photo: Matthew Liberatore (Memphis Redbirds)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-3 on Thursday, Opening Day for Double-A and Class-A. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Matthew Liberatore, tossed five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in Memphis’ win. Other standouts include Michael McGreevy, Tink Hence and Darlin Moquete.
Results from games played Thursday, April 6th.
Memphis 0, Nashville 4 (7 innings, Game 1)
The Memphis Redbirds (2-3) were blanked by the Nashville Sounds (MIL, 3-2) in Game 1 of the doubleheader at AutoZone Park.
Starter Gordon Graceffo tossed four innings in his first Triple-A start and surrendered three runs on seven hits. TCN’s no. 4 prospect took his first loss.
Kyle Leahy pitched two innings of relief and gave up a run but fanned two batters. Jake Walsh threw a scoreless seventh inning.
The offense was cold with only four hits in the contest. Tres Barrera was on base three times via a hit and two walks. The team went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base.
Oscar Mercado stole his fourth bag of the year but was also caught stealing.
Memphis 2, Nashville 0 (7 innings, Game 2)
The Memphis Redbirds (3-3) topped the Nashville Sounds (MIL, 3-3) in the make-up game from Wednesday, April 5th.
Matthew Liberatore pitched five scoreless frames with seven strikeouts. TCN’s no. 8 prospect has 10 scoreless innings with 14 strikeouts in his first two starts.
The Redbirds drove in both runs in the fifth inning. Iván Herrera plated Juniel Querecuto and Masyn Winn after they both walked.
Kodi Whitley threw a scoreless sixth inning with one strikeout. Guillermo Zuñiga earned his first Triple-A save after a hitless ninth. The pitching staff yielded only three hits and three walks combined.
Moisés Gómez recorded two of the three Redbirds hits in the seven-inning contest. After going 1-for-3, Luken Baker has a 1.378 OPS after six games. The Memphis lineup left six runners on base but the pitching was lights out.
Friday’s game: vs. Nashville, RHP Dakota Hudson (0-0, 5.40) vs. RHP Janson Junk (0-0, 1.80) 7:05 CT
In their home and season opener, the Springfield Cardinals (0-1) fell to the Wichita Wind Surge (MIN, 1-0) at Hammons Field on Thursday night.
Starter Michael McGreevy pitched four innings and was charged with an unearned run in the first inning. TCN’s no. 5 prospect fanned three in his 2023 debut.
The Cardinals scored their only run in the fifth inning as Irving Lopez blasted a solo shot.
In his Springfield debut, Jose Martinez surrendered three unearned runs in 2 2/3 innings and took the loss. Dalton Roach threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts and Logan Sawyer tossed a scoreless frame in his Cardinal debut.
Mike Antico and Pedro Pagés recorded two hits each for Springfield. The offense had seven hits but only one run came across.
The infield defense was rough in the season opener with three fielding errors making all four Wichita runs unearned. First baseman Chandler Redmond had one miscue and Arquímedes Gamboa committed two at shortstop in his Cardinals debut. Matt Koperniak recorded an outfield assist.
From behind the plate, Pagés caught two runners stealing.
Friday’s game: vs. Wichita, RHP Connor Lunn vs. RHP David Festa 6:35 CT
The Peoria Chiefs (0-1) were edged by the Cedar Rapids Kernels (MIN, 1-0) on Thursday night at Dozer Park. It was the home and season opener for the Midwest League Chiefs.
In his first High-A start, Tink Hence threw four scoreless frames with six strikeouts. TCN’s no. 3 prospect gave up a hit and two walks on 62 pitches. Alex Cornwell yielded a run in 2 2/3 innings.
The first run for the Chiefs came in the third inning after Victor Scott II drove in Osvaldo Tovalin via sacrifice fly. The Kernels responded in the sixth inning with a run but the Chiefs took the lead back in the seventh. Patrick Romeri doubled and scored Scott after he singled.
In the eighth, Bryan Pope yielded two runs, one earned, to give the Kernels the lead 3-2. The right-hander took his first High-A loss. Chris Roycroft pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts.
Peoria recorded four hits and four walks but only two runs came across. Scott, Romeri, Jimmy Crooks III and Francisco Hernandez all recorded hits. The lineup went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Scott stole his first bag for Peoria.
Friday’s game: vs. Cedar Rapids, LHP Cooper Hjerpe vs. RHP Kyle Jones 6:35 CT
The Palm Beach Cardinals (1-0) defeated the Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA, 0-1) at Roger Dean Stadium on Thursday night. In the Beach Birds season opener, Paul DeJong started his rehab from St. Louis and batted second as the designated hitter.
Brycen Mautz made his professional debut and tossed five innings and surrendered two runs, one earned, on three hits, one walk and seven strikeouts. TCN’s no. 13 prospect earned his first win. Roy Garcia recorded two scoreless frames with four strikeouts.
Heck of a professional debut for Brycen Mautz tonight.
– 18 whiffs (13 against his slider)
– 47% whiff rate
– Final line: 5 IP, 1 ER, 7KThe left-hander’s slider is simply too good for Single-A.
— Blake Newberry (@bt_newberry) April 7, 2023
The Beach Birds drove in five runs in the fifth inning. Tre Fletcher came across on an error and DeJong drove in two runs to make the score 3-2. Leonardo Bernal and Joshua Baez both brought in a run.
Second baseman Darlin Moquete added a run in the sixth and recorded an RBI single in the eighth to add to the lead.
Tanner Jacobson threw a scoreless frame in his 2023 debut. Gustavo Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth inning.
Every starter in the lineup reached base except Baez. Moquete had two hits, two RBI and a run scored. Espinoza recorded two hits, two RBI and a run scored. R.J. Yeager and Michael Curialle doubled.
DeJong went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in his first rehab game.
Espinoza stole his first bag of the season.
Friday’s game: vs. Jupiter, TBA vs. TBA 5:30 CT
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