photo: Jesus Cruz (Allison Rhoades/Peoria Chiefs)
The St. Louis Cardinals had a 4-3 Monday, hindered by bullpen problems at Memphis and Springfield. Player of the Day Jesus Cruz and prospect Alvaro Seijas combined to produce a shutout for Peoria.
Results from the games played Monday, June 11th.
The Redbirds could not hold a six-run lead after four and a two-run lead in the ninth, falling to the Aces, 7-6 in regulation. Memphis (38-27) won only one game of the four-game home set, but still holds a substantial six-game lead over Nashville (OAK) in the American Southern Division.
Two rehabbing St Louis Cardinals pitchers contributed to the loss. All three runs charged to Greg Holland (BS, 1) (L, 0-1) in his inning of work came with two outs. The rehabbing right-hander yielded a one-out double, an RBI single and two-run home run before recording the last out. Matt Bowman pitched the seventh and eighth, giving up solo long ball in his initial inning.
Chris Ellis held Reno (30-35) scoreless through the first four innings, permitting three hits and a walk in his first Triple-A start of 2018. Ellis departed with a 6-0 lead, but the Aces halved that to 6-3 with Hector Mendoza on the bump. Mendoza was charged with three runs on five hits in just a third of an inning.
Conner Greene recorded two outs, stranding two inherited runners, his third relief appearance since being promoted to Triple-A. Arturo Reyes tossed a clean sixth despite issuing three walks.
All six Memphis scores came in the second, four via Rangel Ravelo’s grand slam. Ravelo and Alex Mejia had two hits each in five at bats, with Mejia swiping his second bag of the season. Four Redbirds had one hit each. The home team put the potential tying and winning run in scoring position with only one out in the home half of the ninth but could not come through.
Tuesday’s game: Off
Four late scores sent the S-Cards to a 6-3 defeat, their fourth consecutive loss. Springfield (30-33) has gone from first to a tie for last during that skid and now sit 2 ½ behind Arkansas (SEA) as the season’s first half has less than two weeks remaining.
Starter Mike O’Reilly (L, 2-1) took a 3-2 lead into the seventh but departed with his squad trailing 5-3 after 6 1/3. All five runs charged to O’Reilly were products of four home runs, four of his seven hits and a walk given up.
Ramon Santos recorded five outs, allowing an unearned tally. Yeison Medina pitched a clean ninth.
Edmundo Sosa continues to swing a hot bat, launching two solo bombs that were part of his four hits in five at bats. Six S-Cards had one hit each.
Tuesday’s game: vs. Tulsa (30-33) (LAD), 6:30 pm CT, Connor Jones (3-2, 4.50)
Palm Beach 3 at Fort Myers 4 (10) – Game 1
Palm Beach 5 vs. Fort Myers 4 – Game 2
The Beach Birds split a series-opening double-header with Fort Myers, absorbing a 4-3 10th-inning loss in the opener but claiming the finale, 5-4. Palm Beach (37-22) leads the South Division by two games over Jupiter (MIA) with only three games remaining in the first half.
Game 1 completed the June 7th contest at Fort Myers that was suspended in the bottom of the seventh with the game knotted at 3-3. The contest’s outcome hinged eventually on an unearned tally against Eric Carter (L, 1-2).
Ian Oxnevad tossed the initial 5 2/3, permitting two home runs that generated two of the three tallies allowed. Oxnevad gave up seven hits and three walks.
Carter finished the sixth, leaving two inherited runners aboard. The righty continued when play resumed on Monday, pitching until the 10th when a combination of a single and fielding error by center fielder Shane Billings allowed the runner to cross.
Andy Young was the sole PB-Card with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Five players had one hit each.
It took two rallies for Palm Beach to come out victorious in Game 2. The home team was down 3-0 by the fifth’s midpoint, but tied it up in the seventh. The Miracle went back up 4-3 in the next frame but the Beach Birds’ pushed across two more in the home eighth for the win.
Palm Beach banged out 11 hits, led by Kramer Robertson who had a perfect performance at the plate. The shortstop went 4-for-4 with a double that drove in both of the eighth’s scores and he touched home twice himself. Billings also generated a multi-hit effort, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI.
Jake Walsh hurled a solid effort, yielding three runs, two earned, on six hits and three bases-on-balls over seven. Robbie Gordon picked up his second win in as many decisions despite giving up the go-ahead run in the eighth. Will Latcham faced the minimum in the ninth for his ninth save.
Tuesday’s game: vs. sixth-place Fort Myers (25-37) (MIN), 6:30 pm ET, TBA
The Chiefs pulled out a huge win on Monday, slipping past the River Bandits, 1-0, for a split of the four-game home set. Peoria (36-28) remains one game behind first-place Clinton (SEA), which has won five straight, but Peoria holds a two-game lead over Quad Cities (34-30) in the Wild Card standings with six games remaining in the first half.
Jesus Cruz and Alvaro Seijas combined on the shutout. Making his second start since being reassigned from a relief role Palm Beach, Cruz (W, 1-1) limited his opponents to two singles and a walk over five innings. The Mexican native plunked two batters with two gone in the fifth, loading the bases but avoided damage on a force out at home. Working in a tandem arrangement with Cruz, Seijas scattered five hits and two walks through four for his first save.
The game’s only score came in the first after Irving Lopez worked a free pass to open the home half of the inning. Elehuris Montero tripled with one gone, driving in Lopez. Montero and shortstop Yariel Gonzalez both went 2-for-4, Gonzalez participating in two of the team’s three double plays.
Tuesday’s game: vs. sixth-place Beloit (29-32) (OAK), 7:00 pm CT, Paul Balestrieri (2-2, 4.09)
DSL Cardinals Blue 3 at DSL Nationals 2
Enmanuel Solano pitched six impressive frames as the DSL Cardinals Blue edged the DSL Nationals, 3-2. The road victory moves the C-Blues (6-2) into a three-way tie for first in the South Division with the DSL Nationals and DSL Yankees.
The only blemish against Solano (W, 2-0) was a solo home run comprising one of his two hits yielded and one free pass issued. The 19-year-old struck out six, hit a batter and was called for a balk.
Anthony Trompiz and Derek Diaz each tossed a scoreless inning but the latter ran into trouble in the ninth, allowing a lead-off double and single. Freddy Pacheco was greeted by an RBI single but escaped further damage via a swinging K and 4-3 double play.
The visitors maximized their efforts, scoring three tallies, two earned, on just one hit. Designated hitter Diomedes Del Rio tripled with one gone in the third, scoring on a ground out to make the score 1-1. The final two runs occurred the next frame, compliments of three straight one-out walks followed by catcher Luis Rodriguez’ sac fly. A fielding error on the play, one of six miscues by the Dominican Nationals, let Rodriguez reach, re-loading the bases. A subsequent force at third brought the decisive third run across home.
Tuesday’s game: at DSL Mets1 (3-5), 10:30 am ET, TBA
DSL Cardinals Red 9 vs. DSL Dbacks2 3
The DSL Cardinals Red banged out 15 hits to roll past the DSL Dbacks2, 9-3. The C-Reds (4-4) are in fourth place, two games in back of the DSL Rangers2.
17-year-old middle infielder Sander Mora led the offensive onslaught, going 4-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and two driven in. Centerfielder Adanson Cruz was right behind Mora with a 3-for-5 effort. Cruz doubled once and knocked in four.
Three other C-Reds had two hits apiece: left fielder Joerlin De Los Santos, right fielder Luis Montano and designated hitter Elvin De Jesus, De Los Santos in five and the other two in four at bats. Montano went yard for the first time this season, a third-inning solo shot that broke a 2-2 tie.
Righty Miguel Maiz was credited with his first professional win in his first decision, hurling two scoreless frames. The 16-year-old fanned three.
Maiz pitched in relief of Allinson Benitez, who went the first four innings. The righty was touched for two runs in his initial inning, permitting four hits and three walks overall.
Sebastian Tabata allowed three hits in the seventh, resulting in one tally. Hector De Los Santos maneuvered around a hit and three walks for two scoreless frames.
Tuesday’s game: vs. sixth-place DSL Tigers1 (2-6), 10:30 am ET, TBA
Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation: Edmundo Sosa Elevating his Game at Double-A Springfield
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 version is sold out.
© 2018 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.