photo: Connor Jones (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 3-3 on Sunday as Connor Jones’ strong six innings on the mound helped Springfield win its first series since late May.
Results from the games played Sunday, July 8th.
The Redbirds’ two-run sixth provided the difference in their 4-3 victory over Omaha (40-48) (KC) in the rubber game of the five-game set. Memphis finishes the season’s first half with a 56-34 mark and a whopping 12 ½-game lead over Round Rock (TEX).
Luke Voit opened the inning with his sixth Triple-A home run. One out later Oscar Mercado doubled for the 19th time and scored on Randy Arozarena’s two-out single. Rangel Ravelo doubled twice in four at bats, crossed home once with an RBI. The only other Redbird with more than one of their nine hits was leadoff man Mercado, who added a single to his double in four at bats. Memphis was active on the base paths with Arozarena stealing two bags and Alex Mejia one.
Making his last tune-up before his scheduled start for the Pacific Coast League team in Wednesday’s Triple-A All-Star Game, Dakota Hudson tossed the first four innings. The right-hander was touched for two runs on six hits and two walks.
Tyler Lyons’ second rehab appearance consisted of three batters, 13 pitches and three strikeouts – two swinging and one looking. Austin Gomber was credited with his fifth win in eight decisions in his return to Triple-A, after the southpaw surrendered a home run during his three innings on the bump. Andrew Morales earned his third save.
Monday’s game: Off for the 2018 Triple-A All-Star Game break
Connor Jones tossed six strong frames as the S-Cards shut out the RockHounds, 4-0, clinching the series win with one game remaining in the three-game set. It is struggling Springfield’s (5-12) first series win since late May. The club moved into third place with the victory, but still trails first-place Tulsa (LAD) by seven games.
Facing Midland for the second consecutive start, Jones (W, 5-3) dramatically improved upon his July 3rd effort in which he was tagged for six runs, five earned, in just 4 2/3 innings. This time around, the 23-year-old limited his opponents to just three hits and three free passes while fanning four and earns our Player of the Day nod.
Austin Sexton was the first of three relievers completing one frame each. Sexton worked around a lead-off single and stolen base by inducing two ground outs and a swinging K. Luke Gregerson followed up on his first rehab appearance for Springfield with a double-play ball that erased his lead-off single. In his return to Springfield, Hector Mendoza fanned two of three batters faced.
Monday’s game: vs. Midland (4-13) (OAK), 6:30 pm CT, Mike O’Reilly (2-3, 4.39)
The Beach Birds were edged, 2-1, by the Fire Frogs (ATL), who claimed a three-game series sweep on Palm Beach’s home turf. Palm Beach (7-10) has lost four straight and dropped into a tie for third with Bradenton (PIT). Both teams are a game behind co-leaders Charlotte (TB) and Fort Myers (MIN).
The contest was knotted at zero until the sixth when PB-Cards’ starter Evan Guillory gave up two hits and a base-on-balls, resulting in one run. But Guillory’s teammates picked him up with a tally in the seventh, leaving the Louisiana native with a no decision. Guillory allowed five hits and two walks over seven innings with six strikeouts.
Reliever Thomas St. Clair retired just one batter while permitting two hits. Jacob Patterson used two swinging K’s to escape the jam but was charged with his third loss against four wins after yielding two ninth-inning singles sandwiched around a sac bunt and fly out.
The home team’s sole run scored sans benefit of a hit. J.B. Woodman opened the seventh by working a free pass. The right fielder advanced on Shane Billings’ sac bunt and raced to third on a wild pitch. Stefan Trosclair hit a fly ball deep enough to center to bring Woodman home.
Woodman provided most of the offense, what little there was of it. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and strikeout. A single by Chase Pinder accounted for the team’s other hit and Trosclair drew the other walk.
Monday’s game: vs. first-place Fort Myers (8-9) (MIN), 7:00 pm ET, TBA
Elehuris Montero’s 11th jack of the season lifted the Chiefs over the Timber Rattlers, 2-1. Peoria (9-6) holds a two-games-to-one series’ lead with one game remaining and is tied for second with Beloit (OAK), three games in back of Cedar Rapids (MIN).
The home run was Montero’s only hit in four at bats and the only one of his squad’s 10 hits to go for extra bases. Julio Rodriguez and Matt Fiedler led the Chiefs with two singles in four at bats. Fielder garnered an RBI when he drove in Yariel Gonzalez (single) for a 1-0 lead after two.
Johan Oviedo (W, 4-7) compiled a solid effort, working around three hits and four walks through six frames. The only tally charged to him was the product of a long ball. Oviedo fanned five. Patrick Dayton, Zach Prendergast and Kodi Whitley each tossed a clean inning, with Whitley picking up his fourth save.
Monday’s game: at Wisconsin (6-10) (MIL), 12:05 pm CT, Paul Balestrieri (5-3, 3.88)
The Spikes led early only to eventually lose to the Muckdogs, 8-3, evening the series at one game apiece with one on tap. State College (9-14) is tied for fifth/last with Williamsport (PHI), as both trail Mahoning Valley (CLE) by seven games.
State College led 3-2 after five, but six unanswered Batavia runs resulted in a loss for starter Angel Rondon, who is still seeking his first win of 2018 in four decisions. Rondon gave up four runs on seven hits – including a solo shot – and two walks in six plus frames.
The pitching of Jacob Schlesener and Cory Malcom pretty much put the game out of reach. Schlesener retired one batter, allowing one inherited runner to score while yielding a hit and walk plus a hit batsman. All three of his base runners scored with Malcom on the mound, who also permitted a run of his own on two hits in 1 2/3.
All three Spikes’ tallies were produced by two home runs in the third. Left fielder Andres Luna led off with his first long ball, followed by Edwin Figuera’s single. Figuera crossed home plate after Brady Whalen went yard for the second consecutive game. Luna, Figuera and Delvin Perez each had two of their team’s nine hits. Perez’ two singles in four at bats raised his batting average to .400 over his last 10 games. Figuera and Perez both swiped a bag.
Monday’s game: at third-place Batavia (11-11) (MIA), 7:05 pm ET, Jim Voyles (1-1, 3.60)
Stung by shaky defense, the JC-Cards could not hold an early lead, falling to Pulaski, 5-4. Each team has won one of the first two of the three-game series. Only two games separate the division-leading Mets and fourth-place Johnson City (8-9).
Johnson City continues to dominate the home run category, adding three more for a league-leading 30 bombs. (Their nearest competition has 18.) Dariel Gomez, Zach Jackson and Michael Perri all sent one out of the park, with Gomez’ coming with a runner aboard.
Gomez and Jackson were among four Appy Birds with a multi-hit performance, led by center fielder Brandon Riley, who went 3-for-5. Gomez, Jackson and Nolan Gorman all were 2-for-4 with a run scored. Defensively, right fielder Brian Sanchez and catcher Jackson were charged with a miscue but Sanchez was also credited with an outfield assist at second.
Starter Noel De Jesus was bitten by both of those fifth-inning bobbles that led to only one of the four runs surrendered in that frame being earned. De Jesus struck out six in 4 2/3, yielding four hits and two walks.
Mike Brettell fanned five during his 2 1/3-inning stint, gave up a hit and allowed his inherited runner to score. David Oca (L, 1-2) hurled a clean eighth but permitted the deciding tally on a lead-off double, wild pitch and RBI single in the final inning.
Monday’s game: vs. Pulaski (8-11) (NYY), 7:00 pm ET, Dionis Zamora (0-2, 7.45)
GCL Cardinals – off
The GCL Cardinals (12-5) were idle Sunday, perhaps are enjoying their one game lead over the GCL Mets in the East Division of the Gulf Coast League.
Monday’s game: at fourth-place GCL Astros (6-11), 12:00 pm ET, Enmanuel Solano (2-0, 4.26)
DSL Cardinals Blue – off
The Dominican Summer League is off Sundays. The DSL Cardinals Blue (21-10) is locked in a first place battle with the DSL Twins.
Monday’s game: at seventh-place DSL Phillies Red (9-22), 10:30 am ET, Julio Puello (3-0, 1.63)
DSL Cardinals Red – off
The DSL Cardinals Red (17-14) rode a recent 13-4 hot streak into their weekly off day and sit third in the San Pedro Division, 2 ½ games behind the DSL Brewers.
Monday’s game: vs. fourth-place DSL Phillies White (16-14), 10:30 am ET, Ludwin Jimenez (1-1, 4.15) or Ronald Suarez (0-2, 5.51)
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