photo: Joshua Baez home run celebration with Victor Scott (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 4-4 on Thursday after two doubleheaders. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Joshua Baez, hit two home runs with four RBI between the two Palm Beach games. Other standouts include Victor Scott II, Trent Baker, Pete Hansen and Jose Suarez.
Results from games played Thursday, June 29th.
The Memphis Redbirds (0-2) fell to the Nashville Sounds (MIL, 2-0) on Thursday at AutoZone Park.
Zack Thompson was touched for two runs on four hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. The left-hander fanned three and took his fourth loss. Kyle Leahy yielded two runs in 2 1/3 innings.
The Redbirds scored their only run in the first inning after the Sounds put up a run in the top half. Masyn Winn singled and advanced to second on a groundout. Juan Yepez brought him in with a single.
In relief, Ryan Loutos gave up a run in one inning on two hits, a walk and one strikeout. Kodi Whitley punched out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
Luken Baker recorded the only multi-hit game with two. Matt Koperniak singled and walked. The lineup did not have an extra-base hit and went 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position.
Kramer Robertson was caught stealing and committed a throwing error.
Friday’s game: vs. Nashville, RHP Gordon Graceffo (1-2, 4.67) vs. TBA 7:05 CT
The Springfield Cardinals (1-1) topped the Arkansas Travelers (SEA, 1-1) at Dickey-Stephens Park on Thursday night.
Starter Brandon Komer pitched four innings and gave up four runs on a hit, four walks and two strikeouts. Jose Martinez was charged with one run in two innings.
In a nine-pitch at-bat, Jose Alvarez singled to plate one in the fourth. The Cardinals put up seven runs in the eighth inning to take the lead.
With the bases loaded, Pedro Pagés walked and Chandler Redmond tied the game via sacrifice fly. Alvarez gave Springfield the lead with a single. Arquímedes Gamboa drove in three with a double. Victor Scott II added one more after he singled.
Ryan Shreve earned the win after he pitched two scoreless frames. Andre Granillo struck out one in a 1-2-3 ninth.
In his second game with Springfield, Scott went 3-for-4 with a walk, one RBI and a run. Alvarez went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Gamboa had two hits with three RBI. The lineup collected 10 hits and four walks.
On the bases, Scott took his second bag of Double-A to bring his season total to 52 between Peoria and Springfield. Pagés picked a runner off.
Friday’s game: at Arkansas, RHP Logan Gragg (2-4, 5.85) vs. RHP Emerson Hancock (9-2, 4.68) 7:05 CT
Peoria 6, Cedar Rapids 7 (9 innings, Game 1)
The Peoria Chiefs (3-1) were edged by the Cedar Rapids Kernels (MIN, 3-1) in game one of a doubleheader at Dozer Park.
Tink Hence only went 1 2/3 innings after he gave up four runs, three earned, on four hits and a walk. TCN’s no. 3 prospect struck out four. Matt Hickey tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames of relief with one walk and a strikeout.
After the Kernels scored four runs in the first two innings, Peoria put up four between the fourth and sixth innings. Jimmy Crooks blasted a solo home run in the fourth, his sixth of the year. In the fifth, Alex Iadisernia hit his first High-A homer, a two-run blast. Osvaldo Tovalin tied it in the sixth with his fourth home run of 2023.
IADI-SEE YOU LATER‼️
ALEX IADISERNIA MAKES HIMSELF AT HOME IN PEORIA WITH A TWO RUN BLAST THAT CUTS OUR DEFICIT TO 4-3 IN THE B5❕ pic.twitter.com/ppTO0sIx3x
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) June 29, 2023
In his High-A debut, Edwin Nunez threw two perfect frames with three punchouts. Andrew Marrero was touched for three runs, one earned, in three innings with three hits, two walks and five strikeouts. The right-hander is 0-6 this season.
With a tie game in the seventh, the contest went into extra innings. Cedar Rapids scored two runs in the eighth but the Chiefs answered with two in the home half. Jeremy Rivas doubled to score one and Thomas Francisco brought the tying run across. The Kernels took the lead in the ninth but Peoria could not respond.
Tovalin and Rivas both recorded two hits. Crooks hit a home run and came across twice. In their Peoria debuts, Iadisernia homered and R.J. Yeager singled and walked. The lineup went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
On the base paths, Nathan Church stole a bag. Tovalin committed two throwing errors.
Peoria 3, Cedar Rapids 2 (7 innings, Game 2)
The Peoria Chiefs (4-1) defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels (MIN, 3-2) in the make-up game from Wednesday.
Starter Trent Baker pitched six innings and yielded an unearned run on five hits and no walks. TCN’s no. 23 prospect struck out five and earned his fourth win of the season.
In the second, R.J. Yeager blasted a solo homer, his first in High-A. After Cedar Rapids tied the game in the third, the Chiefs scored two in the fourth. Yeager was hit by a pitch and Tovalin tripled to take the lead. Jeremy Rivas drove in Tovalin with a single.
SERVING UP YEAGER BOMBS ‼️
R.J. YEAGER TALLIES HIS FIRST HIGH-A BLAST IN THE B2 TO GIVE US THE EARLY LEAD❕ pic.twitter.com/GUtX6mOmNh
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) June 30, 2023
Out of the bullpen, Garcia gave up an unearned run in the seventh. The right-hander stranded two runners to end the game and earn his fourth save.
The Chiefs only had five hits but the pitching did not surrender an earned run. Yeager homered and scored twice. Tovalin recorded a game-tying triple.
In the field, Tovalin had two more fielding errors and has 15 this season. Aaron McKeithan committed a fielding error.
In the second inning, Rivas lined into a triple play.
Friday’s game: vs. Cedar Rapids, RHP Max Rajcic (High-A debut) vs. RHP Marco Raya (0-1, 3.19) 6:35 CT
Palm Beach 5, Jupiter 3 (Completion of Wednesday’s game)
The Palm Beach Cardinals (1-3) beat the Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA, 1-2) in the completion of Wednesday’s contest at Roger Dean Stadium.
Brycen Mautz pitched four scoreless frames with two hits, one walk and seven strikeouts before the game was postponed.
The Beach Birds took a 2-0 lead in the second. After Joshua Baez stole second base, Jupiter committed three errors to score Baez and Michael Curialle. Won-Bin Cho brought in a run via sacrifice fly in the fourth. The Hammerheads made it a one-run game in the fifth.
In relief, Wilmer Ortega yielded two runs in 2/3 of an inning on three walks, a hit batter and one strikeout. Tanner Jacobson earned his second win after 2 1/3 scoreless frames. Henry Gomez saved his first game with one run given up in two innings.
Leonardo Bernal walked with the bases loaded in the sixth. Baez blasted a two-run homer in the seventh to make the score 5-2. Jupiter brought one across in the ninth.
Baez and Curialle both recorded three hits. Baez homered and scored twice. Adanson Cruz had the only other hit, a double. The lineup went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
On the bases, Baez stole his ninth bag and Jonathan Mejia took his first Low-A base.
Palm Beach 4, Jupiter 5 (8 innings)
The Palm Beach Cardinals (1-4) were edged by the Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA, 2-2) in game two of the doubleheader.
Pete Hansen pitched six solid innings with one run given up on four hits and a walk. The left-hander struck out six.
In the third inning, Palm Beach scored all four of their runs. With the bases loaded, Michael Curialle brought in a run with a sacrifice fly. Baez hit a three-run home run, his fifth of the year and second of the day.
In relief, Luis Gastelum could not record an out after he was charged with three runs, two earned, on three singles. Joseph King yielded an unearned run in two innings. The 22-year-old took his third loss and blew his fourth save.
Baez hit a home run and doubled in the eight-inning contest. Jose Zapata recorded two hits and Adanson Cruz walked twice. The lineup struck out 13 times and left 10 runners on base.
Cruz and Lizandro Espinoza were caught stealing. Espinoza committed a throwing error.
Friday’s game: vs. Jupiter, RHP Cade Winquest (3-4, 6.07) vs. TBA 5:30 CT
FCL Cardinals 4, FCL Marlins 1
The Florida Complex League Cardinals (8-8) overcame the Marlins (11-8) on Thursday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium.
Starter Leonel Sequera tossed four scoreless innings on three hits and three strikeouts. Antoni Cuello, Victor Villanueva and Ludwin Jiminez all pitched scoreless frames in relief. Cuello earned the win, his first.
The Cardinals struck in the second inning after Roblin Heredia drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. In the sixth, the Cardinals put up three runs. Jose Suarez tripled to score one. Samil De La Rosa and Yancel Guerrero each plated one to make the score 4-0.
Diorys Guerrero walked in a run in the eighth inning. Miguel Martinez recorded his first save after a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Suarez went 2-for-4 with a triple, one RBI and two runs. Jose Cordoba and De La Rosa both had one hit. The lineup went 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position and the pitching allowed six hits.
On the bases, Luis Pino and De La Rosa both took a bag.
Friday’s game: at FCL Nationals, TBA vs. TBA 11:00 CT
DSL Cardinals 0, DSL Arizona Black 1 (7 innings)
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals (4-13) were blanked by Arizona Black (7-10) on Thursday afternoon in a seven-inning contest.
Keiverson Ramirez was charged with the only run in five innings on five hits. The 17-year-old fanned three and took his second loss.
The Cardinals had their best chance in the fourth inning after Yordalin Pena had a lead-off double but they could not bring him across.
Out of the bullpen, Yordy Herera pitched a scoreless inning. Giovanni Vargas tossed a scoreless seventh inning with two punchouts.
Pena had the only Cardinal hits with two, a single and one double. Fernando Roquez and Elias Reynoso both walked.
Daniel Rojas and Roquez both took a bag. In the field, Hancel Almonte recorded an outfield assist in right field.
Friday’s game: vs. DSL Phillies White, RHP Nelfy Ynfante (1-0, 6.76) vs. TBA 10:00 CT
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