photo: Matt Koperniak (Springfield Cardinals)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 3-3 on Friday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day is Springfield LF Matt Koperniak, who was 3-for-5 with three RBI. Other standouts include Austin Love, Patrick Romeri, Lizandro Espinoza and Jose Suarez.
Results from games played Friday, July 8.
The Memphis Redbirds were blanked by the Bulls in a shellacking in Durham on Friday night for a third consecutive loss. Reliever Ryan Loutos start after Angel Rondon was designated for assignment earlier in the day. Loutos lasted 1 1/3 innings during which he gave up three runs on three hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
Kyle Ryan followed and surrendered four runs in 1 2/3 innings. Brandon Waddell allowed two runs in his two innings of relief. Rehabbing T.J McFarland was the only Redbirds pitcher who came out unscathed, as he hurled a scoreless sixth. Grant Black gave up two runs, one earned, in the seventh. Jacob Bosiokovic relinquished two runs in the eighth.
Durham scored runs in every inning but the fourth and the sixth. The Bulls put up one run in the first, four runs in the second, two runs in the third, two runs in the fifth, two runs in the seventh and two runs in the eighth. Five Bulls hit six long balls off every Memphis pitcher except McFarland.
The Redbirds were held to five hits including a double by Ben DeLuzio. The offense was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and they left seven runners on base. Memphis hitters struck out 11 times.
In the field, Irving Lopez made a throwing error.
Memphis is 44-38 on the season and is in third place in the International League West, 7.5 games back of first place Nashville.
Saturday’s game: at Durham, RHP Tommy Parsons (5-2, 4.29) vs. RHP Easton McGee, 5:35 CT.
The visiting Springfield Cardinals defeated the Travelers by the score of 8-2 on Friday night. Kyle Leahy took the mound for Springfield. The right hander pitched five innings, gave up two runs on four hits, fanned seven and walked three to earn his fifth win of the season.
Domingo Robles finished the game with four scoreless innings.
The Cardinals took the lead with three runs in the first inning. Mike Antico walked. Masyn Winn singled and Jordan Walker followed with a single. Malcom Nunez plated Antico and Winn on a single. Walker scored on a single by Matt Koperniak.
The Travelers put up one run in the second and one run in the fourth. Springfield increased the lead to 6-2 in the fifth on an RBI double by Koperniak, a balk, and a single by Antico.
The Cardinals added a run in the sixth. Justin Toerner walked and scored on a force out by Koperniak. The final run scored in the seventh on an RBI single by Walker.
Koperniak went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Nunez was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Antico was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Walker was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Nick Raposo was 2-for-5.
On the base paths, Antico stole his sixth base for Springfield. Walker was caught stealing for the fourth time. Roberto Baldoquin was picked off first base.
Springfield is 5-5 in the second half and is in second place in the Texas League North, one game back of first place Arkansas.
Saturday’s game: at Arkansas, Connor Lunn RHP (2-3, 5.70) vs. Emerson Hancock RHP (1-2, 2.55) 7:05 CT.
The Peoria Chiefs blanked the Sky Carp on Friday night at Dozer Park. Drew VerHagen, on a rehab assignment from St. Louis, pitched one scoreless inning, allowed one hit, struck out one and walked one.
Austin Love relieved VerHagen and threw seven scoreless innings on just two hits. Levi Prater tossed a scoreless ninth.
Peoria went up 1-0 in the second inning. L.J. Jones doubled and scored on a ground out by Noah Mendlinger. The Chiefs added a second run in the third on an RBI single by Jacob Buchberger.
The score increased to 3-0 in the fifth. Todd Lott doubled, and Jones plated him on a single. In the sixth Peoria added their fourth and final run on an RBI single by Tommy Jew.
Jones was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Lott was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
On the base paths, Tyler Reichenborn stole his 12th base of the season.
Peoria is 5-8 in the second half and is in fourth place in the Midwest League West, five games back of first place South Bend.
Saturday’s game: vs. Beloit, RHP Zane Mills (2-6,4.27) vs. Evan Fitterer RHP (2-4, 4.87) 6:35 CT.
Palm Beach 4 at Jupiter 5 (10 innings)
The Palm Beach Cardinals were edged by the Hammerheads in an extra inning contest at Roger Dean Stadium on Friday. Bryan Pope started for Palm Beach. The right hander pitched 4 1/3 innings, gave up three runs on seven hits, struck out one and walked three.
Hayes Heinecke relieved and pitched 1/3 scoreless innings. Gustavo Rodriguez surrendered one run in 3 1/3 innings. Nelfri Contreras allowed one unearned run in the final 1 1/3 innings. Contreras took the loss.
The Beach Birds took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Patrick Romeri tripled and scored on a ground out by Elijah Cabell. The Cardinals added one run in the third on an RBI single by Aaron McKeithan. Palm Beach increased the lead to 3-1 in the fourth. Jesus Orrechia doubled and scored on a throwing error.
Jupiter scored their first run in the home half of the fourth. The Cardinals increased the lead to 4-1 in the fifth on an RBI single by Leonardo Bernal.
The Hammerheads scored two in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-3. Jupiter tied the game in eighth. The game went into the 10th, and the Hammerheads walked it off in the bottom of the inning.
Romeri went 4-for-5, falling a home run short of the cycle. Jeremy Rivas was 2-for-4. Bernal drove in one.
On the base paths, Rivas stole his eighth base of the season.
Palm Beach is 9-4 in the second half and is in first place in the FSL East.
Saturday’s game: at Jupiter, Trent Baker RHP (4-6, 2.96) vs. TBD 5:00 CT.
FSL Cardinals 9, FCL Astros Orange 7
The Florida Complex League Cardinals (10-12) outlasted the Astros with a two-run win in Jupiter on Friday morning. Starter Johan Quezada pitched two scoreless innings with no hits and three strikeouts.
Diorys Guerrero surrendered one run three innings of relief. Ludwin Jimenez allowed two runs in the sixth. Angel Cuenca started the seventh and relinquished three runs while recording only one out. Yordy Richard gave up one run in 1 2/3 innings. Ettore Guilianelli tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his first save. Guerrero got the win.
The Cardinals jumped ahead immediately with seven runs scored in the first inning. Lizandro Espinoza drew a walk and Jose Cordoba followed with a walk. Carlos Linarez reached on an error and Espinoza scored. Cordoba scored on a wild pitch. Samil De La Rosa reached on an error. Francis Reynoso singled. Roblin Heredia walked and Linarez scored. Romtres Cabrera was hit by a pitch to score De La Rosa. Reynoso scored on a wild pitch. Adari Grant walked. Espinoza grounded into a force out and Cabrera was out at third. Grant scored on a single by Cordoba.
The Astros scored one run in the fifth to make it 7-1. The Cardinals added two in the home half of the fifth to increase the lead to 9-1 on an RBI single by Grant and a balk.
The Astros chipped away at the lead with two runs in the sixth, three runs in the seventh, and one run in the eighth. The Cardinals bullpen held the slim lead for the remainder of the game.
The offense was spread out as no Cardinal had multiple hits and the team scored their nine runs on just five hits. Eight walks received were a big reason why, including three taken by Espinoza. Espinoza, Cordoba, Heredia, Cabrera, and Grant each had an RBI. Reynoso and Heredia scored twice each.
On the base paths, Cabrera stole two bases. In the field, De La Rosa made a fielding error.
Saturday’s game: at FSL Marlins, TBD vs. TBD 9:00 am CT.
DSL Cardinals 2, DSL Nationals 3
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals (12-14) were topped by the Nationals in a 3-2 contest on Friday morning. Alexander Beltre started for the Cardinals. The left hander pitched five innings, gave up one run on five hits, fanned six and walked one.
Yordy Herrera surrendered two runs in two innings of relief. Diego Dominquez allowed one run in the final 1 2/3 innings and took the loss, his first of the season.
The Nationals took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Cardinals tied it 1-1 in the third. Elias Reynoso walked and scored on a triple by Jose Suarez.
The Nationals retook the lead with one run in the seventh to make it 2-1. The Cardinals scored one in the top of the ninth to knot it up 2-2 on an RBI single by Miguel Vargas. In the home half of the ninth, the Nationals walked it off with one run scored to win 3-2.
Suarez went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Both hits for Suarez were extra base hits. Vargas had an RBI.
Saturday’s game: vs. DSL D-Backs Black, TBD vs. TBD 9:00 am CT.
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