Cardinals Minor League Notebook – June 16, 2018

photo: John Gant (Memphis Redbirds)

The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-4 on Friday. Memphis starter John Gant is our Player of the Day after throwing six innings of one-run ball, but an 10th inning comeback was needed to seal the road win.

Results for games played Friday, June 15.


Memphis 6 at Albuquerque 4 (10 innings)

John Gant (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)

The Redbirds staged a late comeback for the second night in a row, topping the Albuquerque Isotopes 6-4 in 10 innings, Friday night at Isotopes Park. Memphis leaves town with a series sweep.

Memphis scored twice in the second and again in the third to grab an early lead. In the second, Patrick Wisdom walked and Alex Mejia singled. Adolis Garcia grounded out to bring in Wisdom before Randy Arozarena singled home Mejia. Ramon Urias launched a homer in the third to make the score 3-0.

Starter John Gant was solid once again for the Redbirds. Our Player of the Day pitched six innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits and two walks, while striking out seven batters. Albuquerque scored three quick runs against reliever Conner Greene to take a 4-3 lead heading into the eighth inning.

Memphis tied the game at four in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly from Garcia. With the new extra innings rules, a runner started on second base in the 10th inning for both teams. Memphis took advantage, as Rangel Ravelo drove in the winning run with a single. Garcia drove in his third run of the night to make the score 6-4.

After Greene’s initial struggles, the bullpen closed the door. Sean Gilmartin, Andrew Morales, Arturo Reyes, and Edward Mujica pitched the final 3 2/3 frames, allowing two hits and a walk, while striking out three. Reyes received the win, while Mujica earned the save for the second night in a row.

The Redbirds are 41-27 on the season and are in first place by 7.5 games in the PCL American Southern Division.

Saturday’s game: at El Paso, Daniel Poncedeleon (5-2, 2.41), 8:05 CT


Springfield 1, Arkansas 3

Jake Woodford (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)

The Cardinals suffered defeat at the hands of the Travelers at Hammons Field on Friday.  The Springfield offense managed only one run in the third against Arkansas pitching.  That run came home on Edmundo Sosa’s RBI single.  The offense had eight hits in total, with Sosa going 3-for-4 and Granden Goetzman 2-for-4. Goetzman had the only extra base hit, a double.

Starter Jake Woodford pitched seven innings, giving up just one run on seven hits while fanning three and walking three.  Greg Holland pitched one inning of relief and surrendered one run on a solo home run and struck out one.  Holland took the loss.  Jacob Evans allowed one run in the eighth, and Ian McKinney pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Cardinals are 32-35 on the season and are in third place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Arkansas, Mike O’Reilly (2-1, 3.57) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach – No Game

The Cardinals have no game scheduled due to the Florida State League All-Star break. The game will be played Saturday night. Palm Beach selections are Austin Warner, Evan Kruczynski, Andy Young, Jose Godoy and Will Latcham. Also named, but promoted are Anthony Shew and Evan Mendoza.

Saturday’s game:   FSL All-Star Game at Daytona, 4:30 CT.


Peoria 4 at Cedar Rapids 12

Bryce Denton (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs were pummeled by the Kernels in Cedar Rapids on Friday.  Starter Evan Guillory suffered his fifth loss of the season, pitching four innings, giving up 12 runs, nine earned, on 13 hits.  The right hander struck out three and walked two.  Andrew Summerville pitched a scoreless fifth.  Zach Prendergast tossed two scoreless innings, and Kodi Whitley followed with a scoreless eighth.

The Peoria offense put up one run in each of the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh innings.  Jose Martinez’ single plated the first run.  In the fourth, Bryce Denton’s single scored run number two.  Elehuris Montero drove in a run on a single in the fifth.  Scott Hurst’s solo home in the seventh represented the final Chiefs run.  Denton went 3-for-4 and Rayder Ascanio was 2-for-4.

Yariel Gonzalez had a missed catch error.

The Chiefs are 37-31 on the season and are in third place in the Midwest League Western. Peoria is one-game out, tied for the wild card.

Saturday’s game:  at Cedar Rapids, Alvaro Seijas (1-3, 4.55) 6:35 CT.


State College 2 at Williamsport 3

Franyel Casadilla (The Cardinal Nation)

The Spikes fell to the Williamsport Crosscutters in a one run loss in their season opener on Friday.  The Spikes struck first with two runs in the fourth, the only runs the team would score.  Nick Dunn led off with a double and Brendan Donovan tripled to bring him home.  Brady Whalen plated Donovan on a double.

Starter Franyel Casadilla pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits.  The right hander fanned four and walked none.  Gabriel Gentner surrendered one run in one inning pitched and took the loss.  Jack Dahlberg and Cory Malcolm combined for 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

In the field, Walker Robbins had an outfield assist.

The Spikes are 0-1 to begin the season.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Williamsport, Winston Nicacio (0-0, 0.00) 6:05 CT.


DSL Cardinals Blue 6, DSL Yankees 5

The Cardinals Blue team edged the Yankees in a one run victory on Friday.  Starter Francis Ventura pitched five innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits.  The right hander struck out four and walked one.  Julio Puello pitched the final four innings and surrendered one earned run.   Puello was the winning pitcher.

The Blue team fell behind early but chipped away at the lead.  The first run scored in the second inning on an RBI double by Yowelfy Rosario.  In the third, Freddy De Jesus plated a run on a single.  De Jesus doubled in a run in the fifth, and Leudy Pena followed suit with an RBI double of his own.  In the sixth, Darlyn Del Villar’s single to center plated two.  De Jesus went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Diomedes Del Rio stole his second base of the season in two attempts.  Rosario stole his third bag in three tries.  Del Villar was caught stealing for the first time in two attempts.  In the field, Pablo Gomez made a throwing error, Del Villar a missed catch error, and Luis Rodriguez a throwing error.

The Cardinals Blue are 9-3 on the season and tied for first place in the DSL South.

Saturday’s game:  vs. DSL Rockies, TBA 9:30 am CT.


DSL Cardinals Red 3, DSL Rangers2 7

The Red team was blanked by Rangers2 on Friday.  Red managed three runs on four hits, and got on the board first with a run in the both the first and second innings.  A triple by Franklin Soto followed by a sac fly from Adanson Cruz plated the first run.  In the second inning, a run came home on a force out groundout by Joyser Garcia.  The final run came in the fifth on a groundout by Sander Mora.

Starting for the Red team was Luis Ortiz, who pitched 3 2/3 innings and giving up two runs on three hits.  Ortiz struck out three and walked two.  Jose Geronimo got the final out of the fourth.  Ludwin Jimenez pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief and surrendered five runs on four hits.  Jimenez took the loss.  Sebastian Tabata pitched the ninth in relief of Jimenez and got the final two outs.

Luis Montano stole his first base in four attempts.  Montano was also picked off and caught stealing for the third time.  Jimenez picked off a runner at second base.

The Cardinals Red are 4-8 on the season and are tied with two other teams for last place in the DSL San Pedro Division.

Saturday’s game:  at DSL Brewers, TBA 9:30 am CT.


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