photo: Evan Mendoza (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals’ two Class-A clubs claimed the only wins on the four-game Thursday slate. Evan Mendoza’s two home runs paced Palm Beach and Zach Prendergast gave Peoria seven strong innings from the mound. Yairo Muñoz launched a grand slam as Austin Gomber was badly burned by the long ball in Memphis’ loss.
Results from the games played Thursday, May 10th.
Starter Austin Gomber fell prey to the long ball as Memphis was downed by Oklahoma City, 8-4. The Redbirds (22-13) hold a two-games-to-one series lead with one remaining and lead the American Southern by 3 1/2 over New Orleans (MIA).
Four of the nine hits against Gomber (L, 2-2) over five innings were home runs, accounting for five of his six tallies allowed. The southpaw struck out eight and issued two free passes.
Brett Cecil’s second rehab appearance went much like his first for Springfield: one clean inning, one hit allowed. But Arturo Reyes was bitten by the big bomb snake, as both hits yielded during his two-inning stint were solo shots.
One stroke of Yairo Munoz’ bat accounted for all of his team’s runs. The left fielder’s third home run of 2018 occurred with the sacks full, putting the Redbirds up 4-1 after three. Munoz and Luke Voit each went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Friday’s game: at Oklahoma City (23-9) (LAD), 7:05 pm CT, Kevin Herget (1-3, 4.91)
The first-place S-Cards began their five-game set at third-place Arkansas by absorbing a 9-6 loss.
Springfield (18-13) scored early but not often enough to counterbalance a rough pitching performance. Ramon Urias paced the 11-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with a walk and two-run blast comprising two of his three RBI. Randy Arozarena and Tommy Edman each had two hits, as Arozarena went yard with the bases clean.
Starter Chris Ellis held his opponents to a run through the first four frames but could not finish the fifth. The righty yielded five runs, earned, on seven hits and three walks in 4 1/3.
His last three baserunners crossed home with Ramon Santos on the mound. Santos allowed three hits in 1 2/3. Yeison Medina was touched for a run on four hits and a base-on-balls over 1 2/3, his runner scoring with Hector Mendoza on the mound. Mendoza (BS, 1) (L, 1-1) gave up what proved to be the difference on a three-run home run in the eighth.
Friday’s games: at Arkansas (15-16) (SEA), Game 1 – 5:10 pm CT, Ryan Helsley (2-1, 5.93)/Connor Jones (2-0, 5.40)
Evan Mendoza’s big night at the plate led the Beach Birds over the Marauders, 7-5, the first of three weekend games between the two teams in Bradenton. Palm Beach (19-14) has climbed to second place in the South Division, 2 1/2 behind Jupiter (MIA) and a half game ahead of Bradenton.
Co-Player of the Day Mendoza spearheaded the PB-Cards’ 11-hit onslaught, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and three driven in. Kramer Robertson and Johan Mieses both went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Mieses doubled with an RBI. Matt Fiedler was the final Beach Bird with a multi-hit effort, going 2-for-3 with a two-run bomb that proved to be the winning margin.
Starter Anthony Shew (W, 3-1) contributed to the victory with his arm. All three runs charged to him during his six innings on the bump were unearned, following a Kramer Robertson throwing error. Shew struck out six with six hits and two walks. Three of those hits and one of his free passes came in Bradenton’s three-run second.
Jason Zgardowski surrendered a two-run home run in his second inning of relief. Colton Thomson tossed a one-two-three ninth, striking out two, for his first save.
Friday’s game: at Bradenton (19-15) (PIT), 6:30 pm ET, Evan Kruczynski (3-1, 3.06)
Bonus: Members of The Cardinal Nation can check out Brian Walton’s new interview with Mendoza.
A trio of Chiefs hurlers combined on a four-hitter, resulting in a 5-2 victory over Dayton in the road series opener. Peoria (15-16) is tied for fourth with Kane County (ARI), 3 1/2 in back of Clinton (SEA).
Zach Prendergast (W, 4-1) tossed seven impressive frames, limiting the Dragons to two runs, one earned, on three hits through seven. Our co-Player of the Day fanned five and did not issue a free pass. Thomas St. Clair and Fabian Blanco each went an inning, permitting a hit. St. Clair walked one and Blanco picked up his second save.
Peoria’s 10 hits were spread among eight players, including Elehuris Montero and Jonatan Machado with two hits each. Both of Montero’s went for extra bases – a double and his fourth bomb of the season. The third baseman scored one and drove in another while Machado touched home twice.
Friday’s game: at Dayton (18-13) (CIN), 6:00 pm CT, Winston Nicacio (0-1, 8.14)
Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation: Cardinals Extended Spring Training Camp Report: 5/9/18
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