photo: Yadiel Batista (Francys Romero)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 0-2 on Monday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Yadiel Batista, pitched five strong innings and struck out four in Game 1 of the FCL Cardinals’ doubleheader. Other standouts include Giovanni Vargas and Chris Lopez. We also set up the upcoming series for the week.
Results for games played Monday, June 16.
Memphis Redbirds (off-day)
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds were off Monday, as they prepare to begin a six-game set with the Norfolk Tides at AutoZone Park starting on Tuesday.
Catcher Jimmy Crooks powered the team on offense, leading the team with nine home runs and 48 RBI through 51 games. Crooks is second on the team with 53 hits. César Prieto leads Memphis with 64 hits in 58 games.
On the mound, Michael McGreevy leads with 12 starts and 61 innings pitched and sports a 2.51 ERA with Memphis. Curtis Taylor is second on the team in innings pitched at 58 ⅓, with a 3.24 ERA through nine starts and 12 appearances overall.
Memphis is 38-29 on the season following a 4-2 series win at Gwinnett. They reside in third place in the International League West Division, just 1.5 games back of the first-place Nashville Sounds.
Tuesday’s game: vs. Norfolk (BAL), RH Tekoah Roby (0-0, 11.57) vs. RHP Thaddeus Ward (4-4, 6.59) 7:05 PM CT.
Springfield Cardinals (off-day)
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals were off Monday and will continue their homestand at Hammons Field with a six-game series with the Corpus Christi Hooks starting on Tuesday.
Catcher Leonardo Bernal has brought the power, leading Springfield with 11 home runs and 40 RBI. Bernal is second on the team in hits (52) and batting average (.302).
Last year’s first-round pick for the St. Louis Cardinals (#7 overall), shortstop/second baseman JJ Wetherholt, has impressed thus far in his first full season of professional baseball. The 22-year-old leads Springfield with a .323 batting average and has amassed a team-leading 54 hits. Wetherholt has drawn more walks (34) than strikeouts (28) at the Double-A level.
On the mound, Ixan Henderson has been dominant for the Cardinals through 11 starts. The left-hander sports a Texas League-leading 1.95 ERA over a team-leading 60 innings pitched and 70 strikeouts.
Springfield is 38-25 on the season and enters play on Tuesday on a seven-game winning streak, including a six-game series sweep of the Tulsa Drillers. The Cardinals hold a four-game lead in the Texas League North Division with six games left in the first half, as they move closer towards clinching a playoff spot.
Tuesday’s game: vs. Corpus Christi (HOU). LH Brycen Mautz (1-0, 3.18) vs. TBA. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM CT.
Peoria Chiefs (off-day)
The High-A Peoria Chiefs were off Monday, as they trave to Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan, to begin a six-game series with the Great Lakes Loons on Tuesday.
On offense, third baseman Michael Curialle and outfielder Zach Levenson are tied for the team lead in home runs at four, and have driven in 22 and 20 runs, respectively. Jon Jon Gazdar leads the team with a .308 batting average and 62 hits in 50 games played this season. Gazdar currently holds a seven-game hit streak and has tallied at least one hit in 10 of 12 games played in June.
On the mound, Jose Davila has tossed a team-leading 53 ⅔ innings, and Hancel Rincon has amassed a team-high 49 strikeouts. Left-hander Michael Watson has been lights-out in relief, posting a 1.37 ERA across 26 ⅓ innings, with three saves.
Peoria is 26-37 on the season after taking two of six from the Cedar Rapids Kernels on the road. They reside in fifth place in the Midwest League West Division, 12 games back of first-place Quad Cities.
Tuesday’s game: at Great Lakes (LAD), RHP Gerardo Salas (2-5, 8.57) vs. RHP Eriq Swan (2-3, 4.46) 6:05 PM CT.
Palm Beach Cardinals (off-day)
The Palm Beach Cardinals were off Monday, as they travel to Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida, to begin a six-game series with the St. Lucie Mets on Tuesday. The teams were originally slated to play a doubleheader on Tuesday, but game two has been canceled, as the Mets have already clinched the Florida State League East Division’s first-half title.
On offense, Deniel Ortiz leads Palm Beach with 45 hits in 49 games, with a .280 batting average. Ortiz is tied with Luis Piño with five home runs, which leads players currently on the Palm Beach roster. Cade McGee tops all active players with 28 RBI. The team’s home run and RBI leader, Josh Kross, was recently promoted to Peoria.
On the mound, left-hander Braden Davis has emerged as a formidable arm in the Palm Beach rotation in his first professional season. The 22-year-old has a 2.96 ERA with 68 strikeouts across 51 ⅔ innings in nine starts, 12 games total. Brandt Thompson has also had a strong start to his pro career and sports a 3.29 ERA over 52 innings in 10 starts, 11 games total. The right-hander has struck out 46 and has issued just nine walks.
Palm Beach is 29-33 on the season following a series split with the Lakeland Flying Tigers at home. They reside in second place in the Florida State League East Division, five games back of first-place St. Lucie, which has already clinched the first-half title.
Tuesday’s game: at St. Lucie (NYM). RH Leonel Sequera (1-5, 3.40) vs. TBA. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 PM CT.
FCL Cardinals 0, FCL Astros 2 (7 innings, game one)
The Florida Complex League Cardinals were shut out in game one of Monday’s twin bill with the FCL Astros.
Yadiel Batista started for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched five innings and allowed two runs, one earned, over four hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Batista took the loss.
Giovanni Vargas tossed two scoreless innings in relief of Batista, only allowing one hit.
The Cardinals hoped to score first in the bottom of the second inning. Yancel Guerrero singled and stole second base. Guerrero moved to third on a Paulo Asprilla groundout but was stranded.
The Astros scored single runs in the third and fifth innings. The Cardinals failed to answer.
The FCL Cardinals scored no runs on just two hits, singles by Guerrero and Yaisel Ramos. The lineup did not draw a walk and struck out 10 times.
On the bases, Guerrero swiped his sixth.
On defense, shortstop Padilla made a throwing error. Right fielder Daniel Rojas committed a fielding error.
FCL Cardinals 1, FCL Astros 8 (7 innings, game two)
Swept at home, the FCL Cardinals fell to the Astros in game two of Monday’s doubleheader.
Keiverson Ramirez made his third start for the Cardinals. The right-hander tossed four innings and allowed two runs on two hits, three walks, and one strikeout. Ramirez took the loss.
Samuel Fabian surrendered four runs with three strikeouts across 2 ⅔ innings in relief of Ramirez. Bruno Lopez yielded two runs and recorded the final out of the seventh inning.
The Cardinals pushed across the first run in the third inning. Yaisel Ramos and Chris Lopez doubled to put two runners in scoring position to begin the frame. Ramos crossed home plate on a Bracewell Taveras groundout.
The Astros scored a pair of runs in the fourth to take the lead and put the game away with a six-run seventh inning.
Down to their last three outs, the Cardinals had a baseurunner but couldn’t do anything with it. Daniel Rojas singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch but was stranded.
The FCL Cardinals scored one run on three hits. Taveras singled and drove in the lone Cardinals run. Lopez recorded the only extra-base hit for the Cardinals, a double. Rojas singled.
On the basepaths, Taveras stole his fourth base. Yoerny Junco was caught stealing second base.
On defense, third baseman Junco was charged with two errors, one throwing, and one fielding. Shortstop Yancel Guerrero committed a fielding error.
The FCL Cardinals are 12-15 on the season. They reside in third place in the FCL East Division. They will continue their homestand in a contest with the FCL Mets on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: vs. FCL Mets. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT.
DSL Cardinals vs. DSL Rangers Blue (suspended)
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals’ Monday home contest with the DSL Rangers Blue was suspended due to weather conditions. The game will resume on June 24, with the Cardinals in front 7-1 in the top of the fourth inning.
The Cardinals took a 5-0 lead in the first inning, including RBI singles from Edward Guribe and Jhonny Chaparro. In the second, Yaxson Lucena extended the lead with a two-run home run and has three RBI in the game thus far.
The DSL Cardinals are 6-4 on the season and will play a road contest with the DSL Nationals on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s game: at DSL Nationals. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 AM CT.
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