Cardinals Minor League Notebook: May 19, 2018

photo: Jake Walsh (Allison Rhoades/Peoria Chiefs)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 1-2 on Friday with Memphis’ game postponed. Our Player of the Day is Peoria starting pitcher Jake Walsh, who pitched six scoreless innings, striking out 10 batters and walking one in the Chiefs’ victory.

Results for games played Friday, May 18.


Memphis at Colorado Springs (postponed)

This game was postponed due to rain and will be played Saturday as part of a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 CT.

Saturday’s games:  at Colorado Springs, Daniel Poncedeleon (2-2, 2.41) and Dakota Hudson (4-1, 2.88) 5.00 CT.


Springfield 2, NW Arkansas 4

Jake Woodford (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)

The Cardinals fell to the Naturals, despite a ninth inning rally that fell short.  The game was scoreless until the sixth, when the Naturals took a 1-0 lead.  NW Arkansas added three more in the seventh and eighth.

With Springfield down 4-0 in the ninth, Victor Roache led off with a solo home run to left center field.  Evan Mendoza and Jose Godoy followed with singles.  After Chris Chinea and Granden Goetzman struck out, Stefan Trosclair singled to right to plate Mendoza.  Tommy Edman fanned to end the rally and the game.  Mendoza went 3-for-4 in the game.  Roache, Goetzman and Trosclair were each 2-for-4.

Starter Jake Woodford pitched seven innings and gave up three runs on four hits.  The right hander struck out seven and walked three.  Despite the quality start, Woodford took the loss, his fifth of the season.  Ramon Santos pitched the final two innings and surrendered an additional run.

Godoy was picked off second base.

The Cardinals are 21-19 on the season and are in first place in the Texas League North.

Saturday’s game:  vs. NW Arkansas, Alex Reyes (MLB rehab) 6:10 CT.


Palm Beach 1, Bradenton 5 (11 innings)

Evan Kruczynski (Andrew Miller/Palm Beach Cardinals)

The Cardinals lost a heartbreaker in 11 innings at home on Friday.  Palm Beach got on the board first in the third inning on solo home run by Danny Hudzina.  The club’s only other extra base hit of their seven in total was a double by Brian O’Keefe.  Andy Young was 2-for-5.

Starter Evan Kruczynski tossed 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run on four hits.  The left hander fanned five and walked three.  Eric Carter followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Jason Zgardowski pitched two scoreless innings.  Austin Sexton handled the 10th, but gave up four runs in the 11th to break the tie and give the win to Bradenton.  Robbie Gordon got the final two outs of the inning.  Sexton took the loss.

Dylan Carlson stole his first base for Palm Beach in two attempts.  Juan Yepez stole his first base for Palm Beach in his initial attempt, and Shane Billings swiped his fourth base in seven tries.  Chase Pinder was picked off and caught stealing for the second time in two attempts.

The Cardinals are 24-16 on the season and are in second place in the FSL South.

Saturday’s game:   vs. Bradenton, Casey Meisner (2-1, 2.25) 4:30 CT.


Peoria 4, Kane County 2

Jake Walsh (Peoria Chiefs)

The Chiefs edged the Cougars at Dozer Park on Friday night.  Starter Jake Walsh tallied his second win of the season, pitching six scoreless innings and allowing four hits while striking out 10 and walking one.   Reliever Kodi Whitley gave up the two Cougars runs in the seventh.  Thomas St. Clair pitched the final two scoreless innings to earn his third save.

A three-run second gave Peoria the lead that they would never relinquish.  Julio Rodriguez led off with a single and Matt Fiedler followed with a double.  With runners on second and third, Nick Plummer doubled to right to plate both.  After Jose Martinez grounded out, Scott Hurst singled to drive in Plummer.  The Chiefs added a run in the fifth on Elehuris Montero’s RBI single.  Montero and Hurst both went 2-for-4.

Hurst was caught stealing for the second time in five attempts.

The Chiefs are 21-17 on the season and are in third place in the Midwest League Western.

Saturday’s game:  vs. Kane County, Johan Oviedo (1-3, 6.30) 6:30 CT.


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