photo: Matt Koperniak (Palm Beach Cardinals)
The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-2 on Wednesday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis LF Matt Koperniak, was 3-for-5 with four RBI. Other standouts include José Fermín, César Prieto, Pete Hansen, Darlin Saladin and Chase Adkison.
Results for games played Wednesday, May 15.
The Triple-A Redbirds clobbered the Stripers in a 10-3 win at AutoZone Park on Wednesday. Starter Zach Thompson required 82 pitches to get through four innings. The lefty gave up two runs on three hits, struck out three and walked three.
In his Memphis debut, Kolton Ingram relieved Thompson and threw a scoreless fifth with two strikeouts to earn the win. Connor Thomas hurled two scoreless innings. Jacob Bosiokovic surrendered one run in the final two innings.
Gwinnett got on the board first with a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Memphis put up their first run in the second to cut the lead in half. Alfonso Rivas singled and Nick Raposo walked. Matt Koperniak singled to plate Rivas.
The Redbirds took a 3-2 lead in the third inning as José Fermín singled and César Prieto followed with a two-run home run, his seventh of the year. In the fourth, Koperniak’s solo home run made it 4-2.
KOPERNIAK ATTACK
ANOTHER @HueysRestaurant HOME RUN pic.twitter.com/oQWahHt04w
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 15, 2024
CESAR SAYS BYE-BYE
Today's @SoFi Play of the Game and his seventh @HueysRestaurant pic.twitter.com/nXXOxmosY4
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 15, 2024
Memphis added five runs in the fifth to increase the lead to 9-2. Prieto walked. Thomas Saggese grounded into a force out, retiring Prieto at second. Rivas singled and Raposo walked. Koperniak doubled, sending Saggese and Rivas home. Raposo crossed the plate on Victor Scott’s single. Jordan Walker drew a walk. Fermín’s single scored Koperniak and Scott.
The Redbirds produced their 10th and final run in the seventh. Scott walked and Fermín singled. Prieto plated Scott on a single. The Stripers added a third run in the ninth.
Fermín was 4-for-5 with two RBI. Koperniak was 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. Prieto was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Rivas was 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
Memphis is 21-20 on the season.
Thursday’s game: vs. Gwinnett, RHP Michael McGreevy (2-4, 6.28) vs. Allan Winans RHP (3-2, 3.27) 11:05 CT.
The Double-A Cardinals lost to the RockHounds by a 12-6 margin on Wednesday at Hammons Field. Starter Edwin Nuñez pitched two innings, gave up five runs on six hits, struck out one and walked two. Nuñez took the loss, his second.
All three Springfield relievers also gave up multiple runs. Trent Baker surrendered three runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Leonardo Taveras yielded two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Andrew Marrero allowed two runs in the final two innings.
Midland went up 2-0 in the top of the first inning. Springfield answered with three runs in the home first to lead 3-2. Nathan Church singled and Jimmy Crooks walked. Jacob Buchberger plated Church on a single. Crooks and Buchberger came home on a double by Mike Antico.
Oooh you almost had it, ya gotta be quicker than that.
Mike Antico rips a double off the centerfield wall to flip the script and put us in front in the first. pic.twitter.com/Dd3jIuAHyr
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) May 16, 2024
The RockHounds made it 5-3 in the second. The Cardinals added a run in the fourth. Ramon Mendoza singled and later scored on a wild pitch.
Midland increased the lead to 8-4 in the fifth and added two more in the seventh. Springfield sent two runners across the plate in the eighth to cut the lead to 10-6. Buchberger and Antico each drew a walk. Aaron McKeithan singled. Bryan Torres walked and Buchberger came home. Antico scored on a fielding error.
The RockHounds padded their score with two final runs in the ninth.
Buchberger was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Mendoza was 2-for-4. Antico had two RBI.
On the bases, Antico was caught stealing.
Springfield is 20-14 on the season.
Thursday’s game: vs. Midland, Max Rajcic RHP (4-2, 6.00) vs. TBD 6:35 CT
Peoria 1, West Michigan 3 (10 innings)
The High-A Chiefs’ five-game win streak ended Wednesday as they fell to the Whitecaps in an extra innings pitching duel at Dozer Park.
Starter Pete Hansen went six innings, gave up one run on five hits, struck out three and walked one.
Benito Garcia relieved Hansen and threw two scoreless innings. Gustavo Rodriguez surrendered two runs, one earned, in the final two innings and took the loss.
West Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Peoria tied it in the seventh on a solo home run by Michael Curialle.
CURIALLE TIES IT UP IN THE SEVENTH!!!
—#peoriachiefs #TopDogs pic.twitter.com/ZU0gec61SK— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 16, 2024
The game went into the 10th when the Whitecaps scored two runs on a pair of RBI singles to lead 3-1. The Chiefs were unable to answer in the bottom of the inning.
Peoria had one run on four hits. Curialle was 2-for-4 with an RBI. The Chiefs were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.
On the bases, Alex ladisernia stole his second base of the season. Brody Moore stole his fourth base and was also picked off first base.
On defense, Curialle had a missed catch error. Darlin Moquete had a fielding miscue.
Peoria is 13-22 on the season.
Thursday’s game: vs. West Michigan, Hancel Rincon RHP (2-3, 4,78) vs. Carlos Marcano RHP (1-3, 4.00) 12:05 CT.
The Low-A Cardinals topped the Mets thanks to a ninth inning rally on Wednesday at Roger Dean Stadium. Starter Darlin Saladin pitched five innings, gave up one run on four hits and struck out eight.
Hunter Hayes relieved Saladin and threw two scoreless innings. Luis Gastelum tossed the final two scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season.
St. Lucie took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. The Beach Birds were kept off the board until the bottom of the ninth inning. Johnfrank Salazar singled and Tre Richardson pinch ran. With one out, Chase Adkison hit a two-run home run to left field to give Palm Beach the walk off win.
Salazar was 2-for-4. Adkison was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
On defense, Ross Friedrick made a fielding error.
Palm Beach is 20-15 on the season.
Thursday’s game: vs. St. Lucie, RH Jason Savacool (1-1, 5.91) vs. Ernesto Mercedes RHP (0-3, 4.29) 5:30 CT.
FCL Cardinals – Off day
The rookie-level Florida Complex League Cardinals have a 5-3 record and are coming off an idle day on Wednesday.
Thursday’s game: at FCL Mets, LH Yadiel Batista (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBD 11:00 am CT.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now Available – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its seventh year. It includes 282 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!
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 Marilyn Green on Twitter @Marilyncolor.
© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.