photo: Tink Hence (Peoria Chiefs)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-3 on Thursday to end the first half of the season. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Tink Hence, threw five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in Peoria’s win. Other standouts include Luken Baker, Irving Lopez, Luis Rodriguez and Angel Gil.
Results from games played Thursday, June 22nd.
The Memphis Redbirds (38-34) were defeated by the Iowa Cubs (CHC, 41-29) on Thursday at Principal Park.
Zack Thompson gave up seven runs in three innings on eight hits and four walks. The left-hander struck out three and took his third loss.
The Redbirds struck first in the first inning. Luken Baker doubled to plate two before the Cubs took control with seven runs in the next three innings.
Dalton Roach yielded two runs, one earned, in four innings of relief. The 27-year-old surrendered two hits, a walk and struck out three. Kodi Whitley pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
In the sixth, Matt Koperniak blasted a two-run shot, his fourth at Triple-A. Taylor Motter drove in a run in the ninth via double.
The lineup recorded six hits, 11 walks and left 11 runners on base. In his second game back from St. Louis, Baker went 2-for-2 with two RBI and three walks. Chase Pinder and Errol Robinson both walked twice.
In the field, Juan Yepez and Koperniak made fielding errors. Yepez also recorded an outfield assist from left field.
Friday’s game: at Iowa, RHP Gordon Graceffo (1-2, 4.50) vs. RHP Chris Clarke (0-2, 2.84) 7:08 CT
The Springfield Cardinals (34-32) edged the Frisco RoughRiders (TEX, 28-37) at Riders Field on Thursday night.
Logan Gragg tossed six innings and gave up a run on five hits and two walks. The right-hander struck out four and earned his second win of the season.
Springfield scored all three runs in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Nick Dunn doubled and Jacob Buchberger singled to make the score 1-0. Irving Lopez (single) and Mike Antico (force out) plated runs in the fourth.
In relief, Chris Roycroft pitched two innings with two walks and two punchouts. Andre Granillo yielded a run in the ninth but earned his sixth save of 2023 after surviving two singles, two wild pitches and a balk.
Lopez went 2-for-2 with two walks and one RBI. The lineup recorded eight hits, five walks and left 10 runners on base.
On the bases, Antico took his 24th bag of the year. The defense turned three double plays.
Friday’s game: at Frisco, RHP Edgar Escobar (7-2, 4.00) vs. RHP Jack Leiter (2-3, 4.03) 7:05 CT
The Peoria Chiefs (33-33) topped the Quad Cities River Bandits (KC, 32-34) at Modern Woodmen Park.
Tink Hence threw five scoreless innings and surrendered two hits and no walks. TCN’s no. 3 prospect fanned a season-high seven and improved his ERA to 2.25.
The Chiefs put one across in the first inning as Aaron McKeithan singled to plate Victor Scott II. Osvaldo Tovalin singled one across in the sixth but the River Bandits responded with one in the home half. Darlin Moquete answered with a solo homer in the seventh, his second with Peoria.
Out of the bullpen, Andrew Marrero gave up a run with three strikeouts in two innings. Roy Garcia saved his third High-A game after two scoreless frames.
Peoria put the game away in the ninth inning with seven runs, all with two out. With the bases loaded, Nathan Church scored two. Jimmy Crooks doubled to bring three across. Ramon Mendoza and Tovalin each plated one to make the score 10-1.
Tovalin went 2-for-5 with two RBI and Moquete recorded two hits, including a homer, a walk and scored twice. Church drove in two and Crooks plated three.
On the base paths, Scott stole two bags and Church took one. Scott now has 50 stolen bases this season, the most in professional baseball. Hence picked off a runner on first.
Friday’s game: at Quad Cities, RHP Dionys Rodriguez (1-4, 4.69) vs. TBA 6:30 CT
Palm Beach at Daytona – Canceled
Due to inclement weather, the Palm Beach Cardinals (37-28) at Daytona Tortugas (CIN, 29-36) contest was canceled. The Beach Birds had already clinched a spot in the Florida State League playoffs by winning the first half division standings.
Friday’s game: at Daytona, LHP Pete Hansen (5-1, 3.31) vs. TBA 5:35 CT
FCL Cardinals 4 at FCL Astros 6
The Florida Complex League Cardinals (5-7) fell to the Astros (6-7) on Thursday at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
Starter Leonel Sequera pitched three innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on seven hits. The right-hander fanned one and took his first loss. Diorys Guerrero tossed two scoreless innings.
The Cardinals got on the board in the seventh inning as Justin Guerrero blasted a solo home run, his first of the year. In the eighth, Luis Rodriguez doubled to score two runs. Todd Lott grounded out in the ninth to plate one and make the score 6-4.
Alejandro Cervantes threw a scoreless sixth inning of relief. Antoni Cuello surrendered a run in one inning and Randel Clemente struck out two in a scoreless frame.
The lineup recorded five hits, six walks and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Rodriguez recorded the only multi-hit game with two and he drove in two. In his Springfield rehab assignment, Lott went 0-for-2 with three walks and one RBI.
Yaisel Ramos was caught stealing. The Astros ran wild. stealing seven bases against Cardinals pitching and catcher Guerrero. Adari Grant and Raul Guzman each committed an error.
Saturday’s game: at FCL Mets, TBA vs. TBA 9:00 CT (The Cardinals are off Friday)
DSL Cardinals 9, DSL Twins 12 (10 innings)
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals (3-9) lost to the Twins (4-9) in extra innings at home on Thursday afternoon.
In three innings, starter Ronny Oliver yielded five runs, two earned, on three hits and three walks. The 19-year-old fanned three. Bernard Mack tossed a scoreless inning and struck out two.
After the Twins put up five runs between the third and fourth innings, the Cardinals answered with four runs in the home fourth. Paulo Asprilla drove in a run and Fernando Roquez came across on a wild pitch. Asprilla scored on an error and Arfeni Batista made it a one-run game with a single.
In relief, Keiverson Ramirez was charged with four runs on six hits and two strikeouts. Jovi Galvez fanned two in the ninth inning. In the 10th, Kener Perez took his first loss after he was touched for three runs, one earned, on a hit, one walk and two punchouts.
The Cardinals scored five runs between the seventh and ninth innings. Angel Gil and Asprilla both plated a run in the seventh. In the eighth, Gil drove in another run. Andru Arthur came across on a wild pitch in the ninth to tie the game but the Cards’ scoring ended there.
Batista, Gil and Bracewell Taveras all had two hits. Gil recorded three RBI. The lineup went 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.
On the bases, Daniel Rojas took his fourth bag of the year.
In the field, Roquez, Batista and Perez committed errors. Roquez, Facundo Velasquez and Yordalin Pena recorded outfield assists.
Friday’s game: at DSL Arizona Red, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 CT
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