photo: Anthony Shew (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-2 on Wednesday, including a double-header split by Palm Beach. Our Player of the Day is right-hander Anthony Shew, who pitched a seven-inning complete game for the Beach Birds.
Results from games played on Wednesday, April 11.
Memphis Redbirds 3, Omaha Storm Chasers 2
Fueled by a three-run third inning and a strong performance from the pitching staff, the Redbirds were 3-2 winners over the Storm Chasers on Wednesday afternoon. Memphis improved to 6-1 on the season.
With runners on first and second and two outs, Memphis designated hitter Tyler O’Neill lined a double to center, scoring both runners. Right fielder Adolis Garcia promptly followed with a double of his own, plating O’Neill to give the Redbirds a 3-0 advantage.
Dakota Hudson started for the Redbirds and logged five innings of two-run ball with four strikeouts. His record moved to 2-0 through two starts this season. Arturo Reyes entered in relief and pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh. Preston Guilmet followed suit and posted zeros in the eighth and ninth. It accounted for Guilmet’s second save of the year.
Thursday’s game: Austin Gomber (0-0, 4.50) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers, 7:05 PM Central time.
Springfield Cardinals off
The Springfield squad enjoyed a much-needed day off on Wednesday, a travel day that perhaps also allowed the team to clear their minds after a 1-5 road trip to start the 2018 campaign.
The Cardinals will pick back up Thursday evening at 7:10 PM Central time with Ryan Helsley on the mound against Midland. Helsley is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA.
Palm Beach Cardinals 2, Dunedin Blue Jays 1 (Game 1, seven innings)
The opener of the twinbill was shortened to seven innings and the Beach Birds needed them all, breaking a 1-1 tie with a walkoff win. It was a testimony to small ball as Stefan Trosclair was hit by a pitch with one out in the home seventh. The first baseman swiped second and scored on J.B. Woodman’s single. It was the outfielder’s second hit of the game and just the fifth for the home club.
Starter and Player of the Day Anthony Shew was the appropriate beneficiary, allowing just four hits, no walks and a lone run in his complete game performance. The 24-year old right-hander fanned seven in his first Florida State League win.
Dunedin Blue Jays 2 at Palm Beach Cardinals 0 (Game 2, seven innings)
Tuesday’s postponed game served as the doubleheader nightcap. The Cardinals couldn’t get a timely hit, as they fell to the Blue Jays by a 2-0 final score.
Palm Beach tallied six hits – all singles – off the Blue Jays’ pitching staff and drew one walk. Third baseman Andy Young was responsible for two of hits, as was second baseman Jose Martinez. Nonetheless, the Cards went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven men on the base paths.
Ronnie Williams started and pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts and just one hit allowed. Colton Thomson followed with 1 1/3 innings, pitching through the fifth. After a lead-off walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a groundout put a runner at third with two outs, the Blue Jays came through with a base hit to break the scoreless tie. Jacob Patterson pitched a scoreless sixth inning before the Cardinals called upon Will Latcham in the top of the seventh. In the final frame, Dunedin scored its second and final run of the contest to earn the split.
Thursday’s game: Mike O’Reilly (1-0, 1.93) vs. Dunedin Blue Jays, 5:30 PM Central time.
Cedar Rapids Kernels 12 at Peoria Chiefs 9
In an all-around slugging match, the Chiefs came up on the short end, as the Kernels came out of top by a 12-9 score at Dozer Park.
The Chiefs got off to a great start, scoring four times in their half of the first inning – including three on right fielder Dylan Carlson’s first home run of the year. Peoria also scored a run in the second, three in the fourth, and one in the bottom of the ninth, resulting from their 14 hits.
Third baseman Taylor Bryant went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI double; designated hitter Yariel Gonzalez had three base hits to drive in two runs; first baseman Juan Yepez plated a pair of tallies, and catcher Dennis Ortega added a sacrifice fly in the ninth. The Chiefs combined to go 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
It was a rough night on the pitching front, as one would imagine given the score. Starter Winston Nicasio allowed seven runs across his three-inning outing, one that spanned in to the fourth inning: Nicasio faced the first two batters of the fourth without recording an out. Kevin Hamann entered and logged 2 1/3 frames, surrendering four runs. Hamann was tagged with his first loss of the year. Bryan Dobzanski allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings, before Cory Malcom struck out the side in the ninth.
Thursday’s game: Jake Walsh (1-0, 0.00) vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels, 6:30 PM Central time.
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