Cardinals Minor League Notebook – June 5, 2018

photo: Johan Mieses (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

St. Louis’ minors went 2-1 on a light Draft Day 1 schedule on Monday. Outfielder Johan Mieses helped Palm Beach to a win and they were joined in the victory column by DSL Cardinals Red. DSL Cardinals Blue went down to defeat while Memphis, Springfield and Peoria were idle.

Results from the games played Monday, June 4th.


Memphis – off

The Triple-A Redbirds were idle Monday after dropping three of five at third-place New Orleans (MIA). First-place Memphis (35-23) leads the American Southern Division by 5 ½ games over Nashville (OAK).

Tuesday’s game: vs. Tacoma (28-30) (SEA), 7:05 pm CT, John Gant (4-0, 2.40)


Springfield – off

Having just completed a home stand in which they went a dismal 1-5, first-place Springfield (28-28) travels to third-place Northwest Arkansas (KC) for a four-game set. The Naturals are only a game off the S-Cards’ pace with Arkansas (SEA), just a half game out.

Tuesday’s game: at Northwest Arkansas (27-29), 7:05 pm CT, Jake Woodford (2-6, 4.58)


Palm Beach 4 at Fort Myers 3

Johan Mieses (Andrew Miller/Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Beach Birds’ ninth-inning rally lifted them to a 4-3 victory over the Miracle in the first of their four-game road series. The win by Palm Beach (31-21), combined with Jupiter’s loss, moves the second-place PB-Cards to within a game of the division-leading Hammerheads (MIA).

With Palm Beach held to just one tally on two hits through eight via the superb pitching by the Miracles’ Tyler Watson, Taylor Bryant doubled to begin the ninth. Kramer Robertson reached on Watson’s fielding error, driving the southpaw from the game. Back-to-back one-out singles by Andy Young and Johan Mieses knotted the game at three all before Jose Godoy’s bases-loaded ground out brought the go-ahead run home.

Right fielder and Player of the Day Mieses provided much of the offense, going 3-for-4 with a double, run scored and RBI. On the injury front, center fielder Chase Pinder left the game after being plunked in the arm in the ninth.

Also departing with an injury was the Beach Birds’ starter Evan Kruczynski. The lefty limited Fort Myers to a hit over the initial two frames but was unable to continue due to an injured leg. Reliever Jason Zgardowski was rushed into service and gave up three runs on five hits and a walk over 2 2/3. He struck out six.

Austin Sexton blanked his opponents over the next 2 1/3, leaving Zgardowski’s final two runners aboard. Robbie Gordon (W, 1-0) faced the minimum in the eighth, handing the ball to Will Latcham, who picked up his seventh save.

Tuesday’s game: at Fort Myers (23-32) (MIN), 7:00 pm ET, TBA


Peoria – off

Peoria, co-leaders of the Midwest League West Division along with Quad Cities (HOU), is in the midst of a six-game road swing. Having claimed their series at third-place Clinton, a club that is just a half game back of the division leaders, the Chiefs now head to fourth-place Kane County (ARI), a team that trails by two games.

Tuesday’s game: at Kane County (ARI), 6:30 pm CT, Evan Guillory (5-3, 2.74)


DSL Twins 15 at DSL Cardinals Blue 4

Starter Francisco Ventura recorded just one out as the DSL Cardinals Blue (1-1) was smashed by the DSL Twins, 15-4.

Ventura (L, 0-1) was the first of five C-Blue hurlers to take the mound and none escaped unscathed. That is thanks in no small part to the six miscues committed by the defense. Six of the 15 tallies yielded were unearned, beginning with Ventura, who gave up seven runs, five earned, on four hits and a walk.

Dionys Rodriguez replaced Ventura and allowed all three inherited runners to score. In his professional debut, Rodriguez issued four free passes to go with a hit in 1 2/3, resulting in two runs, one earned. Right-hander Leonardo Taveras performed the best, holding the Twins (1-1) to an unearned tally over three frames. Two other newcomers, Luis Tena and Derek Diaz, both tossed two frames. Tena yielded three runs and Diaz two, one earned. All five pitchers are righties.

The home team generated seven hits, led by right fielder Darlin Moquete, who went 2-for-4 with a walk, triple, two runs scored and one knocked in. The 18-year-old is in his first week of professional action, having signed with St. Louis in April 2018. Third baseman Yowelfy Rosario tripled in three at bats with a walk, run scored and a stolen base.

Tuesday’s game: vs. DSL Phillies Red (0-2), 10:30 am ET, TBA


DSL Cardinals Red 5 at DSL Cubs2 4

A big first inning propelled the DSL Cardinals Red to a road win over the DSL Cubs2, 5-4.

The visitors capitalized on three Cubs2 miscues to score four times in the initial frame then held on for the win. The C-Red bats were outhit, five to seven, but limited their defensive mistakes to just two while the home team had six bobbles.

Right fielder Luis Monteno was the only player with a multi-hit effort, singling twice in four at bats while crossing home once. A double by catcher Jesus Orecchia was the only hit to go for extra bases. Defensively, left fielder Claudio Ramirez was credited with an outfield assist at first.

Starter Ludwin Jimenez tossed five strong innings in his professional debut. The right-hander struck out eight while yielding two runs, one earned, on three hits and a base-on-balls. One of the two tallies was produced by a long ball.

But Jimenez’ opportunity for the win vanished after Rodard Avelino (BS, 1) could not retire any of the five batters he faced. The righty was touched for two runs on two hits and three free passes.

Southpaw Nelson Prada (W, 1-0) was impressive during his three-inning stint, stranding all three inherited runners to limit the damage to Avelino’s line. Prada fanned four and give up just two hits. Luis Ortiz tossed a one-two-three ninth for his first professional save.

Tuesday’s game: at DSL Phillies White (2-0), 10:30 am ET, TBA


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