Cardinals Minor League Notebook – June 7, 2021

Photo: Grant Black (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

Offense and Pitching were scarce to be found in St Louis’ 0-for-4 Sunday as the four teams were outscored by a combined 27-5 differential.  Pitcher Grant Black’s maiden Triple-A effort for Memphis was one of the system’s few bright spots as was Nolan Gorman’s four-hit night.

Results from games played Sunday, June 6th

Memphis 1 vs Toledo 4
Grant Black’s encouraging Triple-A pitching debut went for naught as the Redbirds fell to the Mud Hens, 4-1.  Memphis (12-18) and Toledo (14-15) each won three of the six games in their just completed series.

Player of the Day Black, an Indy ball acquisition in February 2020, tossed four shutout frames in his first start of 2021 after 10 relief appearances for Springfield.  The lefty limited the opposition to three hits and did not issue a free pass.

Grant Black

Evan Kruczynski fanned five over the next two innings, blanking Toledo on a hit and two walks.  But Connor Jones (L, 1-2)(BS, 2) nearly matched the four outs recorded to runs given up, allowing three tallies on three hits and two base-on-balls.

Roel Ramirez retired three batters but not before getting dinged for an unearned score with two hits and a walk yielded.  Austin Warner recorded the final two outs, permitting a hit driving in Ramirez’ base runner.

The offense mustered six hits with the team’s sole tally generated by Ali Sanchez’ first home run of the season.  It was the catcher’s only hit in four at bats.  Lead off batter Evan Mendoza singled twice in four at bats, the only Redbird with more than one hit.

Monday’s game:  There are no scheduled MiLB games on Mondays this season
Tuesday’s game:  vs Gwinnett (15-15)(ATL),  7:10 pm CT, TBA

Springfield 2 vs San Antonio 9
A six-run seventh blew open a competitive contest, leading to the S-Cards’ 9-2 defeat by the Missions.  Springfield (8-21) claimed two of the six-game set versus San Antonio (15-15).

The S-Cards never lead a game in which they did not score until putting up a straight number in each of the final two frames despite matching their opponents’ 13 hits.  Third baseman Nolan Gorman led the offense, going 4-for-5 out of the lead-off spot.

Nolan Gorman

Designated hitter Nick Raposo went 2-for-3 with a base-on-balls and run scored in the nine hole.  The only other Redbird with more than one hit was left fielder David Vinsky who singled and doubled in four at bats with an RBI.  His two-bagger one of only two hits to go for extra bases.

Luken Baker doubled and scored via a ground out in the eighth, his only hit in five at bats.  Center fielder Nick Plummer reached base three times, going 1-for-4 with a walk and RBI plus reaching base a third time on a Missions’ miscue.  His base-on-balls brought Springfield’s other run across the plate in the ninth.

Andre Pallante (L, 2-1) scattered seven hits and two walks over five innings, holding San Antonio to two scores.  The 22-year-old struck out five.

Jacob Bosiokovic tossed a clean sixth but was hammered the next frame, surrendering six runs, four earned, on four hits, two base-on-balls and a plunked batter in 1 1/3 innings.  Michael Brettell retired five batters, giving up a hit and stranding an inherited runner, but Edgar Escobar served up a ninth-inning home run.

Monday’s game:  There are no scheduled MiLB games on Mondays this season
Tuesday’s game:  vs Arkansas  (14-15)(SEA),  6:35 pm CT, TBA

Peoria 2 vs Wisconsin 11
Quality pitching was in short supply for the Chiefs in their 11-2 defeat by the Timber Rattlers (15-15)(MIL).  Peoria (12-18) split the six-game set with their West Division rivals.

Three of four Chiefs hurlers were scored upon, beginning with Logan Gragg who made his second consecutive start after five relief appearances.  The 22-year-old tossed a season-high four frames, yielding two runs on four hits, two base-on-balls and a sac fly while striking out three.  The righty threw 43 of his 61 pitches for strikes.

Gragg turned over a 2-2 tie to Wilfredo Pereira (L, 1-3) who was tagged for three scores on three hits and two walks in two innings.  One of the three hits was a two-run long ball.

Nathanael Heredia retired just two batters, giving up four hits and issuing two free passes, resulting in six runs.  Two of the six tallies derived from one home run.

Three of the four outs recorded by Evan Sisk were strikeouts, the lefty representing the sole Peoria pitcher to not allow the opposition to cross home.  The only batter to reach against Sisk was via a hit-by-pitch.

Peoria’s offense consisted of five hits and four base-on-balls with single scores coming in the second and fourth.  First baseman Leandro Cedeno had an excellent day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and RBI.

Leandro Cedeño

Shortstop Moises Castillo reached base twice, singling once in three at bats with a base-on-balls and one knocked in.   Centerfielder Tyler Reichenborn scored both runs, getting aboard twice via free passes.

Monday’s game:  There are no scheduled MiLB games on Mondays this season
Tuesday’s game:  vs Quad Cites (19-10)(KC),  6:35 pm CT, Michael Ya Senka (0-1, 6.20)

Palm Beach 0 vs Jupiter 4
The Beach Birds’ lackluster offense managed just three hits as the team dropped a 4-0 decision to Jupiter (16-14)(MIA).  Palm Beach (8-22) scored a combined four runs in their four losses of the six-game series.

All three hits were singles and were matched by the three miscues committed defensively.  Shortstop Masyn Winn committed two errors, one throwing and one fielding,  and third baseman Jacob Buchberger was charged with a throwing bobble.  On the defensive plus side, center fielder Tommy Jew was credited with an outfield assist at second base.

Inohan Paniagua (L, 2-1) had a one-hitter going through five but could not finish the sixth.  The Dominican native allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings.  Paniagua threw 77 pitches, 50 for strikes.

Inohan Paniagua

The bullpen shut down the Hammerheads the rest of the way.  Luis Tena retired four batters, three on strikeouts, yielding a hit and walk.   Luis Ortiz issued an eighth-inning free pass and Dionys Rodriguez tossed a one-two-three ninth.

Monday’s game:  There are no scheduled MiLB games on Mondays this season
Tuesday’s game:   at St Lucie () (NYM), 6:10 pm ET, Jose Moreno (0-2, 8.00)


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