photo: Shane Billings (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-1 on a light Tuesday schedule. Our Player of Day, Palm Beach outfielder Shane Billings, drove in six on two doubles and a home run.
Results from the games played Tuesday, July 10th.
Memphis – off
The first-place Memphis Redbirds (56-34) are off for the Triple-A All-Star Game. The 2018 edition takes place on Wednesday, July 11th, at Huntington Park, home of the International League Columbus Clippers (CLE). The Redbirds will be represented on the Pacific Coast League All-Star squad by RHP Dakota Hudson, RHP Daniel Poncedeleon and 3B Patrick Wisdom. As the top vote-getter, Hudson earned starting pitcher honors, only the fifth Memphis pitcher so designated.
Wednesday’s game: Triple-A All-Star Game
Springfield – off
Fresh off their first series’ win since late May, third-place Springfield is traveling to second-place Arkansas (SEA) for four games before heading back home to host fourth-place Northwest Arkansas (KC).
Wednesday’s game: at Arkansas (9-7), 7:10 pm CT, Anthony Shew (4-4, 4.94)
The Beach Birds used a six-run ninth to surge past the Miracle, 14-8. Palm Beach (9-10) has taken the first two of four versus Fort Myers and moved into a first-place tie with Charlotte (TB) in the underachieving South Division.
The team’s 17 hits included four doubles, a triple and two home runs. Kramer Robertson spearheaded the attack, going 4-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and one driven in. But it was Player of the Day Shane Billings who did the most damage, going 3-for-6 with two doubles and a three-run blast that was part of his three runs scored and six RBI.
Andy Young had three hits as well, as the second baseman was 3-for-5 with a walk, triple, run scored and RBI. Dylan Carlson and J.B. Woodman had two hits apiece. Carlson doubled and had a solo shot in five at bats, touching home twice and knocking in three.
Evan Kruczynski went five innings in his return from the disabled list, yielding three runs, two earned, on two hits and four walks with four strikeouts. John Kilichowski retired four batters, permitting three runs on four hits and two free passes.
Robbie Gordon (BS, 2) (W, 3-1) entered during the seventh, asked to hold an 8-4 advantage, but he could not come through. Gordon allowed both inherited runners to score plus one of his own to close the gap to 8-7. The righty surrendered the game-tying tally the next frame for an overall line of two runs allowed on three hits and a base-on-balls in 1 2/3.
But the visitors exploded for six tallies on four singles, a double, walk and two hit batsmen to break the game wide open. The Fort Myers manager just plain exploded in the ninth, leading to his ejection. Eric Carter struck out two of three faced in the home half of the frame.
Wednesday’s game: at third-place Fort Myers (8-11) (MIN), Casey Meisner (4-1, 3.14)
Peoria – off
Third-place Peoria (10-7) hosts their Eastern Division rivals, fifth-place Lake County (CLE) and second-place Fort Wayne (SD) for three games each.
Wednesday’s game: vs. Lake County (9-10), 7:00 pm CT, TBA
State College – off
Coming off a six-game road trip in which they won both three-game series, State College (10-14) opens a six-game home stand against two Stedler Division teams. First up is the second-place Vermont Lake Monsters (OAK) followed by the division-leading Tri City ValleyCats (HOU).
Wednesday’s game: vs. Vermont (12-12), 7:05 pm ET, Jake Dahlberg (0-1, 4.03)
Elizabethton 15 at Johnson City 1
The Appy Birds opened their four-game set with the Twins by absorbing a 15-1 shellacking. Johnson City (9-10) drops to two games off the pace set by co-leaders Elizabethton and Kingsport (NYM).
The game remained competitive through the first four frames with the JC-Cards trailing 2-1, before a seven-run fifth blew the contest wide open. Still in search of a solid, regular rotation, Johnson City gave non-drafted free agent signee Tommy Parsons his first start after four relief appearances. Parsons did a respectable job in the brief time he was in there, tossing three scoreless frames after yielding a two-run home run in his initial inning of work. The right-hander gave up four hits, struck out three and did not issue a free pass.
But erstwhile starter Edwar Ramirez showed in the fifth why he probably should not be in the rotation. Ramirez was tagged for seven runs on eight hits, including a solo shot, the second of five home runs surrendered by JC-Card pitchers, with only two outs recorded.
Junior Gonzalez, another (former?) member of the rotation, recorded six outs but not before allowing six tallies on five hits, two walks and three long balls. Enrique Perez kept Elizabethton off the board over the final 2 1/3 on just one hit, but the damage was already done.
Shortstop Michael Perri and third baseman Moises Castillo each had two of the team’s six hits. Perri’s triple was the only one to go for extra bases. Johnson City’s sole tally was unearned, the product of a fielding error that put Luis Flores aboard, stolen base, ground out and throwing error. Defensively, the Appy Birds committed three miscues, two by Parsons on pickoff attempts and one by Perri.
Wednesday’s game: vs. Elizabethton (11-8) (MIN), 7:00 pm ET, TBA
GCL Cardinals 6 vs. GCL Marlins 5
The Gulf Cardinals rallied for a 6-5 victory over the fifth-place Marlins (6-3). The Cardinals (13-6) maintained their half-game lead over the Mets in the East Division of the Gulf Coast League.
Trailing 4-0 through five, the home team finally broke through the next frame for a run. Then came the seventh when the Gulf Birds plated a five spot to go up 6-4. Things got a bit dicey in the ninth when the Cardinals committed their fifth error of the day, leading to a run and putting the potential tying run just 90 feet away from home. But the pitcher’s best friend, a double play, came to their aid and the team hung on for the win.
Designated hitter Victor Garcia led the team’s nine-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with one driven in. Center fielder Diomedes Del Rio singled twice in four at bats with a run scored and RBI, the only other Cardinal with a multi-hit performance. But Mateo Gil’s bat was the most productive, as the shortstop doubled once in three at bats with a base-on-balls, crossed home once and knocked in three.
Defensively, it was a bit of a nightmare day for second baseman Cole Kreuter, who committed three bobbles – two missed catches and one fielding. Catcher Joe Freiday was charged with an error on an attempted pickoff play at second while first baseman Liam Sabino’s missed catch miscue led to the ninth inning jam.
The pitching staff bore the brunt of the shaky defense as four of the five Marlins runs were unearned. Right-hander Cole Aker made his first pro start after four relief appearances and had fairly solid results. Aker allowed three hits and a walk over four innings while fanning five. Both of the tallies charged to him were unearned. He did uncork two wild pitches.
Chris Rivera (W, 1-1) pitched the next three frames, yielding two runs, one earned, on two hits and a base-on-balls with three strikeouts. Jose Geronimo tossed a clean eighth but was bitten by the ninth inning error that led to an unearned run in 1 1/3. Geronimo gave up a hit, walk and plunked a batter. Ty Cohen ended the threat with a 1-6-3 double play for his first professional save.
Wednesday’s game: at third place GCL Nationals (8-11), 12:00 pm ET, TBA
DSL Cardinals Blue – postponed
Tuesday’s contest between the DSL Cardinals Blue (21-11) and DSL Angels (10-22) was postponed due to rain. The game has been rescheduled as part of a double-header on Wednesday, July 11th. Game 1 will commence at 10:30 am ET with the second to follow.
Wednesday’s games: at DSL Angels (10-22). Game 1 – 10:30 am ET, Francis Ventura (1-2, 4.13)/TBA
DSL Cardinals Red – postponed
Not surprisingly, the game between the DSL Cardinals Red (17-15) and Mets2 was also rained out. It will now take place as part of a twin bill on Wednesday, July 11th with Game 1 starting at 10:30 am ET.
Wednesday’s games: vs. DSL Mets2 (15-17). Game 1 – 10:30 am ET, Martin Cordova (3-0, 0.52)/Ronald Suarez (0-2, 5.51)
Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation: Palm Beach Cardinals Notebook – 2018 Week 14
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.
© 2018 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.