photo: Malcom Nunez (Trevor Travis/Peoria Chiefs)
The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-7 on Saturday as the two DSL teams played each other. Palm Beach and Peoria dropped twin bills. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day is third baseman Malcom Nunez, who went 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored in Springfield’s home loss to Tulsa.
Results for games played on Friday, August 7, 2021.
The Redbirds took an 11-5 loss on Saturday night in the game of a six-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The offense attempted a rally in the ninth but fell short.
Durham got on the board in the third inning with a sac fly. Memphis quickly tied it up in the top of the fourth on a solo home run by Juan Yepez.
Kiss it goodbye 👋 👋
Juan Yepez hits No. 1️⃣4️⃣ with Memphis and we’re all tied up! pic.twitter.com/aPuq4AYZVK
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) August 7, 2021
The tie was broken quickly in the home half of the fourth as the Bulls brought five runs home to take a commanding 6-1 lead. In the sixth, Durham repeated the fourth by scoring five additional runs.
The Redbirds scored one run in the eighth. Rayder Ascanio doubled to begin the inning. Scott Hurst reached on a fielding error, and Ascanio scored on a force out by Kramer Robertson.
In the ninth, Memphis attempted to rally. Conner Capel singled to lead off and Dennis Ortega singled with two outs. Ascanio followed with a three-run home run to left center field. The rally ended when Scott Hurst grounded out to the pitcher.
Yepez was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Ortega was 2-for-4. Ascanio was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
On the mound to start for Memphis was Jake Woodford. The right hander did not have a good outing. Woodford pitched four innings and gave up six runs on eight hits, struck out five and walked one to earn his second Triple-A loss of the season. T.J. Zeuch surrendered four runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Austin Warner yielded one run in 1 1/3 innings. Jesus Cruz tossed a scoreless eighth.
Memphis is 40-43 on the season and stands in fifth place in the Triple-A East Southeast Division, 14.5 games back of first place Durham.
Sunday’s game: at Durham, Connor Thomas LHP (5-1, 3.48) 4:05 CT.
The Cardinals lost to the Drillers by two runs in the fifth of the six-game series with Tulsa at Hammons Field. Starter Kevin McGovern pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up five runs on five hits, fanned six and walked three. Ramon Santos surrendered two runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief to take the loss, his third of the season.
Tulsa took the early 3-0 lead in the first inning. That score remained until the fourth, when Malcom Nunez’ two-run home run cut the Drillers lead to one. The Cardinals tied it up in the fifth on singles by Chase Pinder and Irving Lopez, a walk from Nick Dunn, and a sac fly by Brendan Donovan.
#STLCards' No. 13 prospect Malcom Nunez notched his first multihomer game of the season for @Sgf_Cardinals with this solo shot. pic.twitter.com/x9FGp1B2KV
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 8, 2021
Springfield took the lead in the sixth on solo home runs by Nunez and Julio Rodriguez. Tulsa regained the edge in the seventh with two solo home runs. The Drillers extended their lead with one run in each of the final two innings.
Nunez was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Donovan and Lopez were each 2-for-4. With a double to go with four strikeouts, Nick Plummer extended his on-base streak to a team-record 33 games.
On the base paths, Donovan was caught stealing for the fourth time this season.
Springfield has a record of 31-52 and sits in last place in the Double-A Central North Division, 17 games back of first place Wichita.
Sunday’s game: vs. Tulsa, Tyler Pike LHP (4-3, 4.60) vs Jose Martinez RHP (0-1, 13.50) 6:05 CT.
Peoria 3 at South Bend 8 (Game 1)
Game 1 of the twin bill was the completion of Friday’s suspended game. The Chiefs lost to the Cubs 8-3. Starter Michael YaSenka pitched five innings and gave up three runs on four hits, struck out two and walked three. Jacob Schlesener tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Leonardo Taveras surrendered three runs in 2/3 innings and took the loss. Kevin Marnon yielded two more runs in the eighth.
South Bend put one run on the board in the second inning. Peoria tied it up in the fourth as Jordan Walker and Jhon Torres singled and Walker later scored on a single by Leandro Cedeno.
The Cubs answered with two runs in the home half of the fourth. The Chiefs got one back in the fifth on an RBI double by Matt Koperniak and tied the game in the sixth on a single by Francisco Hernandez.
The score did stay knotted up for long as South Bend scored five runs in the eighth to regain the lead at 8-3. Peoria was unable to rally in the ninth.
Koperniak, Walker, Torres, and Cedeno were each 2-for-4. Koperniak, Cedeno, and Hernandez drove in the Chiefs’ three runs.
Walker made a throwing error. Koperniak had an outfield assist at first base.
Peoria 6 at South Bend 10 (Game 2)
The Chiefs lost the second game of the twin bill to the Cubs at Four Winds Field on Saturday night. A three-run Peoria rally in the ninth from a 10-3 deficit fell short as the Chiefs suffered their 51st loss of the season.
Peoria scored first in the second inning on a solo home run by Leandro Cedeno. The Cubs quickly answered with three runs in the home half of the frame.
Peoria tied it up 3-3 in the top of the third on RBI singles by Chandler Redmond and Matt Koperniak. The Cubs wasted no time regaining the lead with two more runs in the bottom of the third.
The score remained 5-3 in favor of the Cubs until the sixth, when South Bend tacked on one run, then added four more in the seventh to widen their lead to 10-3.
In the ninth, the rally began with walks to Matt Chamberlain and Tommy Jew. Jordan Walker reached on a fielding error and the bases were loaded with one out. Redmond struck out, but with two outs Cedeno drew a walk and Chamberlain scored. Koperniak was hit by a pitch and Jew came home. Aaron Antonini followed with a single that plated Walker. The rally ended when Zade Richardson grounded into a force out.
Cedeno was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Koperniak was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Redmond and Antonini each drove in a run.
Peoria starter Logan Gragg took his fourth loss of the season. The right hander pitched five innings and gave up five runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked two. Cory Thompson surrendered three runs in 1 1/3 relief innings. Sean Kealey yielded two runs in the final 1 2/3.
Despite going 1-for-5 at the plate, leadoff man Masyn Winn stole three bases to make four his total as a Chief. Walker added his third stolen bag with Peoria.
Peoria has a record of 32-51 and is in last place in the High-A Central West Division, 23.5 games back of first place Quad Cities.
Sunday’s game: at South Bend, Mac Lardner LHP (0-3, 5.14) vs. TBD 1:05 CT.
Palm Beach 6 at St. Lucie 13 (seven innings, Game 1)
The Cardinals were walloped by the Mets in Game 1 of a twin bill at Clover Park on Saturday. The Mets offense scored all 13 of its runs in the first three innings. The Beach Birds attempted but were unsuccessful in playing catch up.
The Mets put seven runs on the board in the first inning. Palm Beach answered in the top of the second on a solo home run by Thomas Francisco, his first as a professional. In the second the Mets responded with four more runs and added two more in the third for a 13-1 advantage.
Here is pro home run No. 1 for Thomas Francisco (Abingdon) of the Palm Beach Cardinals. It occurred in St. Lucie and came off former Kingsport Met Oscar Rojas. Thanks to the Francisco family for the video.#LocalsInThePros #MiLB #Cardinals. pic.twitter.com/m7uFOBar2O
— Tim Hayes (@Hayes_BHCSports) August 7, 2021
The Beach Birds rallied for a crooked number in the fifth inning. Osvaldo Tovalin led off with a double and scored on Franklin Soto’s single. Ryan Holgate and Jacob Buchberger singled to load the bases for L.J. Jones, who hit a grand slam to left field. The Cardinals cut the lead to 13-6. Neither team put any runs on the board in the final two innings.
http://thecardinalnation.com/player/l-j-jones/
Buchberger was 2-for-4, and Francisco was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jones drove in four.
Palm Beach used two starter pitchers, each with poor results. Dionys Rodriguez did not record any outs in the first inning, while giving up six runs on four hits, and walking two. Edgar Manzo relieved and surrendered one run in the first inning but got all three outs. Manzo returned for the second and yielded four more runs without recording an out. Ryan Loutos relieved Manzo and got all three outs to end the second. Loutos pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed two more runs. Gordon Graceffo was the only Cardinal pitcher to not give up runs, as the 2021 draft pick tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out six.
Palm Beach 0 at St. Lucie 12 (seven innings, Game 2)
The Cardinals were skunked in a big way by the first place St. Lucie Mets in the second game of Saturday’s twin bill at Clover Park. Starter Ludwin Jimenez pitched three innings and gave up five runs on four hits, struck out three and walked two. Andrew Marrero relieved and surrendered three runs in 2/3 innings. Edwin Nunez yielded three unearned runs in 1 1/3 innings. Luis Tena allowed one run in the sixth. Jimenez took the loss, his sixth of the season.
The Beach Birds offense managed only three hits with the only extra base hit a double by L.J. Jones. They were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
The Mets scored five times in the third inning, three runs each in the fourth and fifth innings, and one in the sixth.
Darlyn Del Villar made a fielding error. Jones had an outfield assist at second base.
Palm Beach is 25-53 on the season and is in last place in the Low-A Southeast East Division, 17 games back of first place St. Lucie.
Sunday’s game: at St. Lucie, TBD (PB) vs. Jose Chacin RHP (2-0, 1.50) 11:10 am CT.
FCL Cardinals vs. FCL Nationals (postponed)
This Saturday morning Florida Complex League game was postponed due to rain in the Jupiter area and will be made up at a later date.
Sunday’s game: No game scheduled.
DSL Cardinals Blue 8, DSL Cardinals Red 4 (seven innings, Game 1)
The Cardinals Blue (5-5) defeated the Cardinals Red (6-4) in a game that had been suspended on July 24 and completed on Saturday morning. Blue starter Henry Gomez pitched four innings and gave up one unearned run on three hits, struck out two and walked one. Alexander Beltre surrendered three in his 2/3 innings pitched in relief. Miguel Martinez tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings and was awarded the win, his second of the season. Uriel Curvelo threw a scoreless seventh.
Blue scored three runs in the first inning to take the early lead. Maycol Justo drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jose Cordoba singled and Justo scored. Cordoba went to second on the single and advanced to third on a balk. Fernando Diaz singled to plate Cordoba, then he scored on a single by Keshawn Rombley.
Red got on the board with one run in the third inning. Elias Reynoso hit a ground rule double and scored on a fielding error.
Blue increased their lead with four runs scored in the fourth. Rombley drew a walk and Jose Suarez singled. Robelyn Lopez followed with a single that scored Rombley. Suarez came in on a ground out by Juan Sanchez. Anyelo Encarnacion plated Lopez on a triple and Encarnacion scored on a single by Adari Grant.
Red answered with three runs in the top of the fifth on a two-run single by Jeremy Ramos and an RBI double by Francis Reynoso, to cut the lead to 7-4. Blue added its final run in the home half of the fifth on an RBI single by Yancel Guerrero.
Encarnacion was 2-for-3 with an RBI. He was the only Blue hitter with multiple hits and his triple was the only extra base hit to go with eight Blue singles.
On the Red offense, Elias Reynoso and Francis Reynoso were both 2-for-4. Ramos had two RBI.
The starting pitcher for Red was Engels Martinez, who pitched three innings and gave up three runs on three hits, fanned four and walked one. Eduar Pimentel surrendered three runs while recording only one out. Samuel Fabian yielded two runs in 1 2/3 innings. Americo Lugo tossed a scoreless sixth.
On the base paths for Red, Romtres Cabrera stole his second base of the season. In the field for Blue, Suarez made a fielding error and Sanchez had a passed ball.
DSL Cardinals Blue, DSL Cardinals Red (Game 2, suspended)
This was the scheduled game for Saturday, to be played as the second game of the doubleheader. The game was suspended in the sixth inning due to rain, tied at 2-2. It will be resumed at a later Saturday, as the two Cardinals clubs meet to close each week of the schedule.
Sunday’s game: No game scheduled.
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