photo: Josh Kross (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 3-1 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Peoria catcher Josh Kross, doubled and drove in two in a four-hit performance. Other standouts include Brycen Mautz, César Prieto, Mason Molina, Graysen Tarlow, Sammy Hernandez, Ian Petrutz, Miguel Villarroel, Jonathan Mejía and Jack Martinez.
Results for games played on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Memphis Redbirds 5 at Gwinnett Stripers 2
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds edged the Stripers in Gwinnett on Thursday afternoon.
Brycen Mautz made his fifth start for Memphis. The left-hander pitched four scoreless innings on one hit, four walks, and seven strikeouts.
Cade Winquest yielded a run in the fifth inning in relief of Mautz. Jared Shuster followed with two scoreless innings and collected his second win of the season. Tink Hence tossed a scoreless eighth. Chris Roycroft gave up a run in the ninth but held on to finish the game.
Memphis struck first with a run in the third inning. Mike Antico doubled for his first hit of the season and scored on a César Prieto two-bagger for a 1-0 Redbirds lead.
Prieto puts us on the board! pic.twitter.com/Kf7XgYxvS2
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) April 23, 2026
The Redbirds doubled the lead in the top of the fifth. Prieto hit his second double of the game and moved to third on a pickoff error. Leo Bernal’s sacrifice fly brought Prieto home for a 2-0 lead.
The Stripers trimmed the lead in half in the home fifth.
Memphis grabbed the run back immediately in the sixth. Matt Koperniak legged out an infield single and Brody Moore walked. The two advanced on an Andy Yerzy groundout. Koperniak crossed home plate via a wild pitch to regain the two-run lead at 3-1.
Memphis plated two more runs in the top of the eighth. Ramon Mendoza and Koperniak hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Mendoza touched home plate on a groundout from Moore, with Koperniak to second base on the play. Koperniak took third base on a passed ball. Yerzy and Antico drew back-to-back walks to load the bags with two outs. Prieto took a third consecutive free pass to force Koperniak home and extend the lead to 5-1.
Memphis pitching stranded 11 Stripers on base in the victory.
The Redbirds scored five runs on seven hits. Prieto was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, one run scored, and two RBI. Koperniak went 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Moore and Bernal each walked and tallied an RBI. Antico walked, doubled, and scored a run.
On the bases, Koperniak swiped second base for his first steal of 2026.
Defensively, pitcher Mautz committed a fielding error.
Memphis is 16-8 on the season. They will continue the series with Gwinnett on Friday.
Friday’s game: at Gwinnett. LHP Pete Hansen (0-0, 0.84) vs. RHP Cameron Weston (0-0, 4.38) 5:35 PM CT.
Springfield Cardinals 3, Midland RockHounds 7
On the day the Double-A Springfield Cardinals announced the unveiling of their new facility name, Route 66 Stadium, the team fell to the Midland RockHounds.
Tonight, the Springfield Cardinals are wearing special Route 66 jerseys in honor of the unveiling of our new stadium name. pic.twitter.com/0wyIBqLDgH
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) April 23, 2026
Mason Molina took the mound for the fourth time for Springfield. The left-hander threw 4 ⅔ innings and allowed one run on two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.
Nelfy Ynfante surrendered four runs across two innings in relief of Molina and took the loss. Lefty Michael Watson yielded an unearned run in 1 ⅓ innings with two strikeouts. Domenic Picone gave up a run in the ninth inning.
Midland struck first with a run in the third inning to move ahead 1-0.
Springfield tied the game in the bottom of the fourth frame. Ryan Campos lined a double and Travis Honeyman drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Trey Paige reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bags. With one out, Graysen Tarlow roped a single to score Campos and tie the game at one apiece. The scoring halted at one run, as a double play ended the frame.
Graysen Tarlow comes through and dunks a single to tie the game. pic.twitter.com/F7pOtDtydL
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) April 24, 2026
The RockHounds plated four runs in the top of the sixth to take a 5-1 lead.
Springfield narrowed the gap to two runs with a pair of runs in the home sixth. Paige and Jeremy Rivas hit back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners. Rivas stole second base to move into scoring position. Tarlow singled to bring Paige home and move Springfield closer at 5-2, with Rivas to third base.
Graysen Tarlow picks up his second RBI of the night for Springfield. pic.twitter.com/HU4q2CEwiW
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) April 24, 2026
Noah Mendlinger grounded into a forceout, with Tarlow out at second base, as Rivas came home to bring the Cardinals within two at 5-3.
Midland added single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to move ahead 7-3. Springfield was unable to respond.
The Cardinals scored three runs on 11 hits. Tarlow was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Mendlinger walked, doubled, and drove in a run. Miguel Ugueto hit two doubles. Campos was 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Paige singled twice and scored a run.
On the basepaths, Paige stole his fifth bag. Rivas swiped his sixth base. Ugueto snagged his 11th steal.
Defensively, catcher Campos made a throwing error. Ugueto nailed a runner at second base from right field.
Springfield is 6-12 on the season and will continue the series on Friday.
Friday’s game: vs. Midland. RHP Brandt Thompson (1-1, 2.70) vs. RHP Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (2-1, 4.26) 6:35 PM CT.
Peoria Chiefs 12, Cedar Rapids Kernels 10
The High-A Peoria Chiefs won a slugfest over the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Dozer Park on Thursday for their fourth consecutive win.
Leonel Sequera started his fourth game for the Chiefs. The right-hander threw a season-high six innings and allowed six runs on eight hits, no walks, and seven strikeouts. Sequera collected his first win with Peoria.
Jason Savacool tossed a scoreless seventh in relief of Sequera. Zack Showalter surrendered four runs, three earned, and recorded just two outs. Jawilme Ramírez secured the final out of the eighth inning. Dominic Freeberger pitched a shutout ninth inning to pick up his first save of 2026 and the third of his career.
The Kernels opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning.
Peoria responded with three runs in the home half of the first. Tai Peete drew a lead-off walk and scored on Ian Petrutz’s first home run of the season, a two-run shot, to put the Chiefs ahead 2-1.
Ian Petrutz lifts one up and out for his first home run of the season!
The Chiefs lead 3-1 after the opening frame. pic.twitter.com/Ss69T4Wecv
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) April 23, 2026
Jalin Flores was hit by a pitch and moved to third base on a Josh Kross single. Won-Bin Cho grounded into a forceout with Flores coming home for a 3-1 score.
The Chiefs widened the lead with a pair of runs in the second inning. Sammy Hernandez walked and Peete followed with a single. Petrutz grounded into a double play, with Hernandez to third base. Flores scorched a double to bring Hernandez home. Kross singled home Flores to give the Chiefs a 5-1 lead.
Cedar Rapids moved within three with a run in the top of the third.
Peoria immediately took the run back in the home third. Anyelo Encarnación lined a single and swiped second base. With two outs, Hernandez ripped a double to score Encarnación and extend the Peoria lead to 6-2.
The Kernels narrowed the score to 6-4 with a two-run top of the fifth.
The Chiefs responded with a run in the home fifth. Miguel Villarroel hit his second double of the season and scored on a two-out double from Hernandez to bring Chiefs back ahead by three at 7-4.
Cedar Rapids inched within a run as they scored twice more in the sixth.
Peoria erupted for a five-run home sixth. Petrutz reached on a fielding error and took second base. Flores singled to put runners at the corners. Kross hit a second consecutive single to score Petrutz, with Flores to second base. With two outs, Villarroel knocked his second double of the contest to plate Flores and Kross and put the Chiefs in double digits at 10-6. Jose Cordoba smashed his first home run of the campaign, a two-run shot, to stretch the lead to 12-6.
Jose Cordoba launched his first homer of the season in tonight's 12-10 Chiefs win!
Peoria has now won four straight in April for the first time since 2023. pic.twitter.com/6bUnVoTJ3e
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) April 24, 2026
Peoria held off a late rally from Cedar Rapids for the win.
The Chiefs scored 12 runs on 14 hits. Kross went 4-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI. Petrutz scored two runs and recorded two RBI on a home run. Villarroel was 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI. Hernandez was a perfect 2-for-2 with two walks, two doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI. Cordoba hit a two-run home run for two RBI. Flores went 2-for-4, including a double, three runs scored, and an RBI. Cho tallied an RBI. The lineup tallied eight hits with runners in scoring position.
On the bases, Cho swiped his eighth bag of 2026. Encarnación stole his second base of the year.
On defense, third baseman Encarnación made a throwing error. Pitcher Showalter committed a pickoff error.
Peoria is 8-9 on the season and will continue the series on Friday.
Friday’s game: vs Cedar Rapids. RHP Blake Aita (0-0, 3.09) vs. RHP Nolan Santos (0-1, 5.40) 6:35 PM CT.
Palm Beach Cardinals 11 at St. Lucie Mets 3
The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals crushed the St. Lucie Mets in Thursday’s road contest.
Jack Martinez made his third professional start. The right-hander pitched a career-best 4 ⅔ innings and allowed one run on two hits, one walk, and a career-high seven strikeouts. Martinez holds a 1.72 ERA on the year.
RHP Jack Martinez (A) had the best start of his young career in Palm Beach's 11-3 win yesterday, allowing 1 R on 2 H with a career-high 7 SO over 4.2 IP.
Martinez, 23, owns a 1.72 ERA and 0.96 WHIP and has not allowed more than one run in any of his four starts this season. pic.twitter.com/4OnsAIg9RP
— Cardinals Player Development (@CardsPlayerDev) April 24, 2026
Dylan Driessen struck out three across 1 ⅓ scoreless frames in relief of Martinez. Robbie Knowles yielded a run across one inning. Antoni Cuello gave up one run across the final two innings.
The Cardinals struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. Brayden Smith led off the game with a double. Jonathan Mejía lined a single to put runners at the corners. Smith crossed home plate on a Yordalin Peña sacrifice fly to put Palm Beach in front 1-0.
The Cardinals extended the lead with a four-run second. Cameron Nickens began the inning with his third double of the season and scored on a Christian Martin triple to double the lead to 2-0. Martin came home on a sacrifice fly from Trevor Haskins for a 3-0 lead. Heriberto Caraballo crushed his first home run of the season, a solo shot, to widen the lead to 4-0.
Heriberto Cara-BYE-lo everybody! pic.twitter.com/l9ggoBkj9k
— Palm Beach Cardinals (@GoPBCardinals) April 23, 2026
Johnfrank Salazar followed with a walk. Mejía followed with the second triple of the inning to plate Salazar for a 5-0 lead.
The Mets scored a run in the home second to make it a 5-1 contest.
Palm Beach took the run back in the sixth. Nickens began the frame with his second double of the contest. The left fielder moved to third on a pickoff error and scored on a Haskins single for the sixth Palm Beach run.
The Cardinals added a pair of runs in the seventh. Salazar hit his first double of 2026 and Smith singled to put runners at first and second base with no outs. Smith and Salazar advanced on a balk. Mejía grounded out to first base, with Smith to third and Salazar home. Smith crossed home plate via a wild pitch to lengthen the Palm Beach lead to 8-1.
St. Lucie notched a run in the home sixth for an 8-2 score.
Palm Beach scored three runs in the ninth to put the game out of reach. Caraballo walked and came around to score on Salazar’s second double of the game, with Salazar to third as the throw went home. Mejía reached on a throwing error as Salazar scored. Peña was hit by a pitch to move Mejía into scoring position. Chase Heath singled to bring Mejía home and extend the lead to 11-2.
Palm Beach tallied eight extra-base hits in the dominant win.
The Cardinals scored 11 runs on 12 hits. Mejía went 2-for-5 with a triple, a run scored, and three RBI. Haskins singled and drove in two runs. Salazar was 2-for-3, including two doubles, a walk, three runs scored, and an RBI. Caraballo walked twice, scored twice, and hit a solo home run. Martin tripled and notched an RBI. Peña tallied an RBI. Heath singled and drove home a run.
On the basepaths, Smith swiped second base and third base to increase his season total to four. Mejía and Haskins were both caught stealing second base.
Defensively, shortstop Mejía made a throwing error.
Palm Beach is 13-5 on the season and will continue the series in St. Lucie on Friday.
Friday’s game: at St. Lucie. RHP Jacob Odle (1-1, 1.80) vs. RHP Cam Tilly (1-0, 5.56) 5:10 PM CT.
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