Schlesener, who took a blown save and the loss, they yielded five runs while securing just one out in that fateful frame. Gianluca Dalatri tossed 1 2/3 scoreless before Enmanuel Solano allowed the final trio of Cubs runs in the eighth.

Masyn Winn

Leadoff man Masyn Winn had three of Peoria’s eight hits and drove in three. However, the shortstop did not score and was caught stealing in his only attempt.

Number three batter, outfielder Jhon Torres, doubled for the Chiefs’ only extra base hit and came around to score.

The Peoria offense was 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded six.

Monday’s game:  Off

Palm Beach 1 at St. Lucie 2

The Beach Birds came out on the short end of a low-scoring affair, dropping a 2-1 decision at St. Lucie (44-37) (NYM).  Palm Beach (25-54) last won on July 16th, a run of 17 straight losses and counting.

The Mets took an immediate lead with a solo shot off starter John Beller in the first of his three plus innings on the mound.  The long ball was one of five hits and three walks allowed by Beller who fanned six.

With the Beach Birds down 1-0, center fielder Mike Antico rectified the situation with one swing of his bat.  Antico, the eighth-round selection in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, launched his first pro home run in the third, knotting the game at 1-1.  The long ball was Antico’s only hit in four at bats.

But Palm Beach’s starter was unable to retire any of the three batters faced the next frame, bringing another pitcher into the game.  Due to the dearth of action this past week because of cancelled games, starter Gustavo J Rodriguez followed Beller to the mound with the Mets threatening to unravel the 1-1 knot and came through magnificently.  Rodriguez inherited a bases-loaded/none out mess and got out of it on a double play in which both outs were recorded at home plus a fly out to center.  Rodriguez pitched one more frame, issuing a free pass and striking out two.

Gustavo J. Rodriguez

Luis Ortiz (L, 2-4) took over in the sixth and the visitors pounced for what proved to be the difference in the game, scoring a run via back-to-back doubles.  Ortiz retired three batters, yielding those two hits.

Andre Granillo, the Cardinals’ 14th round pick in the recent draft, tossed the final two frames.  The righty retired six of seven batters, permitting a hit with two K’s.

The Beach Birds generated six hits, with third baseman Osvaldo Tovalin the only player with a multi-hit effort.  The 10th-round selection in last month’s draft singled twice in four at bats.

Monday’s game:  Off

FCL Cardinals – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Florida Complex League.

Monday’s game:  off

DSL Cardinals Blue – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Blue (10-9) at DSL Angels (10-9), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red – off

Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Red (8-8) vs.  DSL Mets1 (7-11), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Cardinals Managing to Minor League Player Limits

2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide Book 20% Off

Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.

20% off Blowout Sale now underway on the spiral-bound, printed version.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 6, 2021

photo: Zack Thompson (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals minors went 3-2 on Thursday as surging Zack Thompson pitched Memphis to another road win and Jhon Torres helped fuel Peoria’s late surge. Springfield was shut out at home, with Jack Flaherty to start Friday evening.

Results from the games played Thursday, August 5th.

Memphis 3 at Durham 1

Left-hander Zack Thompson’s impressive start led the Redbirds over the Bulls, 3-1.  Memphis (40-41) has a two-games-to-one series advantage with three games remaining at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The only damage against Thompson (W, 2-6), our Player of the Day, occurred in the first via a walk and an RBI double. The 23-year-old allowed just two more hits and one more base-on-balls over the balance of his six-inning stint, striking out five.  Thompson has given up just two scores, both earned, over his last 17 innings covering three starts.

Zack Thompson

Jesus Cruz, Junior Fernandez and Grant Black finished the game, each yielding a hit with three batters retired.  Fernandez struck out the side but issued a free pass and Black collected his first Triple-A save.

With Memphis trailing 1-0 through three, second baseman Nolan Gorman evened the score with one swing of his bat.  His sixth Triple-A home run came with one out and the bases empty and was one of his two hits in four at bats.

Nolan Gorman

Juan Yepez followed Gorman’s fourth-inning bomb by working a free pass. The first baseman eventually scored an unearned run after catcher Ali Sanchez reached on a throwing error by Durhams’ third baseman.

The contest remained 2-1 until the visitors’ half of the ninth.  Sanchez and left fielder Alec Burleson singled to kick off the frame, the only hit for each player in four at bats.  Sanchez was driven in on a one-out single by third baseman Rayder Ascanio, who led his team’s nine-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with an RBI out of the nine hole.

Friday’s game:  at Durham (52-28) (TB), 6:35 pm ET/5:35 pm CT, Johan Oviedo (1-1, 5.68)

Springfield 0 vs. Tulsa 10

Domingo Robles’ very abbreviated start created an insurmountable obstacle for the S-Cards who were pounded by the Drillers, 10-0.  Springfield (31-50) has claimed one of the series initial three contests at Hammons Field with three games on tap.

Robles (L, 2-6) retired just one batter, while surrendering five runs, four earned, on four hits, including a lead-off long ball, three singles, a fielder’s choice retiring no one and throwing error by third baseman Irving Lopez.

Michael Brettell tossed four innings, stranding an inherited runner before giving up two tallies on two hits and two walks.  Brettell fanned five.

Freddy Pacheco matched Brettell’s five K’s but did it in 2 2/3 scoreless innings.  The righty left Brettell’s last two runners on base while walking two.

Freddy Pacheco

Ramon Santos and Johan Quezada both went an inning to close out the lopsided loss.  Santos was tagged for two unearned runs on a hit and two walks with the runs unearned because of his own throwing error.  Quezada served up a solo shot to his only baserunner allowed.

Down 5-0 before they came to bat, Springfield’s offense was stymied by a quartet of Tulsa hurlers, led by right-hander Landon Knack, the 60th pick in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft who was making his Double-A debut.  Four S-Cards had one hit each with Brendan Donovan’s double the only one to go for extra bases.  Right fielder Nick Plummer and designated hitter Ivan Herrera each reached base twice via a single in three at bats plus base-on-balls. The former extended his on-base streak to 31 games.

Friday’s game:  vs. Tulsa (43-38) (LAD), 7:05 pm CT, Jack Flaherty (0-0, —)

Jack Flaherty

Peoria 6 at South Bend 1

A four-run eighth broke open a scoreless contest as the Chiefs topped the Cubs at Four Wind Field, 6-1.  Peoria (32-49) leads the series, two games to one, with three games yet to play.

With both teams’ pitchers putting up zeroes through seven frames, the game came down to which side blinked first and that was South Bend.  To open the eighth, second baseman Francisco Hernandez greeted the new Cubs’ reliever, their fourth of five pitchers used, with a single, then advancing a base each on a steal and wild pitch.  Masyn Winn reached on a fielder’s choice/throwing error by South Bend’s shortstop, bringing Hernandez across home plate.

Jhon Torres

Jhon Torres lined a double to left, driving in Winn, one of the left fielder’s two hits in five at bats to go with a run scored and three driven in. Torres is slashing .412/.474/.588/1.062, 7-for-17, in four August games. Next up, Pedro Pages launched his seventh home run for the inning’s third and fourth tallies.

Peoria added another layer of icing with two more runs in the ninth.  Matt Chamberlain worked a two-out free pass, advancing to third on Winn’s first A-Advanced double.  Torres lined a single to right, driving in Chamberlain and Winn.

Torres was the only Chief with more than one of the team’s six hits although three of his teammates reached base multiple times.  Pages held first base three times, going 1-for-3 with a walk, two-run bomb and hit-by-pitch while Hernandez added a base-on-balls to his hit, stealing a base as did Winn.  Chamberlain reached base twice via free passes.

Wilfredo Pereira

Newly named organization July Pitcher of the Month Wilfredo Pereira headed up a team of four Peoria pitchers who combined for 11 strikeouts, six hits and one run allowed.  Pereira followed up a strong July 30th six-inning outing versus Beloit with five frames of shutout ball.  The righty struck out seven, permitting three hits and two base-on-balls.

Enmanuel Solano recorded five outs, issuing three free passes before giving way to Gianluca Dalatri, who stranded an inherited runner.  Dalatri (W, 1-0) retired two batters and was tagged with South Bend’s sole score which was surrendered on two hits and a base-on-balls.

Dalatri was bailed out of further damage by former starter Jack Ralston who fanned three in 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his first career save of 2021.

Friday’s game:  at South Bend (34-46) (CHC), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Michael YaSenka (0-8, 6.71)

Palm Beach at St. Lucie – cancelled (Game 1)
Palm Beach at St. Lucie – postponed (Game 2)

For the third straight day, Palm Beach (25-51) and St. Lucie were unable to play. Thursday’s scheduled double header at Clover Park was not held due to wet grounds.  The first game, the regularly scheduled contest, was cancelled.  Game 2, the postponement of Tuesday’s series opener, has been rescheduled as part of a twin bill on Friday, August 6th with the opener to start at 4:00 pm ET/3:00 pm CT.

Friday’s games:  at St Lucie (41-37) (NYM).  Game 1 – 4:00 pm ET/3:00 pm CT, TBA/TBA

FCL Cardinals 2 at FCL Astros 9

Shaky pitching and quiet bats led to the FCL Cardinals’ 9-2 defeat by the FCL Astros (16-9) at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

The Florida Birds’ hurlers allowed at least one run in six of eight frames.  Starter Renys Portillo (L, 1-2) tossed a clean first but that was the highlight of his four plus innings on the mound.  The righty permitted four scores on five hits and three walks while fanning five.

His final runner touched home under William Miranda’s watch before Miranda was tagged for another four tallies on four hits and two base-on-balls in 1 2/3 frames.  Two of the four runs resulted from a home run.

Roy Garcia pitched better than his two predecessors during his 2 1/3-inning stint, retiring his first four batters, thus stranding two inherited runners, before giving up a run via a lead-off single, stolen base, ground out and wild pitch.

The FCL Cardinals (13-11) had more errors (three) than tallies and the miscue and hit totals matched.  First baseman Jesus Orecchio singled and doubled in four at bats, driving in one but he committed a throwing bobble as did catcher Jake Burns.  Shortstop Sander Mora could not field one play cleanly for his second error.

Friday’s games:  vs/at FCL Marlins (8-14).  Game one – 10:00 am ET/9:00 am CT, TBA/TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 6 vs. DSL Nationals 5

The DSL Cardinals Blue (9-8) rallied for a 6-5 Thursday home win over the DSL Nationals.

The see-saw contest began with both teams pushed across first-inning tallies. The 2-1 C-Blue lead held up until the visitor half of the third when the Nationals went up 4-2.  The home team answered in the bottom of the frame, cutting the deficit to 4-3.  A sixth-inning Nationals’ score pushed the gap back to two but the Cardinals Blue had the final answer with a three-run seventh.

For all the back-and-forth on the scoreboard, the game was decided by defense once again.  The Nationals’ three miscues translated into four unearned runs while the C-Blue bobbled only once for one unearned tally.

Four DSL Cardinals Blue pitchers split the nine innings fairly evenly, beginning with 17-year-old Ronny Oliver.  Making his first start after four relief appearances, the right-hander went 2 1/3 innings, permitting three runs on a hit, two walks, a hit batsman and a wild pitch.  His initial tally scored on a steal of home in the first.

Victor Herrera retired eight batters, yielding three hits and two walks plus a plunked batter and two wild pitches, resulting in one run charged to him plus two tallies charged to Oliver.

Righty Marlyn Almonte recorded six outs, giving up an unearned score on two hits.  The 18-year-old picked up his first professional win against no losses.  In another professional first, Miguel Martinez issued one free pass over two scoreless innings for his first save.

Miguel Martinez

The C-Blue generated seven hits, led by two players who went 2-for-4:  second baseman Bryan Encarnacion and designated hitter Luis Pino.  Both touched home once, Pino scoring via his solo shot which was one of his two RBI and Encarnacion swiping his first base.

Shortstop Maycol Justo and third baseman Yancel Guerrero each singled once in three at bats, crossing home once.  Justo added a base-on-balls but was charged with his second error, this one for fielding.

Friday’s game:  at DSL Nationals (9-8), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red at DSL Giants Black – cancelled

Thursday’s contest between the DSL Cardinals Red (8-7) and DSL Giants Black (6-7) was cancelled as has Friday’s contest between the two squads scheduled at the Cardinals complex.

Friday’s game:  cancelled

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 13

2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide Book 20% Off

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 4, 2021

photo: Luken Baker (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

St. Louis’ 2-2 minors won and lost by the long ball on Tuesday. Red hot Luken Baker’s two-blast effort led Springfield to one of two wins, along with the DSL Cardinals Blue who were led by Maycol Justo. Home runs also played a role in Memphis’ and Peoria’s defeats while Palm Beach’s game was postponed and the Cardinals Red’s contest was suspended.

Results from the games played Tuesday, August 3rd.

Memphis 2 at Durham 5  

Home runs proved the Redbirds’ undoing as Memphis (38-41) fell to Durham, 5-2, in the series opener at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Starter Matthew Liberatore (L, 4-6) did not last five frames, being twice bitten by the long ball during his 4 1/3 innings on the mound.  The Bulls went yard twice against the lefty, resulting in four runs, two earned.  Liberatore yielded five hits and issued three free passes while throwing 92 pitches, 54 for strikes.

Tyler Webb and Connor Jones shared pitching duties the rest of the way.  Webb surrendered a solo shot along with a base-on-balls with five outs recorded, leaving Liberatore’s final two runners on base while Jones maneuvered around a hit and three walks for two scoreless frames.

The Redbirds took a short-lived lead after Nolan Gorman launched his fifth Triple-A home run, the blast coming with Evan Mendoza (double) aboard in the third.  The bomb was Gorman’s only hit in four at bats.

Nolan Gorman

Alec Burleson acted as the designated hitter in his Triple-A debut and acquitted himself well.  Batting in the seven spot, Burleson singled once in three at bats.  Juan Yepez was one of seven Redbirds with one hit, and the first baseman worked one of two free passes issued to his team.

Wednesday’s game:  at Durham (52-26) (TB), 6:35 pm ET/5:35 pm CT, Angel Rondon (4-4, 5.28)

Springfield 11 vs. Tulsa 4

Luken Baker’s two bomb night led Springfield (31-48) over Tulsa at Hammons Field, 11-4. The slugger remains red-hot, having gone deep in four consecutive games.

Baker, The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, went 3-for-5 with a double, solo shot and two-run blast that were part of his three runs scored and five knocked in.  The first baseman’s two-run bomb came with Brendan Donovan (double) aboard, capping a four-run eighth.  Third baseman Donovan also went 3-for-5 with a double, crossing home twice with an RBI.

Luken Baker

Chase Pinder made a splash in his return to Double-A action after having been on the injured list since May 11th.  The right fielder went yard in his first at bat, the start of a big third inning in which the home team scored six times.  Pinder went 2-for-3 with a walk, home run, two runs scored and two knocked in.  Springfield’s balanced offensive attack generated 12 hits in all with all nine starters getting either a hit or scoring a run.

Chase Pinder

Two rehabbing St. Louis hurlers combined to pitch the first six innings with differing results. Miles Mikolas got the ball first, throwing 67 pitches, 43 for strikes, over 4 2/3 frames with a run on four hits and a base-on-balls permitted.

Daniel Ponce de Leon (W, 1-0) followed Mikolas to the mound with the bases clean and two gone in the fifth.  The righty permitted two hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings, the big blow being a three-run home run.  Ponce de Leon threw 25 of his 39 pitches for strikes.

Three of the five batters retired by Johan Quezada struck out, with the tall right-hander giving up a hit and base-on-balls.  Jacob Bosiokovic tossed a one-two-three ninth, fanning two.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Tulsa (41-38) (LAD), 6:35 pm CT, Andre Pallante (3-5, 3.63)

Peoria 4 at South Bend 5

Peoria’s (30-49) late rally fell short as they were edged by South Bend, 5-4, in the first of six at Four Winds Field.

The Chiefs had one run in and the sacks jammed in the ninth but were unable to push across the tying score despite outhitting their hosts for the evening, 10 to seven.  Right fielder Jhon Torres led the effort, going 3-for-4 with a base-on-balls and run scored.

Jhon Torres

The second and last Peoria player with a multi-hit effort was left fielder Matt Koperniak, who singled twice in four at bats.  The intentional free pass issued to him loaded the bases in the ninth, but he was stranded when light-hitting Tyler Reichenborn popped out to second.

All five of the Cubs’ runs occurred in the fifth, an inning in which starter Mac Lardner did not record an out.  Lardner had struck out six in his first four innings, shutting down his opponents on a hit and three walks.  But the lefty was yanked after allowing a leadoff double and single in the fifth, giving way to Fabian Blanco.

Blanco (L, 2-5) was not effective, although it appeared that way in the beginning.  The righty coaxed a 3-4 double play scoring Lardner’s runner from third, only to give up a double, two-run long ball, two free passes and another single.  The final line on Blanco was four runs allowed, two earned, on three hits and two walks in 2/3 of an inning.  Two of the four scores were unearned due to a fielding error by shortstop Masyn Winn.

Sean Kealey quieted South Bend during his 2 1/3-inning stint, permitting a hit and base-on-balls.  Leonardo Taveras issued two free passes in the eighth.

Wednesday’s game:  at South Bend (34-44) (CHC), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Connor Lunn (4-5, 4.31)

Palm Beach at St. Lucie – postponed

The first of six games between the Palm Beach Cardinals (25-51) and the St. Lucie Mets at Clover Park was postponed due to rain.  The contest has been rescheduled as part of a double header on Thursday, August 5th with Game 1 beginning at 4:00 pm ET/3:00 pm CT.

Wednesday’s game:  at St. Lucie (41-37) (NYM), 12:10 pm ET/11:10 am CT, LHP Nathanael Heredia (1-3, 7.11)

FCL Cardinals – off

The second-place FCL Cardinals (13-9), winners of eight their last 10 games, look to continue their winning ways against the third-place FCL Mets.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. FCL Mets (12-11), 10:00 am ET/9:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 7 at DSL Yankees1 4

Shortstop Maycol Justo’s three-hit game helped the DSL Cardinals Blue (8-8) fly past the DSL Yankees1, 7-4.

Justo, an 18-year-old out of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, singled three times in five at bats with one run scored and another driven in, batting in the two hole.  It is the switch hitter’s fifth straight game with at least one hit and eighth in his last nine contests.

Maycol Justo

The only other C-Blue with more than one of seven team hits was catcher Leonardo Bernal, who went 2-for-4 with a triple, crossing home once.  Anyelo Encarnacion touched home once with an RBI despite going hitless in four at bats.  The second baseman scored his team’s first run after drawing a one-out walk in the third.  Encarnacion twice a base each on a balk and wild pitch, putting him in position to race home on one of Justo’s singles.

As is often the case in the Dominican Summer League, defense played a role in the scoring.  The visitors committed five errors which translated to three unearned tallies versus the home squad’s one miscue – a throwing error by right fielder Keshawn Rombley – that brought about one unearned score.  Center fielder Luis Pino was credited with an outfield assist at third.

A six pack was on tap on the pitching side of the game, beginning with Randel Clemente who blanked his opponents on three hits and four walks in 3 1/3 frames.  The righty struck out five.  Frankely Guzman induced his first batter to hit into a 5-4-3 double play, leaving Clemente’s last to base runners aboard.

Alexander Beltre (W, 3-1) was touched for an unearned tally during his two-inning stint.  The lefty yielded two hits and two walks with four K’s.

Righty Uriel Curvelo did not retire any of the three batters faced in seventh, giving up a hit and two free passes, resulting in two runs.  Esteban Contreras inherited a bases-loaded with none out jam and managed to strand one of three inherited runners.

But Contreras allowed his first three eighth-inning batters to reach with one scoring before departing in favor of Alejandro Cervantes.  Cervantes coaxed a 5-4-3 double play and ground out, stranding two inherited runners then tossed a one-two-three ninth for his first professional save.

Wednesday’s game:   off

DSL Cardinals Red at DSL Brewers1 – suspended

Tuesday’s road contest for the DSL Cardinals Red (8-7) at the DSL Brewers1 (8-8) was suspended with the C-Red batting in the fourth.  At the time of stoppage, the visitors had halved their hosts’ lead to 2-1 with a runner at second and one out.  While the rescheduling details have not been advised, the two teams meet next for a home-and-away on August 26th and 27th.

Wednesday’s game:  off

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

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Palm Beach Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 13

Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 3, 2021

photo: Adanson Cruz (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

On Monday, the rookie-level St. Louis Cardinals teams went 2-1. The DSL Red rode strong pitching and a big seventh inning that ended in a triple play to a win. TCN’s Player of the Day, Florida Complex outfielder Adanson Cruz, went 4-for-5 including a home run, drove in two and stole a base in their victory.

Results from games played Monday, August 2nd.

Memphis – off

Fifth-place Memphis (38-40) is on the road for the next two weeks with trips to division-leading Durham and second-place Nashville (MIL).

Tuesday’s game:  at Durham (51-26) (TB), 6:35 pm ET/5:35 pm CT, TBA

Springfield – off

Fifth-place Springfield (30-48) begins the second half of a two-week homestand by hosting third-place Tulsa.  The team should get a boost from expected Rehab starts by Miles Mikolas and Daniel Ponce de Leon.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. Tulsa (41-37) (LAD), 6:35 pm CT, Miles Mikolas (0-0, 0.00)

Peoria – off

Sixth-place Peoria’s (30-48) schedule consists of alternating home and away weeks and this week they are away, visiting fifth-place South Bend.

Tuesday’s game: at South Bend (33-44) (CHC), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, TBA

Palm Beach – off

After a week disrupted greatly by weather and in the midst of a double-digit losing skid, fourth-place Palm Beach (25-51) hopes to change their karma with a trip to St. Lucie, the division leaders whom they trail by 15 games.  That losing streak is 14 games and counting…

Tuesday’s game:  at St. Lucie (41-37) (NYM), 6:10 pm ET/5:10 pm CT, Nathanael Heredia (1-3, 7.11)

FCL Cardinals 10 vs.  FCL Nationals 8

The Florida Birds came out on top in the Battle of the Bats, topping the FCL Nationals (10-15), 10-8.  The FCL Cardinals (13-9) are tied with the FCL Phillies for sixth place in the 18-team league, four games behind the FCL Rays.

The home team never trailed in the high-octane game, totaling 18 runs, 14 earned, with a combined 30 hits and five errors.  The Florida Birds tallied in five of the first six frames with neither team scoring after the sixth.  The home team’s 16-hit parade was headed by right fielder Adanson Cruz, who went 4-for-5 with a solo bomb, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base.

Adanson Cruz

Just behind Cruz was shortstop Jeremy Rivas, who singled three times in four at bats, reaching base a fourth time when hit by a pitch.  Three FCL Cardinals garnered two hits each:  catcher Jake Burns, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run bomb, plus third baseman Brandon Hernandez and designated hitter Darlin Moquette, who both went 2-for-5 with a run scored and one driven in, Hernandez adding a stolen base while Moquette doubled once.

The final hit to go for extra bases belonged to rehabbing Springfield center fielder Chase Pinder, whose only hit in three at bats was a long ball with the bases empty.  Pinder worked a base-on-balls and was hit by a pitch before being replaced defensively in the bottom of the eighth.

2021 second-rounder Joshua Baez started in left field and batted sixth. The 18-year-old went 0-for-2 including a strikeout before departing after 2 ½ innings.

The Cardinals committed three errors:  one throwing miscue each for Burns, Hernandez and Rivas.  Cruz was credited with an outfield assist at third.

Thomas Hart was the first in the parade of six Florida Birds hurlers to see action.  The righty recorded just four outs, yielding three scores on five hits, two walks and a hit batsman.

18-year-old Juan Peralta (W, 1-0) inherited a bases-loaded and one out mess from Hart and retired two batters.  The Texan issued a free pass, forcing across one of Hart’s base runners.

William Miranda pitched the third, permitting a run on two hits and two walks.  Southpaw Colin Schmid was tagged for four tallies, two earned, on six hits but did not issue a free pass during his 2 2/3 innings on the mound before possibly departing due to an injury.

Like Peralta, Diego Cordero entered the game with the sacks jammed and walked his first batter faced, bringing across one of Schmid’s runners.  Cordero allowed just one hit during his 2 1/3-inning scoreless stint before giving way to lefty Omar Sanchez (S, 5) who issued a ninth-inning free pass.

Tuesday’s game:  Off

DSL Cardinals Blue 4 at DSL Yankees1 5

The C-Blue bullpen could not hold a seventh-inning lead, falling to the DSL Yankees1, 5-4.  The DSL Cardinals Blue (7-8) fall into a fourth-place tie with the DSL Yankees1 in the South Division, four games in back of the DSL Rockies.

The visitors led 4-2 midway through the seventh only to give up three runs before another six outs were recorded.  Starter Benjamin Arias shut down his opponents through his initial five frames before running into sixth-inning trouble.  The 19-year-old sandwiched a wild pitch between two singles, the latter hit ending the shutout.  Arias departed after issuing a free pass, replaced by Victor Herrera.

Herrera walked his first batter, loading the bases.  Two strikeouts ensued around an RBI ground out, closing the C-Blue lead to 3-2.

The DSL Cardinals Blue got one of those two tallies back in their half of the seventh on doubles by Jose Cordoba and Christian Avendano only for Herrera to allow two runs on three hits and another base-on-balls.

The tie-breaking score occurred when Oliver Lopez (L, 0-1) (BS,1), Herrera’s replacement, wild pitched in a run.  Lopez proceeded to yield a tally of his own on four walks and a hit against two batters retired. Miguel Martinez struck out both batters faced, stranding three inherited runners.

The C-Blue strung together eight hits to go with four walks and 15 strikeouts.  Left fielder Cordoba and right fielder Avendano both garnered two hits with a double and RBI, Cordoba touching home once in three at bats with a base-on-balls.

Jose Cordoba

Shortstop Maycol Justo went yard for the first time in his nascent pro career, a sixth-inning blast with second baseman Adari Grant (single) aboard. Justo went 1-for-3 with a walk but was unsuccessful in his only stolen base attempt.

Defensively, Avendano was charged with his first bobble on an errant throw while Cordoba was credited with an outfield assist at home.

Tuesday’s game: vs.  DSL Yankees1 (7-8), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, Randel Clemente (0-1, 2.45)

DSL Cardinals Red 3 vs.  DSL Brewers1 1

Starter Wilmer Ortega highlighted a trio of strong pitching performances as the C-Red edged the Brewers1, 3-1, at home.  The DSL Cardinals Red (8-7) are a half game behind co-leaders Phillies White and Rangers2 in the eight-team San Pedro Division.

Ortega, the first Cardinals Red starter to go five innings this season, blanked the Brewers1 on two hits and a base-on-balls.  The righty struck out five.

Wilmer Ortega

Ortega departed with neither team having broken onto the scoreboard and was replaced by Bruno Lopez.  Lopez went two innings, permitting a run on two hits and a base-on-balls.  The tally was unearned due to a throwing error by second baseman Lizandro Espinosa.

The score was still knotted at 1-1 at the seventh’s midpoint but the tie was short-lived.  Held to just one hit and three walks through six innings, the C-Red exploded for five hits off the Brewers1 bullpen.

Left fielder Romtres Cabrera opened with his first double, advancing to third due to a fielding error by the Brewers1’s center fielder.  An infield single by right fielder Jeremy Ramos drove in Cabrera with Ramos advancing to second and third via consecutive singles by designated hitter Felix Taveras and first baseman Santiago Carbonara.  Third baseman Raul Guzman’s bases-loaded single to left brought Ramos across home, re-loading the bases for catcher Carlos Linarez.  But Linarez flew into a 7-2-4-7-4-2 triple play with Taveras out at home and Guzman out at second.  The C-Red was done hitting after that point.

Handed a two-run lead, right-hander Fraimin Marte tossed two scoreless innings with two free passes issued for his first career save.

Tuesday’s game:  at fourth-place DSL Brewers1 (8-8), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, Brayan Ramirez (0-0, 6.00)

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

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Florida Complex League Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 5

Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 2, 2021

photo: Luken Baker (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Cardinal Nation Sunday Player of the Day Luken Baker went 3-for-7, including his 20th and 21st long balls of the season and three RBI as Springfield earned the St. Louis Cardinals system’s only two wins in six tries. Palm Beach’s losing skid is 14 games.

Results from games played Sunday, August 1st.

Memphis 2 vs. Gwinnett 4

Two late tallies yielded by the Redbirds’ bullpen snapped a 2-2 tie in Memphis’ 4-2 loss to Gwinnett at AutoZone Park.  The Redbirds (38-40) dropped the series, two games to four.

Junior Fernandez took the loss in his only inning of work, permitting three ninth-inning hits resulting in the two deciding scores.  Jack Flaherty struck out five over three frames in his second Rehab start.  The right-hander allowed two first-inning tallies, with the runs coming on a single, walk and bases-clearing triple.  Flaherty threw 58 pitches in all, 38 for strikes.

Austin Warner tossed two one-two-three innings, fanning three before handing the ball off to Jesus Cruz.  Cruz navigated around two free passes issued for a scoreless sixth.  Garrett Williams and Kodi Whitley duplicated Cruz’ scoreless effort in the seventh and eighth, respectively, Williams walking two and Whitley notching two K’s.

Conner Capel

The home team mustered six hits with Conner Capel doing most of the damage.  Capel went 2-for-4 with a triple and solo shot, driving in an additional tally.  The only other Redbird with a multi-hit performance was first baseman Juan Yepez, who went 2-for-4, crossing home once.

Defensively, catcher Dennis Ortega was charged with a throwing error, his second miscue overall.  Capel was credited with an outfield assist at home plate.

Monday’s game:  Off

Springfield 7 vs. Arkansas 1 – Game 1     

Springfield 4 vs. Arkansas 1 (7) – Game 2

Springfield (29-48) swept a double header at Hammons Field, 7-1 in nine frames and 4-1 in seven innings, preventing a series sweep by Arkansas (41-35).

The opener completed the July 31st contest suspended with the score tied 1-1 in the top of the fourth.  At that point the sacks were jammed and two away for starter Kevin McGovern who fanned five in 3 2/3 innings.  The lefty surrendered a second-inning long ball, one of two hits and two walks permitted.

Ramon Santos (W, 4-2) took over pitching duties when play resumed on Sunday and the 26-year-old was stellar.  Santos struck out nine over 4 1/3 innings, with the only batter to reach against him occurring via a free pass.

Ramon Santos

Freddy Pacheco continued Santos’ hitless streak, faring much better in his second Double-A appearance than he did in his first.  The Venezuelan faced the minimum, fanning two.

The Travelers broke on top 1-0 at the second’s midpoint, but the S-Cards responded immediately with a run in the bottom of the frame.  First baseman Luken Baker launched his 20th rocket, one of his two hits in four at bats, knotting the game at one all.

Luken Baker

After Santos caught his first batter looking at strike three on Sunday, ending Arkansas’ threat, his teammates took a lead they never relinquished.  Right fielder Alec Burleson singled to open the frame, his only hit in four at bats, advancing a base via a single by Baker.  A right side ground out moved both runners up a base whereupon Julio Rodriguez reached on a fielder’s choice.  That play scored Burleson, the run being unearned due to an errant throw by Arkansas’ pitcher allowing Rodriguez to reach.

The score remained 2-1 until the home half of the seventh when Springfield pushed across two more tallies before finishing with a three-run eighth.  The home team generated nine hits in all. Left fielder Nick Plummer and shortstop Brendan Donovan joined Baker with two hits apiece.  Plummer went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two driven in while Donovan knocked in three with his 2-for-4 effort.  The latter was 1-for-2 in attempted stolen bases.

The finale featured a pitching duel in which neither side went to their bullpen.  The S-Cards came out on top, thanks to a seven-inning complete game display by starter Tyler Pike (W, 4-3).  The southpaw scattered five hits and a base-on-balls, permitting a run in his last inning of work.  Pike struck out six.

Tyler Pike

The home team did not break through against the Travelers’ starter until the fifth.  Left fielder David Vinsky’s first triple drove in Plummer (single) and catcher Nick Raposo (force), the big hit coming with two away.  Baker added his second home run in as many days, this once with Burleson (double) aboard.

Springfield had six total hits with center fielder Justin Toerner the only S-Card with more than one.  Toerner reached base three times, singling twice in two at bats with a walk but was forced at second by Raposo just prior to Vinsky’s three-bagger, denying him the opportunity to touch home.

Monday’s game:  Off

Peoria 3 vs. Beloit 7

Chiefs’ pitchers could not hold a slim lead at the game’s midpoint, resulting in a 7-3 loss to the Snappers at Dozer Park.  Peoria (30-48) claimed two of the six-game set versus Beloit (35-43) (MIA).

Logan Gragg held the Snappers to two scores over the first five frames but faltered in the sixth.  The righty gave way to Jack Ralston with two on and none out, but the reliever could not hold the 3-2 advantage.

Ralston (L, 1-5) (BS, 1) looked like he would escape after notching two swinging K’s only to permit an RBI single, giving Gragg a final line of three runs allowed on six hits, a base-on-balls plus a hit batsman in five plus innings.  Ralston struck out three of the four batters retired, yielding a score on two hits.

Giancarlo Dalatri’s first taste of A-Advanced ball was a sour one.  The right-hander was tagged for three runs on five hits against four outs recorded, including a two-run long ball and allowing Ralston’s final base runner to score.  Cory Thompson permitted a hit and walk over the last 1 1/3 innings.

Peoria got all of their scoring done in the third inning and none were earned.  Designated hitter Zade Richardson was issued a free pass with one away, moving to second via center fielder Matt Chamberlain’s single and scoring when shortstop Masyn Winn reached on a fielder’s choice because of a throwing error by Beloit’s second baseman.  After Jordan Walker struck out swinging Jhon Torres came through with his first triple, scoring Chamberlain and Winn.

Jhon Torres

Chamberlain had half of his squad’s hits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.  Torres reached base twice, adding a base-on-balls to his triple in three at bats.

Monday’s game:  Off

Palm Beach 0 vs. Tampa 4 – Game 1
Palm Beach 6 vs. Tampa 17 (7) – Game 2

Palm Beach’s (25-51) losing slide is now at 14, following Sunday’s twin bill sweep by visiting Tampa (54-23), 4-0 in nine and 17-6 in seven.

In the opening game loss, starter Ludwin Jimenez twirled seven outstanding frames against the league’s best team.  The 19-year-old held the Tarpons scoreless on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Ludwin Jimenez

Luis Tena tossed a clean eighth but only recorded one ninth inning out, yielding four runs, three earned, on three hits and a base-on-balls.  The unearned run was due to the runner at second base rule being in effect because of the double header.

Tena’s final runner crossed via a sac fly under Andre Granillo’s watch.  The 2021 14th round selection inherited runners at the corners and after the sac fly and two straight steals by Tampa’s base runner, Granillo issued a free pass.  But the righty recouped to catch his final batter looking at strike three.

Palm Beach had six hits with right fielder Jacob Buchberger going 2-for-4 with a double.  The only other hit to go for extra bases belonged to second baseman Noah Mendlinger.  Mendlinger, an undrafted free agent signee out of Georgia College, doubled once in two at bats in his pro debut before being replaced defensively in the visitor half of the sixth.  Defensively, Mendlinger took part in two double plays.

The nightcap defeat featured 16 Tarpon tallies before the Beach Birds got on the scoreboard.  Gustavo Rodriguez (L, 0-4) lasted just 2/3 of an inning, permitting six scores, three earned, on two hits, two walks, a hit batsman and three wild pitches.

Luis Ortiz was charged with four runs on six hits, two walks and a balk over 2 1/3 frames.  The 21-year-old allowed both inherited runners to cross home plate.

Edwin Nunez’ outing made both Rodriguez’ and Ortiz’ stints look good in comparison.  The righty did not retire any of his five batters faced, issuing four free passes along with a hit and two wild pitches, resulting in five runs allowed.

Gordon Graceffo was thrown into the fire in his second pro appearance.  The 2021 fifth-rounder inherited a bases-loaded/none out mess and yielded four hits.  Nunez’ last three base runners scored plus one of Graceffo’s own batters.

Ramon Mendoza moved from the hot corner to the mound at the fifth’s onset and his two-inning stint was the best of six Beach Birds pitching efforts.  Mendoza tossed two clean innings, issuing one free pass, before giving way to shortstop Darlyn Del Villar.  Del Villar gave up a hit, walk plus a plunked batter generating one run.

Mendoza and Del Villar also took part in four of their squad’s six scores.  Both players went 1-for-4 with the former scoring once and knocking in another and Del Villar acquiring two RBI’s.  Defensively, each player bobbled a play.

Ryan Holgate

Left fielder Ryan Holgate made a splash in his first taste of pro ball, going 2-for-4 with a solo shot accounting for one of his two runs scored and his RBI.  Holgate was the 70th overall pick in the recent First-Year Player Draft.

Buchberger and Mendlinger each had two of Palm Beach’s 11 hits in all.  Buchberger singled twice in four at bats, batting third, while Mendlinger singled and doubled in two at bats, driving in two after taking over at third for Mendoza in the fifth.

Monday’s game:  Off

FCL Cardinals – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Florida Complex League.

Monday’s game:  FCL Cardinals (12-9) at FCL Nationals (10-14), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Blue (7-7) at DSL Yankees1 (6-8), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Red (7-7) vs. DSL Brewers1 (8-7), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Over $14 Million in 2016-2017 International Spend on Former Cardinals

Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 30, 2021

photo: Connor Lunn (Peoria Chiefs)

On Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-5. TCN Player of the Day Connor Lunn threw seven innings of one-run ball, but the Peoria bullpen failed in extra innings.

Results from the games played Thursday, July 29th.

Memphis 7 vs. Gwinnett 6

The Redbirds survived a late rally to edge the Stripers, 7-6, at AutoZone Park.  Memphis (38-37) moves into a fourth-place tie with Gwinnett with the win and leads the series two games to one.

The home team scored seven times over the initial four innings, propelled by two home runs that began and ended the scoring.  First baseman Juan Yepez went yard with Nolan Gorman aboard in the first to go up 2-0.

Juan Yepez

The lead improved to 3-0 the next frame after center fielder Scott Hurst singled up the middle with one away.  Starter Miles Mikolas put down a successful sac bunt, putting Hurst in position to easily score on third baseman Kramer Robertson’s 13th double.

But the big offensive blow was saved for the fourth inning.  Evan Mendoza doubled to open the frame, the shortstop advancing to third via catcher Dennis Ortega’s single to left.  Hurst lined a single to center, driving in Mendoza and putting two on for pinch hitter Clint Coulter.  Coulter came through with a big blast over the center field wall, giving Memphis a 7-0 lead.

The Redbirds garnered 12 hits, led by Hurst who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one driven in.  Defensively, the center fielder was credited with an outfield assist at second.  Yepez and Ortega both went 2-for-4 with a run scored, with Yepez’ long ball generating two RBI.

But Gwinnett would not go quietly.  Down 7-0 through five, the visitors pushed across six tallies over the next three innings, three times putting the potential tying run in scoring position.

Making his second rehab start, Mikolas extended himself to four scoreless innings, throwing 36 of his 58 pitches for strikes. The righty scattered three hits and a base-on-balls.

Pitching in relief in his regular rotation slot, Angel Rondon (W, 2-2) had an off night, permitting five runs on seven hits and two walks in 2 2/3 frames.  Two of the five tallies came off one home run ball.

Austin Warner retired three batters, stranding the bases loaded with Rondon’s runners, but allowed a run on three hits subsequently.  Kodi Whitley (S, 1) recorded the last four outs, quelling two more Striper threats.  The 26-year-old stranded two inherited runners, ending his first threat but created another one by issuing a free pass and single before notching two K’s to finish the game.

Friday’s game:  vs. Gwinnett (38-37) (ATL), 7:10 pm CT, Zack Thompson (1-6, 7.66)

Springfield 4 vs. Arkansas 11

The S-Cards were never in the game, falling to the Travelers, 11-4, at home.  Springfield (28-47) has yet to break into the win column after three tries in the six-game set.

Arkansas’ offense scored in each of the first four frames, building an 8-0 advantage, much of it built on the long ball.  Starter Domingo Robles (L, 2-5) was more than a big homer prone, surrendering three bombs generating four of six runs charged to the lefty on nine hits and two walks during his three innings on the bump.

Freddy Pacheco issued a free pass prior to surrendering a home run in his Double-A debut.  Michael Brettell took over in the fifth and fanned four over three scoreless innings.  Johan Quezada tossed a clean eighth but served up a three-run home run before the ninth ended.

Alec Burleson

Right fielder Alec Burleson provided half of his team’s offensive results with his 14th home run.  It came with designated hitter Ivan Herrera (single) aboard and closed the gap to 8-2 after five.  The bomb was Burleson’s only hit in four at bats although he did work a free pass.

Second baseman Nick Dunn was the sole S-Card with more than one of the team’s seven hits, singling twice in four at bats with a walk, run scored and one knocked in.  In his first action back with Springfield after being on the IL since May 8th, catcher Julio Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a base-on-balls.

Shortstop Delvin Perez contributed a fielding gem.

Friday’s game:  vs. Arkansas (40-34) (SEA), 7:05 pm CT, Dalton Roach (5-6, 5.15)

Peoria 3 vs. Beloit 10 (12 innings)

An eight-run 12th inning sent the Chiefs to a 10-3 defeat by the Snappers at Dozer Park.  Peoria (30-45) holds a two-games-to-one lead in the six-game series.

The contest was tied 1-1 after two and remained so until the two squads both added an 11th-inning tally.  But two big blows off Fabian Blanco turned a tight game into a blowout.

Starter Connor Lunn acquitted himself well, holding Beloit to a solo shot in seven innings.  The right-hander scattered six hits, struck out six and did not issue a free pass.

Connor Lunn

Pitching for the first time since a July 4th start, Jack Ralston tossed a scoreless eighth, permitting a hit and throwing two wild pitches.  Cory Thompson retired the side in order twice, fanning four.

With a base runner now beginning each inning at second, Fabian Blanco (L, 2-3) allowed an 11th-inning score via a single and sac fly but the flood gates really opened subsequently.  The southpaw surrendered two home run balls, a three-run shot followed by a grand slam, that were two of the nine hits and two walks allowed against three outs recorded.

With the bases empty and the game pretty much out of reach, Peoria let infielder Chandler Redmond pitch for the first time in his pro career.  Redmond retired all three batters faced on a 6-3 ground out, pop out to short and fly out to right.

Five Springfield players each had one hit.  Todd Lott’s first A-Advanced home run knotted the game at one all.  That was the only earned run yielded by Snapper hurlers with both the 11th and 12th inning scores unearned due to the runner beginning the frame at second.

Friday’s game:  vs. Beloit (32-43) (MIA), 6:35 pm CT, Wilfredo Pereira (2-6, 4.44)

Palm Beach 3 vs. Tampa 8 (7 innings) – Game 1
Palm Beach vs. Tampa – Game 2 – postponed

On Thursday, the Beach Birds and Tarpons finally took the field for the first time this week, but the weather once again dictated the terms of play. Game 1 of a scheduled twin bill was shortened to an 8-3 7-inning loss and Game 2 postponed once again.

The contest actually played, originally scheduled for July 27th, began with starter Levi Prater (L, 1-5) serving up two long balls in 1 2/3 innings, accounting for four of the five runs the lefty yielded.  Pitching for the first time in eight days, Prater issued six free passes along with those two hits and hit a batter.

Edwin Nunez recorded six outs, permitting three tallies on two hits and three walks.  The 19-year-old prospect was wild, plunking three batters and throwing two wild pitches.

Edwin Nuñez

The next two Palm Beach hurlers arrived at their professional debuts from very different paths but both came through in their maiden efforts.  Right-hander Gordon Graceffo, the fifth-round selection in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, retired four batters, permitting a hit and stranding three inherited runners.  Righty Ryan Loutos, an undrafted free agent signee on July 29, 2021, gave up a two-out single to left but the base runner was nailed trying to take second base on the play, giving Loutos a one-two-three sixth.

Gianluca Dalatri struck out the side in the seventh, issuing a free pass.

The home team matched their guests’ six hits but none of Palm Beach’s hits were home runs, resulting in just three tallies.  Designated hitter L.J. Jones and second baseman Donivan Williams both went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored.

Palm Beach and Tampa were unable to get in Thursday’s regularly scheduled contest which was rescheduled as part of a double header on Friday, July 30th.  The start time for Game 1 is 3:00 pm ET.

Friday’s games:  vs. Tampa (49-23) (NYY).  Game 1 – 3:00 pm ET, TBA/TBA

FCL Cardinals 7 at FCL Mets 6 (7 innings)

The FCL Cardinals (11-8) capitalized on 11 walks to slip past the FCL Mets, 7-6.  The game was called after seven frames due to rain.

The Florida Birds generated just three hits but combined them with the 11 free passes issued plus a hit batsman to score seven tallies, six earned.  Six FCL Cardinals worked at least one base-on-balls, designated hitter Jake Burns being the Grand Poobah with four.  Burns touched home twice despite not recording an official at bat.

Jake Burns

Catcher Roblin Heredia and left fielder Luis Montano also scored two times, with Heredia going 0-for-2 with two walks and Montano doubling once in two at bats with a walk and RBI.

Right fielder Adanson Cruz and third baseman Brandon Hernandez both drove in two, the former by singling once in three at bats with a base-on-balls and the latter by going 0-for-1 with two walks and a sac fly.

Four Florida Birds pitchers took the mound starting with Yordy Richard who lasted just 2/3 of an inning.  Richard yielded two hits, three walks and hit a batter, resulting in three tallies.

Reliever Roy Garcia (W, 2-0) pitched the bulk of the game, blanking the FCL Mets (11-10) on two hits with four strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings.  He also left Richard’s last three runners aboard.

Tyler Statler retired six batters, permitting three scores, two earned, on three hits, a base-on-balls and key wild pitch.  Omar Sanchez used an inning-ending (turned out to be game-ending) 6-4-3 double play to negate two base runners who reached on a single and fielding error by Hernandez.

Friday’s game:  vs. FCL Astros (14-9), 12:00 pm ET, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 5 vs. DSL Phillies Red 13

It was a long day for C-Blue (6-6) hurlers who were pounded for 22 hits in the 13-5 loss to the DSL Phillies Red.

The visitors scored eight times before C-Blue batters even came to the plate.  Making his first start after transferring from the C-Red on July 27th, Victor Herrera (L, 1-2) lasted just 2/3 of an inning.  His first five batters reached base with the righty allowing six runs, three earned, on four hits and two free passes issued in all.

Frankely Guzman retired seven batters but not before yielding four tallies, three earned, on nine hits, a hit batsman and a wild pitch.  Guzman allowed both inherited runners to cross home plate.

Marlyn Almonte pitched the fourth, permitting a run on a hit and three walks.  Miguel Martinez replaced Almonte at the fifth’s start, recording eight outs while giving up two scores on five hits and four wild pitches.

Alejandro Cervantes limited the damage to Martinez by stranding two base runners.  The Mexico native was unscored upon over the game’s last 2 1/3 innings, extending his scoreless streak to 9 2/3 frames in five game appearances in his first year of pro ball.

Maycol Justo

C-Blue batters banged out nine hits led by shortstop Maycol Justo who went 3-for-3 with two hit-by-pitches and two runs scored out of the two hole.  Batting right behind Justo, 17-year-old Leonardo Bernal went 2-for-5 with a two-run bomb comprising one of his two runs scored and two of this three RBI.

The contest was a mixed bag defensively for the Cardinals Blue and catcher Juan Sanchez held both bags.  The positive bag contained a pickoff at third base for the 19-year-old but the negative bag held a catcher’s interference call with Herrera on the mound subsequently resulting in three unearned scores.  Right fielder Christian Avendano showed off his arm with an outfield assist at third base.

Friday’s game:  at DSL Phillies Red (4-7), 10:30 am ET, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red 0 at DSL Phillies White 4

The DSL Cardinals Red (7-5) mustered just four singles in their 4-0 road defeat by the DSL Phillies White.

The visitors were unable to capitalize on the eight free passes issued by their hosts, going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding 11.  Third baseman and number seven hitter Raul Guzman reached base three times, singling once in two at bats with two base-on-balls.  Four other C-Red players reached base twice.

Raul Guzman

Defensively, the Cardinals Red’s number of miscues matched their hit total.  Shortstop Elias Reynosa was tagged for a missed catch error, his third overall, while second baseman Lizandro Espinosa was charged with his first bobble when one of his throws did not hit the intended target.  Center fielder Romtres Cabrera and starter Diorys Guerrero were also charged with their first miscues due to errant throws.

The lack of offensive output left Guerrero tagged with his first defeat against one win despite a strong mound showing.  The 20-year-old lefty fanned six over five innings, his outing a high mark among C-Red hurlers.  Guerrero yielded one run on five hits and did not issue a free pass.

Right-hander Samuel Fabian permitted a tally on two hits and a walk during his two-inning stint.  Eduar Pimentel’s first action of 2021 was a bit rocky as the righty gave up two scores on two hits and a base-on-balls against three outs recorded.

Friday’s game:  vs. DSL Phillies White (7-4), 10:30 am ET, TBA

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 12

Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 28, 2021

photo: Logan Gragg (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 4-3, including a twinbill sweep in the Florida Complex League. Player of the Day Logan Gragg tossed seven one-run innings in Peoria’s win, backed by Masyn Winn and Jordan Walker.

Results from the games played Tuesday, July 27th.

Memphis 0 at Gwinnett 1

And so it ends.  Memphis (36-37) was edged by Gwinnett, 1-0, ending a franchise-high 15-game winning streak.

The Redbirds managed just four hits, all singles, and worked just three free passes.  Conner Capel reached base twice, going 0-for-2 with two walks but there is not much else to say about the offense.

A bright note was the onset of Jack Flaherty’s rehab assignment.  St. Louis’ ace tossed the first two frames, yielding a hit and striking out three.  Flaherty threw 21 of his 31 pitches for strikes.

Jack Flaherty

The bullpen took over the rest of the way, with the pitching duties shared among five relievers.  Tyler Webb (L, 0-2) fanned three during his two inning-stint but surrendered a solo shot that proved to be the losing margin.

Junior Fernandez rebounded from a rough outing against Louisville with two scoreless frames of one hit, one walk ball.  Jesus Cruz and Garrett Williams retired three batters each, yielding a hit apiece before Connor Jones used three K’s to navigate around two hits.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Gwinnett (38-35) (ATL), 7:10 pm CT, Daniel Ponce de Leon (0-0, 0.00)

Springfield 0 vs. Arkansas 4

Springfield (28-45) mirrored their Triple-A counterparts with the same result.  Their four-hit shutout was a 4-0 defeat by Arkansas.

Nick Plummer’s 12th double, his lone hit in four at bats, was his squad’s only hit to go for extra bases.  The left fielder added a base-on-balls, representing one of three S-Cards to reach base twice.

Right fielder Alec Burleson and third baseman Malcom Nunez each singled once in three at bats with a walk.  Center fielder Justin Toerner worked a free pass and swiped his third base of 2021.

Tyler Pike

Tyler Pike took a tough loss, his third in six decisions, despite generating his best performance in 10 games this season.  The lefty scattered six hits over six innings, permitting one tally and striking out five.  Pike did not issue a free pass but did plunk one batter.

Given the offensive limitations on Tuesday, Johan Quezada’s outing put the game out of reach.  The 26-year-old allowed five base runners, two via hits, two via hit-by-pitch and one via a base-on-balls, with three of them coming around to score.  Quezada retired just two batters.

Alex FaGalde walked one in 1 1/3 innings, stranding two of three inherited runners.  Salvador Justo faced the minimum in the ninth.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Arkansas (38-34) (SEA), 6:35 pm CT, Andre Pallante (3-4, 3.26)

Peoria 4 vs. Beloit 2

Logan Gragg’s arm and Pedro Pages’ bat led Peoria (29-44) over Beloit, 4-2, in the home series opener.  It was the Chiefs’ fourth victory in their last five games.

Player of the Day Gragg (W, 2-3) pitched a season-high seven frames, allowing four hits and two walks.  The only damage against the tall right-hander came in the fifth on a one-out double followed by an RBI single.  Gragg issued a free pass that frame, so gave up just two hits and a base-on-balls over the other six innings.  The Cardinal Nation’s 38th-ranked prospect has allowed just two runs in his last two home starts encompassing 13 frames.

Logan Gragg

Enmanuel Solano and Freddy Pacheco tossed one inning apiece.  Solano was tagged for a run on a hit and walk, with the tally unearned due to a fielding error by third baseman Jordan Walker.  Pacheco kept things quiet in the ninth, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts.

Meanwhile at the plate, Pages could not be retired.  Peoria’s clean-up hitter reached base all five times he came to the plate, going 3-for-3 with a solo shot and two walks.

Although the home team garnered 13 hits, they transformed them into just four tallies, going an ineffective 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position and stranding 13.  The team did not break through until the home half of the fifth, when shortstop and Masyn Winn led off with a single.  Winn scored on Jordan Walker’s sixth A-Advanced double, raising his hitting streak to six games.

Winn went 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored in his A-Advanced debut, batting lead-off.  Former Palm Beach teammate Walker hit right behind Winn, going 2-for-5 with an RBI but was caught stealing trying to score later in the fifth.

Jordan Walker

That fifth-inning score appeared to open the flood gates just a tad as Peoria scored three times over the next two frames.  Another new Chief, designated hitter Todd Lott, and first baseman Chandler Redmond worked consecutive base-on-balls at the sixth’s onset, with center fielder Tyler Reichenborn’s single knocking in Lott.

Redmond eventually scored an unearned run after Walker reached on a fielding error by the Snappers’ second baseman.  Pages’ long ball provided Peoria’s final run, which occurred in the seventh.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Beloit (31-42) (MIA), 6:35 pm CT, Mac Lardner (0-3, 6.33)

Palm Beach vs. Tampa – postponed    

The series opener at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium between Palm Beach (25-45) and Tampa was rained out.  The contest has been rescheduled as part of a double-header on Wednesday, July 28th with game one starting at 3:00 pm ET.

Wednesday’s games:  vs. Tampa (48-23) (NYY).  Game 1 – 3:00 pm ET, Levi Prater/Jose Moreno

FCL Cardinals 11 at FCL Nationals 8 – Game 1
FCL Cardinals 6 vs. FCL Nationals 1 – Game 2 (7)

The FCL Cardinals swept a pair from the FCL Nationals, 11-8 in regulation and 6-1 in seven innings.

Game 1 completed the July 21st road contest suspended in the top of the ninth due to lightning and the Florida Birds having just gone ahead 11-8.  That score remained intact for the game’s balance when play resumed on Tuesday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Reliever Victor Villanueva picked up his second win against no losses, pitching both on the 21st and 27th.  The 20-year-old recorded the game’s last five outs, yielding a single.  One of two inherited runners scored due to a passed ball charged to catcher Jake Burns in the eighth inning.

Enrique Saldana started on the 21st, yielding six runs on six hits, a walk and two hit batsmen over three frames.  Colin Schmid tossed two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and base-on-balls.

Diego Cordero served up a homer ball to his initial batter for his sole run allowed on two hits during his two-inning stint.  William Miranda retired one of three batters faced, issuing two free passes and throwing two wild pitches before Villanueva took over.

The FCL Cardinals’ offense generated 11 hits and six walks resulting in 11 runs, eight earned due to two Nationals’ bobbles.  Nine Florida Birds had at least one of a hit, run scored or RBI.

Burns led the hitting effort, going 3-for-5 with a double and two driven in but Hansel Otamendi swung the most productive bat.  The right fielder singled twice in five at bats, scored three runs and knocked in another two while swiping two bags.

Hansel Otamendi

The final player with a multi-hit performance was second baseman Brandon Hernandez, who doubled twice in five at bats, touched home once with two RBI.  Left fielder Luis Montano reached base four times, singling once in two at bats with three walks.

In the second contest, the home team pounced for five scores over the first two frames as they cruised to a 6-1 victory in seven innings.

The offense was opportunistic, translating six hits, seven walks, two stolen bases and several Nationals’ miscues into six runs, four earned.  Designated hitter Roblin Heredia was the only FCL Cardinal with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and two knocked in.

Right fielder Luis Montano’s only hit in three at bats was a solo shot although he did work a free pass, coming around to score a second run.  Jeremy Rivas scored twice despite going hitless in two at bats.  The shortstop was plunked in the first, his subsequent steal putting him in position to score on a Heredia single.  Rivas reached on a force the next frame, coming around to touch home plate on another Heredia single.

Right-hander Thomas Hart, St. Louis’ 16th round pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, made his 2021 debut with a clean inning in which he allowed a two-out single.

Colin Schmid

Reliever Colin Schmid was credited with the victory, his first of 2021, with three one-two-three frames.  The southpaw is yet to be charged with a run in seven innings covering four appearances.

Ben Baird was touched for a run on two hits and a base-on-balls in his only inning of work.  Cordero pitched the sixth and seventh, issuing two free passes.

Wednesday’s game: Off

DSL Cardinals Blue 11 vs. DSL Twins 6 (7 innings)

The DSL Cardinals Blue (6-5) never trailed, flying past the DSL Twins (4-8), 11-6 in seven innings.  It is fourth win in their last five contests for the C-Blue.

Center fielder Jose Cordoba accounted for five runs, going 2-for-3 with a triple, hit-by-pitch, three runs scored and two knocked in.  Right fielder Keshawn Rombley took part in four scores, singling once in two at bats, crossing home once and driving in three – two via sac flies.

Jose Cordoba

First baseman Fernando Diaz compiled an unusual stat line, walking all four times he came to the plate and touching home plate three times.  Six C-Blue players scored at least one tally.

The Twins scored all six of their runs off the first two of four Cardinals Blue hurlers to see action.  Starter Randel Clemente allowed only one hit over 3 2/3 frames but issued five free passes, resulting in three tallies, two earned.

Oliver Lopez was charged with three runs, two earned, on three hits including a solo shot, two walks, a hit batsman and two balk calls against three outs recorded. The last run charged to Lopez crossed when his replacement, Miguel Martinez, threw one away on an attempted pick off move.  Martinez then fanned his only batter faced.  Alexander Beltre (W, 2-1) retired six batters, allowing a hit and throwing a wild pitch.

Defensively, The C-Blue committed two errors.  Shortstop Maycol Justo was charged with a throwing miscue, his first, along with the aforementioned pick-off-move-gone-awry by Martinez.  Catcher Alejandro Loaiza was charged with two passed balls.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Phillies Red, 10:30 a.m. ET

DSL Cardinals Red 3 at DSL Rangers2 5

Free passes came back to haunt the DSL Cardinals Red (7-4) in their 5-3 road loss to the DSL Rangers2.

The C-Red offense outhit their opponents, nine to six but the pitching staff walked nine batters, four of whom came around to score.  Designated hitter Romtres Cabrera and left fielder Felix Taveras both went 2-for-4, Cabrera adding a walk while Taveras doubled, was hit by a pitch and crossed home once with an RBI.  Santiago Carbonara reached base twice, singling once in four at bats with a walk, run scored and one knocked in.

Felix Taveras

Five Cardinals Red pitchers took the mound and four of them issued at least one free pass.  Both of the tallies charged to starter Brayan Ramirez reached base on two of the four walks permitted along with two hits in three frames.

Darlin Saladin struck out three over the next two innings, giving up one hit.  Fraimin Marte (L, 0-1) (BS, 1) allowed three tallies on a hit and three base-on-balls in the sixth.  Bruno Lopez and Augusto Calderon posted identical lines of a hit and walk yielded with three batters retired.

Wednesday’s game: at Phillies White, 10:30 a.m. ET

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Palm Beach Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 12

Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.

10% off Blowout Sale now underway on the spiral-bound, printed version.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 27, 2021

TCN Player of the Day Benjamin Arias’ strong start led the DSL Blue to one of the St. Louis Cardinals system’s two wins in two tries on Monday. The division-leading DSL Red team won as well while the FCL Cardinals’ contest was suspended…again.

Results from games played Monday, July 26th.

Memphis – off

Memphis (36-36) begins their week having notched 15 consecutive wins.  This week the fifth-place Redbirds host fourth-place Gwinnett, a team they trail by just a game in the Southeast Division standings.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. fourth-place Gwinnett (37-35) (ATL), 7:10 pm CT, TBA

Springfield – off

Springfield (28-44) heads back to Hammons Field fresh off a two-week road swing through Texas in which they went 6-6.  This week the fifth-place S-Cards begin a two-week home stand during which they host division rivals Arkansas and Tulsa (LAD).

Tuesday’s game:  vs. third-place (tie) Arkansas (37-34) (SEA), 6:35 pm CT, TBA

Peoria – off

This week, Peoria finishes a four-week stretch of exclusively West Division rivals.  Up next for the sixth-place Chiefs (28-44) is fifth-place Beloit with three games separating the two teams in the standings.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. fifth-place Beloit (31-41) (MIA), 6:35 pm CT, Logan Gragg (1-3, 6.31)

Palm Beach – off

Palm Beach (25-45) is on a quest to put their current seven-game losing skid firmly in the rearview mirror.  The PB-Cards have their work cut out for them as they host the Tampa Tarpons, holders of the best record in 10-team Low-A Southeast.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. Tampa (48-23) (NYY), 6:30 pm ET, TBA

FCL Cardinals 1 vs. FCL Marlins 5 – suspended

Monday’s first contest between the FCL Cardinals (8-8) and the FCL Marlins (7-10) was suspended going into the home half of the fourth with the Florida Birds down 5-1.  This game is scheduled to be completed as part of a twin bill on Saturday, July 31st.  The second game has been postponed until August 6th.

Tuesday’s games: vs. Nationals, opener will be completion of July 21 suspended game, followed by the regular contest, noon ET, TBA/TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue 3 at DSL Twins 1

Benjamin Arias’ five strong frames led the C-Blue past the DSL Twins, 3-1.  The DSL Cardinals Blue (5-5) gained sole possession of fourth place in the eight-team South Division with the victory, 2 ½ games behind the DSL Rockies.

Arias, the first Cardinals Blue starter to throw five innings, held the opposition to a single score in his last inning of work.  The run was unearned because of a throwing error by catcher Leonardo Bernal on an attempted pickoff move.  Arias struck out nine, giving up three hits and issuing a free pass while hitting two batters.

Benjamin Arias

Ronny Oliver and Esteban Contreras each pitched two innings.  Oliver negotiated around a hit and three walks with Contreras plunked a batter in the eighth and permitted a one-out single the next stanza, earning his second save.

Bernal was the sole C-Blue player with more than one of the team’s seven hits.  The 17-year-old Panamanian went 2-for-4 with a solo blast, his first professional home run.

Bernal’s third-inning bomb was his squad’s third tally in as many frames.  Shortstop Maycol Justo scored the initial run via left fielder Keyshawn Rombley’s sac fly after reaching via a fielding error by the Twins first baseman.  Second baseman Adari Grant doubled home third baseman Anyelo Encarnacion in the second after the latter stroked a one-out single.

Tuesday’s game:  at fifth-place DSL Twins (4-7), 10:30 am ET, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red 4 at DSL Rangers2 2

A balanced offensive attack joined forces with a good enough pitching performance as the C-Red flew past the DSL Rangers2, 4-2.  The DSL Cardinals Red (7-3) lead the eight-team San Pedro Division by 1 ½ games over four other squads, including the DSL Rangers2.

Seven C-Red players accumulated at least one of eight team hits with four different players touching home.  Right fielder Jeremy Ramos was the most productive, doubling once in four at bats, crossing home once and knocking in two.

Jeremy Rivas

Designated hitter Felix Taveras took part in two scores, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI.  First baseman Francisco Reynoso reached base three times, singling once in two at bats with two walks and a run scored.  Left fielder Romtres Cabrera’s only hit in four at bats was his second triple preceding his run scored.

Ob the mound a Cardinals Red quartet of right-handers held the Rangers2 to four hits and two unearned tallies but did issue 10 free passes.  Wilmer Ortega blanked his opponents on two hits and five walks during his four-inning stint.

Juan Severino retired five batters, yielding an unearned score on a hit and two walks before Americo Lugo left Severino’s last base runner aboard.  Lugo (W, 1-0) recorded seven outs, giving up an unearned run on a hit and base-on-balls for his first win as a pro in 13 game appearances dating back to 2019.  Omar Yanez worked around two outs for his second save.

Defensively, the visitors were charged with three errors.  Third baseman Raul Guzman had two throws go awry as did catcher Maikel Hernandez.

Tuesday’s game:  vs. second-place (tie) DSL Rangers2 (6-5), 10:30 am ET, TBA

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

TCN’s Monthly Cardinals Top 50 Prospect Rankings – July 2021

Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.

10% off Blowout Sale now underway on the spiral-bound, printed version.

https://thecardinalnation.com/order-the-cardinal-nation-2021-prospect-guide-now/

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© 2021 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 26, 2021

photo: Conner Capel (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Cardinal Nation Player of the Day Conner Capel’s five RBI powered Memphis to consecutive win no. 15 as the St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-1 on Sunday.

Results from games played Sunday, July 25th.

Memphis 9 at Louisville 3

Conner Capel’s big day at the plate led the Redbirds (36-36) over the Bats, 9-3, extending their winning roll to a franchise-best 15 games.  The streak which began on July 9th at Louisville, includes series sweeps of seventh-place Norfolk plus Midwest Division rival Louisville (27-44) (CIN) and lifts their record to .500 for the first time this season.

Conner Capel

Memphis led from start to finish, thanks to Capel’s first-inning bomb which came with right fielder Lane Thomas (walk) and second baseman Nolan Gorman (single) aboard.  It was the eighth home run for the Redbirds’ cleanup hitter who went 3-for-5 with a double, run scored and five RBI.

Gorman also garnered three of his team’s 14 hits, singling three times in five at bats, touching home twice and driving in one.  Center fielder Scott Hurst and shortstop Evan Mendoza both singled twice in five and four at bats, respectively, with Mendoza crossing home plate three times.

Making his second rehab start, Daniel Ponce de Leon yielded two hits and two walks over two clean frames.  The righty threw 22 of his 39 pitches for strikes.

Regular starter Connor Thomas went three innings, permitting three tallies, two earned, on seven hits but did not issue a free pass.  Austin Warner (W, 6-2) retired all six batters faced, striking out two before Grant Black and Seth Elledge recorded three outs each.

Monday’s game:  Off

Springfield 10 at San Antonio 6

The S-Cards used a five-run fifth to rally past the Missions, 10-6, at Nelson Wolff Stadium.  Springfield (28-44) claimed two of the six-game series at San Antonio (35-36) (SD).

Trailing 2-0 through four, the visitors pounced on two Missions hurlers the next frame, going up 5-2.  Ivan Herrera’s sixth home run of 2021 was a line drive over the wall in left, scoring Delvin Perez (single) and knotting the game at two all.

Iván Herrera

Alec Burleson reached on a fielding miscue by San Antonio’s second baseman, spurring a pitching change.  Luken Baker greeted the new hurler with an RBI double, advancing to third via a passed ball.  After Malcom Nunez walked, Nick Dunn doubled home Baker and Nunez.

Springfield added three more scores the next frame, with the scoring capped by a two-run Baker bomb in the eighth.  Baker reached base five times, going 2-for-2 with a double, home run, three walks, three runs scored and three knocked in.

Luken Baker

The S-Cards gathered 12 hits in all, led by Perez and Dunn with three hits each.  Perez singled three times in four at bats, worked a free pass, stole a base and touched home ahead of Herrera while Dunn went 3-for-5 with a double and two knocked in.  Herrera was the final Springfield player with a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4 with a walk, double and big blast, scored three runs and drove in two.

Kevin McGovern pitched the initial 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks, including a solo blast.  Evan Sisk (W, 2-0) retired six batters, yielding two tallies, one earned, on two hits, a base-on-balls as well as hitting former St. Louis farmhand Allen Cordoba, stranding two inherited runners.  The southpaw committed an error on an attempted pickoff move, one of two miscues along with a fielding bobble by Dunn.

Jacob Bosiokovic recorded the seventh’s last out, leaving Sisk’s final two runners aboard.  Bosiokovic looked to be in command until he walked the bases loaded in the ninth, bringing Ramon Santos into the game.  Santos struck out his sole batter swinging for his second save.

Monday’s game:  Off

Peoria 2 at Quad Cities 5

Peoria (28-44) never led in their 5-2 loss to Quad Cities (46-24) (KC) at Modern Woodman Park.  The sixth-place Chiefs split the six-game series versus the first-place River Bandits whom they trail by 19 games in the West Division standings.

Michael YaSenka is still looking for his first win of 2021 as he allowed four scores, three earned on four hits in 5 1/3 frames.  Two of the four runs resulted from one long ball.  The right-hander fanned six and did not issue a free pass.

Cory Thompson, who inherited a runner at second with one away situation, walked his first batter just ahead of a double steal putting two in scoring position.  But Thompson bore down, notching a swinging K and line out to center to end the threat.  The 26-year-old surrendered a two-out solo shot the next frame, one of hits permitted.  Fabian Blanco worked around two hits for a scoreless inning.

Jordan Walker was one of six Chiefs accumulating one of six total hits.  The third baseman’s second A-Advanced home run and second in as many games came with the bases empty in the sixth and was the fifth straight game the 19-year-old had a hit.

Jordan Walker

Peoria’s other tally occurred in the eighth when Matt Chamberlain opened with a double.  The left fielder advanced to third on a 4-3 ground out by Walker, scoring via a passed ball.

Monday’s game:  Off

Palm Beach at Jupiter – suspended

The Beach Birds’ series finale versus the Hammerheads was suspended with one away, a Palm Beach player at first in the top of the fifth and the PB-Cards down 1-0.  Play will resume as part of a double header on Tuesday, August 24th, at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, home of both teams.  Palm Beach (25-45) is in the midst of a seven-game losing skid, including the first five games of this series versus Jupiter (35-35) (MIA).

Monday’s game:  Off

FCL Cardinals – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Florida Complex League.

Monday’s game:  FCL Cardinals (8-8) vs. FCL Marlins (7-10), 10:00 am ET, TBA

DSL Cardinals Blue – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Blue (4-5) at DSL Twins (4-6), 10:30 am ET, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.

Monday’s game:  DSL Cardinals Red (6-3) vs. DSL Rangers2 (6-4), 10:30 am ET, TBA

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

TCN’s Monthly Cardinals Top 50 Prospect Rankings – July 2021

Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.

10% off Blowout Sale now underway on the spiral-bound, printed version.

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Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 23, 2021

photo: Angel Rondon (St. Louis Cardinals)

On Thursday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 3-2. Angel Rondon’s pitching and Juan Yepez’ hitting helped Memphis win its team-record 12th consecutive game.

Results from the games played Thursday, July 22nd.

Memphis 3 at Louisville 0  

Angel Rondon’s arm and Juan Yepez’ bat led the Redbirds over the Bats, 3-0.  It was the 12th consecutive win for Memphis (33-36), a new franchise record.

Player of the Day Rondon (W, 3-4) blanked Louisville on a hit and walk during his six-inning stint.  The 23-year-old fanned five, throwing 41 of his 64 pitches for strikes.

Angel Rondón

Rondon’s effort was bookended by Daniel Ponce de Leon and Tyler Webb. Ponce de Leon began his rehab assignment from St. Louis with a clean first frame, erasing a lead-off walk via a 4-3 double play.  Webb took over in the eighth, using two strikeouts to work around two singles and a base-on-balls allowed.  Seth Elledge (S, 2) tossed a clean ninth, giving up a hit.

Juan Yepez

Yepez got the scoring started in the first with his seventh home run since joining the Redbirds and 12th overall in 2021.  The first baseman added a single and double in five at bats.  The only other Redbird with more than one of the team’s eight hits was catcher Ali Sanchez, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored.  Second baseman Kramer Robertson reached base twice, singling once in three at bats with a base-on-balls, stolen base and two knocked in.

Friday’s game:  at Louisville (27-41) (CIN), 6:00 pm CT, Zack Thompson (0-6, 8.67)

Springfield at San Antonio – postponed      

The third of the six-game set at Nelson Wolff Stadium between Springfield (27-41) and San Antonio was postponed due to inclement weather.  The contest has been rescheduled as part of a double header on Saturday, July 24th with Game 1 beginning at 5:00 pm CT.

Friday’s game:  at San Antonio (32-35) (SD), 7:05 pm CT, Andre Pallante (3-3, 3.09)

Peoria 5 at Quad Cities 4

The Chiefs (26-43) narrowly escaped their opponents’ ninth-inning push, slipping past the River Bandits, 5-4.  It is the first win of the series for Peoria with three games to be played.

Three Chiefs hurlers combined to shut out Quad Cities over the initial eight frames.  Nick Trogrlic-Iverson pitched the initial four innings, yielding three hits.  Enmanuel Solano (W, 3-0) claimed the next three frames, permitting a hit and walk before Fabian Blanco yielded a hit in his inning of work.

Nick Trogrlic-Iverson

But it was not a quality night for Freddy Pacheco, who was charged with four runs on two hits and two base-on-balls in 2/3 of an inning.  Cory Thompson surrendered a double that drove in Pacheco’s final runner then wild pitched the potential tying run to third.  After a mound visit, Thompson notched a swinging K for his second save.

Peoria generated nine hits, paced by second baseman Francisco Hernandez, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI.  The other multi-hit effort belonged to catcher Zade Richardson, who singled and doubled in four at bats, touching home once and driving in one.  Chandler Redmond’s only hit in three at bats was his 11th long ball.  It came with the bases empty. Cristhian Longa plated two.

Friday’s game:  at Quad Cities (45-22) (KC), 6:30 pm CT, Connor Lunn (3-5, 5.04)

Palm Beach 1 at Jupiter 5

One big inning proved the difference maker as Palm Beach (25-43) fell to Jupiter, 5-1.  The Beach Birds are still looking for their first win of the series with three games remaining.

Dionys Rodriguez began the third trying to protect a slim 1-0 advantage.  The righty was not up to the task, permitting four runs on five hits and a free pass issued.  Two of the four tallies were generated by a home run ball which finished Rodriguez’ night.

Edwin Nunez scattered two hits and three walks over the next 2 2/3 frames, handing the ball off to Luis Tena.  Tena was tagged for a run on three hits against three outs recorded.  Gianluca Dalatri and Kevin Marnon both tossed one-two-three innings.

The Beach Birds mustered six hits but went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.  Two of those hits came in the first.  Tommy Jew singled with one away and immediately raced home on Jacob Buchberger’s third triple of 2021.

Jacob Buchberger

The visitors managed just four more hits over the next eight innings.  Two of those hits belonged to first baseman L.J. Jones, who singled twice in four at bats.

Friday’s game: ‘at’ Jupiter (33-35) (MIA), 6:30 pm ET, John Beller (0-3, 4.54)

FCL Cardinals – off

Friday’s game:   FCL Cardinals (6-8) vs. FCL Mets (10-5), 10:00 am ET, Yordy Richard (2-2, 3.18)

DSL Cardinals Blue 4 vs. DSL Rockies 16 (7 innings)

An 11-run seventh frame transformed a competitive game into a 16-4 trouncing of the C-Blue by the DSL Rockies.

The DSL Cardinals Blue (3-5) went up 2-0 after two but the lead evaporated when the Rockies posted a grand slam the next inning.  The home team answered with one third-inning tally, cutting their guests’ margin to 4-3.   Each team added another run over the next three frames but C-Blue hurlers imploded in the massive seventh.

Righty Juan Salas (L, 0-1) pitched four innings, serving up the big blast comprising one of four hits and a walk allowed.

A quartet of right-handers pitched in relief, beginning with Marlyn Almonte.  Almonte was touched for a run on two hits with three outs recorded, his tally unearned due to his own fielding error on an attempted sac bunt.  Oliver Lopez faced the minimum in the sixth and was replaced by Miguel Martinez for the seventh.

Martinez retired just one batter, yielding seven tallies, six earned, on four hits, two walks and a sac fly resulting in the batter ending up at second due to a fielding error by left fielder Robelyn Lopez.  Frankely Guzman replaced Martinez and was tagged for another four scores, permitting five hits and allowing his inherited runner to score before recording two outs.

The Cardinals Blue banged out seven hits with two players producing a multi-hit effort:  center fielder Jose Cordoba and designated hitter Jose Suarez.  Both players went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Cordoba doubled once and Suarez’ triple drove in Cordoba.  Right fielder Keshawn Rombley and second baseman Adari Grant both went yard with the bases empty.

José Suarez

Friday’s game:  at DSL Rockies (7-1), 10:30 am ET, TBA

DSL Cardinals Red 6 at DSL Tigers 5 (7 innings)

The DSL Cardinals Red withstood a final-inning rally to down the DSL Tigers, 6-5.

The C-Red offense built a 6-1 lead by blending five hits with nine free passes issued.  Left fielder Felix Taveras accounted for three scores, going 1-for-3 with a walk, run scored and two RBI.

Felix Taveras

Three Cardinals Red players took part in two tallies each:  center fielder Romtres Cabrera, shortstop Elias Reynoso and catcher Carlos Linarez.  Cabrera singled once in three at bats with a base-on-balls, touched home once. drove in one and swiped his first bag while Reynoso worked two free passes, scoring two runs.  Linarez reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and another knocked in.

Yonael Domingez struck out six over the initial four innings. The only damage against him was a solo shot, one of three hits permitted along with a base-on-balls.

Bruno Lopez tossed a one-two-three fifth and was credited with the win, his first in pro ball.  Lopez was replaced by Fraimin Marte, who issued a free pass in his only inning of work.

The DSL Cardinals (5-3) had seemingly comfortable 6-1 advantage at the seventh’s onset but appearances were deceiving.  Americo Lugo allowed his first three batters to reach, loading the bases on a walk and two singles.

There was a temporary reprieve when Lugo coaxed a fly out to center without a runner advancing but that was negated after Linarez was charged with a passed ball, bringing one base runner across home.  Back-to-back singles drove in two more tallies, closing the gap to 6-4 and triggering a pitching change.

Omar Yanez, the fourth and final C-Red right-hander, gave up an RBI double, making the score 6-5 and moving the potential tying run to third.  The 18-year-old sandwiched two swinging K’s around a walk for his first professional save.

Friday’s game:  vs. DSL Tigers (3-5), 10:30 am ET, TBA

For more

To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2021 Week 11

Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide

Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.

10% off Blowout Sale now underway on the spiral-bound, printed version.

https://thecardinalnation.com/order-the-cardinal-nation-2021-prospect-guide-now/

Not yet a member?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

© 2021 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.