photo: Arquimedes Gamboa (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 1-3 on Saturday with two walk-off losses. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Arquímedes Gamboa, went 3-for-5 with a career-high five RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Other standouts include Matthew Liberatore, Oscar Mercado, Victor Scott II and R.J. Yeager.
Results from games played Saturday, April 29th.
Memphis 5 at Durham 6 (10 innings)
The Memphis Redbirds (17-9) were edged by the Durham Bulls (TB, 16-9) in extra innings on Saturday night.
Matthew Liberatore pitched six scoreless innings and surrendered only three hits and three walks. TCN’s no. 8 prospect fanned nine batters.
The Redbirds took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. Juniel Querecuto blasted his fourth homer of the season, a two-run shot. In the fourth, Querecuto singled in another run. Juan Yepez (single) and Moisés Gómez (ground out) each plated one to make the score 5-0.
We love homers! pic.twitter.com/Da8IZsFmwo
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) April 29, 2023
The bullpen could not hold the line, however. Andre Pallante was charged with two runs, one earned, in two innings on a hit, one walk and four strikeouts. Guillermo Zuñiga blew his second save of the year after he yielded three runs, including a two-run home run, in the ninth to send the contest into extra innings.
In the 10th, Memphis could not bring the ghost runner home from second. Kyle Leahy took the loss after he gave up an unearned run on a single in the home 10th.
Oscar Mercado recorded three doubles, a walk and two runs scored. Querecuto (three RBI), Masyn Winn and Jordan Walker had two hits apiece. The lineup went 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Yepez threw a runner out at home from left field.
Sunday’s game: at Durham, RHP Adam Wainwright (St. Louis rehab) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (1-0, 5.14) 4:05 CT
The Springfield Cardinals (8-12) out-slugged the Wichita Wind Surge (MIN, 9-11) in an 18-hit performance at Riverfront Stadium.
Starter Logan Gragg gave up six runs on three hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. Edgar Escobar pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings to earn his third win of the season.
The Cardinals responded and tied the game at two after Matt Koperniak singled in a pair in the third inning. In the fourth, Jose Alvarez singled in one and Nick Dunn came across after a wild pitch. Arquímedes Gamboa gave Springfield the lead with a single to make the score 6-5.
Ryan Shreve tossed two innings and yielded two runs on five hits and two strikeouts. Dalton Roach struck out five but surrendered more two runs in the final two innings.
The lineup came alive in the sixth through eighth innings with 10 runs. Gamboa hit a two-run home run to give the Cardinals the lead back at 8-6. Alvarez (single) and Wade Stauss (sac fly) each plated one in the seventh. Gamboa singled in another run and Chandler Redmond blasted a three-run shot, his seventh of 2023.
Stauss added another run in the eighth to make the score 15-8. Mike Antico grounded out but Alvarez came across to score for the third time.
Every starter was on base at least twice except Jacob Buchberger. Gamboa had a career high five RBI and went 3-for-5 with a walk and three runs scored. The shortstop is slashing .312/.389/.519/.908 for Springfield. Dunn and Alvarez both recorded three hits and came across three times.
In a career night, Gamboa also stole two bases. Antico took two bags and Koperniak one.
Sunday’s game: at Wichita, RHP Connor Lunn (0-2, 9.26) vs. RHP Blayne Enlow (0-0, 2.30) 1:05 CT
The Peoria Chiefs (9-11) fell to the South Bend Cubs (CHC, 12-8) at Four Winds Field on Saturday night.
Starter Zane Mills went only three innings and yielded four runs on six hits, two walks and three strikeouts. TCN’s no. 27 prospect took his first loss of 2023. Edgar Manzo was roughed up for three runs, two earned, in 2 1/3 innings.
After the Cubs scored four runs in the first three innings, the Chiefs put one on the board in the fourth. Thomas Francisco stole third and after an error by the catcher, he came across to score.
Gustavo Rodriguez fanned three in a scoreless 1 2/3 innings. Leonardo Taveras tossed a scoreless eighth.
Peoria tried to rally in the ninth. Hernandez doubled and Elijah Cabell walked. Victor Scott II hit his first home run in High-A, a three-run shot. The Chiefs could not score any more runs after the homer, however.
SCOTT SHOT‼️
VICTOR SCOTT II HAS CUT OUR DEFICIT TO 7-4 WITH A 3 RUN BOMB IN THE T9❕ pic.twitter.com/SW1A9fYsTr
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) April 30, 2023
Scott recorded three hits and raised his average to .289 in Peoria. Nathan Church also had three hits. The rest of the lineup combined for only two hits. The Chiefs went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Scott stole his 17th bag of the season and still leads professional baseball in stolen bases. Francisco and Aaron McKeithan also took a bag.
Church recorded an outfield assist in left field.
Sunday’s game: at South Bend, LHP Alex Cornwell (2-0, 2.45) vs. Richard Gallardo (1-1, 3.72) 1:05 CT
The Palm Beach Cardinals (10-10) were walked off by the Lakeland Flying Tigers (DET, 11-9) on Saturday at Publix Field.
Starter Joseph King pitched four innings and gave up four runs on six hits. The right-hander surrendered three of the runs via two home runs.
Chris Rotondo struck for the Cardinals in the first inning as he doubled to bring R.J. Yeager across. In the fourth, Adanson Cruz doubled to tie the game 2-2. Alex Iadisernia tripled in the fifth to score Yeager.
Reliever Cade Winquest was charged with a run in four innings. The 23-year-old struck out seven.
The Beach Birds tied the game in the ninth inning after Michael Curialle walked and Yeager singled. Rotondo doubled again and Iadisernia brought across the tying run via a sacrifice fly.
In the ninth, Chandler Arnold could not record an out and the Flying Tigers walked off the game via a single.
Yeager went 4-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Rotondo doubled twice and recorded three hits with two RBI. Carlos Linarez and Adanson Cruz also doubled. Even with an 11-hit performance, Palm Beach went 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Sunday’s game: at Lakeland, LHP Brycen Mautz (1-1, 3.57) vs. TBA 12:00 CT
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