Cardinals Minor League Notebook – July 3, 2026

photo: Joshua Baez (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 5-1 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis OF Joshua Báez, was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs, and three RBI. Other standouts: Ramon Mendoza, Noah Mendlinger, Tre Richardson III, Won-Bin Cho, Nate Dohm, Jack Martinez and Yordalin Peña.

Results for games played on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Memphis Redbirds 8, Charlotte Knights 6

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds staged a late-inning comeback to defeat the Charlotte Knights at AutoZone Park on Thursday.

Pete Hansen started his 13th game for the Redbirds. The left-hander pitched four innings and allowed four runs on five hits, three walks, and three strikeouts.

In his season debut for Memphis, Victor Santos threw two scoreless, no-hit innings in relief of Hansen. Ryan Murphy walked four and yielded two runs in just ⅔ of an inning. Cade Winquest followed with 1 ⅓ shutout frames and picked up his second win. Scott Blewett fanned two in a scoreless ninth and collected his team-leading sixth save.

Memphis opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Joshua Báez hit a two-out solo home run, his 27th of the year, to put the Redbirds in front 1-0.

Joshua Baez

Charlotte scored single runs in the second and third innings and added a pair of runs in the fourth to move ahead 4-1.

Memphis moved within a run in the home sixth. Báez pounded his 28th home run of the year, a solo shot.

Leo Bernal hit a one-out single. With two away, Ramon Mendoza doubled home Bernal.

Ramon Mendoza

The Knights took both runs back in the top of the seventh for a three-run lead at 6-3.

The Redbirds responded with two runs in the home seventh. Jeremy Rivas hit a lead-off single. Báez ripped a two-out double to plate Rivas.

Nolan Gorman brought Báez home with a single to bring the Redbirds within one run at 6-5, though Gorman was thrown out at second on the play to cut the rally short.

Nolan Gorman

Memphis claimed their first lead of the night with a three-run eighth. Bernal doubled and stole third base. Mendoza scored Bernal on a ground-rule double to tie the game 6-6.

Colton Ledbetter followed with a walk. Pinch-hitting for Rivas, Noah Mendlinger lined a triple to score Mendoza and Ledbetter and put the Redbirds in front 8-6.

Noah Mendlinger

The Redbirds tallied seven extra-base hits in the win and scored eight runs on 12 hits. Báez was a perfect 3-for-3, including a walk, a double, two home runs, and three RBI. Mendoza was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and two RBI. Mendlinger hit a pinch-hit triple for two RBI. Gorman singled and drove in a run. Bernal was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

On the bases, Báez swiped his 14th bag. Bernal stole his seventh base.

The Redbirds did not commit an error.

Memphis is 3-6 in the second half and 50-34 overall.

Friday’s game: vs. Charlotte. LHP Quinn Mathews (4-3, 3.95) vs. LHP Joe Rock (1-1, 5.47) 7:05 PM CT.

Springfield Cardinals 10, Arkansas Travelers 8

The Double-A Springfield Cardinals held off a late Arkansas Travelers rally for a Thursday night win at Route 66 Stadium.

Chen-Wei Lin made his 12th start in his 15th game for Springfield. The right-hander threw four innings and allowed three runs on three hits, no walks, and five strikeouts.

Darlin Saladin fanned three and yielded a run over two innings in relief of Lin but picked up the win. Domenic Picone surrendered three runs over 1 ⅔ innings with three strikeouts. Lefty Michael Watson recorded two outs and gave up a run. Randel Clemente sealed the final two outs of the game without allowing a run to earn his second save of the year with Springfield.

The Cardinals opened the scoring with a big seven-run bottom of the second inning. Won-Bin Cho hit a lead-off single and advanced to second via a balk. Jon Jon Gazdar walked. Brody Moore blooped a single to load the bases. Dakota Harris ripped a single to score Cho. Tre Richardson III belted a grand slam, his third Double-A home run, to charge the Cardinals ahead 5-0.

Tre Richardson

Rainiel Rodriguez went back-to-back with his seventh long ball of the year.

Rainiel Rodriguez

Deniel Ortiz hit a one-out single and scored on a Miguel Ugueto triple to extend the lead to 7-0.

Springfield added their eighth run in the third. Moore singled and Harris was hit by a pitch. Richardson III grounded into a forceout as Moore scored via a throwing error.

Arkansas dented the lead with a three-run fourth.

The Cardinals plated a pair of runs in the home fourth. Ugueto legged out an infield single. Cho followed with his fifth Double-A home run, a two-run blast, to put the Cardinals in double digits for a 10-3 lead.

Won-Bin Cho

Arkansas added a run in the sixth and four in the eighth to narrow the Springfield lead to 10-8, but could score no more as the Cardinals never trailed.

Springfield scored 10 runs on 13 hits. Richardson III hit a grand slam and recorded a team-best five RBI. Cho was 2-for-4, including a walk, a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI. Rodriguez was 2-for-5 with a home run. Ugueto was 2-for-5 with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI. Harris went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Moore was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

The Cardinals did not steal a base.

On defense, right fielder Cho committed a fielding error but threw a runner out at home plate.

Springfield is 7-2 in the second half and 38-39 overall.

Friday’s game: vs. Arkansas. LHP Liam Doyle (1-5, 5.82) vs. LHP Kade Anderson (8-0, 1.22) 7:05 PM CT.

Peoria Chiefs 6, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 2

The High-A Peoria Chiefs bested the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Dozer Park on Thursday.

Ty Van Dyke

Ty Van Dyke made his fifth start in his seventh game for Peoria. The right-hander threw five innings and allowed two runs on three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Van Dyke earned his third win with the Chiefs.

Nate Dohm

Tandem starter Nate Dohm fired 3 ⅓ shutout frames with a pair of strikeouts. Bobby Olsen struck out both batters faced in the ninth and picked up his fourth save.

Wisconsin scored twice in the top of the first inning to grab the lead.

Peoria tied the score at 2-2 in the home half of the frame. José Suárez doubled and moved to third on a groundout. Jalin Flores brought Suárez via a sacrifice fly. Josh Kross doubled and crossed home plate on a Sammy Hernandez single.

Sammy Hernandez

The Chiefs took a 3-2 lead with a run in the fourth. Hernandez singled, swiped second and took third via a throwing error.  Anyelo Encarnación brought Hernandez home with a sacrifice fly.

Peoria plated a run in the sixth to increase the lead to 4-2. Kross walked. Encarnación ripped a double, with Kross coming home thanks to a fielding error.

Anyelo Encarnacion

The Chiefs scored again in the home seventh. Suárez hit his second double of the game and took third on a groundout. Flores scorched a single into center field to plate Suárez and extend the lead to 5-2.

Jalin Flores

The Chiefs added an insurance run in the eighth. With two outs, Jose Cordoba and Suárez hit back-to-back singles. Gurevitch lined a third consecutive single to bring Cordoba home and stretch the Peoria lead to 6-2.

The Chiefs held Wisconsin to just one hit with runners in scoring position in the win.

Peoria scored six runs on 10 hits. Suárez was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored from the lead-off spot. Flores singled and drove in two. Hernandez was 2-for-3, including a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Encarnación doubled and notched an RBI. Gurevitch walked, singled, and drove in a run. Kross doubled, walked, and scored twice.

On the bases, Luis Pino stole his fourth bag with the Chiefs. Hernandez swiped his eighth base.

On defense, catcher Hernandez picked a runner off third base to highlight an errorless night for the Chiefs.

Peoria is 5-6 in the second half and 37-40 overall.

Friday’s game: vs. Wisconsin. RHP Tanner Franklin (2-2, 4.96) vs. LHP Wande Torres (5-5, 5.29) 7:05 PM CT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 7 at Lakeland Flying Tigers 6 (7 innings, game one)

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals won a back-and-forth seven-inning contest over the Lakeland Flying Tigers in game one of Thursday’s road doubleheader. It was scheduled to make up Wednesday’s rainout.

Brian Holiday made his sixth start for Palm Beach. The right-hander tossed 4 ⅔ innings and allowed three runs on five hits, no walks, and tied a career-high with six strikeouts.

Nelfy Ynfante yielded three runs and threw 2 ⅓ innings to finish the game and collect his second win.

Lakeland grabbed an early 3-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first and two runs in the second.

Palm Beach took a 4-3 lead with a four-run fourth inning. With two outs, Ryan Weingartner lined a single and stole second. Matthew Miura singled to score Weingartner. Jonathan Mejía crushed his ninth home run of the year, a two-run shot. Yordalin Peña went back-to-back with Mejía on his 10th home run.

Jonathan Mejia

The Cardinals extended their lead to 6-3 with two runs in the top of the sixth. Brayden Smith walked and advanced to third base on a single from Weingartner. Miura reached on a fielding error, with Smith home on the play. Mejía was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Peña brought Weingartner home on a sacrifice fly.

Lakeland moved within a run with a pair of runs in the home sixth.

The Cardinals added an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Ryan Mitchell drew a walk and stole second base. Yairo Padilla took a second consecutive walk. Padilla and Mitchell advanced on a Smith groundout. Miura reached again on an error to bring Mitchell home for a 7-5 Cardinals lead.

Ynfante stranded Lakeland’s potential tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth to secure the tight win.

The Cardinals scored seven runs on six hits. Mejía and Peña each hit a home run and tallied two RBI. Miura singled, scored, and drove in two. Weingartner was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

On the bases, Mitchell stole two bags to increase his season total to 21. Weingartner swiped his 24th base. Heriberto Caraballo was caught stealing second base.

On defense, first baseman Caraballo committed a fielding error.

Palm Beach Cardinals 10 at Lakeland Flying Tigers 2 (7 innings, game two)

The Palm Beach Cardinals crushed the Lakeland Flying Tigers to secure the doubleheader sweep.

Jack Martinez made his 15th career start. The right-hander threw a career-high six innings and allowed two runs on four hits, one walk, and tied his career-high of nine strikeouts. Martinez earned his first professional win.

Jack Martinez

Justin Militello struck out the side in the seventh inning to finish the game.

The Flying Tigers struck first with a two-run bottom of the first.

The Cardinals responded with seven runs in the third frame. Trevor Haskins led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a Johnfrank Salazar single. Sebastian Dos Santos singled to score Haskins. Yairo Padilla followed with a double to plate Salazar and Dos Santos and put the Cardinals ahead. Padilla stole third, though he was injured on the play. Chase Heath entered the game for him.

Brayden Smith walked. Heath touched home plate on a wild pitch for the fourth Cardinals run, with Smith to second base. Smith swiped second and Ryan Weingartner walked to load the bags. Matthew Miura dropped in a single to score Smith. Weingartner scored on a Yordalin Peña groundout, with Miura to second. Miura advanced to third base on a pickoff error. With two outs, Haskins singled for his second hit of the inning to bring Miura home and stretch the lead to 7-2.

Palm Beach padded the lead with three runs in the fourth. Heath began the frame with a single and took second base via a wild pitch. Smith hit a sharp double to score Heath. Weingartner was hit by a pitch. Peña ripped a double to plate Smith and Weingartner and put the Cardinals in double digits at 10-2.

Yordalin Peña

The Cardinals limited Lakeland to just one hit with runners in scoring position to seal the doubleheader sweep.

Palm Beach scored 10 runs on 11 hits. Haskins was 2-for-3, including a walk, a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Peña doubled and recorded three RBI. Padilla tallied a double and two RBI. Smith walked, doubled, scored two runs, and notched an RBI. Dos Santos walked, scored a run, singled, and drove in one. Miura singled, scored a run, and tallied an RBI. The lineup was 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

On the bases, Weingartner stole two bags for 26 steals on the year. Smith notched his 22nd steal. Haskins recorded his 13th steal. Padilla snagged his fourth base.

On defense, third baseman Weingartner made a throwing error. Shortstop Dos Santos committed a fielding error.

Palm Beach is 9-3 in the second half and 42-36 overall.

Friday’s game: at Lakeland. RHP Andrew Dutkanych IV (0-1, 7.90) vs. TBA. 4:00 PM CT.

FCL Cardinals (postponed)

The Florida Complex League Cardinals’ road contest with the FCL Astros was postponed on Thursday due to wet grounds.

The Cardinals are off Friday and will play a home contest with the FCL Marlins on Saturday.

The FCL Cardinals are 13-25 on the season.

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

DSL Cardinals 1 at DSL NYY Bombers 5 (5 innings)

The Dominican Summer League Cardinals dropped a lightning-shortened contest to the NYY Bombers on Thursday.

Hendrick Caña started his fifth game for the Cardinals. The left-hander pitched 3 ⅓ innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits, two walks, and five strikeouts, taking the loss.

Beiker Rodríguez threw 1 ⅔ scoreless, no-hit innings with a strikeout in relief of Caña. Rodríguez lowered his ERA to 1.53 with the strong outing.

Beiker Rodriguez

The Cardinals opened the scoring in the top of the first. Jhon Frangarten lined a single and moved to third on a Luis Estrella single. Misael Sánchez reached on a missed catch error by the first baseman, allowing Frangarten to score.

The NYY Bombers tied the game with a run in the bottom of the second and took the lead with a three-run third. The NYY Bombers added a run in the fourth to move ahead 5-1.

The Cardinals threatened in the fifth. Diego Conseción walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Lucas Takahashi walked. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, but three consecutive strikeouts stranded both runners in scoring position.

The game was called with one out in the top of the sixth inning due to lightning.

The DSL Cardinals scored one run on three hits, all singles. Frangarten collected a hit and scored the lone run. Takahashi walked and singled. Estrella tallied a hit.

The Cardinals did not steal a base.

On defense, shortstop Yeferson Portolatin committed two errors, one fielding and one on an errant throw. Pitcher Caña picked a runner off first base.

The DSL Cardinals are 13-10 on the season. They will return home for a contest with the DSL White Sox on Friday.

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

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