photo: Thomas Saggese (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was a perfect 6-0 on Thursday, including two walk-offs. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis IF Thomas Saggese, crushed a walk-off home run in a three-hit, three-RBI night. Other standouts: Colton Ledbetter, Jesús Báez, Randel Clemente, Christian Worley, Yordalin Peña, Kenly Hunter, Miguel Hernández, Jordan Beltrán, Jesús Pérez and J.P. Cabrera.
Results for games played on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
Memphis Redbirds 7, Durham Bulls 5 (10 innings)
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds walked-off the Durham Bulls in a 10-inning thriller at AutoZone Park on Thursday.
Up from Springfield again, Brandt Thompson stepped in to start for Memphis in what had been Hunter Dobbins’ turn. The right-hander pitched 4 ⅓ innings and allowed two runs on five hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
Hancel Rincon fanned four and yielded two runs across 1 ⅔ innings in relief of Thompson. Victor Santos struck out four over two shutout innings. Ryan Fernandez gave up an unearned run across the ninth and 10th frames and picked up his third win with the Redbirds.
Memphis plated the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Victor Scott II walked and advanced to third on a pickoff error. Joshua Báez brought Scott II home via a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Thomas Saggese doubled. Colton Ledbetter lined a single to bring Saggese home for a 2-0 lead.
Ledbetter laces a single to double the lead!
📺: @MatrixMidwest pic.twitter.com/tbyIjXY8dc
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) July 24, 2026
The Redbirds added a run in the home fourth. Ledbetter doubled with one out. Ramon Mendoza followed with a walk. Noah Mendlinger grounded a single into center field to score Ledbetter for a 3-0 Memphis lead.
Durham scored two runs apiece in the fifth and sixth frames to jump in front 4-3.
Memphis knotted the game at four apiece in the eighth. With two down, Saggese lined a single and scored on a double from Ledbetter.
Ledbetter rockets a double to tie the game!!!!!
📺: @MatrixMidwest pic.twitter.com/ecvBolKqqo
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) July 24, 2026
The game remained tied at four to bring extra innings. The Bulls scored once in the top of the 10th to take a 5-4 lead.
The Redbirds looked to respond in the bottom of the frame. Scott II began the inning at second base. Gorman walked. Saggese crushed a three-run home run, his fourth of 2026 with Memphis, to win the game in walk-off fashion, 7-5.
WALK-OFF THOMMY TANK!!!!!!!@LennysSubs LONGBALL TO WIN IT!!!!#LennysLongball pic.twitter.com/zs5mIYollE
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) July 24, 2026
The Redbirds scored seven runs on eight hits. Saggese was 3-for-5, including a double, a home run, three runs scored, and three RBI. Ledbetter was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and two RBI. Mendlinger singled and drove in a run. Báez singled and notched an RBI.
On the bases, Ledbetter stole his 14th bag of the season.
On defense, left fielder Báez made a throwing error and a fielding error.
Memphis is 9-15 in the second half and 56-43 overall.
Friday’s game: vs. Durham. LHP Quinn Mathews (4-3, 3.39) vs. RHP Jesse Scholtens (1-1, 5.02) 7:05 PM CT.
Springfield Cardinals 5 at Northwest Arkansas Naturals 4 (10 innings)
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals won an extra-inning road contest over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Thursday.
Blake Aita made his second start in his third game for Springfield. The right-hander threw 5 ⅔ innings and allowed two runs on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
Blake Aita keeps rolling at Double-A. Tonight at NW Arkansas: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. pic.twitter.com/rJYJs8zJI8
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 24, 2026
Nolan Sparks gave up two runs in the seventh and was tagged with a blown save. Michael Watson struck out two over 1 ⅓ scoreless innings. Randel Clemente threw the final two scoreless innings with all six outs coming via a strikeout. Clemente picked up his third win.
Springfield opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Zach Levenson and Trey Paige singled. Dakota Harris lined a third consecutive single to score Levenson.
The Naturals tied the game with a run in the home fifth.
Springfield regained the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth. Tre Richardson III, singled, stole second base and reached third on a pickoff error. Levenson walked and swiped second. Fresh off the Development List, Paige scorched a single to plate Richardson III and Paige for a 3-1 Cardinals lead.
Trey Paige comes through with this third hit of the game and unties the game with a pair of RBIs! pic.twitter.com/nEExGZz6Zv
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 24, 2026
Northwest Arkansas scored once in the home sixth and twice in the seventh to jump ahead 4-3.
With Springfield down to its final out, Jesús Báez launched his ninth Double-A home run, a solo shot, to tie the game at 4-4.
DOWN TO OUR FINAL OUT. Jesús Báez has tied the game! pic.twitter.com/672iKfDgX2
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 24, 2026
The game stayed tied to force extra innings. The Naturals left two in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth.
The Cardinals took their third lead of the game with a run in the top of the 10th.
Rainiel Rodriguez began the inning at second base and moved to third on a Won-Bin Cho groundout. Miguel Ugueto ripped a double to score Rodriguez and put the Cardinals back in front 5-4.
Nine pitch at bat, battle won! Miguel Ugueto doubles in Rainiel Rodriguez to take the lead in the tenth. pic.twitter.com/FudwgETkGu
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 24, 2026
Clemente struck out the side in the 10th to seal the victory.
The Cardinals scored five runs on 11 hits. Paige was 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, and two RBI. Báez hit a game-tying home run. Harris singled and drove in one. Ugueto doubled and brought home the go-ahead run. Levenson walked twice, singled, and scored twice.
On the basepaths, Cho swiped his second Double-A bag. Levenson stole his second base of the year. Richardson III recorded his 14th steal with Springfield. Paige was caught stealing second base.
The Cardinals turned two double plays in an errorless performance.
Springfield is 14-10 in the second half and 45-47 overall.
Friday’s game: at Northwest Arkansas. LHP Cooper Hjerpe (0-1, 6.32) vs. RHP Grant Gambrell (0-0, 5.87) 7:05 PM CT.
Peoria Chiefs 1, West Michigan Whitecaps 0
The High-A Peoria Chiefs were walk-off winners over the West Michigan Whitecaps on Thursday.
Yhoiker Fajardo made his 15th start in his 17th appearance for the Chiefs. The right-hander pitched 4 ⅔ scoreless innings on two hits, no walks and eight strikeouts.
Yhoiker Fajardo (@Cardinals No. 9) strikes out 💯
He sets down the first four batters he faces. pic.twitter.com/XiXJqgQLIq
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) July 23, 2026
Bobby Olsen fired 1 ⅓ shutout frames in relief of Fajardo. Dominic Freeberger threw a shutout seventh. Christian Worley struck out two over the final two scoreless innings and collected his third win of the year.
Four strikeouts for Christian Worley!
We're headed to the bottom of the ninth with no score. pic.twitter.com/T00H0OM8D5
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) July 24, 2026
Peoria was held to a single from Anyelo Encarnación and walks by Encarnación and Michael Dattalo through eight innings. As Peoria pitching was lights-out through nine innings, the Chiefs looked to scratch across one run in the bottom of the ninth to win the contest.
With two outs, Jalin Flores and Josh Kross singled and Dattalo was hit by a pitch. Ian Petrutz drew a bases-loaded walk to force Flores home and win the game for Peoria 1-0.
A walk-off WALK! 🤯
Ian Petrutz draws ball four with the bases loaded, and the Chiefs walk it off, 1-0! pic.twitter.com/esItxLwjsg
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) July 24, 2026
The Chiefs scored one run on three hits, all singles. Flores collected a hit and scored the lone run. Encarnación walked and tallied a hit. Kross picked up a hit. Petrutz walked and notched the team’s only RBI.
The Chiefs did not steal a base.
On defense, third baseman Dattalo made a fielding error.
Peoria is 12-14 in the second half and 44-48 overall on the season.
Friday’s game: vs. West Michigan. RHP Ty Van Dyke (4-4, 4.15) vs. RHP Carlos Marcano (1-3, 4.99) 7:05 PM CT.
Palm Beach Cardinals 5, Tampa Tarpons 1
The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals topped the Tampa Tarpons at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Thursday.
Brian Holiday started for Palm Beach. The right-hander threw 5 ⅓ innings and allowed one run on 10 hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. Holiday earned his first professional win.
Liam Best sealed the final two outs of the sixth inning in relief of Holiday. Rehabbing righty Joseph King followed with a shutout seventh. Antoni Cuello fanned two in a scoreless eighth. Jesús García finished the game with a shutout ninth frame.
Palm Beach grabbed an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Ryan Mitchell legged out an infield single and Ryan Weingartner was hit by a pitch. On a double steal, Mitchell scored via a throwing error. Weingartner came hom on a wild strike three pitch to Yordalin Peña to double the lead to 2-0.
The Cardinals plated a run in the home third. With two away, Peña blasted his 14th home run of the year, a solo shot. It was the 100th Palm Beach home run of 2026 to establish a new franchise single-season home run record and move the Cardinals ahead 3-0.
Yordalin hits the 100th Palm Beach homerun of the season!💯 pic.twitter.com/p5RYOrigif
— Palm Beach Cardinals (@GoPBCardinals) July 23, 2026
Tampa entered the scoreboard with a run in the top of the fourth.
The Cardinals took the run back in the home half of the frame. Trevor Haskins hit an infield single, moved to second on a groundout and stole third. Sebastian Dos Santos drew a walk, with Haskins home due to a wild ball four to extend the lead to 4-1.
Palm Beach added an insurance run in the seventh. Mitchell singled and Weingartner walked to open the frame. Brayden Smith ripped a single to bring Mitchell home for a 5-1 Cardinals lead.
Palm Beach pitchers stranded 10 Tarpons on base in the win.
The Cardinals scored five runs on eight hits. Peña was 2-for-4 with a home run. Smith singled and drove in a run. Mitchell was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Jonathan Mejía doubled.
On the bases, Dos Santos swiped two bags to increase his Palm Beach total to 11 and was caught stealing second base. Mitchell stole third for his 27th steal. Weingartner snatched his 31st bag. Haskins stole third for his 15th. Smith snagged his 26th base.
On defense, shortstop Weingartner made a throwing error. Left fielder Haskins committed a fielding error and threw a runner out at second base. The Cardinals turned three double plays in the game.
Palm Beach is 15-11 in the second half and 48-44 overall.
Friday’s game: vs. Tampa. RHP Andrew Dutkanych IV (2-0, 5.49) vs. TBA. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 PM CT.
FCL Cardinals 11, FCL Mets 3 (7 innings)
Ending a subpar season on a high note, backed by two grand slams, the Florida Complex League Cardinals crushed the FCL Mets in seven innings on Thursday.
Jefferson Moran made his first start in his third game of the season for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched three scoreless, no-hit innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
Alan Reyes yielded a run across 1 ⅔ innings in relief of Moran and picked up the win. Jan Cabrera gave up two runs over 2 ⅓ innings to finish the game.
The Cardinals stormed ahead with a six-run bottom of the third inning. Paulo Asprilla walked and moved to third base on a Yeferson Portolatin double. Miguel Hernández walked to load the bases with one out. With two away, Kenly Hunter launched a grand slam, his second home run of the year, to put the Cardinals in front 4-0.
Royelny Strop followed with a single and stole second. Juan Rujano walked. J.P. Cabrera lined a single to bring Strop and Rujano home for a 6-0 lead.
The Mets plated a run in the top of the fifth for a 6-1 score.
The Cardinals took the run back in the home half of the frame. Hernández reached on a fielding error and stole second. Hunter lined a single to put runners at the corners. Strop flew into a sacrifice double play, with Hernández coming home.
The Cardinals added four runs in the sixth. Rujano, Asprilla and Portolatin walked to load the bags. Hernández belted his ninth home run of 2026, a grand slam, to extend the lead to 11-1.
In the final FCL Cardinals game of the year on July 23, SS Miguel Hernández blasted a grand slam to finish the Rookie-level season with 9 HR & 38 RBI, representing two new FCL Cardinals single-season records.
The 18-year-old Venezuela native also ended the FCL season with a .969… pic.twitter.com/hzIq4puMEp
— Cardinals Player Development (@CardsPlayerDev) July 24, 2026
The Cardinals went 4-for-8 (.500) with runners in scoring position in the win.
The FCL Cardinals scored 11 runs on six hits. Hernández hit a grand slam, drew two walks and scored three runs. Hunter was 2-for-4 including a grand slam. Cabrera singled and drove in two. Portolatin doubled, walked twice, and scored twice.
On the bases, Portolatin swiped his fourth bag. Strop and Hernández each tallied their 11th steal.
The Cardinals did not commit an error.
The FCL Cardinals finished the 2026 schedule at 21-31 and did not qualify for the postseason.
DSL Cardinals 13, DSL White Sox 8 (7 innings)
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals bested the DSL White Sox in seven innings on Thursday.
Beiker Rodríguez started for the Cardinals. The right-hander threw three scoreless innings on two hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
Jordan Beltrán struck out seven in three shutout innings on one-hit and picked up his second win.
Andey Garrido surrendered six runs and failed to record an out. Domingo Mejía yielded two runs and secured one out in the seventh. Juan Santillán fanned the last two hitters of the game and picked up his third save.
The Cardinals struck first with five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Diego Conseción hit a lead-off infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Misael Sánchez hit a two-out infield single to put runners at the corners. Jesús Pérez singled home Conseción. Lucas Takahashi reached on a fielding error to load the bases. Sánchez crossed home plate on a wild pitch. Héctor Cabrera brought Pérez home via an infield single. Christopher Vargas connected for a single to plate Takahashi and Cabrera and stretch the lead to 5-0.
The Cardinals tacked on four runs in the second. Roberth Castillo legged out an infield single and took second on a wild pitch. Michael Cordero reached on a throwing error and Sánchez walked to load the bases. Pérez grounded into a forceout and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Takahashi walked. Cabrera ripped a single to bring Cordero and Pérez home for an 8-0 lead. Takahashi scored on a wild pitch.
The Cardinals piled on three more runs in the third. Conseción led off with a triple and scored on a groundout from Castillo. With two outs, Sánchez was hit by a pitch and Pérez hit a ground-rule double. Takahashi lined a single to score Sánchez and Pérez and stretch the lead to 12-0.
The Cardinals added a run in the fifth. Sánchez lined a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sánchez came home on a Pérez groundout for a 13-0 lead.
The White Sox stormed back with eight runs in the seventh, but the Cardinals’ lead was too large to surpass.
The DSL Cardinals scored 13 runs on 13 hits. Cabrera was 3-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and three RBI. Pérez went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, and three RBI. Takahashi singled, walked, scored twice, and drove in two. Castillo was 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Sánchez was 2-for-2 with a walk, a double, and three runs scored. Conseción was 2-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored.
The Cardinals did not steal a base or commit an error.
The DSL Cardinals are 17-18 on the season. They will play a road contest with the DSL NYY Bombers on Friday.
Friday’s game: at DSL NYY Bombers. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 AM CT.
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