photo: Jason Savacool (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 3-2 on Saturday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Palm Beach’s Jason Savacool, pitched six one-run innings and struck out seven. Other standouts include JJ Wetherholt, Brody Moore, Greysen Tarlow, Joshua Baez and Andy Yerzy.
Results for games played on Saturday, May 17:
Memphis Redbirds 3, Nashville Sounds 4
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds lost a close contest to the Nashville Sounds at AutoZone Park on Saturday.
Alex Cornwell started his sixth game for Memphis. The left-hander recorded his longest start of the season at 5 ⅓ innings, and allowed four runs on four hits, two walks, and a season-high seven strikeouts. Cornwell took the loss after yielding a pair of two-run homers.
Right-hander Andre Granillo dazzled in relief of Cornwell as he collected four strikeouts across 2 ⅔ scoreless innings. Granillo lowered his ERA to 1.37. Ryan Fernandez tossed a scoreless ninth inning.
The game was scoreless until Nashville plated two runs in the top of the fifth.
Memphis responded in the home half of the frame. Matt Lloyd led off with a ground-rule double. Bryan Torres also doubled to split the Sounds’ lead in half to 2-1.
Torres doubles home Lloyd! pic.twitter.com/debk2b3924
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 18, 2025
Nashville scored a second pair of runs in the sixth inning to extend their lead to 4-1 and carried it into the bottom of the ninth inning.
Down to their last three outs, the Redbirds tried to rally but fell just short.
Thomas Saggese and Matt Lloyd drew back-to-back walks. Andy Yerzy lined a one-out double to score both runners, but he was stranded as Nashville held on for the one-run win.
YERZY pic.twitter.com/PjpiTxWmg1
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 18, 2025
The Redbirds scored three runs on five hits. Yerzy doubled and drove in two. Lloyd doubled, walked and scored twice. Torres doubled and tallied one RBI. Memphis left seven runners on base and was just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
On defense, third baseman José Fermín made a throwing error. First baseman Luken Baker was charged with an error on a missed catch. The Redbirds did not steal a base.
Memphis is 22-20 on the season and 1-4 in the current series heading into Sunday’s finale.
Sunday’s game: vs. Nashville, LHP Drew Rom (0-1, 1.00) vs. RHP Deivi García (3-1, 4.34) 1:05 PM CT.
Springfield Cardinals 4, Amarillo Sod Poodles 3
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals staged a late-inning comeback to down the Sod Poodles at Hammons Field on Saturday.
Brycen Mautz started for Springfield. The left hander pitched just two-plus scoreless innings on no hits, one walk, and two strikeouts. One batter into the third inning, Mautz suffered what appeared to be a leg injury and was unable to continue.
Right-hander Ricardo Valez yielded two runs and fanned five across four innings in relief of Mautz. Edwin Nuñez followed and allowed one run in one inning. Nick Raquet tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth inning to lower his ERA to 1.35 and collect his third win of the season.
Springfield scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Jeremy Rivas singled and scored on Brody Moore’s second home run of the year, a two-run shot.
Amarillo took the lead with two runs in the sixth inning, and one in the seventh.
Springfield regained the lead with an eighth inning rally. JJ Wetherholt crushed his third home run of the season to tie the game at three.
JJ Wetherholt ties the game with a looooooong solo shot to right. pic.twitter.com/AD0QW6gJRO
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) May 18, 2025
R.J. Yeager followed with a single and advanced to second base on a Chase Davis hit-by-pitch. Dakota Harris singled to score Yeager and give the Cardinals the final margin of 4-3.
The Cardinals scored four runs on eight hits. Wetherholt was 2-for-4, including the game-tying home run. Moore hit a two-run home run. Harris singled and drove in one run.
On the bases, Nathan Church stole his third bag of the season.
On defense, pitcher Mautz was charged with an error on a missed catch. Shortstop Moore committed a throwing error.
Springfield is 18-20 on the season. They look to secure the series split on Sunday.
Sunday’s game: vs. Amarillo, LHP Ixan Henderson (2-1, 2.40) vs. LHP Spencer Giesting (3-0, 3.18) 1:05 PM CT.
Peoria Chiefs 6 at Cedar Rapids Kernels 5
The High-A Peoria Chiefs won a back-and-forth contest over the Kernels in Cedar Rapids on Saturday.
Cade Winquest made his sixth start for the Chiefs. The right-hander tossed three innings and allowed four runs on four hits, two walks, and two strikeouts.
Michael Watson yielded one run and struck out three across 2 ⅓ innings in relief of Winquest. Joseph King followed with 1 ⅔ scoreless frames. Angel Gonzalez recorded 1 ⅔ scoreless innings to set the Chiefs up for the save. D.J. Carpenter secured the final out of the ninth inning to earn his first save with the Chiefs, and his first since 2022. Watson picked up his first professional win.
Peoria started scoring immediately with a three-run top of the first inning. Jon Jon Gazdar drew a lead-off walk, and advanced to second base on a Joshua Baez single. Baez and Gazdar moved to second base and third base, respectively, on an Ian Petrutz groundout. Ryan Campos lined a two-out single to bring home both runners for a 2-0 Chiefs lead.
Campos singles in the first to score TWO!
PEO 2 | CR 0 pic.twitter.com/ehTRprEaE3
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 17, 2025
Miguel Villarroel doubled home Campos for the Chiefs’ third run of the frame.
Just like that we add another, courtesy of Villarroel's double!
PEO 3 | CR 0 pic.twitter.com/ZlGPP6Q3gd
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 17, 2025
Cedar Rapids trimmed the lead to 3-2 after the first inning.
Peoria brought the lead back to two runs in the second inning on Graysen Tarlow’s first home run of the season, and the second of his professional career.
Okay Graysen we see you gettin' your first homer of the season! 👀@CardsPlayerDev
PEO 4 | CR 2 pic.twitter.com/3vKoFY56ec
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 18, 2025
The Kernels tied the game at four with single runs in the second and third innings.
Peoria regained the lead in the fourth. Salazar singled and stole second base. Gazdar moved Salazar to third base on a groundout. Baez singled home Salazar to give Peoria a 5-4 lead.
Baez singles in the fourth, Salazar scores!
PEO 5 | CR 4 pic.twitter.com/yUSsZ0yLCF
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 18, 2025
The Chiefs added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning. Salazar reached base on a fielding error and swiped second base. Tarlow hit a ground-ball single to score Salazar and extend the Chiefs’ lead to 6-4.
The Chiefs’ pitching stranded 14 Kernels in the one-run victory.
Peoria scored six runs on 10 hits. Baez was 3-for-5, including a run scored and one RBI. Villarroel was 2-for-4, including a double, a triple, and one RBI. Tarlow was 2-for-4, including a home run and two RBI. Campos singled and drove in two.
Baez stole three bases to increase his season total to 18. Gazdar was caught stealing second base.
On defense, second baseman Salazar made a throwing error. Ian Petrutz made a game-saving grab in left field.
HA, bet you thought that was gone…
but nah @IPetrutz is there!PEO 6 | CR 5 pic.twitter.com/IoFr6Nfonp
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 18, 2025
Peoria is 14-23 on the season. They aim to secure the series victory on Sunday.
Sunday’s game: at Cedar Rapids, RHP Chen-Wei Lin (0-1, 1.93) vs. RHP Chase Chaney (1-0, 3.77) 1:05 PM CT.
Palm Beach Cardinals 5 at Tampa Tarpons 4
The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals edged the Tarpons in Tampa on Saturday.
Jason Savacool made his seventh start for Palm Beach. The right-hander fired six strong innings and allowed one run on five hits, seven strikeouts, and no walks. Savacool lowered his ERA to 1.15 and earned his fourth win of the season.
Left-hander Yordy Herrera surrendered three runs, two earned, across two innings in relief of Savacool. Sam Broderson pitched a scoreless ninth inning to collect his first professional save.
The Cardinals plated four runs in the top of the first inning. Travis Honeyman drew a lead-off walk, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jonathan Mejia doubled to score Honeyman. Mejia moved to third base via a balk. Josh Kross plated Mejia with a sacrifice fly. Yordalin Pena reached on a throwing error, stole second, and took third base on a wild pitch. Christian Martin walked and stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. Sammy Hernandez singled to score Pena and Martin.
The Cardinals stretched their lead to 5-0 in the second inning. Travis Honeyman led off with a walk for the second consecutive inning and stole second base. Mejia advanced Honeyman on a groundout. Kross was hit by a pitch and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Cade McGee walked to load the bases. Pena drew a walk to bring Honeyman home for the Cardinals’ fifth run.
Palm Beach held off a late Tampa rally to secure the win.
The Cardinals scored five runs on just two hits, both in the first inning. Hernandez was 1-for-3, including a walk and a two RBI. Mejia doubled, walke, scored and drove in one. Honeyman walked three times and scored twice. The lineup took 10 walks in the game.
Palm Beach was active on the bases. Pena stole two bases to increase his season total to nine. Hernandez raised his total steals to four, with three steals Saturday. Deniel Ortiz swiped his eighth bag. Honeyman snagged his sixth. Mejia was caught stealing second base.
On defense, first baseman Ortiz made a throwing error. Second baseman McGee made a fielding error. Hernandez picked off a runner at first base from behind the dish.
Palm Beach is 19-19 on the season.
Sunday’s game: at Tampa, RHP Nolan Sparks (1-1, 3.76) vs. RHP Gage Ziehl (0-2, 4.98) 11:00 AM CT.
FCL Cardinals 2 at FCL Nationals 3 (7 innings)
The Florida Complex Cardinals lost a close contest to the Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches Complex on Saturday.
Jacob Odle made his first professional start, serving as the opener for the Cardinals in his first game since 2023. The right-hander threw one scoreless inning with a strikeout.
Rob Kaminsky made his second rehab appearance in relief of Odle, as the left-hander works to rejoin Memphis. Kaminsky fanned four in two scoreless frames. Regular starter Keiverson Ramirez allowed one run with five strikeouts across three innings of work and was tagged with a blown save. Giovanni Vargas surrendered two runs in the bottom of the seventh and was charged with a blown save and the loss.
The Cardinals struck in the top of the first on Rainiel Rodriguez’s sixth home run of the season, a solo shot.
The Nationals tied the game in the fourth inning.
The Cardinals regained the lead in the fifth. Yoerny Junco walked and moved to second base on an Andru Arthur hit-by-pitch. The runners executed a double steal. Junco scored on a wild pitch to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals were unable to hold off a late Nationals rally in the loss.
The Cardinals scored two runs on four hits. Facundo Velasquez was 2-for-3, including a double and a walk. Rodriguez hit a solo home run, extending his hitting streak to five games, and has tallied a hit in nine of 10 games this season.
Velasquez stole his second base of the season. Junco swiped his first bag. Arthur snagged his third steal.
Defensively, third baseman Junco made two throwing errors.
The FCL Cardinals are 4-6 on the season. They are off Sunday and will return home to Roger Dean Stadium Complex in Jupiter, Florida for a rematch with the Nationals on Monday.
Monday’s game: vs. FCL Nationals. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT.
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