photo: Jack Flaherty (Memphis Redbirds)
The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-2 on Sunday, with Memphis winning its fourth straight road game to open the season. Our Player of the Day is Redbirds right-hander Jack Flaherty, who fanned 11 in seven one-run innings in the Pacific Coast League victory over Round Rock.
Results from games played on Sunday, April 8.
Memphis Redbirds 4 at Round Rock Express 1
Behind their starting pitcher’s arm and left fielder’s bat, the Redbirds rolled to a 4-1 win over the Express in Round Rock on Sunday to improve to 4-0 on the season.
Jack Flaherty, our Player of the Day, was masterful on the mound. Across his seven-inning outing, Flaherty limited the Express to one run on five hits and punched out 11 batters. Derian Gonzalez followed out of the bullpen with two perfect innings to earn his first Triple-A save and ensure Flaherty of his first win of 2018.
For the Redbirds at the plate, Tyler O’Neill was in the middle of the magic once again. As part of his 3-for-4 day, O’Neill smashed his fourth home run in four games and drove in three of Memphis’ four runs. Right fielder Randy Arozarena stole second base three times, taking advantage of three walks received.
Monday’s game: Daniel Poncedeleon (0-0, 0.00) at Round Rock Express, 7:05 PM Central time.
Frisco Roughriders 6, Springfield Cardinals 3
The Double-A Cardinals are still searching for their first win of 2018, as their 6-3 Sunday loss to the RoughRiders dropped their record to 0-3.
Sam Tewes was shaky in his Double-A debut, surrendering five runs (four earned) on six hits and a pair of walks in 3 2/3 innings. The bullpen pitched fairly well, though the damage was done. Hector Mendoza recorded the final out in the fourth before he posted zeroes in the fifth and sixth innings. Ramon Santos allowed a run in the eighth after logging a scoreless seventh.
Despite scoring half as many runs as the RoughRiders, the Cardinals had the same number of hits, nine. They just had more trouble stringing them together. Shortstop Edmundo Sosa went 2-for-5, center fielder Lane Thomas doubled twice, and first baseman John Nogowski collected two hits. Nogowski drove in two, and catcher Andrew Knizner plated the other.
Monday’s game: Connor Jones (0-0, 0.00) at Frisco RoughRiders, 7:05 PM Central time.
Jupiter Hammerheads 8, Palm Beach Cardinals 7
With three runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Hammerheads completed their comeback of eight unanswered runs to defeat the Cardinals by an 8-7 final score at Roger Dean.
The Cardinals had a comfortable 7-0 lead following their half of the fifth inning. After second baseman Andy Young led off the inning with a solo shot, right fielder Johan Mieses hit a three-run homer, his second long ball as a Cardinal. The seven run cushion appeared to be more than enough for starter Austin Warner, who was mowing through the Hammerheads order – that is, until the bottom of the fifth. Jupiter put up four runs, knocking Warner out of the ballgame.
Reliever Ronnie Williams recorded the first out of the ninth inning for Palm Beach, rounding off his outing of 2 1/3 scoreless frames. Jacob Patterson followed and allowed two hits before Will Latcham entered. Latcham walked his first batter to load the bases and hit the second batter to force in a run. In what would be their final pitching change of the day, the Cardinals brought in Jason Zgardowski. Zgardowski hit his first batter, tying the game, and forced in the walk-off winning run with a free pass.
Monday’s game: Ian Oxnevad (0-0, 0.00) vs. Dunedin Blue Jays, 5:30 PM Central time.
Peoria Chiefs postponed
Due to inclement weather, Sunday’s game between the Burlington Bees and Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park was postponed. It will be made up on Thursday, May 31 as part of a doubleheader.
https://twitter.com/PeoChiefsGM/status/983345189094871040
Monday’s game: Evan Guillory (0-0, 0.00) vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels, 6:30 PM Central time.
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