photo: Matt Koperniak (Memphis Redbirds)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 2-2 on Sunday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis outfielder Matt Koperniak, hit a walk-off single in the 11th inning. Other standouts: Hancel Rincon, Austin Love, Won-Bin Cho, Travis Honeyman, Jacob Odle and Chase Heath.
Results for games played on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
Memphis Redbirds 2, Charlotte Knights 1 (11 innings)
Behind strong pitching and just enough offense, the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds walked off the Charlotte Knights in the 11th inning in Sunday’s series finale at AutoZone Park.
Brycen Mautz started his 15th game for Memphis. The left-hander tossed just two scoreless innings on one hit, one walk and three strikeouts.
Hancel Rincon fired three no-hit, shutout frames with a pair of strikeouts in relief. Victor Santos yielded a run across two innings. Luis Gastelum followed with a scoreless eighth. Austin Love fanned three as he pitched scoreless 9th and 10th innings. Ryan Murphy struck out two in the 11th and picked up his second Triple-A win.
The Redbirds broke the scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Colton Ledbetter and Noah Mendlinger singled. Ledbetter took third on a wild pitch and scored on a César Prieto sacrifice fly.
Charlotte tied the game at one in the top of the seventh. Love escaped a bases-loaded jam to preserve the tie in the ninth. The game stayed deadlocked at one apiece heading into the bottom of the 11th.
Ledbetter began the inning at second base and scored on Matt Koperniak’s single to win the game for Memphis 2-1.
KOPERNIAK GIVES US OUR SECOND WALKOFF WINNER OF THE WEEK!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/mCsCRBcjC1
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) July 5, 2026
The Redbirds scored two runs on seven hits, all singles. Koperniak was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ledbetter singled and scored twice. Bligh Madris went 2-for-4.
On the bases, Mendlinger was caught stealing second base and picked off first base. The Redbirds did not steal a bag.
Memphis did not commit an error.
Memphis is 7-5 in the second half and 52-35 overall after taking four of six from Charlotte. They are tied for fourth place in the International League West Division. The Redbirds are off Monday and will travel to Gwinnett Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia, for a six-game set with the Gwinnett Stripers, starting Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: at Gwinnett (ATL). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 PM CT.
Springfield Cardinals 2, Arkansas Travelers 10
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals fell to the Arkansas Travelers at Route 66 Stadium in Sunday’s series finale.
For the first time in 733 days, Cooper Hjerpe started on the mound for Springfield.
It's been 733 days. It's good to have you back, Cooper Hjerpe. pic.twitter.com/lJ627KLEKW
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 5, 2026
The left-hander pitched 2 ⅓ innings and allowed four runs on two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Hjerpe took the loss.
Darlin Saladin pitched 1 ⅔ scoreless innings in relief. Lefty Michael Watson surrendered four runs and recorded just two outs. D.J. Carpenter walked five and yielded a run over 1 ⅔ innings. Hunter Hayes gave up a run in 1 ⅔ innings. Domenic Picone pitched a shutout ninth frame.
Arkansas plated two runs apiece in the top of the second and third innings to move ahead 4-0.
Springfield chipped into the gap with a run in the home third. Tre Richardson III walked and advanced to third on a Travis Honeyman single. Rainiel Rodriguez grounded into a forceout, with Richardson III coming home.
The Cardinals moved within 4-2 in the fourth. With two outs, Won-Bin Cho launched his seventh Double-A home run in his 10th game with Springfield.
There he goes again! Won-Bin Cho launches his seventh homer in ten Double-A games! pic.twitter.com/rntobN7iUj
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) July 6, 2026
Arkansas responded with four runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 8-2. The Travelers added one run apiece in the eighth and ninth to stretch the score to 10-2. Springfield was unable to respond.
The Cardinals scored two runs on seven hits. Honeyman was 3-for-5 with a double from the lead-off spot. Cho hit a solo home run. Rodriguez walked twice and notched an RBI. Deniel Ortiz hit two singles. The lineup was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.
The Cardinals did not steal a base or commit an error.
Springfield is 9-3 in the second half and 40-40 overall after taking four of six from Arkansas. The Cardinals hold a half-game lead in the Texas League North Division for the second half. Springfield is off Monday and will travel to ONEOK Field in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a six-game series with the Tulsa Drillers, starting Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: at Tulsa (LAD). LHP Braden Davis (1-3, 5.01) vs. TBA. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT.
Peoria Chiefs 0, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4
The day after the High-A Peoria Chiefs shut out Wisconsin, the Timber Rattlers turned the tables on Sunday. The Chiefs were held scoreless for the first time in 2026, falling 4-0 at Dozer Park on Sunday.
Jacob Odle started for the Chiefs. The right-hander threw 4 ⅓ scoreless innings on two hits, three walks and seven strikeouts.
For your Sunday viewing pleasure: 7⃣ Jacob Odle strikeouts in just 4.2 innings. pic.twitter.com/kpiGmWhZGp
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) July 5, 2026
Bobby Olsen tossed 1 ⅔ shutout frames in relief. Nolan Sparks allowed a run in the seventh and took the loss. Dominic Freeberger surrendered three runs in the eighth. Rubén Menes pitched a scoreless ninth.
Peoria was limited to three hits and no runs on the day. Luis Pino walked and doubled. McGee doubled. Josh Kross walked and singled. The lineup drew just those two walks and struck out 11 times.
The Chiefs did not steal a base.
On defense, right fielder José Suárez made a spectacular catch in the seventh inning to highlight an errorless day for Springfield.
Leaping grab by José Suárez 😮 pic.twitter.com/ahNZg2OEWD
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) July 5, 2026
Peoria is 6-8 in the second half and 38-42 overall after taking just two of six from Wisconsin. The Chiefs are five games out of first place in the Midwest League West Division. They are off Monday and will head to Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, IA, for a six-game series with the Quad Cities River Bandits, beginning Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: at Quad Cities (KC). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM CT.
Palm Beach Cardinals 5 at Lakeland Flying Tigers 3
The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals staged a comeback win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers in Sunday’s road series finale.
Nathan Shinn made his first professional start in his fourth game with Palm Beach. The left-hander pitched four innings and allowed three runs on five hits, three walks, and three strikeouts.
Zeke Wood struck out two in a scoreless fifth inning and picked up his first professional win. Liam Best, Nelfy Ynfante and Dylan Drissen each tossed a shutout frame. With the Cards up by two in the ninth, Justin Militello stranded the tying runs in scoring position to earn his first career save.
Lakeland scored two runs in the bottom of the third and added a run in the fourth to grab a 3-0 lead.
Palm Beach tied the game in the fifth. Alex Birge hit a one-out single. With two away, Brayden Smith legged out an infield single. Sebastian Dos Santos connected for a single to score Birge, with Smith and Dos Santos also scoring due to a fielding error by the right fielder.
The Cardinals gained the lead in the sixth. Matthew Miura and Jonathan Mejia walked and advanced on a Chase Heath flyout. Trevor Haskins brought Miura home on a groundout to move the Cardinals ahead 4-3.
Palm Beach added an insurance run in the eighth. Mejía drew his second walk of the game and scored on a double from Heath for a 5-3 Cardinals lead.
Palm Beach pitchers stranded eight Flying Tigers on base in the win.
The Cardinals scored five runs on five hits. Heath doubled for the team’s lone extra-base hit and drove in a run. Dos Santos singled, scored and notched an RBI. Smith walked, singled, and scored. Haskins recorded an RBI.
On the bases, Dos Santos stole his eighth bag of the season with Palm Beach.
On defense, pitcher Shinn picked a runner off first base. The Cardinals turned two double plays.
Palm Beach is 10-5 in the second half and 43-38 overall following the series split with Lakeland. They hold a 1.5 game lead in the Florida State League East Division. The Cardinals are off Monday and will travel to Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida, for a six-game series with the Daytona Tortugas, starting Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: at Daytona (CIN). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 PM CT.
FCL Cardinals (off day)
The Florida Complex League Cardinals were off Sunday as they prepared for a home contest with the FCL Nationals on Monday.
The Cardinals enter the week coming off a 4-2 victory over the FCL Marlins on Saturday.
The FCL Cardinals are 14-25 on the season.
Monday’s game: vs. FCL Nationals. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT.
DSL Cardinals (off day)
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals were off Sunday as they prepared for a road contest with the DSL Rangers Blue on Monday.
The Cardinals’ most recent contest against the DSL Twins was suspended due to lightning in the area and is scheduled to be completed on August 18.
The DSL Cardinals are 13-11 on the season.
Monday’s game: at DSL Rangers Blue. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 AM CT.
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