photo: Elehuris Montero (Allison Rhoades/Peoria Chiefs)
Results from the games played Thursday, May 31st.
The Redbirds kicked off a four-game road series against the Baby Cakes by absorbing a 10-3 pounding, and snapping their five-game winning streak. Memphis (34-21) remains atop the American Southern Division, 5 ½ ahead of Nashville (OAK).
Dakota Hudson (L, 6-2) had a rare rough effort, yielding four runs on eight hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and plunked two batters.
Hector Mendoza recorded the sixth’s final out, stranding Hudson’s last two runners, but surrendered three seventh-inning long balls that resulted in six runs. That effectively put the game out of reach. In what may be his final appearance in a Redbirds’ uniform, given he has a June 1st opt out clause in his contract, Preston Guilmet tossed a one-two-three eighth.
Memphis banged out 10 hits, but all were singles. Four Redbirds had two hits each: Rangel Ravelo, Patrick Wisdom, Andrew Knizner and Alex Mejia. Ravelo and Wisdom both crossed home once in five and four at bats, respectively, while Wisdom, Knizner and Mejia all drove in a run.
Friday’s game: vs. third-place New Orleans (25-29) (MIA), 7:00 pm CT, Sean Gilmartin (3-1, 5.52)
Corpus Christi 9 at Springfield 8 (12)
The S-Cards rallied to send the game into extras only to fall to the Hooks, 9-8, in 12, completing a disappointing three-game sweep by Corpus Christi (32-21) (HOU) at Hammons Field. Springfield’s lead over second-place Arkansas (SEA) has dwindled to just a half game in the Texas League’s tight North Division.
Carlos Martinez made a rehab start for Springfield, giving up two runs on five hits over four plus. Both runs off St. Louis’ ace were the results of second-inning solo shots. Martinez fanned four, throwing 44 of his 63 pitches for strikes, and did not walk a batter.
For more: Check out Derek Shore’s game story, with quotes from Martinez and additional details.
Regular starter Chris Ellis went the next 5 1/3, striking out 10 but allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits and four free passes. Landon Beck (L, 2-2) was charged with three runs, one earned, on two hits – including a two-run home run – and a base-on-balls in 2 2/3.
Springfield’s bats tried to keep up with the tallies served up by their pitching staff, matching the Hooks’ three-run 10th and one-run 11th, but fell short in the 12th, scoring only one of the two runs needed to extend the game again.
All 10 position players taking part in the contest either had a hit, scored a run or gained an RBI. Three S-Cards had two hits apiece: Lane Thomas, Chris Chinea and Evan Mendoza. Thomas and Chinea both scored once with two RBI and Mendoza drove in one.
Friday’s game: vs. San Antonio (33-20) (SD), 7:10 pm CT, Connor Jones (3-1, 4.50)
Jake Walsh tossed seven impressive frames as the Beach Birds downed the Stone Crabs in the decisive third game of the home series, 3-1. Second-place Palm Beach (28-20) trails Jupiter (MIA) by three games with a three-game head-to-head set on tap.
Walsh (W, 1-1) dominated fourth-place Charlotte (24-25) (TB), holding them to just three hits and no walks in his second start since his promotion to the A-Advanced level. The sole blemish against the 22-year-old was a fourth-inning home run. Walsh struck out three with five ground- and seven fly-ball outs.
Robbie Gordon recorded two outs, giving up a single to Stone Crabs’ shortstop Lucius Fox, who had three of his squad’s four hits on the game. Jacob Patterson retired all four batters faced, three via the K, for his first save of 2018.
The Beach Birds generated seven hits, with right fielder J.B. Woodman and center fielder Chase Pinder garnering two each. Woodman went 2-for-3 with a solo shot that was one of his two RBI. Andy Young and Brian O’Keefe both went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Friday’s game: at first-place Jupiter (33-19), 6:30 pm ET, TBA
Peoria 6 vs. Burlington 5 (7) – Game 1
Peoria 7 vs. Burlington 2 (7) – Game 2
The Chiefs took both ends of the Thursday twin bill versus Burlington, 6-5 and 7-2, finishing a five-game home sweep of the hapless last-place Bees (22-32) (LAA). Peoria (30-24) is in the midst of a five-game winning streak which puts them in a second-place tie with Quad Cities (HOU), a half-game behind Clinton (SEA), the club they face in their next series.
Game 1 was a walk-off victory with the home team generating their second rally by scoring twice in the seventh. Elehuris Montero and Yariel Gonzalez did most of the damage, as Montero went 3-for-4 with a triple, run scored and two driven in while Gonzalez was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, run scored and two RBI. Montero’s single brought Irving Lopez home for the game winner after Lopez’s single tied the score, allowing Scott Hurst (double) to touch home.
Lopez, the third of four Chiefs with at least two of the team’s 12 hits, went 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. Outfielder Angel Moreno singled twice in three at bats in his Cardinals system debut before going 1-for-3 with a walk, double, run scored and one RBI in the nightcap.
Making his second straight start after 12 appearances out of the bullpen, Kodi Whitley held his opponents to a single score over the first three. But Whitley was undone by third baseman Gonzalez’ throwing error the next frame, resulting in three unearned tallies. The righty permitted six hits and two walks in 3 2/3.
Bryan Dobzanski (W, 4-2) pitched the remaining 3 1/3, limiting the Bees to two hits, one of them a solo blast. Dobzanski fanned five.
Peoria’s offense left little doubt of the finale’s outcome. A six-run fourth flipped a 1-0 deficit into a commanding lead as the home team coasted to the win. Eight of nine starters had at least one of the Chiefs’ nine hits while six players either scored, drove in a run or both. Bryce Denton was the only Chief with more than one hit, singling and doubling in four at bats while touching home twice.
Montero did the most damage, with his bases-clearing double accounting for three of the fourth inning’s six tallies. Montero came around to score that frame, accounting for four of Peoria’s seven runs. His combined double-header performance earns the third baseman the Player of the Day nod.
Thrust into a start based on two double-headers in three days, reliever Levi MaVorhis held his own in his first start in 14 games. MaVorhis (W, 2-0) yielded single scores in the third and fifth, the latter a home run that was one of the four hits allowing in 5 1/3. The right-hander struck out five and did not issue a free pass. Robert Calvano fanned four over the final 1 2/3, stranding one inherited runner.
Friday’s game: at first-place Clinton (30-23) (SEA), 6:30 pm CT, Alvaro Seijas (1-3, 5.15)
Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation: Springfield Cardinals Notebook – 2018 Week 8
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system. Annual members may purchase our new 193-page 2018 Prospect Guide for less than half price. Our limited edition printed edition is sold out.
© 2018 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.