photo: Jurrangelo Cijntje (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 2-3 on Saturday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Springfield SHP Jurrangelo Cijntje, threw a season-high six innings and struck out seven to defeat his former club. Other standouts include Lars Nootbaar, Bruce Zimmermann, Noah Mendlinger, Cameron Nickens, Cade McGee, Jack Martinez, Royelny Strop and Sebastian Dos Santos.
Results for games played on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
Memphis Redbirds 4 at Iowa Cubs 6
The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds lost a close contest at the Iowa Cubs on Saturday.
Bruce Zimmermann made his 10th start for the Redbirds. The left-hander pitched five innings and allowed one run on seven hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
Cade Winquest tossed a scoreless sixth inning in relief of Zimmermann. Skylar Hales surrendered five runs in the seventh inning and was tagged with a blown save and the loss. Lefty Jared Shuster threw a shutout eighth.
Memphis struck first with a run in the top of the third inning. Miguel Villarroel doubled and moved to third on a Lars Nootbaar groundout. Joshua Báez scorched a double to plate Villarroel and put the Redbirds in front.
Báez RIPS one into left! pic.twitter.com/xpRnmbwpYE
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 24, 2026
In the fifth, Brody Moore hit his eighth double of the year and scored on Nootbaar’s first home run of his rehab assignment with the Redbirds, a two-run shot, for a 3-0 Memphis lead.
LET'S CHECK IN ON LARS NOOTBAAR'S MLB REHAB ASSIGNMENT ONCE MORE!@LennysSubs LONGBALL!#LennysLongball pic.twitter.com/jxEzOi3Yla
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 24, 2026
The Cubs scored a run in the fifth and five in the seventh to jump ahead 6-3.
Memphis tallied a run in the eighth as their late-inning comeback fell short. Leo Bernal crushed a solo home run, his fifth of the campaign, to bring the Redbirds within two at 6-4.
LEO BERNAL WITH A @LennysSubs LONGBALL!#LennysLongball pic.twitter.com/Qf0G01paGZ
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 24, 2026
The Redbirds scored four runs on seven hits. In his third game with Memphis, Nootbaar went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run as he works to rejoin the big-league club. Bernal was 2-for-3 with a solo home run. Báez doubled and drove in a run. Moore and Villarroel each doubled and scored.
The Redbirds did not record a stolen base.
On defense, Nootbaar nailed a runner at home plate from left field to highlight an errorless performance.
Let's check in on Lars Nootbaar's MLB Rehab Assignment: pic.twitter.com/SuBMDsxTgr
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 24, 2026
Memphis is 30-20 on the season. They are tied with Nashville for first place in the International League West Division. The Redbirds look to clinch the series win in Sunday’s finale.
Sunday’s game: at Iowa. TBA vs. RHP Gabe Klobosits (0-1, 5.27) 1:08 PM CT. (Scheduled Memphis starter Brycen Mautz is reportedly being called up to pitch for St. Louis on Sunday, so the Redbirds may have a bullpen game.)
Springfield Cardinals 6 at Arkansas Travelers 0
The Double-A Springfield Cardinals blanked the Travelers in Arkansas on Saturday behind a strong effort from the pitching staff.
Jurrangelo Cijntje started his ninth game for the Cardinals. The switch-pitcher faced 21 batters right-handed and two batters left-handed. Against his former club, the 22-year-old threw a season-high six shutout innings on two hits, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Cijntje collected his third win of the season.
In his first start against his former club, Jurrangelo Cijntje shut down the Arkansas Travelers: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 7 K. pic.twitter.com/xKBUH7aygL
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) May 24, 2026
Hunter Hayes threw a scoreless seventh inning in relief of Cijntje. Michael Watson and Austin Love combined for two scoreless, hitless innings to finish the win.
Springfield pounced early with a run in first inning. Noah Mendlinger led off the game with a single and advanced to second on a balk. Miguel Ugueto legged out an infield single, with Mendlinger to third. Mendlinger crossed home plate on a Ryan Campos sacrifice fly.
Springfield plated a pair of runs in the second to extend the lead to 3-0. Jeremy Rivas hit an infield single. Dakota Harris followed with a single and moved to second on the play, with Rivas safe at third. Mendlinger roped a ground-rule double to bring Rivas and Harris home.
Springfield doubled the lead with a three-run sixth inning. Ugueto reached on a throwing error, taking second on the play. Campos lined a single to score Ugueto. Campos stole second, Zach Levenson walked, and Travis Honeyman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Campos scored on a Rivas groundout. Harris brought Levenson home on a sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 6-0.
Springfield pitching was dominant as they held Arkansas to 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
The Cardinals scored six runs on 10 hits. Mendlinger was 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, a run scored and two RBI. Harris went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Campos singled, scored, and drove in two. Rivas singled, scored, and notched an RBI. Ugueto singled twice and scored.
On the bases, Campos swiped his fifth bag of the season. Ugueto was caught stealing second base.
The Cardinals turned three double plays in an errorless outing.
Springfield is 18-26 on the season. They will look to seal the series split with a win on Sunday.
Sunday’s game: at Arkansas. LHP Braden Davis (0-3, 7.18) vs. RHP Adam Leverett (1-1, 5.22) 6:05 PM CT.
Peoria Chiefs 7, Cedar Rapids Kernels 2
The High-A Peoria Chiefs bested the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Dozer Park on Saturday night.
Leonel Sequera bounced back from his 12-run start last time out with a strong outing for Peoria. The right-hander tossed 4 ⅓ innings and allowed one run on four hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
Rubén Menes yielded a run and struck out three across 2 ⅔ innings for the win. Sam Brodersen fanned two in a scoreless eighth. Christian Worley finished with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Kernels struck first with a run in the top of the second inning. Though the Chiefs did not score in the home second, a notable milestone occurred, as Cameron Nickens collected his first High-A hit in his first at-bat with the Chiefs.
First High-A hit ✅@GovsBSB product Cameron Nickens reaches base in his first Chiefs at-bat! pic.twitter.com/icHDlPKGpG
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 24, 2026
Peoria answered with five runs in the home third to take the lead. Jose Cordoba was hit by a pitch and moved to second on an infield single from Tre Richardson III. Jesús Báez doubled home Cordoba, with Richardson III to third base. Jalin Flores grounded a single to bring home Richardson III, with Báez also scoring due to a fielding error. Cade McGee crushed a two-run home run, his second long ball of 2026, to score Flores and extend the lead to 5-1.
Cade McGee mashes one out 💪
McGee's two-run homer highlights a 5-run third for Peoria! pic.twitter.com/qcgJ9RA3Wx
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 24, 2026
Cedar Rapids moved within three with a run in the top of the seventh.
Peoria took the run back in the home half of the frame. With two away, Nickens blasted his first High-A home run, a solo shot, for a 6-2 Chiefs lead.
How about a first High-A home run in your debut?
Introducing Cameron Nickens (@GovsBSB).
PEO 6 | CR 2 pic.twitter.com/aUg5JR4B1e
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 24, 2026
The Chiefs added an insurance run in the eighth. Luis Pino belted his second home run of the year, a solo blast.
Luis Pino launches the Chiefs' 3rd homer of the night!
PEO 7 | CR 2 pic.twitter.com/m5GW4BUalx
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 24, 2026
The Chiefs batted .500 (3-for-6) with runners in scoring position in the win.
Peoria scored seven runs on 11 hits. In his High-A debut, Nickens was 3-for-4 with a solo home run. Pino went 2-for-3, including a walk, a double, and a solo home run. McGee hit a home run for two RBI. Báez walked, doubled, scored, and drove in a run. Flores singled, scored, and notched an RBI.
The Chiefs did not steal a base or commit an error.
Peoria is 19-24 on the season. They will look to take the series with a win on Sunday.
Sunday’s game: vs. Cedar Rapids. RHP Blake Aita (1-2, 3.90) vs. RHP Riley Quick (0-1, 1.53) 6:35 PM CT.
Palm Beach Cardinals 2 at St. Lucie Mets 4
The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals dropped a tight contest at the St. Lucie Mets on Saturday.
Jack Martinez started his ninth game for Palm Beach. The right-hander pitched a career-high five innings and allowed one run on one hit, three walks, and six strikeouts.
Nelfy Ynfante yielded three runs across 2 ⅔ innings in relief of Martinez and took the loss. Antoni Cuello recorded the final out of the eighth inning.
Palm Beach broke the scoreless tie with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Following an ABS challenge, Brayden Smith drew a lead-off walk and moved to second on a Michael Dattalo groundout. Chase Heath walked. Heath and Smith moved up on a double steal. Smith scored on the play as the catcher made a throwing error to put the Cardinals ahead.
St. Lucie tied the game with a run in the home sixth.
Palm Beach regained the lead in the seventh. Facundo Velásquez took a leadoff walk and Daniel Rojas followed with a single. Ryan Weingartner grounded into a forceout, with Velásquez scoring from second via a throwing error for a 2-1 Cardinals lead.
The Mets answered with a three-run seventh frame to grab a 4-2 lead. The Cardinals were unable to stage a late comeback.
Palm Beach scored two runs on four hits, all singles. Heath, Velásquez, Rojas, and Trevor Haskins each collected a hit. Smith walked twice and scored a run.
On the basepaths, Heath swiped his fourth bag of the season. Heath was also caught stealing second base and was picked off first base. Smith stole third base for his 10th steal of the year.
The Cardinals did not commit an error.
Palm Beach is 24-20 on the season. They are two games behind Jupiter for first place in the Florida State League East Division. The Cardinals will look to split the series with a win on Sunday.
Sunday’s game: at St. Lucie. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM CT.
FCL Cardinals 5, FCL Mets 14 (seven innings)
The Florida Complex League Cardinals fell to the FCL Mets in a seven-inning home contest on Saturday.
Earle Zulueta made his first start in his third game of the year for the Cardinals. The right-hander pitched 2 ⅓ innings and allowed three runs on three hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Zulueta took the loss.
Jarol Baéz yielded three runs but recorded just two outs in relief of Zulueta. Andrew Bolívar surrendered five runs across 2 ⅔ innings in his first relief outing of the season. Jesús García secured the final out of the sixth. Anthony Watts gave up three runs in the seventh inning.
The Mets scored first with a run in the top of the first inning.
The Cardinals grabbed the lead with a pair of runs in the home second. Yaxson Lucena drew a walk and scored on Royelny Strop’s first home run of the season, a two-run shot, to put the Cardinals in front 2-1.
The Mets responded with five runs in the third and a run in the fourth to move ahead 7-2.
The Cardinals narrowed the gap with a three-run home fourth. Strop walked and moved to second on a Juan Rujano single. Strop took third base via a wild pitch and scored as J.P. Cabrera grounded into a double play. With the bases empty, Bracewell Taveras drew a free pass. Sebastian Dos Santos blasted a two-run shot, his second long ball of the season, to bring the Cardinals within two at 7-5.
The Mets plated a run in the fifth and three runs apiece in the sixth and seventh frames to pull ahead 14-5. The Cardinals were unable to rally.
The FCL Cardinals scored five runs on five hits. Strop hit a two-run home run, walked, and scored twice. Dos Santos blasted a two-run home run. In the first game of his rehab assignment, Anyelo Encarnación was a perfect 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles as the shortstop works to rejoin the Peoria Chiefs. The lineup was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
The Cardinals did not record a stolen base.
On defense, Cristofer Lebrón committed a fielding error in left field. Catcher Cabrera was charged with a passed ball. Lucena threw a runner out at home plate from right field.
The FCL Cardinals are 5-9 on the season. They are off Sunday as they prepare for an away contest with the FCL Astros on Monday.
Monday’s game: vs. FCL Astros. Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 9:00 AM CT.
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