photo: Carlos Soto (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system went 1-4 as the top three clubs scored a total of four runs in four losses. Palm Beach had all the offense, with seven tallies. Player of the Day Carlos Soto went 3-for-4 including a double, two-run home run and two runs scored.
Results from games played Sunday, August 15th.
Memphis 1 at Norfolk 5 (7 innings) – Game 1
Memphis 1 at Norfolk 3 (7 innings) – Game 2
The Redbirds managed just two runs in 14 Sunday innings, dropping a double header at Harbor Park, 5-1 and 3-1. Memphis (41-49) won only one game of six played at Norfolk (37-51) (BAL).
Subpar defense combined with little offense led to the loss in the opener. Starter Jake Woodford took the loss, his third in as many Triple-A decisions in 2021, despite yielding just one earned run over five innings. The righty was charged with four tallies in all, permitting seven hits and two walks. Seth Elledge pitched the sixth, allowing an unearned run on two hits and a walk.
Memphis was held to just three hits, with their sole score generated in the final frame. Left fielder Alec Burleson worked a free pass, one of three walks taken by the visitors, and moved to third when catcher Ali Sanchez singled to right. A second free pass issued to Conner Capel loaded the bases for center fielder Evan Mendoza, whose 4-3 ground out scored Burleson.
Players not in their regular defensive positions figured in the outcome. Third baseman Juan Yepez was charged with a fielding error, his seventh miscue overall, leading to three unearned fifth-inning scores. First baseman Rayder Ascanio committed a throwing bobble the next inning which generated the unearned score charged to Elledge.
In the finale, the make up of their August 14th postponement, starter Connor Thomas turned in a quality start to no avail. Thomas (L, 5-2) went the distance, yielding three runs on five hits and a free pass issued. All three scores were generated by two fourth-inning home runs.
The sole Redbird with more than one of five team hits was shortstop Kramer Robertson who singled and doubled in three at bats while scoring his team’s only run. After going hitless in three at bats in the opener, designated hitter Austin Dean went 1-for-3 in the nightcap, his first taste of Triple-A action since landing on the Injured List on May 20th.
Robertson was charged with his fifth and sixth miscues, one fielding and one throwing.
Monday’s game: Off
In a game similar to Memphis’, the S-Cards mustered just five hits, falling to the Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park, 5-1. Springfield (34-56) dropped the series at Arkansas (48-42) (SEA), two games to four.
Catcher Ivan Herrera’s 11th long ball prevented a shutout, temporarily knotting the game at one all midway through four. Left fielder David Vinsky singled twice in three at bats out of the eight hole, which unfortunately was nowhere near Herrera, who batted third.
Even if we can't see the result, we can sure see the swing
and we KNOW it's the 11th 💣 for @herrera_ivan01. pic.twitter.com/f3oxNWg1ni
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 15, 2021
Pitching on three days’ rest after retiring just four batters in his Wednesday, August 11th start against this same Arkansas lineup, Domingo Robles (L, 2-8) went four frames. Robles was pressed into action after scheduled starter Andre Pallante was placed on the injured list on Saturday. (More details for TCN members here.)
Southpaw Robles permitted a second-inning tally plus three-run fourth, giving up seven hits and a walk. One of the runs was unearned due to a fielding error by second baseman Nick Dunn, one of two Springfield miscues along with a fielding bobble by first baseman Chandler Redmond.
Cory Thompson retired six batters, allowing a run on two hits and a base-on-balls. Garrett Williams and Freddy Pacheco each allowed a hit in their inning of work, with Pacheco striking out the side.
Monday’s game: Off
In a continuing Sunday theme across the system, the Chiefs’ offense was held to just two hits in their 4-1 loss to the Kernels at Dozer Park. Peoria (34-56) claimed just two of the six-game home set versus Cedar Rapids (49-41) (MIN).
The Chiefs were on the wrong end of a no-hitter through the game’s first six frames, with the no-no ending on catcher Pedro Pages’ single to start the bottom of the seventh.
Peoria ended the shutout bid in the eighth. Left fielder Matt Chamberlain was plunked with one away, advancing to third after third baseman Jordan Walker lined a single to right. Right fielder Jhon Torres K’d swinging with Walker going for his steal of second on the game. The throw of Cedar Rapids’ backstop did not hit its mark, allowing Chamberlain to race home.
Connor Lunn (L, 5-6) tossed five frames, with both tallies charged to him coming on solo shots. The right-hander permitted six hits in all, issuing two free passes.
Sean Kealey worked around three hits for two scoreless innings, fanning four. Enmanuel Solano faced the minimum in the eighth before handing the ball to Leonardo Taveras. Taveras interspersed two outs with four walks, resulting in two runs. Jacob Schlesener issued a free pass, forcing one of Taveras’ base runners across home plate before recording his only out.
Defensively, the Chiefs committed three errors: first baseman Todd Lott (fielding), catcher Aaron Antonini (pickout) and Lunn (interference). Chamberlain was credited with an outfield assist at home and the team turned four double plays.
Monday’s game: Off
The Beach Birds finished their six-game home series versus the Flying Tigers on a high note with a 7-3 Sunday victory. For the week, Palm Beach (27-59) claimed just two wins against Lakeland (37-52) (DET).
The home team pounced on Lakeland’s pitchers, scoring all seven tallies in the second through fourth frames. The 12-hit offense was led by catcher Carlos Soto, who finished a triple shy of the cycle. Our Player of the Day went 3-for-4 including a double and two-run bomb and two runs scored.
No. Doubt.
Carlos Soto hits his fifth home run of the season to put the #BeachBirds up 2-0 in the second inning. pic.twitter.com/NHrOO1z1SG
— Palm Beach Cardinals (@GoPBCardinals) August 15, 2021
Shortstop Mack Chambers and left fielder Elijah Cabell both went 2-for-4, with Chambers tripling once with a walk, run scored and two driven in at the top of the order. Second baseman Noah Mendlinger reached base twice, singling once in three at bats with a base-on-balls, crossing home once. Right fielder Patrick Romeri’s only hit in four at bats was his third long ball of 2021, the blast coming with Soto (double) aboard.
The contest featured the first professional start by Gordon Graceffo after four relief appearances. The right-hander, St. Louis’ 5th-round pick in the 2021 First-Year Player draft, shut down Lakeland on two singles through the first three innings before faltering in the fourth.
Graceffo gave up consecutive singles to begin the frame, giving way to Edwin Nunez. Nunez (W, 3-2) allowed both runners to score via a single and wild pitch but retired nine batters in all, permitting two hits and issuing two free passes.
Ryan Loutos and Levi Prater shared pitching duties the rest of the way. Loutos gave up a run on three hits and a base-on-balls in two innings before Prater negotiated around a hit batter for a scoreless ninth.
On the basepaths, Cabell was picked off second. In the field, Palm Beach was charged with two bobbles. Chambers committed his third miscue with an errant throw and first baseman L.J. Jones had a fielding error, his second. On a plus side, the team turned two double plays.
Monday’s game: Off
FCL Cardinals – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Florida Complex League.
Monday’s game: FCL Cardinals (15-13) vs. FCL Mets (17-15), 12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT, TBA
DSL Cardinals Blue – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.
Monday’s game: DSL Cardinals Blue (10-14) vs. DSL Rockies (18-7), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA
DSL Cardinals Red – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Dominican Summer League.
Monday’s game: DSL Cardinals Red (12-9) at DSL Tigers (9-14), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA
For more
To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide Book 20% Off
Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.
20% off Blowout Sale now underway on the spiral-bound, printed version.
https://thecardinalnation.com/order-the-cardinal-nation-2021-prospect-guide-now/
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.
© 2021 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.