Cardinals Minor League Notebook: May 17, 2018

photo: Ryan Helsley (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was a perfect 3-0 on Wednesday behind strong pitching from Springfield’s Ryan Helsley, Palm Beach’s Ian Oxnevad and Peoria’s Paul Balestrieri.

Recaps from games played on Wednesday, May 16.


Memphis Redbirds off

The Redbirds were off Wednesday as they travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado. There, they will begin a series with the Sky Sox on Thursday evening at 7:40 PM Central time. Kevin Herget (1-4, 3.96) will take the mound for Memphis.


Springfield Cardinals 2 at Tulsa Drillers 1

Ryan Helsley (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)

With back-to-back homers in the fourth to complement a dazzling outing from the starter, the Cardinals enjoyed a 2-1 victory in Tulsa over the Drillers.

To lead off the fourth inning of what was then a scoreless game, Springfield left fielder Randy Arozarena smacked his fourth home run with Springfield, his second in two days and third in the last week. Center fielder Lane Thomas followed with a long ball of his own, his ninth of the year. The two runs were it for the Cardinals on Wednesday, but they were all that Ryan Helsley needed.

Helsley, our Player of the Day, twirled 7 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the season and first of more than six innings. An unearned run was the only blemish for Helsley, who picked up his third win of the year. The 23-year old fanned seven batters, walked only two, and surrendered just a pair of singles. Hector Mendoza recorded the game’s final four outs to protect the win for Helsley and earn his fourth save.

Thursday’s game: Conner Greene (3-2, 3.63) at Tulsa Drillers, 7:05 PM Central time.


Palm Beach Cardinals 5 at Clearwater Threshers 2

Ian Oxnevad (Andrew Miller/Palm Beach Cardinals)

Powered by five runs over the first three innings, Palm Beach cruised to a 5-2 road win over the Threshers.

Cardinals right fielder J.B. Woodman and left fielder Shane Billings each homered (Woodman’s was a two-run shot and Billings’ a solo), their third and first of the year, respectively. Center fielder Johan Mieses and second baseman Andy Young batted in Palm Beach’s other runs, and third baseman Evan Mendoza finished the day with three base hits.

Ian Oxnevad pitched a whale of a game for the Cardinals, shining over his eight frames of two-run ball. It equated to the lefty’s third win of the season and first quality start in six tries. John Kilichowski recorded one out for his first hold, and Austin Sexton locked down the final two for his fourth save.

Thursday’s game: Anthony Shew (3-1, 1.67) at Clearwater Threshers, 6:00 PM Central time.


Peoria Chiefs 7, Clinton LumberKings 5

Paul Balestrieri (Allison Rhoades/Peoria Chiefs)

A six-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning propelled the Chiefs to a 7-5 comeback victory over the LumberKings at Dozer Park. Peoria’s seventh straight win powered them into first place.

Trailing 5-1, Peoria scored a half-dozen times via 10 plate appearances in the big inning. Five hits, two walks, and a wild pitch helped the Chiefs get there, and it was Matt Fiedler’s two-run, two-out triple that broke the tie and put Peoria ahead for good. For the game, the Chiefs went 5-for-14 with runners in scoring position, stranding five. Scott Hurst and J.R. Davis (two runs scored) had two hits apiece.

Alvaro Seijas labored in his start, which lasted only 3 2/3 innings. With a pitch count of 90, Seijas allowed nine hits and walked four batters, which the LumberKings translated to five earned runs. C.J. Saylor retired four batters to pitch the Chiefs through the fifth inning before Paul Balestrieri logged four scoreless frames on just two hits and no walks to earn the win in his Peoria debut.

Thursday’s game: Zach Prendergast (2-2, 5.29) vs. Clinton LumberKings, 6:30 PM Central time.


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