photo: Brian O’Keefe (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-4 on Saturday. Our Player of the Day is Springfield catcher Brian O’Keefe, who was 2-for-4 including a two-run home run in the Cardinals home win.
Results for games played Saturday, June 15.
The Redbirds suffered a loss to the Las Vegas Aviators in the first of a four-game series at AutoZone Park on Saturday. All four Memphis pitchers were scored upon. Starter Harold Arauz went five innings, giving up three runs on eight hits while striking out one and walking three. Reliever Chris Ellis surrendered three runs in the sixth. Dominic Leone allowed one run in his two innings of relief, and Jesus Cruz hurled the ninth and gave up one run. Arauz took the loss.
The Redbirds entered the bottom of the fourth inning behind 3-0. With Edmundo Sosa and Rangel Ravelo on the bases on a walk and a double, John Nogowski singled to center to score both.
Las Vegas increased its lead to 7-2 in the seventh. Nogowski led off the home seventh with a single, and three batters later scored on a wild pitch. In the eighth, he came to bat with Sosa on base and again singled to plate a run.
Nogowski was involved in all four of the Redbirds runs, either driving them in or scoring them. The first baseman was 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Ellis made an error on a pickoff attempt.
Memphis is 29-40 on the season and in third place in the PCL North, eight games back of the Iowa Cubs.
Sunday’s game: vs. Las Vegas, Jake Woodford (4-3, 3.13) 2:05 CT.
Springfield 6, Corpus Christi 3
The Cardinals won their second straight series with a victory over Corpus Christi at Hammons Field on Saturday. Springfield took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a leadoff solo home run by Dylan Carlson, his 10th of the season, followed by Brian O’Keefe’s single which scored Johan Mieses, who had reached base on a walk.
The Hooks cut the lead to 2-1 in the third, but the Redbirds responded with two more scores in the fourth. Rayder Ascanio hit an RBI double and Jose Martinez plated a run on a single.
Memphis added two more in the seventh on O’Keefe’s two-run home run. Our Player of the Day was 2-for-4 as the only Cardinal with multiple hits.
Starter Tommy Parsons earned his first Double-A win in his first outing. Parsons tossed 6 1/3 innings and yielded two runs on eight hits. The right hander struck out four and walked none. Will Latcham surrendered one run in his 1 2/3 innings of relief. Seth Elledge pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his third save.
The Cardinals are 28-40, are in last place in the Texas League North, and have been eliminated from first half playoff contention.
Sunday’s game: vs. Corpus Christi, Austin Warner (3-5, 3.88) 2:10 CT.
Palm Beach – FSL South All-Stars 2, North 0
Three Cardinals competed in the Florida State League All-Star Game, played Saturday evening at Roger Dean Stadium – catcher Julio Rodriguez, and pitchers Perry DellaValle and Ben Yokley. Alex Fagalde was also on the team but did not pitch. All four were on the roster of the FSL South, which won the game 2-0 over the North.
Rodriguez started as the South catcher and was 0-for-1 with a strikeout. DellaValle pitched the third inning and allowed no hits and no runs. Yokley took the sixth; he struck out one and walked one but gave up no hits or runs.
Other Cardinals named to the South team, but since promoted, are pitchers Angel Rondon and Bryan Dobzanski plus outfielder Justin Toerner.
Sunday’s game: Palm Beach is off
At Dozer Park, the Chiefs were blown out and almost no-hit by the Burlington Bees in the second of a three-game set that concludes on Sunday. Starter Michael Brettell pitched six innings and gave up four runs on four hits. The right hander fanned a career high nine hitters and walked one but suffered his fourth loss of the season. Freddy Pacheco pitched a flawless seventh, striking out the side. Thomas St. Clair allowed three runs on three hits in the eighth. Cole Aker hurled a scoreless ninth.
The Chiefs offense was held scoreless until the ninth inning when Ivan Herrera singled to left to score Wadye Ynfante, who had reached base when hit by pitch. Herrera’s single broke up the Burlington no-hit bid and was the only hit in the game by the Chiefs.
Left fielder Brandon Benson committed a throwing error.
The Chiefs are 29-39 on the season, are in seventh place in the Midwest League West, and have been eliminated from first half playoff contention.
Sunday’s game: vs. Burlington, Kyle Leahy (4-4, 2.86) 2:05 CT.
State College 4, Williamsport 5
State College was edged by the Williamsport Crosscutters in the Spikes’ home opener on Saturday.
In his first official outing on US soil, 19-year old starter Francis Ventura pitched well, going seven innings, giving up two runs on six hits. The right hander struck out three and walked one. Left hander Jacob Schlesener took the eighth and surrendered one unearned run. Left hander Eli Kraus allowed two unearned runs in the ninth and was charged with a blown save and the loss.
The Spikes opened scoring in the third, putting up four runs. Carlos Soto hit a two-run single to left and Andrew Warner doubled to center to plate two more. That was it for State College scoring.
Soto had three hits and Warner two. On the other hand, the Spikes fanned 16 times as all nine hitters were punched out at least once. Donivan Williams fanned three times.
Edwin Figuera stole his first base but committed two errors, one fielding and one throwing. Schlesener and Williams each made a throwing error, with these four miscues a major factor in the loss.
The Spikes are 1-1 on the season.
Sunday’s game: at Auburn, Nathanael Heredia (0-0, 0.00) 3:00 CT.
DSL Cardinals Red 10, DSL Rangers2 13
The Cardinals Red lost a slugfest with the Rangers2 on Saturday. The offense was prolific on both sides, with the Cardinals logging 10 runs on 17 hits, yet it wasn’t enough as the bullpen failed in the ninth.
The Red scored four runs in the second inning to take a 4-1 lead. Diowill Burgos single drove in one, and Jesus Orrechia singled to plate Burgos. Albert Inoa doubled to bring in two.
The Cardinals didn’t score again until the sixth, when the Red added four more runs to increase the lead to 8-3. Sander Mora doubled to left to bring in two. Mora scored on a fielding error and Burgos singled to drive in the fourth run of the inning.
A seventh-inning wild pitch brought the ninth run home and another wild pitch in the eighth scored the 10th and final Cardinals run.
Starter Luis Garcia pitched three innings and gave up two runs on four hits. The right hander struck out three and walked one. Hemerson Cordero surrendered one run in his two innings pitched. Augusto Calderon followed with two innings of relief in which he allowed one run. Jesus Jaquez pitched the eighth and gave up two runs. Ramon Fernandez and Larimel Soriano combined to take the ninth as the game’s outcome turned. All seven runs were charged to Fernandez as he took the loss.
Inoa and Mora each stole a base. It was Inoa’s fourth and Mora’s sixth. Mora was also caught stealing. Fernando Brazoban committed two errors, one fielding and one throwing. Calderon made an error on a pickoff attempt. Catcher Orrechia had a passed ball.
The Cardinals Red are 6-7 on the season and are tied for third place in the DSL San Pedro Division.
Sunday’s game: No game scheduled
DSL Cardinals Blue 10 at DSL Nationals 4
The Cardinals Blue pummeled the Nationals in a road game on Saturday. Starter Wilmer Ortega pitched four innings and gave up three runs on five hits. The right hander struck out three and walked two. William Miranda followed with two scoreless innings and was the winning pitcher. Eduar Pimentel allowed one run in 2/3 inning before Victor Villanueva retired the last batter in that inning. Ronald Suarez and Cristoffer Zapata each tossed a scoreless frame.
The Red offense got on the board with two runs in the first. Fernando Diaz plated a run on a single followed by Gustavo Rodriguez’ sac fly.
Hansel Otamendi drove in the third run for the Blue in the second on a single to left. In the sixth, Luis Rodriguez and Erik Pena each drove in a run on singles.
With the Blue up 5-4 going into the eighth inning, the offense put up five runs. Elvin DeJesus singled to score a run. Otamendi and Darlyn Del Villar drew bases-loaded walks. Gustavo A. Rodriguez followed with a two-run double to center to bring the score to 10-4.
GA Rodriguez had two hits and three RBI. De Jesus, Otamendi, Diaz, L. Rodriguez, and Pena had two hits each.
Luis Rodriguez was picked off and caught stealing. First baseman Diaz committed two fielding errors, and Otamendi had an outfield assist.
The Cardinals Blue are 7-3 and tied for second place in the DSL South.
Sunday’s game: No game scheduled.
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