Cardinals Minor League Notebook – August 28, 2019

photo: Hector Soto (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-6, with Johnson City able to make the playoffs with another win Wednesday. JC’s Liam Sabino had three hits and plated two and Hector Soto spun five scoreless innings in Tuesday’s victory.

Results from games played Tuesday, August 27th.


Memphis 3 at New Orleans 2 (7) – Game 1   
Memphis 4 at New Orleans 5 (7) – Game 2

Jake Woodford (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

The Redbirds split a pair of one-run contests at New Orleans, claiming the opener, 3-2, but falling in the finale, 5-4.  The loss halted a seven-game winning streak for second-place Memphis (66-68), which has an elimination number of two.

In Game 1, the only mark on Jake Woodford (W, 9-7) during his five innings was a solo home run that was one of two hits and two walks yielded.  Kodi Whitley worked around two hits for a clean sixth but Mike Mayers (S, 5) was charged with a tally on two hits and a walk.

Memphis’ six hits were divvied up among four players.  John Nogowski and Ramon Urias had two hits apiece, with Nogowski going 2-for-2 with a walk, run scored and one knocked in while Urias singled and doubled in three at bats.  Justin Williams’ solo long ball was his only hit in three at bats although the right fielder did work a free pass.  Randy Arozarena doubled in four at bats, touching home once.

Randy Arozarena (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

A late rally by the Redbirds could not prevent a walk-off loss in the nightcap.  The visitors tied the game up at three all via Arozarena’s three-run bomb in the final inning but Junior Fernandez could not hold the tie.  Fernandez (L, 1-1) allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with two outs recorded.  The righty allowed two inherited runners score.

In a bullpen start, Seth Elledge shut out the Baby Cakes on two hits over the initial four innings, handing off a scoreless game to Jesus Cruz.  But Cruz yielded three runs on three hits and a base-on-balls over 1 2/3 frames.  One of the three hits was a solo blast.

Arozarena took part in all four of his team’s tallies, going 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and three driven in.  Edmundo Sosa and Joe Hudson each went 2-for-3, Sosa doubling once with an RBI.

Wednesday’s game:  at New Orleans (70-62) (MIA). 6:30 pm CT, Chris Ellis (4-5, 7.10)


Frisco 5 at Springfield 2

Angel Rondon (Palm Beach Cardinals)

Not even the participation of two major leaguers in the starting lineup could keep the S-Cards’ losing slide from reaching five straight as the home team fell to the Rough Riders, 5-2.  Springfield (28-36) has lost the first two games of the four-game series and has been eliminated from post-season contention.

St. Louis outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Jose Martinez continued their rehab assignments with positive results.  Right fielder O’Neill provided most of Springfield’s production, going 2-for-4 with a solo home run comprising one of his two runs scored.  Martinez reached base three times as the designated hitter, singling in two at bats with two free passes.  The only other S-Card with more than one of the team’s eight hits was Elehuris Montero, who singled twice in four at bats with an RBI.

Jorge Rondon (L, 6-5) took the loss despite tossing six strong frames.  The right-hander struck out seven and gave up two runs on four hits and two walks.

Will Latcham and Ronnie Williams each retired three batters but were scored upon, with Latcham yielding two runs on three hits and Williams a run on two hits.  Jacob Patterson navigated around a hit and two walks.

Wednesday’s game:  vs. Frisco (32-31) (TEX), 6:30 pm CT, Johan Oviedo (6-7. 5.68)


Palm Beach 0 at Bradenton 9

Ivan Herrera (Peoria Chiefs)

Palm Beach (21-43) was pounded by Bradenton for the second night in a row, this time losing 9-0.  Two of the four-game series have yet to be played.

Beach Birds hurlers fell prey to the long ball with four home runs served up.  Four of the six runs, five earned, charged to Kyle Leahy (L, 1-5) over six innings resulted from two bombs that were part of the nine hits and two walks permitted.

All three runs charged to Patrick Dayton in 2/3 of an inning were generated by two home runs, two of his four hits yielded.  Ramon Santos left Dayton’s last runner on base and allowed a hit with four outs recorded.

Offense was in short supply as the visitors had just three hits, two by catcher Ivan Herrera, who singled twice in three at bats.

Wednesday’s game:  at Bradenton (36-31) (PIT), 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT, TBA


Peoria 3 at Cedar Rapids 4

Delvin Perez (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs (21-43) suffered a 4-3 walk-off defeat at Cedar Rapids (34-30) on Tuesday for a split of the four-game series.

Sebastian Tabata was charged with the loss, his fourth against three wins, giving up a run on two hits and a free pass with one batter retired.  Starter Logan Gragg struck out six over the first four frames, permitting a solo blast comprising one of his four hits and a walk.

Wilfredo Pereira retired six batters but was tagged for two runs on two hits and three free passes.  Freddy Pacheco faced the minimum during his two-inning stint before giving way to Tabata.

Delvin Perez led Peoria’s 10-hit effort, going 3-for-5 with a double and run scored.  The only other Chief with more than one hit was Brady Whalen, who singled twice in five at bats.  Brendan Donovan reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.

Wednesday’s game:   vs. Beloit (26-38) (OAK), 6:35 pm CT, Parker Kelly (3-5, 4.30)


West Virginia 6 at State College 3 (10)

Luis Flores (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The third-place Spikes fell to the second-place Black Bears, 6-3, in 10, but claimed the series, two games to one.  State College (36-34) is two games behind Batavia (MIA), which leads West Viriginia (37-32) by a half-game in the Pinckney Division standings.

Eric Lex took the loss, his third in as many decisions, after yielding three runs, two earned, on two hits over 1 2/3 frames.  Fabian Blanco retired all three batters faced, joining Lex in stranding an inherited runner.

Adrian Mardueno tossed the initial five innings, permitting three tallies on six hits and two walks.  Jacob Schlesener bridged the 2 1/3-inning span between Mardueno and Lex, yielding a hit and two free passes.

The Spikes managed just six hits, two by Luis Flores, who singled twice in four at bats at the bottom of the order.  Shane Benes doubled in three at bats, the only hit to go for extra bases while Terry Fuller went 1-for-4 with a walk, run scored and RBI.

Wednesday’s game:  at fourth-place Mahoning Valley (34-35) (CLE), 7:05 pm ET/6:05 pm CT, Junior Gonzalez (3-5, 7.68)


Johnson City 9 at Kingsport 4

Liam Sabino (Robert Kell)

The JC-Cards came through with a crucial 9-4 road win at Kingsport as they regained control of their post-season destiny.  Although Johnson City (34-33) and the Mets are tied atop the West Division standings, the Appy Birds hold the tiebreaker and can clinch the division title with a victory on Wednesday in the regular season finale.  But four West Division squads are still contending for two play-off slots, including Bristol (PIT) and Elizabethton (MIN) who are both a half game off the lead. If JC loses, they need both of the aforementioned clubs to also lose Wednesday to get in via the back door.

Johnson City’s bats led the way Tuesday, scoring seven times in the first three innings.  The 11-hit attack was spearheaded by Liam Sabino and Diomedes Del Rio, who mustered three hits each and combined for five runs.  Sabino went 3-for-5 with a double, run scored and two knocked in while Del Rio went 3-for-4 with a double and crossed home twice.  Five Appy Birds had one hit apiece.

Hector Soto (W, 1-1) turned in five impressive innings of shutout ball, striking out five with two hits yielded.   The 20-year-old had five ground- and five fly- ball outs.

But Luis Ortiz retired only one batter, surrendering three runs, two earned, on two hits and a walk.  Walker Robbins stranded Ortiz’ last runner but was charged with an unearned run with a hit and walk yielded in 1 1/3 innings.  John Witkowski retired all seven batters faced, stranding two inherited runners, for his fourth save.

Wednesday’s game:  at co-leader Kingsport (34-33) (NYM), 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT, TBA


GCL Marlins 7 at GCL Cardinals 3

Francis Ventura

On Tuesday, the GCL Cardinals (20-32) were topped by the GCL Marlins (28-21), 7-3, their sixth straight loss.

Francis Ventura (L, 2-1) turned in a solid effort, yielding two runs, one earned, on five hits and two walks through five innings.  Wilman Madera essentially put the game out of reach by giving up five runs, three earned, on four hits, including a two-run long ball.  Anthony Trompiz allowed a hit and free pass over 2 2/3 and let both inherited runners score.

The offense was limited to four hits, two by Patrick Romeri, who went 2-for-4 with a triple and two-run home run.  The right fielder touched home twice with two RBIs.

Wednesday’s game:  at GCL Nationals (25-23), 10:00 am ET/9:00 am CT, TBA


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