Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 2, 2021

photo: Luken Baker (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The Cardinal Nation Sunday Player of the Day Luken Baker went 3-for-7, including his 20th and 21st long balls of the season and three RBI as Springfield earned the St. Louis Cardinals system’s only two wins in six tries. Palm Beach’s losing skid is 14 games.

Results from games played Sunday, August 1st.

Memphis 2 vs. Gwinnett 4

Two late tallies yielded by the Redbirds’ bullpen snapped a 2-2 tie in Memphis’ 4-2 loss to Gwinnett at AutoZone Park.  The Redbirds (38-40) dropped the series, two games to four.

Junior Fernandez took the loss in his only inning of work, permitting three ninth-inning hits resulting in the two deciding scores.  Jack Flaherty struck out five over three frames in his second Rehab start.  The right-hander allowed two first-inning tallies, with the runs coming on a single, walk and bases-clearing triple.  Flaherty threw 58 pitches in all, 38 for strikes.

Austin Warner tossed two one-two-three innings, fanning three before handing the ball off to Jesus Cruz.  Cruz navigated around two free passes issued for a scoreless sixth.  Garrett Williams and Kodi Whitley duplicated Cruz’ scoreless effort in the seventh and eighth, respectively, Williams walking two and Whitley notching two K’s.

Conner Capel

The home team mustered six hits with Conner Capel doing most of the damage.  Capel went 2-for-4 with a triple and solo shot, driving in an additional tally.  The only other Redbird with a multi-hit performance was first baseman Juan Yepez, who went 2-for-4, crossing home once.

Defensively, catcher Dennis Ortega was charged with a throwing error, his second miscue overall.  Capel was credited with an outfield assist at home plate.

Monday’s game:  Off

Springfield 7 vs. Arkansas 1 – Game 1     

Springfield 4 vs. Arkansas 1 (7) – Game 2

Springfield (29-48) swept a double header at Hammons Field, 7-1 in nine frames and 4-1 in seven innings, preventing a series sweep by Arkansas (41-35).

The opener completed the July 31st contest suspended with the score tied 1-1 in the top of the fourth.  At that point the sacks were jammed and two away for starter Kevin McGovern who fanned five in 3 2/3 innings.  The lefty surrendered a second-inning long ball, one of two hits and two walks permitted.

Ramon Santos (W, 4-2) took over pitching duties when play resumed on Sunday and the 26-year-old was stellar.  Santos struck out nine over 4 1/3 innings, with the only batter to reach against him occurring via a free pass.

Ramon Santos

Freddy Pacheco continued Santos’ hitless streak, faring much better in his second Double-A appearance than he did in his first.  The Venezuelan faced the minimum, fanning two.

The Travelers broke on top 1-0 at the second’s midpoint, but the S-Cards responded immediately with a run in the bottom of the frame.  First baseman Luken Baker launched his 20th rocket, one of his two hits in four at bats, knotting the game at one all.

Luken Baker

After Santos caught his first batter looking at strike three on Sunday, ending Arkansas’ threat, his teammates took a lead they never relinquished.  Right fielder Alec Burleson singled to open the frame, his only hit in four at bats, advancing a base via a single by Baker.  A right side ground out moved both runners up a base whereupon Julio Rodriguez reached on a fielder’s choice.  That play scored Burleson, the run being unearned due to an errant throw by Arkansas’ pitcher allowing Rodriguez to reach.

The score remained 2-1 until the home half of the seventh when Springfield pushed across two more tallies before finishing with a three-run eighth.  The home team generated nine hits in all. Left fielder Nick Plummer and shortstop Brendan Donovan joined Baker with two hits apiece.  Plummer went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two driven in while Donovan knocked in three with his 2-for-4 effort.  The latter was 1-for-2 in attempted stolen bases.

The finale featured a pitching duel in which neither side went to their bullpen.  The S-Cards came out on top, thanks to a seven-inning complete game display by starter Tyler Pike (W, 4-3).  The southpaw scattered five hits and a base-on-balls, permitting a run in his last inning of work.  Pike struck out six.

Tyler Pike

The home team did not break through against the Travelers’ starter until the fifth.  Left fielder David Vinsky’s first triple drove in Plummer (single) and catcher Nick Raposo (force), the big hit coming with two away.  Baker added his second home run in as many days, this once with Burleson (double) aboard.

Springfield had six total hits with center fielder Justin Toerner the only S-Card with more than one.  Toerner reached base three times, singling twice in two at bats with a walk but was forced at second by Raposo just prior to Vinsky’s three-bagger, denying him the opportunity to touch home.

Monday’s game:  Off

Peoria 3 vs. Beloit 7

Chiefs’ pitchers could not hold a slim lead at the game’s midpoint, resulting in a 7-3 loss to the Snappers at Dozer Park.  Peoria (30-48) claimed two of the six-game set versus Beloit (35-43) (MIA).

Logan Gragg held the Snappers to two scores over the first five frames but faltered in the sixth.  The righty gave way to Jack Ralston with two on and none out, but the reliever could not hold the 3-2 advantage.

Ralston (L, 1-5) (BS, 1) looked like he would escape after notching two swinging K’s only to permit an RBI single, giving Gragg a final line of three runs allowed on six hits, a base-on-balls plus a hit batsman in five plus innings.  Ralston struck out three of the four batters retired, yielding a score on two hits.

Giancarlo Dalatri’s first taste of A-Advanced ball was a sour one.  The right-hander was tagged for three runs on five hits against four outs recorded, including a two-run long ball and allowing Ralston’s final base runner to score.  Cory Thompson permitted a hit and walk over the last 1 1/3 innings.

Peoria got all of their scoring done in the third inning and none were earned.  Designated hitter Zade Richardson was issued a free pass with one away, moving to second via center fielder Matt Chamberlain’s single and scoring when shortstop Masyn Winn reached on a fielder’s choice because of a throwing error by Beloit’s second baseman.  After Jordan Walker struck out swinging Jhon Torres came through with his first triple, scoring Chamberlain and Winn.

Jhon Torres

Chamberlain had half of his squad’s hits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.  Torres reached base twice, adding a base-on-balls to his triple in three at bats.

Monday’s game:  Off

Palm Beach 0 vs. Tampa 4 – Game 1
Palm Beach 6 vs. Tampa 17 (7) – Game 2

Palm Beach’s (25-51) losing slide is now at 14, following Sunday’s twin bill sweep by visiting Tampa (54-23), 4-0 in nine and 17-6 in seven.

In the opening game loss, starter Ludwin Jimenez twirled seven outstanding frames against the league’s best team.  The 19-year-old held the Tarpons scoreless on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Ludwin Jimenez

Luis Tena tossed a clean eighth but only recorded one ninth inning out, yielding four runs, three earned, on three hits and a base-on-balls.  The unearned run was due to the runner at second base rule being in effect because of the double header.

Tena’s final runner crossed via a sac fly under Andre Granillo’s watch.  The 2021 14th round selection inherited runners at the corners and after the sac fly and two straight steals by Tampa’s base runner, Granillo issued a free pass.  But the righty recouped to catch his final batter looking at strike three.

Palm Beach had six hits with right fielder Jacob Buchberger going 2-for-4 with a double.  The only other hit to go for extra bases belonged to second baseman Noah Mendlinger.  Mendlinger, an undrafted free agent signee out of Georgia College, doubled once in two at bats in his pro debut before being replaced defensively in the visitor half of the sixth.  Defensively, Mendlinger took part in two double plays.

The nightcap defeat featured 16 Tarpon tallies before the Beach Birds got on the scoreboard.  Gustavo Rodriguez (L, 0-4) lasted just 2/3 of an inning, permitting six scores, three earned, on two hits, two walks, a hit batsman and three wild pitches.

Luis Ortiz was charged with four runs on six hits, two walks and a balk over 2 1/3 frames.  The 21-year-old allowed both inherited runners to cross home plate.

Edwin Nunez’ outing made both Rodriguez’ and Ortiz’ stints look good in comparison.  The righty did not retire any of his five batters faced, issuing four free passes along with a hit and two wild pitches, resulting in five runs allowed.

Gordon Graceffo was thrown into the fire in his second pro appearance.  The 2021 fifth-rounder inherited a bases-loaded/none out mess and yielded four hits.  Nunez’ last three base runners scored plus one of Graceffo’s own batters.

Ramon Mendoza moved from the hot corner to the mound at the fifth’s onset and his two-inning stint was the best of six Beach Birds pitching efforts.  Mendoza tossed two clean innings, issuing one free pass, before giving way to shortstop Darlyn Del Villar.  Del Villar gave up a hit, walk plus a plunked batter generating one run.

Mendoza and Del Villar also took part in four of their squad’s six scores.  Both players went 1-for-4 with the former scoring once and knocking in another and Del Villar acquiring two RBI’s.  Defensively, each player bobbled a play.

Ryan Holgate

Left fielder Ryan Holgate made a splash in his first taste of pro ball, going 2-for-4 with a solo shot accounting for one of his two runs scored and his RBI.  Holgate was the 70th overall pick in the recent First-Year Player Draft.

Buchberger and Mendlinger each had two of Palm Beach’s 11 hits in all.  Buchberger singled twice in four at bats, batting third, while Mendlinger singled and doubled in two at bats, driving in two after taking over at third for Mendoza in the fifth.

Monday’s game:  Off

FCL Cardinals – off
Sunday is a scheduled day off in the Florida Complex League.

Monday’s game:  FCL Cardinals (12-9) at FCL Nationals (10-14), 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 (7-7) at DSL Yankees1 (6-8), 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 (7-7) vs. DSL Brewers1 (8-7), 10:30 am ET/9:30 am CT, TBA

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