Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 1, 2022

photo: Chase Pinder (Springfield Cardinals Fanatic Photos)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 1-2 on Sunday with a Palm Beach win and rainout in Memphis. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield outfielder Chase Pinder, had four hits, three runs and two RBI. Other standouts include Jordan Walker, Chris Gerard and Thomas Francisco.

Results from games played Sunday, July 31st.

Memphis vs. Norfolk – Postponed

The Memphis Redbirds (54-44) and Norfolk Tides (BAL, 46-52) contest was rained out on Sunday afternoon and will be made up in a doubleheader on September 7th.

As a result, St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina was unable to play in his third and final Triple-A rehab game. The 39-year-old is expected to be activated by the Cardinals on Tuesday.

The Redbirds went 3-2 against the Tides this week and are five games behind Nashville in the International League West.

Tuesday’s game: at Jacksonville, TBA vs. TBA 6:05 CT (The Redbirds are off Monday)

Springfield 12, Frisco 14

The Springfield Cardinals (15-12) were out-slugged by the Frisco RoughRiders (TEX, 15-12) at Hammons Field on Sunday. The Cardinals used six pitchers in the contest and runs were yielded by the first five to take the mound.

TCN’s no. 6 prospect Michael McGreevy only threw 3 2/3 innings with six runs given up. The right-hander took his third loss with Springfield. John Beller yielded a run in 1/3 of an inning.

After the RoughRiders scored one in the first, Justin Toerner hit a two-run home run in the second, his third of the season. Frisco responded with two runs in the third but Chase Pinder doubled to score Jordan Walker in the home half to tie the game at 3-3. The opposition scored four runs in the fourth inning. In the fifth, Walker hit a solo shot and Pinder came across on an error.

Jordan Walker

Michael YaSenka surrendered a run on two walks and two strikeouts in the fifth. Tyler Pike yielded two runs in an inning and Domingo Robles was charged with three runs in two innings. Michael Brettell pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Cardinals tried to mount a comeback in the final three innings. Pinder’s solo shot in the seventh was his ninth of the year. Toerner scored Chandler Redmond with a single and Errol Robinson grounded into a double play to plate Nick Raposo.

Chase Pinder

In the eighth, Walker hit his second home run of the day, his 12th of the year. Redmond also homered, his 13th.

Pinder went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Walker had two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored. Toerner also had three RBI. The lineup left nine runners on base.

Julio Rodriguez stole his second bag of the year. The defense turned two double plays.

The Cardinals went 2-4 against the RoughRiders this week. They are one game behind Wichita in the Texas League North.

Tuesday’s game: at Corpus Christi, RHP Gordon Graceffo (5-2, 3.38) vs. RHP Miguel Medrano (1-3, 6.04) 6:35 CT (The Cardinals are off Monday)

Peoria 2, Fort Wayne 8

The Peoria Chiefs (13-17) fell to the Fort Wayne TinCaps (SD, 14-16) on Sunday afternoon at Dozer Park.

Austin Love tossed 4 2/3 innings with three runs surrendered on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts. The right-hander took his 10th loss of the year. Nick Trogrlic-Iverson threw 1 1/3 innings and yielded two runs. Chris Roycroft recorded a scoreless seventh inning.

After his walk-off home run Saturday, Todd Lott hit a solo shot in the first inning, his eighth with Peoria. Ramon Mendoza scored on an error in the third inning. The bats went quiet after the third, however.

Todd Lott

Jack Ralston gave up two runs in the eighth inning and Levi Prater was charged with one in the ninth. Both pitchers fanned two batters.

The Chiefs lineup went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and struck out 12 times. Brady Whalen and Mendoza both had two hits.

In their Peoria debuts, Patrick Romeri and Aaron McKeithan each had one hit.

The Chiefs split the series 3-3 with the TinCaps. They are seven games behind first place South Bend in the Midwest League West.

Tuesday’s game: at Dayton, TBA vs. TBA 6:05 CT (The Chiefs are off Monday)

Palm Beach 8 at St. Lucie 7

The Palm Beach Cardinals (17-13) edged the St. Lucie Mets (NYM, 15-15) after a late comeback at Clover Park on Sunday.

Thomas Francisco struck first for the Beach Birds after he drove in Victor Scott with a single. Scott plated one with a sacrifice fly and Alex ladisernia singled in a run in the third inning.

In his first start after his promotion from the Florida Complex League, Yonael Dominguez tossed four innings and yielded three runs, two hits and four strikeouts. Fellow promotee Diorys Guerrero could not collect an out and surrendered four runs in his Palm Beach debut. Jose Moreno tossed a scoreless 1/3 of an inning and Chris Gerard recorded 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

Chris Gerard

The Cardinals were down 7-3 from the fifth on until staging a successful comeback in the ninth with three home runs. R.J. Yeager and Darlin Moqeute each hit two-run homers to tie the game at 7-7. Thomas Francisco’s solo shot put his team in the lead, 8-7.

Thomas Francisco

Nelfri Contreras earned his third win after a scoreless eighth inning. Andrew Marrero collected his third save of the year with a hitless ninth.

Moquete and Francisco each had two hits and two RBI. The top three spots in the lineup went 7-for-12. The lineup recorded 10 hits and four walks.

2022 draftees Scott, ladisernia and Chris Rotondo all had their first professional hit.

Scott stole a bag and was caught stealing. Nathan Church also took a base.

The Cardinals went 3-3 against the Mets this week and are in first place by half a game in the Florida State League East.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Jupiter, TBA vs. TBA 5:30 CT (The Cardinals are off Monday)

FCL Cardinals – Off

The Cardinals are in fifth place, 9.5 games behind the Nationals in the Florida Complex League East.

Monday’s game: vs. FCL Nationals, TBA vs. TBA 9:30 CT

DSL Cardinals – Off

The Cardinals are 3.5 games behind Seattle in the Dominican Summer League South.

 Monday’s game: at DSL Mariners, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 CT


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

TCN’s Post-Draft Cardinals Top 50 Prospect Rankings – July 2022


2022 Prospect Guide now available

The Cardinal Nation 2022 Prospect Guide is back for a fifth year. It includes 276 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos. Order your PDF or printed book copy today!

Order TCN’s 2022 Cardinals Prospect Guide


Not yet a member?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Follow Luke Kotcher on Twitter @luke_kotcher.

© 2022 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.