Cardinals Minor League Notebook – May 27, 2018

photo: Dakota Hudson (Scott Rovak/USA TODAY Sports)

The St. Louis Cardinals system was 3-1 on Saturday as Peoria split a doubleheader and Palm Beach was postponed. Our Player of the Day is Dakota Hudson, who pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits, striking out nine and walking one in Memphis’ victory.

Results for games played Saturday, May 26.


Memphis 4, Colorado Springs 0

Dakota Hudson (Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports)

The Redbirds shut out the Sky Sox at AutoZone Park on Saturday.  The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth, when Oscar Mercado singled and Rangel Ravelo followed with a two-run home run.  Patrick Wisdom drew a walk and stole second base, then scored on a throwing error.  In the seventh, Wisdom’s solo home run was the fourth and final Memphis tally.   Wisdom went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Leadoff man Mercado was 2-for-4, increasing his average to .339.

Starter Dakota Hudson won his sixth game of the season, pitching eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits, fanning nine and walking one.  Edward Mujica tossed a scoreless ninth.

Wisdom stole his fifth base in six attempts.  Mercado was picked off first.

The Redbirds are 30-20 on the season and are in first place in the PCL American Southern Division.

Sunday’s game:  vs. Colorado Springs, Austin Gomber (3-3, 4.04) 6:35 CT.


Springfield 7 at San Antonio 3

Chris Ellis (Springfield Cardinals)

The Cardinals blanked the Missions in San Antonio on Saturday.  Springfield starter Chris Ellis pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, striking out eight and walking two to win his third game of the season.  Jacob Evans followed with 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing three runs, two earned.  Colton Thomson handled the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his first Double-A save.

Springfield’s offense produced seven runs on 13 hits.  The scoring began in the third, when Thomas Spitz led off with a single and Tommy Edman doubled.  Edmundo Sosa singled to plate both.  Evan Mendoza singled in the final run of the inning.  In the fourth, three more runs came home, on RBI singles by Edman and Stefan Trosclair, and an RBI double by Sosa.  The final Cardinals run scored in the sixth on a ground ball force out by Granden Goetzman.  Edman went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.  Trosclair and Sosa were both 2-for-5.  Mendoza and Spitz were 2-for-4.

Goetzman stole his second base in two attempts.  Spitz was 1-for-2 in his first two tries stealing and added an outfield assist. Trosclair made a throwing error.

The Cardinals are 26-23 on the season and are in first place in the Texas League North.

Sunday’s game:  at San Antonio, Anthony Shew (0-1, 15.75) 5:05 CT.


Palm Beach vs. Clearwater (postponed)

This game was postponed due to rain.  Weather permitting, it will be played on Sunday as part of a doubleheader consisting of two seven-inning games beginning at 12 pm at Roger Dean Stadium.

Sunday’s games:  doubleheader vs. Clearwater, Austin Warner (3-1, 2.86)/TBA 12:00 pm


Peoria 0 at Quad Cities 12 (Game 1 doubleheader, seven innings)

The Chiefs were the victims of a shellacking at the hands of the River Bandits in the first game of a twin bill on Saturday.  Starter Paul Balestrieri did not make it out of the first inning, getting two outs but giving up six runs on six hits.  The right hander struck out one and walked one.  Reliever Levi MaVorhis surrendered five additional runs in 3 1/3 innings pitched.  C.J. Saylor pitched the final two innings and allowed one run.  Balestrieri took the loss.

Peoria’s offense was limited to two singles, from Scott Hurst and Julio Rodriguez.  Five runners were left on base.

Matt Fiedler contributed two outfield assists, throwing runners out at third base and second base.  Rodriguez picked a runner off first.


Peoria 5 at Quad Cities 1 (Game 2 doubleheader, eight innings)

Kodi Whitley (St. Louis Cardinals)

In the second game of the twin bill, the Chiefs defeated the River Bandits.  The game was scheduled for seven innings but was finished in eight due to a scoreless tie through regulation.  The Chiefs then put up five runs in the top of the eighth.

Extra innings in the minors start with a runner at second base, which in this game was Elehuris Montero.  Zach Kirtley walked, and Dennis Ortega singled to load the bases.   Nick Plummer was hit by a pitch and Montero scored.  Matt Fiedler singled to bring in Kirtley.  Ortega crossed the plate on Jose Martinez’ ground out.  Scott Hurst’s sac fly scored Plummer.  Irving Lopez singled Fiedler home.  Yariel Gonzalez doubled, but Lopez was thrown out at home to end the inning.  No Chiefs hitter had multiple hits.

Spot starter Kodi Whitley pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, striking out three and walking two.  Thomas St. Clair followed with 3 1/3 scoreless innings.  Bryan Dobzanski pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, giving up one unearned run but earning the win.

Ortega was picked off first base.

The Chiefs are 25-22 on the season and are in fourth place in the Midwest League Western Division.

Sunday’s game:  at Quad Cities, Alvaro Seijas (1-2, 4.93) 5:15 CT.


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