photo: Nathan Church (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 4-1 on Thursday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Nathan Church, was a triple shy of the cycle with eight total bases, four hits, three runs and two RBI. Other standouts include Matt Koperniak, Iván Herrera, Kenny Hernandez and Chris Rotondo.
Results from games played Thursday, June 8th.
The Memphis Redbirds (34-26) destroyed the Durham Bulls (TB, 33-27) at AutoZone Park on Thursday.
In his third rehab start, Jake Woodford tossed three innings and gave up a run on five hits and no walks. James Naile earned his fourth win of the season after he surrendered three runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Memphis came out swinging with a four-run first inning. Dylan Carlson drove in the first run on his rehab assignment with an infield single. Moisés Gómez and Juniel Querecuto both scored a run and Aaron Antonini was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
After the Bulls scored a run in the fourth, the Redbirds responded with two in the home half. Gómez brought in a run via sacrifice fly and Matt Koperniak scored on a wild pitch. Durham answered with three runs in the fifth inning.
The Redbirds answered right back with three in the bottom half. Antonini, Koperniak and Iván Herrera all singled to make the score 9-4.
Andrew Suárez recorded 2 1/3 scoreless innings on one hit and a walk. Ryan Loutos yielded a run in 1 1/3 innings and Dalton Roach pitched a scoreless ninth with one strikeout.
The lineup put the game away in the final innings. In the seventh, Masyn Winn was hit by a pitch and Herrera blasted a two-run shot to make the score 11-4. The Bulls put a position player on the mound in the eighth. The Redbirds loaded the bases and Koperniak hit a grand slam, his second big fly of the year.
WE ARE ALL WITNESSES pic.twitter.com/TtzT5pY3jT
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) June 9, 2023
I MEAN HOW DID HE DO THAT pic.twitter.com/vpxx76Wt0p
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) June 9, 2023
Koperniak went 3-for-5 with a grand slam, one walk, five RBI and four runs scored. Herrera also had three hits and a home run with a walk, two runs and three RBI. The lineup recorded 14 hits and 10 walks versus Durham.
On the base paths, Memphis stole five bases. Taylor Motter, Querecuto and Antonini all took one. Koperniak recorded two.
Friday’s game: vs. Durham, RHP Tommy Parsons (0-1, 5.89) vs. TBA 7:05 CT
The Springfield Cardinals (26-28) edged the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KC, 20-34) after an attempted comeback in the ninth inning at Hammons Field.
Starter Kenny Hernandez went a very solid 6 1/3 scoreless innings with five hits and three walks. The left-hander struck out four and earned his sixth win of 2023. Nick Trogrlic-Iverson pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Cardinals got on the board with a five-run fourth inning. Springfield loaded the bases and Jacob Buchberger walked. Chandler Redmond came across on a wild pitch and Jose Alvarez plated two via single. Arquímedes Gamboa scored on a wild pitch and made the score 5-0. Redmond added one more in the seventh with an RBI groundout.
Out of the bullpen, the Cardinals allowed five runs in the ninth inning. Jack Ralston could only record one out and surrendered five runs on two hits, two walks and a hit by pitch. Andre Granillo closed out the final 2/3 of an inning and earned his third save.
Nick Dunn and Alvarez both had two hits. Mike Antico walked twice and came across. The lineup went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
On the bases, Antico stole two bags and has 18 this season. Noah Mendlinger took his first Double-A bag.
Friday’s game: vs. NW Arkansas, RHP Connor Lunn (1-3, 6.10) vs. RHP Jonathan Bowlan (0-4, 8.14) 7:05 CT
The Peoria Chiefs (25-29) topped the Beloit Sky Carp (MIA, 24-29) in a slugfest at Dozer Park.
Ian Bedell gave up four runs in a five inning start. TCN’s no. 15 prospect yielded four hits, a walk and four strikeouts. Zane Mills was charged with three runs in 1 2/3 innings in relief.
In the first, Aaron McKeithan singled to score Victor Scott II. Beloit hit two home runs to take a 2-1 lead in the third but the Chiefs responded with a six-run bottom half.
Jimmy Crooks recorded an RBI single to tie the game and Scott came across on an error. Osvaldo Tovalin, Ramon Mendoza and Thomas Francisco all hit singles to make the score 7-2. The Sky Carp cut the lead to 7-4 but Church blasted his second home run of the year in the fourth.
WHO ELSE BUT NATHAN CHURCH ⁉️
SOLO SHOT MAKES IT 8-4 US IN THE B4❕ pic.twitter.com/IzOeYJ2vqF
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) June 9, 2023
Out of the bullpen, Matt Hickey was touched for a run in two innings. With the bases loaded and two out in the ninth, Roy Garcia came in and struck out the final batter to earn his first High-A save. Hickey recorded his second win.
With a tie game in the eighth, Peoria pushed across three runs to go ahead 11-8. Church doubled home Scott after he singled and stole second. Jimmy Crooks blasted a two-run homer, his second of the season.
CROOKS IS IN THE KITCHEN AND HE’S COOKIN’ OPPO TACOS ‼️
2 RUN BLAST MAKES IT 11-8 GOOD GUYS AFTER 8️⃣❕ pic.twitter.com/r4b6hu9Tdf
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) June 9, 2023
The Chiefs recorded a season-high 18 hits in the contest. Church was a triple shy of the cycle and went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs. Scott and Tovalin also collected three hits a piece. Crooks drove in three, came across twice and had two hits. The lineup went 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Scott stole his 40th base of the season, the second most in professional baseball. Tovalin took his sixth. Church was caught stealing.
Friday’s game: vs. Beloit, RHP Trent Baker (2-4, 4.10) vs. RHP Alex Williams (1-1, 4.67) 6:35 CT
Palm Beach 8 at Jupiter 6 (10 innings)
The Palm Beach Cardinals (32-22) defeated the Jupiter Hammerheads (MIA, 30-24) on Thursday night at Roger Dean Stadium.
Starter Brycen Mautz yielded three runs on three hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. TCN’s no. 10 prospect fanned five. Jose Davila pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up a run on three hits and three walks.
The Beach Birds scored six runs in the first four innings. Chris Rotondo doubled in the first to score one and Carlos Linarez made the score 3-0 via single. Rotondo doubled again in the third and Linarez drove in another run. Alex Iadisernia doubled in the fourth to plate one. Jupiter responded with three runs in the home half.
Edwin Nunez earned his third win of the season after he surrendered two runs, one earned, in the ninth inning. In the 10th, Tanner Jacobson pitched a 1-2-3 inning to earn his first professional save.
The Hammerheads tied the game in the ninth so the contest went into extra innings. Rotondo started on second and Linarez walked. Brandon Hernandez doubled to left field to score both runners and make the score 8-6.
Rotondo went 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Iadisernia recorded two hits and Linarez had a hit, two walks, three RBI and a run. The Cardinals doubled five times.
Rotondo stole his seventh base of the season.
Friday’s game: at Jupiter, RHP Cade Winquest (3-2, 3.99) vs. RHP Karson Milbrandt (2-2, 5.85) 11:00 CT
FCL Cardinals – Off
Friday’s game: vs. FCL Marlins, TBA vs TBA 11:00 CT
DSL Cardinals 2 at DSL Brewers (2) 4
The Dominican Summer League Cardinals (2-1) fell to the Brewers 2 (2-1) on Thursday afternoon.
Starter Ronny Oliver surrendered one run in 3 1/3 innings on three hits, two walks and one punchout. Bernard Mack pitched one scoreless inning.
The Cardinals struck in the first inning after Yordalin Pena blasted a solo home run, his first of the season. The Brewers scored one in the fourth but the Cardinals responded in the fifth. Journey Junco singled and advanced to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch. He came across on another wild pitch.
Juan Severino was charged with three runs in 1 2/3 innings with the damage done in the seventh. The 19-year-old took the loss. Stiveen Rojas tossed two scoreless innings.
The lineup recorded five hits and four walks. Junco and Pena both had two hits. Heriberto Caraballo recorded a hit and walked.
On the base paths, Junco took a bag and Pena was caught stealing. In the field, Facundo Velasquez, Fernando Roquez and Pena all had outfield assists. The defense turned three double plays.
Friday’s game: vs. DSL Marlins, TBA vs. TBA 10:00 CT
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now Available – 2023 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation 2023 Prospect Guide is back for its sixth year. It includes 292 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of all-new player scouting reports. Order your PDF or printed book copy today!
All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!
https://thecardinalnation.com/order-tcns-2023-cardinals-prospect-guide/
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Follow Luke Kotcher on Twitter @luke_kotcher.
© 2023 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or republished.