photo: Mike Antico (Springfield Cardinals)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-2 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield LF Mike Antico, was a triple shy of the cycle and drove in a career-high six runs. Other standouts include César Prieto, Thomas Saggese, Jimmy Crooks and Gustavo Rodriguez.
Results from games played on Thursday, August 24th.
The Memphis Redbirds (21-27) were defeated by the Charlotte Knights (CWS, 10-38) on Thursday night at Truist Field.
Starter Sem Robberse gave up six runs in four innings. TCN’s no. 13 prospect struck out four.
The Redbirds scored eight of their runs between the second and fifth innings. In the second, César Prieto blasted a grand slam. Moisés Gómez hit his 27th homer, his fourth straight game going deep, in the third and Iván Herrera came across in the fourth on a wild pitch.
PRIETO(HHHH) YEAHHHHH! pic.twitter.com/fl0TacAxtr
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) August 25, 2023
FOURTH CONSECUTIVE GAME WITH A HOMER FOR GOMEZ pic.twitter.com/0I6MOlfflC
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) August 25, 2023
Kramer Robertson brought home one run in the fifth via single in the fifth. Matt Koperniak grounded into a forceout to make the score 8-6. In the seventh inning, Koperniak singled to drive in a run.
The Knights roared back with six runs in the home half of the seventh. Out of the bullpen, Chris Roycroft tossed 2 2/3 frames and surrendered four runs to take his second loss. Andre Granillo blew his first Triple-A save after he was touched for two runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Prieto was 2-for-5 with a grand slam. Nick Raposo walked, singled, doubled and scored three times. Chase Pinder came across twice. The lineup went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base.
The Redbirds are off Friday.
Saturday’s games:
at Charlotte, RHP Michael McGreevy vs. LHP Garrett Davila 12:05 CT (Game 1)
at Charlotte, TBA vs. RHP Chase Solesky 6:04 CT (Game 2)
Springfield 12, Corpus Christi 10
Coming back with three runs in the eighth, the Springfield Cardinals (23-25) outslugged the Corpus Christi Hooks (HOU, 24-24) at Hammons Field on Thursday.
Brandon Komar pitched 4 2/3 innings and was charged with seven runs on nine hits and two walks. The right-hander fanned six.
After the Hooks scored three in the first inning, the Cardinals answered with three in the bottom half. Victor Scott blasted a solo shot and Mike Antico hit a two-run home run. Antico brought in two with a double in the second and Thomas Saggese plated Antico via single.
That didn’t take long 🫣
MIKE ANTICO TIES IT 3️⃣ – 3️⃣‼️ pic.twitter.com/AOIEJqHcfP
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 25, 2023
Chandler Redmond hit his Double-A leading 28th home run in the third, a solo blast, his fourth in two days after not going deep for a month. TCN’s no. 43 prospect is third in Minor League Baseball in home runs behind Luken Baker and Bobby Dalbec. In the fourth inning, Saggese hit a two-run shot, his 22nd of the season.
THOMAS. SAGGESE. UNREAL. pic.twitter.com/7fc6yNxmks
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) August 25, 2023
In relief, Roy Garcia yielded two runs in 2 1/3 innings and five hits, one walk and four punchouts. Logan Sawyer received his fourth win despite giving up a run in the final two innings.
The Hooks seized the lead in the eighth inning but Springfield took it back in the home half. Noah Mendlinger walked with the bases loaded. Antico scored two runs with a single to make the score 12-10.
Antico went 3-for-5 and was a triple shy of the cycle. TCN’s no. 35 prospect recorded a career-high six RBI with two runs scored. Saggese drove in three runs with two hits. Scott and Redmond also had two hits. Mendlinger walked and came across three times with one RBI. Springfield hit four home runs in the game and went 4-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
On the base paths, Antico was caught stealing. In the field, Jose Alvarez committed two throwing errors.
Friday’s game: vs. Corpus Christi, RHP Tink Hence (2-3, 6.54) vs. RHP Blair Henley (3-5, 4.63) 7:05 CT
The Peoria Chiefs (29-22) walked off the West Michigan Whitecaps (DET, 29-21) for the second straight night at Dozer Park.
Ian Bedell tossed 3 1/3 innings and surrendered three runs on four hits and two walks. TCN’s no. 19 prospect struck out four. Joseph King tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames with two strikeouts.
The Chiefs made it a one-run game in the sixth inning. Nathan Church reached on an error and Jimmy Crooks blasted a two-run home run, his 12th of the season. The catcher is slashing .384/.423/.658/1.081 in August.
WOULD YOU LOOK AT THE TIME? IT’S HALF-PAST YOUR NIGHTLY JIMMY CROOKS HIGHLIGHT 💣
2-RUN SHOT CUTS OUR DEFICIT TO 3-2 IN THE B6 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/nSrVhJXUyI
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) August 25, 2023
To close out the game, Gustavo Rodriguez pitched the remaining 3 1/3 scoreless innings on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts. The right-hander is now 8-2 this season.
In the ninth inning, the Chiefs made their second comeback in as many days. A wild pitch brought Darlin Moquete across to tie the score. After an intentional walk to Crooks, R.J. Yeager singled to end it.
SECOND NIGHT IN A ROW
NINTH OF THE YEAR
DON’T SLEEP ON THE CARDIAC CHIEFS 😈 pic.twitter.com/rsUO2AFOO3
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) August 25, 2023
Yeager went 3-for-5 with the game-winning RBI. Crooks was 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, two walks and two RBI. Alex Iadisernia and Ramon Mendoza recorded two hits apiece.
In center field, Church committed a fielding error but threw a runner out at home. On the mound, Bedell picked a runner off first base.
Friday’s game: vs. West Michigan, RHP Trent Baker (6-8, 3.54) vs. RHP Dylan Smith (0-0, 2.45) 6:35 CT
Palm Beach 7 at Tampa 8 (10 innings)
The Palm Beach Cardinals (22-27) were walked off by the Tampa Tarpons (NYY, 26-25) in the 10th inning at George W. Steinbrenner Field.
Starter Jose Davila threw six innings and allowed four runs on six hits and one walk. The 20-year-old fanned six.
The Beach Birds put up three runs in the fourth inning. Chase Davis, Sammy Hernandez and Dakota Harris each singled to plate one run. In the sixth, Palm Beach took a 7-4 lead. Harris tied the game with a single. To clear the loaded bases, Won-Bin Cho doubled.
After three wild pitches in the seventh, Augusto Calderon yielded three unearned runs. Henry Gomez took his fourth loss after he was touched for an unearned run in 2 2/3 frames.
The Beach Birds’ lineup recorded eight hits, five walks and went 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a walk and Harris had two hits, two RBI and a run scored. Cho drove in three runs.
On the base paths, Joshua Baez took his 24th bag of the season. TCN’s no. 24 prospect committed an error and recorded an outfield assist.
Friday’s games:
at Tampa, TBA vs. RHP Ryan Harvey (1-1, 4.50) 3:00 CT (Game 1)
at Tampa, TBA vs. RHP Yorlin Calderon (6-2, 3.29) Time TBA (Game 2)
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