(photo: Carson Kelly/Gary A Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images)
Results from games played Wednesday, July 19.
Oklahoma City Dodgers 4, Memphis Redbirds 3
The Redbirds slowly chipped away, but the Dodgers’ four runs absorbed the efforts, as Memphis came up short in Oklahoma City, 4-3, on Wednesday.
Redbirds starter John Gant, who fell to 1-5 with the loss, was charged with all four runs through 5 1/3 innings. New reliever Mike Mayers recorded five outs to pitch the Redbirds through the seventh, and rehabbing lefty Zach Duke pitched the bottom of the eighth, recording his sixth strikeout in as many innings with Memphis.
Catcher Carson Kelly, our Player of the Day, had another big night at the dish, this time going 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, his 10th long ball of the season. First baseman Chad Huffman launched his sixth homer of the year in the top of the ninth, but the Redbirds’ comeback attempt fell short.
Thursday’s game: Luke Weaver (8-1, 1.92) at Oklahoma City Dodgers, 7:05 PM Central time.
Springfield Cardinals 8, Northwest Arkansas Naturals 4
The Cardinals manufactured eight unanswered runs from the fifth inning on to come back and beat the Naturals, 8-4.
Highlighted by rehabbing left fielder Randal Grichuk’s two-out, three-run homer in the fifth, Springfield scored one more in the seventh, and three in the eighth to build up their 8-4 lead. Catcher Gabriel Lino had two runs batted in, including one on a bases-loaded plunking. Center fielder Oscar Mercado scored on a wild pitch, and shortstop Tommy Edman singled in right fielder Randy Arozarena in the eighth inning to cap off the night.
It was a rough start for Cardinals right-hander Chris Ellis, who gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings pitched. The bullpen certainly did its part, though, to back up Ellis, as Corey Littrell, Tyler Bray, and Landon Beck fired 3 2/3 scoreless innings to close out the game. Bray was granted the win, his fifth, to improve to a 5-0 record.
Thursday’s game: Austin Gomber (4-6, 4.19) at Arkansas Travelers, 7:10 PM Central time.
Palm Beach Cardinals 2, Daytona Tortugas 1 – Game One
Two runs over the first two innings were still standing come game’s end, as the Cardinals held on for a 2-1 win over the Tortugas in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader.
Cardinals third baseman Danny Diekroeger singled in a run in the bottom of the first inning, and center fielder Lane Thomas drove in a run in the second.
Palm Beach used five different pitchers to get the job done in the first game, starting with Jordan Hicks and his two scoreless innings thrown two days ago before the contest was suspended. Arturo Reyes, who picked up the win, came up next with two scoreless, and Ramon Santos allowed an unearned run in the seventh, as he muscled the biggest pitching load of the game with three innings.
Daytona Tortugas 7 at Palm Beach Cardinals 4 – Game Two (seven innings)
The Tortugas made the most of a shaky night by Cardinals’ pitching, defeating Palm Beach, 7-4, to earn a split of the doubleheader.
Connor Jones started in the seven inning game, and allowed three runs on five hits and as many walks over four innings. Ross Vance followed Jones and was roughed up for three runs in just 2/3 of an inning, resulting in his second loss of the year.
Third baseman Andy Young had two hits and two runs batted in, including his fourth homer since joining the Palm Beach squad a month ago. Center fielder Lane Thomas singled, drove in a run, and scored a run, and right fielder Blake Drake went 1-for-3 and plated a run.
Thursday’s game: TBA vs. Daytona Tortugas, 5:30 PM Central time.
Dayton Dragons 8, Peoria Chiefs 5
With a five-run sixth inning, the Dragons knocked off the Chiefs on Wednesday, 8-5.
The Dragons put up five runs against Chiefs starter Evan Kruczynski, who left after facing (and not retiring any) three batters in the sixth. Ronnie Williams was on the mound as Dayton continued to build up their lead. Williams was charged with his sixth loss in nine decisions and his first blown save.
The Chiefs got most of their run production from the bottom half of the lineup. The six-through-nine spots in the order – third baseman Danny Hudzina, right fielder Dylan Carlson, left fielder Matt Fiedler, center fielder Mick Fennell – went a combined 5-for-14 with two doubles, four runs scored, and two runs batted in. First baseman Ryan McCarvel had the other RBI of the night for Peoria, which made the most of two Dragons fielding blunders.
Thursday’s game: Frederis Parra (1-3, 2.84) at Dayton Dragons, 6:00 PM Central time.
Williamsport Crosscutters 11 at State College Spikes 1
The Crosscutters put a stop to potential late-inning drama, scoring seven runs over the final two innings to defeat the Spikes, 11-1.
Spikes starter Sam Tewes took the loss, his third of the year. Tewes lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, only two of them earned, as State College committed two errors behind him. Relievers Steven Farinaro, Robbie Gordon, and Robert Calvano combined to surrender seven runs over the eighth and ninth innings.
First baseman Yariel Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with the lone run batted in on a night when the club went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. Left fielder Bryce Denton doubled and scored on Gonzalez’ RBI single.
Thursday’s game: Jonathon Mulford (1-2, 4.76) at West Virginia Black Bears, 6:05 PM Central time.
Johnson City Cardinals 9 at Burlington Royals 8
The Cardinals needed every one of their nine runs on Wednesday to put away the Royals by a 9-8 final in Burlington.
Johnson City put up a five spot in the top of the first inning, followed by two in the second, one in the third, and the ninth and final run of the night in the seventh. Center fielder Chase Pinder and left fielder Wadye Ynfante hit back-to-back home runs in the first. Right fielder Carlos Talavera and designated hitter Irving Lopez were each credited with a run batted in, drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch, respectively, with the bases loaded. Third baseman Brady Whalen got in on the fun later, as he hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, their offensive outburst was shadowed by the Royals, who put up four runs in the first, two in the second, and two more in the fourth to keep the game close. Cardinals starter Johan Oviedo threw 88 pitches as he battled through five innings, allowing the eight runs – all earned – on as many hits and two walks. Will Changarotty and Fabian Blanco combined for four hitless innings of relief, as Changarotty earned his second win and Blanco his second save.
In the second, third baseman Brady Whalen hit a two-run homer, his first two runs batted in. Whalen singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh.
Thursday’s game: Franyel Casadilla (0-2, 8.04) at Burlington Royals, 6:00 PM Central time.
GCL Cardinals 4, GCL Nationals 2
A quality start from Winston Nicacio backed the Cardinals in their 4-2 victory over the Nationals.
Nicacio, recording his second win in three decisions, allowed one run on three hits over six solid innings with as many punchouts. Noel De Jesus followed with 2 2/3 innings after Nicacio, and Kevin Hamann recorded the final out of the day.
Cardinals right fielder Andres Luna went 2-for-2, driving in two of the four total runs. Shortstop Delvin Perez had two hits and scored a run, center fielder Jonatan Machado had two hits, and third baseman Elehuris Montero had an RBI single and came around to score.
Thursday’s game: TBA at GCL Marlins, 11:00 AM Central time.
DSL Twins 7 at DSL Cardinals 2 – Game One
A rough outing for Cardinals pitching resulted in a 7-2 win for the Twins on Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader.
Cardinals hurler Allinson Benitez recorded just four outs in his start, allowing three runs in the second inning. Reliever Larimel surrendered four runs – all earned – over the next 3 1/3 innings.
First baseman Cristhian Longa drove in the Cardinals’ pair of runs in the fifth inning with a two-run double, his fifth two-bagger of the season. Catcher Ivan Herrera and second baseman Franklin Soto also doubled. Soto and center fielder Carlos Soler scored on Longa’s double.
DSL Twins 3 at DSL Cardinals 2 – Game Two
The Cardinals couldn’t overcome the Twins’ three-run fourth inning and dropped the second game of Wednesday’s slate, 3-2, resulting in a doubleheader sweep for the Twins.
Cardinals starter Wilfredo Pereira was on the mound for the three Twins runs and his day ended after he completed the fourth inning. Pereira sustained the loss, his fifth in six decisions this year. Reliever Jesus Cruz whiffed five over two frames in relief, but the offense couldn’t provide ample support.
Left fielder William Jimenez and right fielder Victor Garcia each drove in a run, and second baseman Pablo Gomez and shortstop Franklin Soto scored those runs. The Cardinals had just four base hits, leaving three runners on.
Thursday’s game: TBA at DSL Twins, 9:30 AM Central time.
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