photo: Quinn Mathews (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
On Friday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 6-1 as Springfield and Peoria swept doubleheaders. Palm Beach lefty Quinn Mathews earned his first career win by throwing five scoreless one-hit innings with 11 strikeouts. Among many other standouts are Gordon Graceffo, Tink Hence, William Sullivan and Dakota Harris.
Results for the games played on Friday, April 12.
Memphis 6, Nashville 0 (Game 1, 7 innings)
The Memphis Redbirds (6-6) shut out the Nashville Sounds (5-7) 6-0 in the first double-header game at AutoZone Park on Friday. Starter Gordon Graceffo pitched five shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out seven to earn his first win this season.
The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning. Thomas Saggese led off with a single, and César Prieto singled, Saggese advanced to third and Prieto went to second on a throwing error by the catcher. Alfonso Rivas III doubled to left field to score both runners, giving the Redbirds the lead. Moisés Gómez walked. Jared Young singled, scoring Rivas III and advancing Gómez to third. The opposing pitcher balked, allowing Gómez to score. Nick Raposo’s two-run blast to left field made the score 6-0.
Rap hit ball hard pic.twitter.com/SQ3NuubsrK
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) April 12, 2024
Rivas III went 1-for-3, scoring once with two RBI. Young also went 1-for-3, scoring once with one RBI. Raposo went 1-2, a home run, and scored once with two RBI. The Redbirds totaled six runs on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts while going 3-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
In relief, Nick Robertson pitched two innings, allowing no runs and no hits while walking one and striking out one to close the game. The Redbirds yielded three hits and three walks while striking out eight.
Memphis 0, Nashville 9 (Game 2, 7 innings)
The Memphis Redbirds (6-7) were shut out by the Nashville Sounds (6-7) 9-0 in the second double-header game at AutoZone Park on Friday. Starter Adam Kloffenstein took his second loss this season, pitching four innings, and giving up four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.
In the top of the second, Kloffenstein allowed a double and hit a batter to put runners on the corners. He then gave up two consecutive singles to put the Redbirds down 2-0 early. He retired the first two batters in the top of the third, but then he gave up a single and a two-run bomb to left field to put Memphis down 4-0.
Jacob Bosiokovic took the mound in the seventh and yielded two walks, a single, and a third walk to force in a run to make it 5-0. With two outs in the inning, the Sounds hit a bases-clearing triple, and a wild pitch from Bosiokovic made the score 9-0.
Matt Koperniak went 2-for-2 with one walk. Nick Dunn went 1-for-2 with one walk. César Prieto went 1-for-3. The Redbirds totaled four hits, three walks, and six strikeouts while going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Connor Thomas pitched two innings of relief, allowing one hit, no runs, and no walks while striking out three. Memphis gave up nine runs on 10 hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts.
Saturday’s game: vs. Nashville, RHP Sem Robberse (2-0, 1.80) vs. LHP Aaron Ashby 3:05 CT.
Springfield 3, Wichita 1 (Game 1, 7 innings)
The Springfield Cardinals (6-0) edged the Wichita Wind Surge (1-5, MIN) 3-1 at Hammons Field on Friday. Starter Tink Hence pitched five innings, yielding one run on three hits, walking none, and striking out eight while taking home his second win this season.
You know he had to do it to 'em.
Final line for Tink Hence: 5.0 IP, 3 H, ER, 0 BB, 8 K, ∞ oohs and ahhs pic.twitter.com/r2fEhDEyPO
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) April 12, 2024
The Wind Surge hit an early triple and they followed it up a few hitters later with a double to go up 1-0 in the top of the first. The Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the inning. Nathan Church and R.J. Yeager singled, and then they performed a double steal putting runners on second and third. Jimmy Crooks’ sacrifice fly scored Church to tie the game at one apiece.
The Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Church singled, Crooks singled, advancing Church to third, Crooks stole second, and Matt Lloyd walked to load the bases. Noah Mendlinger doubled to score Church and Crooks to make the score 3-1.
In play, run(s).
Noah Mendlinger gives us the lead with a two-run double! pic.twitter.com/3m4k7JULV1
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) April 12, 2024
Church went 3-for-4, scoring twice and he was the only player on either team with a multi-hit game. Crooks went 1-for-2, scoring once with one RBI and one strikeout. Mendlinger went 1-for-3 with two RBI, including the game-winner, and one strikeout. The Cardinals totaled three runs on eight hits with four walks and nine strikeouts while going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
On the basepaths, Church stole two bases, Crooks stole one, and Yeager stole one.
On the pitching side, Leonardo Taveras tossed one inning, yielding no hits and three walks while striking out one. Andrew Marrero earned his first save this season by throwing one inning, giving up no runs on two hits while walking one and striking out one. Cardinals pitching totaled 10 strikeouts while allowing five hits and four walks.
Springfield 10, Wichita 2 (Game 2, 7 innings)
The Springfield Cardinals (7-0) beat the Wichita Wind Surge (1-6) 10-2 to remain undefeated and extending the franchise record for opening a season. In his Springfield debut, starter Ian Bedell pitched five innings, allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts to earn his first win this season.
Ian Bedell's got that dog in him.
Final line in his Double-A debut: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K pic.twitter.com/zziYtMuVpT
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) April 13, 2024
The Wind Surge took an early lead on a lead-off homer in the top of the first inning. They added an insurance run via a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to make the score 2-0, but Bedell kept them from doing more damage.
The Cardinals came back in the third. Ramon Mendoza singled, and Wade Stauss walked. Consecutive singles from Nathan Church, Noah Mendlinger, and R.J. Yeager each scored one run to give the Cardinals the lead. Matt Lloyd singled to load the bases, and a wild pitch allowed Mendlinger to come home from third while the other runners advanced one base. Jacob Buchberger walked to reload the bases. Mendoza walked, scoring Yeager, and Stauss was hit by a pitch, forcing Lloyd in to make the score 6-2.
Yeager singled to open the bottom of the fourth. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and a balk allowed Yeager to come home for the 7-2 lead.
Springfield added more insurance runs in the sixth. Mendlinger singled and advanced to second on a fielding error by the left fielder, and Lloyd and Chandler Redmond walked to load the bases. Mendoza’s walk scored Mendlinger. Stauss hit an infield single to plate Lloyd, and Chris Rotondo walked to drive in another run, making the score 10-2.
Mendoza went 1-for-1, scoring once with two RBI and three walks. Stauss went 1-for-2, scoring once with two RBI and one walk. Mendlinger and Yeager each went 2-for-4, scoring twice with one RBI. The Cardinals totaled 10 runs on eight hits with nine walks and six strikeouts.
On the basepaths, Redmond and Mendoza each stole one base.
On the pitching side, Jack Ralston pitched one inning, giving up no runs on no hits but with three walks and one strikeout. Brandon Komar threw one inning, allowing no runs on no hits with no walks to close the game. Cardinals pitching gave up two runs on three hits with six walks and eight strikeouts.
Saturday’s game: vs. Wichita, Tekoah Roby RHP (0-0, 7.20) vs. Pierson Ohl RHP (0-0, 3.60) 6:05 CT.
Peoria 12, Beloit 4 (Game 1, seven innings)
The Peoria Chiefs (3-3) dominated the Beloit Sky Carp (3-2, MIA) 12-4 at Dozer Park in Friday’s twin bill Game 1. Starter Cooper Hjerpe pitched three innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out four.
The Sky Carp took charge early, as they led the game off with five consecutive hits for a 3-0 lead. The Chiefs started cutting into the deficit in the bottom of the first. Won-Bin Cho singled, Alex Iadisernia doubled, and Anyelo Encarnacion walked to load the bases. William Sullivan’s single drove in Cho and Iadisernia to close the gap to 3-2.
In the bottom of the second, Brody Moore and Iadisernia walked, and Zach Levenson’s single scored Moore and moved Iadisernia to third. Leonardo Bernal reached on a fielding error by the second baseman to plate Iadisernia. Encarnacion was walked to load the bases, and the Sky Carp walked Sullivan for another run as Peoria took a 5-3 lead.
The Chiefs pulled away in the bottom of the third when Moore led off with another walk and Levenson was hit by the pitch. Bernal singled to score Moore, Encarnacion walked to load the bases, and Sullivan singled to drive in Bernal and Levenson. Michael Curialle walked to load the bases, and Baez and Moore walked to drive in two more runs. Cho followed them with a single to left field that scored Curialle and Baez, and Cho and Moore advanced to second and third on a fielding error to make the score 12-3.
Beloit hit a leadoff home run in the fourth, and neither team scored after that.
BASES LOADED AND SULLIVAN BRINGS IN TWO RUNS ON A SINGLE!!
– – – #peoriachiefs #topdogs pic.twitter.com/7k713mkBBR— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) April 12, 2024
🫡Sullivan with the single sending two runs in AGAIN!!
PEO 8 | BEL 3
– – – #peoriachiefs #TopDogs pic.twitter.com/4XY0YHKhPj— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) April 13, 2024
Sullivan went 2-for-2 with a walk, five RBI and a run scored. Moore went 1-for-1 with three walks, scoring once with an RBI. Cho went 2-for-5 scoring twice with two RBI. The Chiefs totaled 12 runs on nine hits, including one for extra bases, 11 walks and seven strikeouts.
Reliever Zane Mills took home his first win this season, throwing two innings with one run scored on one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts. Tyler Bradt pitched two scoreless innings with one walk and two strikeouts while not yielding a hit.
Peoria 6, Beloit 2 (Game 2, 7 innings)
The Peoria Chiefs (4-3) defeated the Beloit Sky Carp (3-3) 6-2 for the doubleheader sweep at Dozer Park on Friday. Starter Cade Winquest pitched four innings, yielding two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out three.
The Chiefs opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Brody Moore hit a leadoff triple. Darlin Moquete’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Moore to put the Chiefs up 1-0.
In the top of the third, Winquest gave up a double and an RBI single. Peoria responded in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs, William Sullivan doubled to left field, and Moore followed with a double of his own to left field, scoring Sullivan to make it 2-1.
The Sky Carp tied the game again in the fourth against Winquest after a walk, a groundout and an RBI single.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth. Moore reached first on a fielding error by the second basemen, Moquete singled and both runners advanced an extra base due to a throwing error, and Joshua Baez walked. After two strikeouts, Dakota Harris’s bases-clearing double made the score 5-2. Alex Iadisernia added an insurance run with a single to right field to plate Harris.
Harris doubled to bring in 3. Chiefs take the lead
PEO 6 | BEL 2
– – – #peoriachiefs #TopDogs pic.twitter.com/u5eicJkzQy— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) April 13, 2024
Moore went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Iadisernia went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Harris went 1-for-4 with a run scored, three runs driven in, and a walk. The Chiefs totaled six runs on nine hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. They also went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
On the basepaths, Won-Bin Cho had the lone stolen base in this game.
Roy Garcia took home his first win this season, allowing one hit in two innings of relief while walking one batter and striking out three. Tanner Jacobson closed out the game, pitching one inning, allowing no hits, no runs, and no walks.
Saturday’s game: vs. Beloit, Hancel Rincon RHP (0-0, 4.91) vs. TBA 7:05 CT.
The Palm Beach Cardinals (5-2) shut out the Daytona Tortugas (3-4, CIN) 4-0 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Friday. Starter Quinn Mathews dominated the Tortugas, pitching five innings, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out 11, giving him his first professional win.
The Cardinals scored the winning run in the top of the fourth. Ross Friedrick walked, and Michael Villarroel singled to put runners on first and second. Chase Davis’s three-run homer to left-center field put the Cardinals up 3-0. It was the 2023 first-rounder’s second blast in two nights.
Palm Beach added an insurance run in the fifth by capitalizing on Tortugas mistakes. Jose Cordoba reached on a throwing error by the third basemen, Kade Kretzschmar walked, and Friedrick hit an RBI single to score Cordoba.
Friedrick went 1-for-3, scoring once with an RBI while walking once. Davis went 1-for-4, a home run, scoring once with three runs driven in. Chase Adkison went 3-for-4 while striking out once. The Cardinals totaled four runs on seven hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
Reliever Benjamin Arias pitched the final four innings, allowing no runs on two hits while walking one, hitting two batters, and striking out two. Palm Beach only allowed three hits and one walk with 13 strikeouts.
Saturday’s game: at Daytona, RHP Chen-Wei Lin (0-0, 4.50) vs. TBA 5:35 CT.
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