Cardinals Minor League Notebook – June 13, 2018

photo: Connor Jones (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals system went 1-4. Player of the Day Connor Jones threw seven scoreless innings to lead Springfield to a win, keeping them a game back in the first-half race.

Results from the games played Tuesday, June 12th.


Memphis – off

Having just completed a seven-game home stand in which they won three and lost four, the Memphis Redbirds (38-27) head out on a seven-game road trip through Albuquerque (COL) and El Paso (SD).

Wednesday’s game: at Albuquerque (32-32), 6:35 pm MT, Dakota Hudson (7-2, 2.44)


Springfield 3 vs. Tulsa 1

Connor Jones (St. Louis Cardinals)

Connor Jones tossed seven impressive frames as the S-Cards downed the Drillers, 3-1, snapping a four-game losing skid and salvaging the finale of their four-game set at Hammons Field. In the first-half race, Springfield (31-33) trails co-leaders Arkansas (SEA) and Northwest Arkansas (KC) by a game and has an elimination number of six.

Player of the Day Jones (W, 4-2) dominated Tulsa (30-34) (LAD), retiring his first 11 batters in order before hitting a Driller. The 23-year-old proceeded to send down the next seven batters. Jones issued a free pass to begin the seventh then yielded a one-out single for the only other base runners to reach against him. The righty struck out six with nine ground- and two fly-ball outs.

Estarlin Arias tossed a one-two-three eighth before running into trouble. Arias allowed back-to-back singles to open the ninth, departing after recording a strikeout. Colton Thomson entered but just threw gas on the fire by walking his two batters, the latter free pass forcing a run across. Yeison Medina restored order by coaxing a pop up that invoked the infield fly rule and line out to right.

All three of the S-Cards’ scores occurred in the fourth with two away. Lane Thomas worked a free pass to begin the inning, promptly stealing his 12th base of 2018. Victor Roache’s two-out single up the middle brought Thomas home while Chris Chinea’s eighth home run capped the scoring. Springfield generated five hits in all.

Wednesday’s game: vs. first-place Arkansas (32-32) (SEA), 6:30 pm CT, Anthony Shew (2-2, 6.45)


Fort Myers 3 at Palm Beach 0

Andy Young (Andrew Miller/Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Beach Birds dropped a 3-0 decision to the Miracle on Tuesday and trail in the series, one-game-to-two, with one game yet to play. Despite the loss, Palm Beach (37-23) maintained its two-game advantage over Jupiter (MIA) in the South Division first-half standings. The elimination number is six.

Austin Warner took the loss, his third in 10 decisions, despite tossing a quality effort. The lefty struck out eight over seven frames, scattering 11 hits and a walk that generated three runs. John Kilichowski faced the minimum over the final two frames.

Palm Beach managed six hits but went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base. Second baseman Andy Young was the only Cardinal with more than one hit, singling and doubling and taking a hit-by-pitch in four plate appearances.

Wednesday’s game: vs. Fort Myers (26-37) (MIN), 6:30 pm ET, Ian Oxnevad (3-5, 5.73)


Beloit 6 at Peoria 3

Thomas St. Clair (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs opened a three-game home series versus the Snappers with a 6-3 loss. As a result, second-place Peoria (36-29) was unable to gain ground on first-place Clinton (SEA), whom they trail by a game and who also lost, and are now just a game ahead of third-place Quad Cities (HOU) in the Wild Card Standings with five games remaining in the first half.

Paul Balestrieri (L, 2-3) followed up his historic no-hit performance by tossing five frames of five-run ball. The righty gave up eight hits and three walks while plunking two batters.

Two Midwest League All-Star pitchers finished the game. Thomas St. Clair struck out four over three innings, permitting two hits. Bryan Dobzanski was touched for an unearned tally in the ninth.

Most of the Chiefs’ eight hits centered on two players: Irving Lopez and Yariel Gonzalez. Lopez went 3-for-4 with a run scored out of the two hole while Gonzalez doubled twice in four at bats, crossed home once and knocked in one. Defensively, Lopez was one of three Chiefs to commit an error.

Wednesday’s game: vs. Beloit (30-34) (OAK), 7:00 pm CT, Johan Oviedo (2-5, 5.87)


DSL Cardinals Blue 7 at DSL Mets1 10

Two big innings were the undoing of the DSL Cardinals (6-3), resulting in a 10-7 road loss to the DSL Mets1.

Inohan Paniagua (L, 0-1) tossed a one-two-three first but gave up six runs on six hits and a hit batsman while recording just two outs the next frame. His 1 2/3-inning start is an inning longer than the 18-year-old lasted in his professional debut on June 6th.

Angel Cuenca and Leonardo Taveras held the opposition scoreless over the next 5 1/3, Cuenca stranding Paniagua’s last runner before pitching three more frames. But Miguel Yedis was charged with four runs, three generated by a home run.

Center fielder Carlos Soler and first baseman Freddy De Jesus both went 2-for-4 with a walk, double and run scored, with Soler knocking in two while De Jesus launched a two-run bomb that was part of his three RBI. The C-Blues had seven hits in all.

Wednesday’s game: vs. DSL Mets1 (4-5), 10:30 am ET, Hector Soto (1-0, 3.60)


DSL Tigers1 8 at DSL Cardinals Red 6

The DSL Cardinals Red (4-5) fell behind early and could never catch up, going down to defeat at the hands of the DSL Tigers1, 8-6.

Ronald Suarez took the loss, his first against no wins, after yielding three runs, two earned, on five hits and two base-on-balls in 1 2/3. Wilman Madera left the sacks jammed, thus preventing further damage to Suarez’ stat line.

Madera was the first of a parade of five C-Red relievers following Suarez to the mound. The 19-year-old Columbian native permitted two runs on three hits over 2 1/3. Madera fanned four and did not issue a free pass.

Rodard Avelino recorded one out and walked two, both of whom were left aboard by Roy Garcia. Garcia struck out five over the next 2 2/3, yielding just one unearned tally. Gabriel Contreras and southpaw Nelson Prada each gave up a run in their inning on the bump.

The home team managed seven hits, led by third baseman Francisco Hernandez, who doubled twice in four at bats, worked a base-on-balls, touched home once and drove in one. Lead-off batter Joerlin De Los Santos reached base four times, going 1-for-2 with three walks, a triple and two runs scored.

Wednesday’s game: at DSL Tigers1 (3-6), 10:30 am ET, Wilfredo Pereira (0-0, 4.50)


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