photo: Irving Lopez (Frank Ramirez/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-1 on Thursday with more rain in Springfield. Player of the Day Irving Lopez’ pinch-hit, bases-clearing double gave Memphis its second consecutive walk-off celebration.
Results from games played Thursday, May 21st.
Irving Lopez’ pinch-hit bases-loaded double cleared the sacks as the Redbirds walked off with a 5-4 victory over the visiting Bats. It was the second straight walk-off win for sixth-place Memphis (6-9) which has claimed two of the first three contests in the six-game set versus the Midwest Division’s Cincinnati Reds affiliate. The Redbirds trail first-place Jacksonville (MIA) by five games in the seven-team Southeast Division.
Player of the Day Lopez’ two-bagger scored Ali Sanchez (ground-rule double), Conner Capel (walk) and Kramer Robinson (walk) after the latter three jammed the sacks full with none out. The hit was the home team’s seventh of the game, tying them with their guests.
Sanchez and Robertson were the only two Redbirds with multi-hit efforts. Sanchez went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored and Robertson singled twice in three at bats with a base-on-balls and RBI, touching home once.
Matt Szczur launched a first-inning solo shot, his third bomb of 2021 and second in two nights, comprising part of the 2-0 lead Memphis held after two. But a four-run fifth off starter Zack Thompson flipped the script, leading to the lefty’s ejection, along with manager Ben Johnson, after he was removed from the game.
Thompson held the opposition to one hit plus three walks through the initial four frames but ran into trouble in the fifth. The 23-year-old gave up three hits then a three-run blast to go with five K’s in 4 2/3 frames.
Bernardo Flores Jr. (W, 2-0) took over at that point, limiting the Bats to two hits and a base-on-balls over 4 1/3. He struck out five.
Friday’s game: vs. Louisville (CIN) (4-10), 7:10 pm CT, Thomas Parsons (0-0, 3.29)
Springfield vs. Northwest Arkansas – postponed
The partial double-header between the S-Cards and Naturals could not be played due to inclement weather conditions. Thursday’s originally scheduled contest will be made up as part of a twin bill on Wednesday, June 30th while the completion of the rain-suspended May 19th game is now scheduled prior to the contest on Friday, May 21st.
Springfield (2-11) is firmly in fifth and last place in the North Division, 6 ½ games in back of Arkansas (SEA).
Friday’s games: vs. fourth-place Northwest Arkansas (KC) (6-6), 5:15 pm CT, Kyle Leahy (0-2, 9.00)
The Chiefs scored twice in the middle frames then hung on, edging the River Bandits, 4-3, at Dozer Park. The win, the first of three series games played, lifts Peoria (6-9) into a fourth-place tie with Wisconsin (MIL), with both squads 4 ½ games behind Quad Cities.
Peoria broke through in the third, compliments of back-to-back solo bombs by Francisco Hernandez and Pedro Pages. The home runs are firsts on several levels for the pair: first High-A home run which means first 2021 long ball and first full-season home runs.
After scoring via the power game, the Chiefs took advantage of the Quad Cities starter’s fourth-inning control issues to push across two more tallies sans benefit of a hit. Consecutive free passes issued to Leandro Cedeno, Chandler Redmond and Moises Castillo elicited a pitching change, but the replacement walked Matt Chamberlain, bringing Cedeno across home plate. A 6-5/6-5 force out by Jhon Torres scored Redmond for the Chiefs’ last run.
The home team banged out seven hits with Hernandez the only Chief gathering more than one. The second baseman added a single to his home run in four at bats, striking out twice. Brady Whalen and Moises Castillo each reached base twice, singling once and working a base-on-balls.
Peoria starter Michael YaSenka tossed his best effort in his third start, holding the River Bandits scoreless on one hit through four innings. But a single and two walks pushed across one run and led to YaSenka’s exit, leaving him an out shy of qualifying for the win.
Enmanuel Solano (W, 1-0) recorded five outs, permitting two runs on two hits and a base-on-balls and stranding two inherited runners. His final run scored under Wilfredo Pereira’s watch, as the righty gave up a hit with three of his five batters retired striking out. Freddy Pacheco faced the minimum in the ninth for his first save.
Friday’s game: vs. first-place Quad Cities (KC) (10-4), 6:35 pm CT, Nick Trogrlic-Iverson (High-A debut)
For the second game in a row the Beach Birds could not overcome the start of a rehabbing Major League hurler as they were shut out by the visiting Mets, 7-0. Palm Beach (5-10) has dropped the first three of the six-game series and sit in fourth and last place in the East Division, six games behind St. Lucie.
After Noah Syndergaard on Wednesday, on Thursday the home team hosted Jacob deGrom, who made quick work of Palm Beach batters, eight of his nine outs recorded being strikeouts with his reported velocity peaking at 102 mph. Beach Birds’ starter John Beller was no match, permitting five runs on seven hits and two walks over 5 1/3 frames. The lefty fanned 10.
Update: Degrom was 102 all night. One of the most fun outings of my life https://t.co/oH6wbW5T08
— John Beller (@johnbeller6) May 21, 2021
Luis Ortiz was charged with two unearned runs on a hit and two walks with four batters retired. The 20-year-old allowed his only inherited runner to touch home plate. Francisco Justo recorded the final seven outs, yielding two hits and leaving Ortiz’ last two base runners on base.
Palm Beach mustered just two hits, both doubles. One was the first professional hit by Tommy Jew after 13 at bats. Masyn Winn doubled once in four at bats, his second two-bagger of 2021, reached on an error and stole three bases, raising his season total to nine.
Friday’s game: vs. first-place St. Lucie (NYM) (11-4), 6:30 pm ET, Inohan Paniagua (2-0, 4.32)
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