Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 11, 2025

photo: Darlin Moquete (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 4-3 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Darlin Moquete, slugged two home runs for five RBI in Springfield’s DH sweep. Other standouts include Tekoah Roby, Matt Koperniak, Joshua Baez, Cade McGee, Sammy Hernandez and Andru Arthur.

Results for games played on Thursday, July 10.

Memphis Redbirds 8, Charlotte Knights 1

The Triple-A Redbirds bested the Charlotte Knights at AutoZone Park on Thursday, snapping Memphis’ five-game losing streak.

Tekoah Roby started for Memphis. The right-hander pitched 5 ⅓ scoreless innings on six hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. Roby earned his third win at the Triple-A level.

Tekoah Roby

Roddery Muñoz struck out three across 1 ⅓ shutout innings in relief of Roby. Ryan Fernandez yielded a run in one inning of work. Gordon Graceffo tossed a scoreless ninth inning to finish the win.

The Redbirds’ bats caught fire in a five-run bottom of the third inning to break the scoreless tie.

Brody Moore drew a leadoff walk. St. Louis rehabber Iván Herrera singled. JJ Wetherholt lined a single to score Moore.

Jimmy Crooks jolted a double to bring Herrera and Wetherholt home for a 3-0 Memphis lead.

Jimmy Crooks

Luken Baker walked. Matt Koperniak followed with a single to plate Crooks for the fourth run of the game, with Baker to third.

César Prieto hit a ground ball single to bring Baker home for a 5-0 Redbirds lead.

Memphis stretched the lead to eight runs with three in the fifth. Wetherholt and Crooks took back-to-back walks. Koperniak lined a single to score Wetherholt as the sixth run of the game.

Moore doubled home Crooks and Koperniak for an 8-0 Memphis lead.

Brody Moore

The Redbirds tallied seven two-out RBI in the victory.

Memphis scored eight runs on 10 hits. Koperniak was 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Moore was 2-for-3, including a walk, a double, a run scored, and two RBI. Crooks doubled, scored twice, and drove in two runs. Prieto singled and drove in a run. Wetherholt walked, scored twice, and tallied an RBI single. Designated hitter Herrera singled and scored a run in the first game of his rehab assignment.

The Redbirds did not steal a base or commit an error on defense.

Memphis is 46-42 overall, and 5-10 in the second half.

Friday’s game: vs. Charlotte, LHP Quinn Mathews (2-3, 4.32) vs. Yoendrys Gómez (1-1, 6.62) 7:05 PM CT.

Springfield Cardinals 5 at Corpus Christi Hooks 4 (7 innings, game one)

The Double-A Springfield Cardinals edged the Hooks in Corpus Christi in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader.

Pete Hansen made his 16th start for Springfield. The left-hander tossed six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, no walks, and a season-high nine strikeouts.

Pete Hansen

Fellow left-hander Nick Raquet allowed an unearned run to score in the seventh but held on to pick up his fourth career save.

Springfield pounced early with a four-run top of the second inning. Trey Paige singles. Dakota Harris reached on a fielder’s choice, with Paige to third via a fielding error. Ramon Mendoza lined a single to score Paige. Harris swiped third base. Darlin Moquete launched his fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot, to clear the bags and thrust Springfield ahead 4-0.

Darlin Moquete

The Hooks plated two runs in the home second and a run in the fourth to move within a run at 4-3.

The Cardinals added an insurance run in the sixth. Paige lined his second single of the game and stole second base. Harris followed with a single to bring Paige home and extend the Cardinals’ lead to 5-3.

Springfield’s pitching issued no walks and struck out 11 Hooks in the game one victory.

The Cardinals scored five runs on six hits. Moquete blasted a three-run home run. Harris and Mendoza each walked, scored a run, and hit an RBI single. Paige was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

On the bases, Harris stole two bags to increase his season total to 14. Paige swiped his fourth bag.

On defense, left fielder Moquete and second baseman Harris each committed a fielding error. Third baseman Mendoza made a throwing error.

Springfield Cardinals 9 at Corpus Christi Hooks 5 (7 innings, game two)

The Double-A Cardinals slugged their way to a doubleheader sweep on the road over the Corpus Christi Hooks on Thursday. This was the makeup of Wednesday’s postponement.

Max Rajcic made his 16th start for the Cardinals. The right-hander threw 2 ⅔ innings and allowed four unearned runs on six hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.

The Springfield bullpen was solid. Austin Love yielded a run across 1 ⅓ innings in relief of Rajcic and picked up the win to improve to a 4-0 record. Osvaldo Berrios followed with two shutout frames. Andrew Marrero hurled a scoreless seventh inning to finish the game.

Springfield opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second inning. Joshua Baez and Dakota Harris singled and Ramon Mendoza walked to load the bases. Baez crossed home plate on an R.J. Yeager sacrifice fly.

The Cardinals erupted for six runs in the third. Jordan Walker led off the frame with the first home run of his rehab assignment for a 2-0 Springfield lead. Leonardo Bernal followed with a single and swiped second base. Chase Davis walked. Baez followed with his first Double-A triple to score Bernal and Davis and extend the lead to 4-0. Harris hit a sharp single to plate Baez for a 5-0 lead. Harris stole second base and scored on a two-run home run by Darlin Moquete, his second long ball of the doubleheader, to break the game open at 7-0.

Joshua Baez

The Hooks trimmed the Springfield lead to two with a four-run bottom of the third, and a run in the fourth.

The Cardinals added a pair of runs in the sixth. Davis drew his second walk of the game, and Baez singled. Mendoza lined a single to bring Davis home, with Baez to third base. Baez touched home plate on Yeager’s second sacrifice fly for a 9-5 Springfield lead.

Springfield never trailed in either game of the twin bill.

The Cardinals scored nine runs on 10 hits. Baez was 3-for-3, including a walk, a triple, three runs scored, and three RBI. Moquete walked and hit a two-run home run. Walker drew a walk and blasted a solo home run. Harris singled twice, scored a run, and drove in a run. Mendoza walked twice and hit an RBI single. Yeager had two sacrifice flies.

On the basepaths, Harris swiped two bags, for four total in the doubleheader, and 16 steals on the year. Bernal stole his eighth base. Noah Mendlinger snagged his seventh. Mendoza was caught stealing second base.

On defense, center fielder Baez committed a fielding error, and nailed a runner at home plate.

Springfield is 53-31 overall, and 10-5 in the second half. They are tied for first place with Arkansas in the Texas League North Division.

Friday’s game: at Corpus Christi, RHP Hancel Rincon (2-1, 4.26) vs. RHP Bryce Mayer (4-2, 3.11) 7:05 PM CT.

Peoria Chiefs 4, Cedar Rapids Kernels 9

The High-A Peoria Chiefs fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Dozer Park on Thursday.

Jose Davila started for Peoria. The right-hander pitched 4 ⅔ innings and allowed six runs on nine hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Davila took the loss.

Hunter Hayes struck out three and surrendered two runs across 2 ⅓ innings in relief of Davila. D.J. Carpenter yielded a run with a pair of strikeouts over two innings.

The Chiefs took the early lead with a three-run first inning. Jon Jon Gazdar hit a lead-off single and stole second base. Travis Honeyman and Zach Levenson drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Gazdar scored on a Ryan Campos groundout, with Levenson and Honeyman advancing.

Ryan Campos

Honeyman crossed home plate via a balk, with Levenson to third. Levenson scored on a Josh Kross groundout for a 3-0 Peoria lead.

The Kernels grabbed the lead for good with a five-run fifth and a two-run seventh. Cedar Rapids added a run in the ninth.

Down to their last three outs, the Chiefs tried for a comeback. Campos legged out an infield single, and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Tre Richardson lined a single to plate Campos but the rally ended with a 9-4 loss.

The Chiefs scored four runs on four hits, all singles. Richardson walked, singled, and recorded an RBI. Campos singled, scored a run, and tallied one RBI. Honeyman walked twice, singled, and scored a run.

On the bases, Gazdar swiped his 15th bag. Richardson stole his 11th.

Defensively, Won-Bin Cho nailed a runner at second base from right field. The Chiefs turned three double plays in the game.

Peoria is 35-47 overall, and 9-8 in the second half. They will play a doubleheader with Cedar Rapids on Friday.

Friday’s games: vs. Cedar Rapids, Game 1: RHP Gerardo Salas (3-7, 8.27) vs. RHP Cole Peschl (4-2, 2.44) 4:30 PM CT.

Game 2: TBA vs. RHP Chase Chaney (5-2, 3.74). Game two is slated to begin shortly after the conclusion of game one.

Palm Beach Cardinals 9, Dunedin Blue Jays 6

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals edged the Dunedin Blue Jays at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday.

Nolan Sparks started for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched five innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts. Sparks earned his fourth win of the season.

Nolan Sparks

Domenic Picone surrendered three runs and recorded just two outs in relief of Sparks. Angel Cuenca secured the final out of the sixth inning. Christian Worley followed with a pair of strikeouts in two scoreless innings. Zeke Wood yielded two runs in the ninth but held on to finish the game.

Palm Beach began the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Christian Martin hit an infield single and stole second base. Cade McGee belted a two-run home run for an early 2-0 Cardinals lead.

Palm Beach extended the lead with a four-run second inning. Jose Suarez singled and swiped second. Sammy Hernandez and Bryce Madron drew back-to-back walks. Anyelo Encarnacion lined a single to bring Suarez home for the third run of the game. Hernandez touched home plate on a forceout play, with Martin reaching first base, Encarnacion out at second, and Madron to third. Madron scored on a throwing error by the pitcher on a pickoff attempt, and Martin was thrown out at third. McGee launched his second home run of the game, and eighth of the year, a solo shot, to stretch the Palm Beach lead to 6-0.

Cade McGee

The Cardinals added a pair of runs in the third. Yordalin Pena and Suarez singled, and a fielding error allowed both to advance a base. Hernandez singled to score both runners and extend the lead to 8-0.

The Blue Jays entered the run column with one in the fifth.

The Cardinals grabbed the run back in the home half of the frame. Hernandez belted his first home run of 2025 for a 9-1 Cardinals lead.

Sammy Hernandez

Palm Beach held off a late Blue Jays rally to secure the victory.

The Cardinals scored nine runs on 13 hits. McGee blasted two home runs for three RBI. Hernandez was 2-for-3, including a walk, a solo home run, two runs scored, and three RBI. Martin was 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Encarnacion singled and drove in a run.

On the bases, Martin stole his 14th bag. Suarez swiped his 12th.

On defense, right fielder Pena made a throwing error.

Palm Beach is 39-43 overall, and 7-10 in the second half.

Friday’s game: vs. Dunedin, RHP Leonel Sequera (2-6, 4.12) vs. RHP Holden Wilkerson (3-2, 5.40) 11:00 AM CT.

FCL Cardinals 5, FCL Mets 6

The Florida Complex League Cardinals lost a close home contest to the FCL Mets on Thursday.

Andrew Dutkanych IV started for the Cardinals in his professional debut. The 21-year-old right-hander threw one scoreless inning on no hits, walks, or strikeouts.

Andrew Dutkanych IV

Catcher Alejandro Loaiza made his second career pitching appearance in relief of Dutkanych IV and tossed a scoreless frame. Left-hander Yadiel Batista pitched four innings in long relief and allowed three runs. Samuel Fabian surrendered three runs across two innings. Jovi Galvez tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Facundo Velasquez drew a lead-off walk, and advanced to third base on a Bracewell Taveras single. Taveras swiped second. Andru Arthur cleared the bags with his first home run of the season, a three-run blast, to put the Cardinals in front 3-0.

Andru Arthur

The Mets tied the game at three apiece in the third.

The Cardinals regained the lead with a two-run sixth. Arthur singled and Yancel Guerrero walked. Yoerny Junco’s ground-rule double scored Arthur and moved Guerrero to third. Guerrero crossed home plate on a Romtres Cabrera sacrifice fly for a 5-3 Cardinals lead.

The Mets plated a run in the seventh, and two in the eighth to take 6-5 lead. The Cardinals failed to respond.

The FCL Cardinals scored five runs on six hits. Arthur was 3-for-4, including a three-run home run, two runs scored, and three RBI. Junco doubled and drove in a run. Cabrera tallied an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

On the basepaths, Taveras stole his 10th bag of the season. Arthur swiped his seventh. Yaisel Ramos snagged his second. Guerrero was caught stealing second base.

On defense, third baseman Taveras made a throwing error. Cabrera threw a runner out at home plate from left field.

The FCL Cardinals are 18-28 on the season. They are off Friday and will play a road contest with the FCL Astros on Saturday.

Saturday’s game: at FCL Astros. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 9:00 AM CT.

DSL Cardinals 6, DSL Angels 8

The Dominican Summer League Cardinals fell to the DSL Angels in Thursday’s home contest.

Jan Cabrera made his sixth start for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched four innings and allowed four runs on seven hits, no walks, and two strikeouts.

Pedro Olivero yielded two runs over 1 ⅓ innings in relief of Cabrera. Jarol Baez fanned three across 1 ⅔ shutout frames. Briam Reyes pitched a scoreless eighth inning but surrendered two runs in the ninth, taking the loss.

The Cardinals opened the scoring in the bottom of the first. Yeferson Portolatin hit a lead-off single and swiped second base. Portolatin moved to third on a Royelny Strop groundout, and scored on a Miguel Hernandez groundout.

The Angels tied the game in the second and took a 5-1 lead with a three-run fourth and a run in the fifth.

The Cardinals narrowed the gap to two in the home fifth. Johnny Chaparro singled, and advanced to second base via a wild pitch. Portolatin reached on a fielding error. Strop advanced Portolatin and Chaparro on a groundout. Hernandez lined a two-run single to score Chaparro and Portolain for a 5-3 game.

Miguel Hernandez

The Angels added a run in the sixth for a 6-3 score.

The Cardinals tied the game in the eighth. Yaxson Lucena hit his second triple of the season and scored on a wild pitch. Cristofer Lebron walked and Brayan Amoroso singled. Chaparro hit his first career double to bring Lebron home. Chaparro moved to third base, and Amoroso scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at six. Back-to-back strikeouts stranded the go-ahead run at third base.

The Angels regained the lead with a two-run top of the ninth. The Cardinals left the tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth.

The DSL Cardinals scored six runs on 10 hits. Hernandez walked, singled, and recorded three RBI. Chaparro was 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Lucena was 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. Juan Rujano doubled.

On the basepaths, Portolatin swiped two bags for 13 on the season. Lucena stole his second.

On defense, pitcher Olivero made a pickoff error.

The DSL Cardinals are 15-13 on the season and hold a one-game lead in the DSL Southeast Division.  They will wrap up their homestand with a contest against the DSL Phillies Red on Friday.

Friday’s game: vs. DSL Phillies Red. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 AM CT.

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