photo: Nathan Church (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 4-3 on Saturday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis outfielder Nathan Church, crushed a grand slam as one of his two home runs for five RBI. Other standouts include Mike Antico, Tekoah Roby, Chase Davis, Johnfrank Salazar, Tanner Jacobson and Yadiel Batista.
Results for games played on Saturday, June 28.
Memphis Redbirds 11 at Durham Bulls 3
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds crushed the Bulls in Durham on Saturday.
Tekoah Roby started for Memphis. The right-hander pitched five innings and allowed one run on four hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Roby earned his second Triple-A win.
Zane Mills tossed two scoreless frames with a pair of strikeouts in relief of Roby. Leonardo Taveras surrendered two runs in the eighth inning. Gordon Graceffo threw a scoreless ninth to finish the win.
The Redbirds struck in the first inning. Michael Siani drew a lead-off walk and stole second base. Jimmy Crooks’ ground ball single scored Siani to give the Redbirds a 1-0 lead.
This Crooks guy can hit pic.twitter.com/vHhiyZVF7h
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) June 28, 2025
Memphis added a pair of runs in the second. Gavin Collins walked and moved to second base on a Brody Moore groundout. Siani reached on a fielding error, with Collins to third. Siani swiped second base, and Nathan Church walked to load the bags. In the first game of his latest rehab, Jordan Walker lined a single to bring Collins and Siani home for a 3-0 Memphis lead.
Walker singles in Siani! pic.twitter.com/PQmZ1xXaiN
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) June 28, 2025
Durham scored a run in the home second to move within two runs.
Memphis answered with a five-run third inning. César Prieto doubled and advanced to third base on a Collins single. Mike Antico followed with a single to score Prieto.
Antico adds! pic.twitter.com/IE8AzI6EKB
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) June 28, 2025
Siani drew a walk to load the bases. Church crushed a grand slam to unload the bases and put Memphis in front 8-1.
Memphis’ hot bats struck again with two runs in the fifth. Antico began the frame with his second home run of the season, a solo shot.
ANTICO MASHES A @HueysRestaurant HOMER pic.twitter.com/rPB5fB1Bsl
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) June 29, 2025
Church blasted another ball out of the park, his fourth home run at Triple-A, to put Memphis in double digits in the run column at 10-1.
Add two @HueysRestaurant homer game to the list https://t.co/AvKRcfKTmd pic.twitter.com/l7i4npTobm
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) June 29, 2025
The Bulls plated two in the eighth to put a small dent in the large Memphis lead.
The Redbirds added an insurance run in the ninth. Antico mashed his third home run of 2025, his second solo blast of the game, to extend the lead to 11-3.
How about Antico?
TWO @HueysRestaurant HOMERS pic.twitter.com/8BoABFImlw
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) June 29, 2025
Memphis tallied six extra-base hits in the dominant win. The Redbirds scored 11 runs on 12 hits. Church was 2-for-4, including a walk, two home runs, including a grand slam, and five RBI. Antico was 3-for-5 with two home runs, three runs scored, and three RBI. Walker singled and drove in two,. Crooks tallied an RBI single. Prieto and Luken Baker doubled. Memphis hit .333 with runners in scoring position.
On the bases, Siani swiped two bags to increase his season total to 13. The Redbirds did not commit an error on defense.
Memphis is 43-35 overall, and 2-3 in the second half. They will look to secure the series split with Durham on Sunday.
Sunday’s game: at Durham, LHP Quinn Mathews (2-3, 4.45) vs. TBD. 4:05 PM CT.
Springfield Cardinals 12 at Wichita Wind Surge 6
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals blew out the Wichita Wind Surge in a Saturday road win.
Max Rajcic made his 14th start for the Cardinals. The right-hander threw 4 ⅔ innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits, four walks, and six strikeouts.
Osvaldo Berrios yielded a run across 2 ⅓ innings in relief of Rajcic and picked up his fourth win of 2025. Jack Ralston fanned three over the final two innings and allowed an unearned run.
Springfield’s bats were hot from the start as their first four batters of the game scored. Noah Mendlinger hit a lead-off single, and JJ Wetherholt followed with a two-run home run, his fifth of the season.
Saturday night's alright for crushing taters!@Cardinals top prospect JJ Wetherholt tees off for the @Sgf_Cardinals 🚀
Watch the rest of the action LIVE: https://t.co/twudCiZEPR pic.twitter.com/PnZttONYYg
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 28, 2025
Jeremy Rivas followed with a double and touched home plate on Chase Davis’ sixth home run, the second two-run blast of the inning.
The Cardinals moved ahead by five with a run in the second as Ramon Mendoza launched his 10th home run, a solo shot.
Springfield’s momentum continued with a three-run top of the fourth inning. Trey Paige launched his second Double-A home run to lead off the inning. Mendoza followed with a walk. Carlos Linarez reached first base on a fielder’s choice play with Mendoza to second via a fielding error. Mendlinger lined a single to load the bags. Rivas and Joshua Baez drew consecutive bases-loaded walks to stretch the Cardinals’ lead to 8-0.
Wichita scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to cut Springfield’s lead in half at 8-4.
Springfield plated a run in the sixth to move ahead by five once more. Mendlinger was hit by a pitch, and moved to second base on a Wetherholt groundout. Davis singled to put runners at the corners. Baez reached base on a fielding error, with Mendlinger home on the play for a 9-4 Cardinals lead.
The Wind Surge scored a run in the seventh.
The Cardinals responded with a trio of runs in the top of the eighth. Wetherholt was hit by a pitch, and moved to third base on Rivas’ second double of the game. Wetherholt crossed home plate via a wild pitch with Rivas to third. Davis walked. Baez grounded into a forceout with Davis out at second base, Baez to first base, and Rivas home on the play for an 11-4 lead. Baez swiped second base. Paige lined a single to bring Baez home to extend the lead to 12-4.
Springfield mashed four home runs in the victory.
JJ Wetherholt, Chase Davis, Ramon Mendoza and Trey Paige all go yard for Springfield! pic.twitter.com/kzWJimN8eK
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) June 29, 2025
The Cardinals scored 12 runs on 12 hits. Davis was 2-for-3, including three walks, a run scored, a home run, and two RBI. Mendoza was 2-for-4, including a walk, a double, a home run, and two runs scored. Paige tallied two hits, including a home run and two RBI. Wetherholt launched a home run, scored twice, and drove in two runs. Rivas walked, doubled twice, and drove in a run. Mendlinger tallied three hits, including a double, and scored twice.
On the bases, Baez stole his eighth base.
On defense, catcher Linarez made a throwing error, and was tagged with a passed ball. Pitcher Ralston committed a pickoff error.
Springfield is 45-29 overall, and 2-3 in the second half. They will look to secure the series split with Wichita on Sunday.
Sunday’s game: at Wichita, RHP Hancel Rincon (3-2, 3.92) vs. LHP Christian MacLeod (0-1, 1.59) 1:05 PM CT.
Peoria Chiefs 4, Beloit Sky Carp 0
The High-A Peoria Chiefs blanked the Beloit Sky Carp at Dozer Park on Saturday.
Jose Davila started his 14th game for Peoria. The right-hander pitched 4 ⅔ scoreless innings on two hits, three walks, and four strikeouts.
Tanner Jacobson fanned three across 2 ⅓ shutout frames to collect his third win of the season. Tyler Bradt struck out three over the final two innings to finish the win.
The Chiefs struck quickly with a two-run bottom of the first. Jon Jon Gazdar and Travis Honeyman hit back-to-back singles. Miguel Villarroel brought both home with a double.
The Chiefs doubled their lead in the fifth. Won-Bin Cho drew a lead-off walk, and advanced to third base on a Michael Curialle single. Gazdar was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Honeyman grounded into a double play, with Curialle to third base and Cho home on the play. Ian Petrutz walked, and Ryan Campos followed with a single to plate Curialle for a 4-0 Peoria lead.
Chiefs pitching did not allow a hit with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 Beloit baserunners in the win.
The Chiefs scored four runs on seven hits. Villarroel walked and drove in two runs on a double. Tre Richardson was 2-for-4 with a double. Campos singled and tallied an RBI.
On the bases, Richardson swiped two bags for a season total of nine. The Chiefs did not commit an error on defense.
Peoria is 30-43 overall, 4-4 in the second half, and one game back of a first-place tie with Quad Cities and South Bend in the Midwest League West Division. The Chiefs look to clinch the series victory over Beloit on Sunday.
Sunday’s game: vs. Beloit, RHP Gerardo Salas (2-6, 8.79) vs. RHP Jake Brooks (4-5, 4.75) 2:05 PM CT.
Palm Beach Cardinals 6 at Daytona Tortugas 10
The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals fell to the Tortugas in Daytona on Saturday.
Leonel Sequera made his 15th start for Palm Beach. The right-hander allowed six runs, five earned, on five hits, two walks, and one strikeout. Sequera took the loss.
Sam Brodersen struck out two across 1 ⅓ scoreless innings in relief of Sequera. Angel Cuenca yielded four unearned runs over two innings. Christian Worley tossed 1 ⅓ shutout frames. Mason Burns threw a scoreless eighth inning.
Palm Beach jumped ahead 2-0 in the top of the second inning. Deniel Ortiz and Jose Suarez singled and they executed a double steal. Ortiz touched home plate on a Sammy Hernandez groundout, with Suarez to third base on the play. Johnfrank Salazar singled in Suarez.
Daytona responded with six runs in the bottom of the second.
Palm Beach moved within three with a run in the third. Jonathan Mejia and Bryce Madron drew back-to-back walks. Ortiz was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Pino was the second hit batsman in a row, forcing Mejia home.
The Tortugas added a pair of runs to move ahead 8-2.
Palm Beach trimmed the lead with a two-run sixth inning. Suarez doubled and scored on Salazar’s first home run with Palm Beach this season, a two-run blast, to move the Cardinals closer at 8-5.
Daytona took the runs back with a two-run bottom of the sixth.
Down five, the Cardinals pushed across a single run in the eighth. Hernandez singled, and moved to third base on an Anyelo Encarnacion double. With Madron at the plate, Hernandez scored on a balk, with Encarnacion to third base on the call, as Palm Beach moved within four at 10-6.
Palm Beach was unable to rally further in the loss.
The Cardinals scored six runs on 11 hits. Salazar was 2-for-4, including a two-run home run and three RBI. Pino doubled and drove in a run. Hernandez tallied two hits and one RBI. Suarez doubled and scored twice. Encarnacion recorded two doubles.
On the bases, Ortiz swiped his 20th bag. Suarez stole his 10th. Hernandez was picked off at second base and was caught stealing third.
On defense, shortstop Encarnacion committed two errors, one fielding and one throwing. Third baseman Ortiz and first baseman Salazar each made a throwing error. The Cardinals turned three double plays.
Palm Beach is 34-39 overall, and 2-6 in the second half. They seek the series split with Daytona on Sunday.
Sunday’s game: at Daytona, RHP Brandt Thompson (2-4, 3.55) vs. RHP Ovis Portes (2-1, 4.91) 4:00 PM CT.
FCL Cardinals 2 at FCL Mets 4 (7 innings, game one)
The Florida Complex League Cardinals dropped the first game of Saturday’s twin bill with the FCL Mets.
Hunter Kublick made his second start of the season, serving as the opener. The right-hander tossed one scoreless inning on one hit, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Samuel Fabian fanned four and allowed two runs across three innings in relief of Kublick. Brailyn Paulino surrendered two runs over two innings and took the loss.
The Mets took a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
The Cardinals tied the game at two apiece in the top of the sixth. Yairo Padilla and Jose Cordoba walked. Heriberto Caraballo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Bracewell Taveras connected for a single to score Padilla and Cordoba.
The Mets regained their two-run lead with a pair of runs in the sixth. The Cardinals failed to respond.
The FCL Cardinals scored two runs on three hits, all singles. Taveras drove in both Cardinal runs. Padilla tallied a hit, a walk, and a run scored. Alejandro Loaiza recorded a hit.
On the basepaths, Caraballo swiped his third bag.
On defense, second baseman Yoerny Junco committed a fielding error. Shortstop Padilla made a throwing error. Hancel Almonte nailed a runner at second base from left field. The Cardinals turned two double plays in the game.
FCL Cardinals 2 at FCL Mets 1 (7 innings, game two)
The FCL Cardinals won a close contest to secure the doubleheader split at the FCL Mets on Saturday.
Yadiel Batista started for the Cardinals. The left-hander pitched 4 ⅔ scoreless innings on four hits, one walk, and two strikeouts.
Edwin Nuñez tossed 1 ⅓ scoreless frames in relief of Bautista and picked up the win. Bruno Lopez allowed a run in the seventh, but held on to secure his first save of the season.
The Cardinals scored twice in the top of the first inning. Facundo Velasquez and Andru Arthur lined back-to-back singles. Paulo Asprilla walked to load the bases. Yoerny Junco singled to score Velasquez and Arthur for a 2-0 Cardinals lead, with Asprilla out at third base on the play.
The Cardinals and Lopez escaped a bases-loaded jam in the final inning to win the doubleheader finale.
The FCL Cardinals scored two runs on four hits, all singles. Junco drove in both Cardinal runs. Velasquez, Arthur, and Yancel Guerrero each tallied a hit. The lineup drew five walks.
On the bases, Guerrero swiped his 10th bag.
On defense, third baseman Bracewell Taveras made a throwing error. The Cardinals turned two double plays.
The FCL Cardinals are 17-20 on the season and reside in third place in the FCL East Division. They are off Sunday and will play at the FCL Astros on Monday.
Monday’s game: at FCL Astros. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT.
DSL Cardinals 3 at DSL NYY Bombers 4 (7 innings)
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals dropped a tight seven-inning contest to the DSL NYY Bombers on Saturday.
Daniel Gomez made his second career start for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched 4 ⅓ innings and allowed one unearned run on five hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.
Briam Reyes yielded one run across 1 ⅔ innings in relief of Gomez. Reiner Lopez surrendered two runs in the seventh inning.
The Cardinals jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning. Brayan Amoroso led off the frame with his first double of the season and moved to third base on a wild pitch. He scored on a Sebastian Dos Santos double. Dos Santos took third base on a balk. Juan Pablo Cabrera drew a walk. Dos Santos crossed home plate on a Jhonny Chaparro sacrifice fly.
The Bombers cut the lead in half in the third inning.
The Cardinals regained the two-run lead immediately in the fourth. Yeferson Portolatin drew a lead-off walk, and advanced to second and third on two wild pitches. Miguel Hernandez walked to put runners at the corners. The Cardinals executed a double steal with Hernandez stealing second base, and Portolain swiping home, for a 3-1 Cardinals lead.
The Bombers rallied for a run in the sixth and walked off the game with a two-run bottom of the seventh.
The Cardinals scored two runs on six hits. Dos Santos doubled and drove in a run. Amoroso and Edward Guribe doubled. Chaparro recorded an RBI with a sacrifice fly. Portolain singled, walked twice and scored.
On the basepaths, Jesus Perez stole his fourth base of the season. Hernandez swiped his eighth. Portolain stole home plate for his 10th steal.
On defense, third baseman Guribe made fielding and throwing errors.
The DSL Cardinals are 12-8 on the season and hold a one-game lead in the DSL Southeast Division. They are off Sunday and will play a home contest with DSL Colorado on Monday.
Monday’s game: vs. DSL Colorado. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 AM CT.
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