Cardinals Minor League Notebook – April 2, 2026

photo: Jimmy Crooks (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-0 on Wednesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day is again Jimmy Crooks, who was 4-for-4 including a double and a home run plus a walk, leaving him a triple short of the cycle. Memphis’ no. 3 hitter had two RBI and two runs scored as the Redbirds extended their win streak to five. Other standouts include César Prieto, Blaze Jordan and Joshua Baez.

Results for the game played on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Memphis 4, Norfolk 3 (10 innings)

The Memphis Redbirds extended their win streak with a win over the Norfolk Tides in extra innings on Wednesday afternoon. It was their fifth consecutive win since Opening Day and second straight win over Norfolk.

Quinn Mathews started for the Redbirds, and the left-handed prospect had a rough first inning. Mathews threw 36 pitches while walking four batters and striking out one. Despite the laboring, thanks to a double play, Mathews escaped the first inning without a run scoring.

In total, Mathews pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, four walks, and fanning five before coming out in favor of reliever Max Rajcic.

Max Rajcic

Rajcic threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits allowed and five strikeouts. Luis Gastelum followed with two innings in which he gave up two runs on two hits and was charged with a blown save. Nick Raquet finished the game with two scoreless innings and his first win.

Memphis put a run on the board in the first inning with a double by Joshua Baez followed by Jimmy Crooks’ RBI single.

The Tides tied it up in the fourth before Memphis recaptured the lead at 2-1 in the sixth. Crooks singled, Blaze Jordan walked and César Prieto singled to load the bases. Crooks scored on a ground out by Nelson Velázquez.

Norfolk came back with two in the seventh to take the lead 3-2. In the eighth, Crooks tied it with a solo home run.

Jimmy Crooks

The game went into extra innings. After the Tides failed to score in the top of the inning, the Redbirds walked it off, 4-3. With Colton Ledbetter on second base, Baez and Crooks walked to load the bases. Blaze Jordan was then hit by a pitch, forcing in Ledbetter as the winning run.

Crooks went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Prieto was 3-for-4.  Memphis committed two errors, a catcher’s interference call on Andy Yerzy, and a fielding error from Bligh Madris.

Velázquez had an outfield assist at second base.

The Redbirds continue their homestand against the Tides through Sunday.

Thursday’s game: vs. Norfolk, Richard Fitts RHP (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBD 6:45 CT.

Palm Beach vs. St. Lucie

The Low-A Cardinals open their 2026 regular season in the Florida State League by entertaining the St. Lucie Mets at Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday.

Peoria and Springfield will follow with their respective openers on Friday.

Thursday’s game: vs. St. Lucie, TBD (PB) vs. Nicolas Carreno LHP (0-0, 0.00) 5:30 CT.

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