photo: Matt Koperniak (Memphis Redbirds)
The St. Louis Cardinals system was 2-4 on Friday. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, Memphis RF Matt Koperniak, was 2-for-4 including a home run with two RBI and two runs scored. Other standouts include Matt Lloyd, Hancel Rincon and Brandt Thompson.
Results for games played Friday, May 2.
The Triple-A Redbirds beat the iffy weather and the visiting Bats by a 5-1 score at AutoZone Park on Friday afternoon.
In his second start, right-hander Curtis Taylor pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up one run on two hits, struck out three and walked two.
Andre Granillo relieved Taylor and threw two scoreless innings to earn his fourth win. Oddanier Mosqueda hurled 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Fernandez tossed a scoreless ninth.
Memphis opened scoring in the second inning on a two-run home run by Matt Koperniak. Louisville responded with a run in the top of the fourth.
KOPERNIAK ATTACK!@HueysRestaurant HOMER TO PUT US IN FRONT pic.twitter.com/pdO5tshkJq
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 2, 2025
The Redbirds answered with a run in the home fourth to increase the lead to 3-1 as José Fermín and Matt Lloyd doubled.
Lloyd doubles! pic.twitter.com/upIIniKECy
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 2, 2025
Memphis added a run in the sixth. Lloyd drew a walk and scored on a double by Brody Moore. The Redbirds made it 5-1 in the eighth. Koperniak singled and later came home on a wild pitch.
The offense scored five runs on 11 hits. Koperniak was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Lloyd was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Rehabbing St. Louis catcher Iván Herrera was 2-for-3 and played five innings behind the plate.
On the bases, Lloyd stole his third base of the season. On defense, Granillo made a throwing error.
The Redbirds are 18-11 on the season.
Saturday’s game: vs. Louisville, RHP Michael Gomez (0-0, 3.09) vs. TBD (LVL) 3:05 CT
Springfield 2, NW Arkansas 3 (seven innings, game one)
In the opener of a twin bill at Hammons Field, with the start also delayed by rain, the Cardinals lost to the Naturals 3-2. Starter Max Rajcic pitched five innings, gave up three runs, two earned, on five hits, struck out three and walked one. Rajcic took the loss.
Austin Love threw two scoreless innings of relief.
Springfield took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Chase Davis drew a walk. Miguel Ugueto singled and Davis scored on a throwing error.
Chase Davis shows off the wheels, pushing the envelope to score from first on a single and an error. pic.twitter.com/ZfuKruKrLj
— Springfield Cardinals (@Sgf_Cardinals) May 3, 2025
NW Arkansas tied the game in the top of the fourth before Springfield regained a 2-1 lead in the home half of the inning. Dakota Harris doubled and advanced to third on a balk. Harris came home on a ground out by Ugueto.
The Naturals put up two runs in the fifth to go up 3-2.
Springfield scored two runs on five hits. Harris was 2-for-3.
On defense, Ramon Mendoza made a fielding error.
Springfield 1, NW Arkansas 3 (eight innings, game two)
The Cardinals also dropped the second game of the twin bill to NW Arkansas on Friday. It was the makeup of Tuesday’s postponement.
In a bullpen game, starter Oswaldo Berrios pitched three scoreless innings, allowed one hit, and fanned four.
Jack Ralston relieved Berrios and threw three scoreless innings. Edwin Nunez blew the save in the seventh, surrendering the tying run. Nathanael Heredia compounded the situation by allowing two more runs in the eighth and taking the loss.
The Cardinals went up 1-0 in the fourth. Chase Davis walked but was eliminated in a force out by Dakota Harris. Noah Mendlinger singled. Harris scored on a sac fly by Miguel Ugueto.
Springfield took that 1-0 lead into the seventh inning. The Naturals tied the game in the seventh and then added two more runs in the extra eighth to nail the win.
The Cardinals scored one run on four hits. No Cardinal had multiples. The offense was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
Springfield is 11-14 on the season.
Saturday’s game: vs NW Arkansas, Tekoah Roby RHP (1-1, 1.06) vs. TBA 6:05 CT.
Peoria 3, Beloit 4 (seven innings, game one)
The Chiefs were edged by the Sky Carp in a one run loss to open Friday’s doubleheader at Dozer Park. Starter Jose Davila pitched four innings, gave up two runs on four hits, fanned five and walked two.
Dionys Rodriguez surrendered two runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief and took the loss. Hunter Hayes tossed the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Beloit took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning before Peoria came back to score two runs in the home half. Won-Bin Cho drew a walk and advanced to second and third on two balks. Ryan Campos drove in Cho on a double. Campos scored on a double by Zach Levenson.
The Chiefs added to the lead with one run in the second. Brayden Jobert walked and later scored on a single by Joshua Baez.
The Sky Carp made it 3-2 in the fourth and took the lead 4-3 in the sixth.
Peoria scored three runs on five hits. No Chief had multiple hits.
On the bases, Baez stole his eighth base of the season. Jobert was caught stealing.
Peoria 3, Beloit 1 (seven innings, game two)
The Chiefs earned a split with a win in the second game of the doubleheader with the Sky Carp on Friday. It was the make up for Thursday’s postponement.
Starter Hancel Rincon pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up one run on three hits, struck out five and walked one to earn the win.
Jawilme Ramirez relieved Rincon, walked one hitter and left the game. D.J. Carpenter secured the final two outs of the sixth. Joseph King tossed a scoreless seventh to earn the save.
Peoria went up 1-0 in the first inning. Jon Jon Gazdar singled and stole second base. Zach Levenson walked. Michael Curialle plated Gazdar on a single.
In the fourth, the Chiefs increased the lead to 3-0. Graysen Tarlow singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Tre Richardson drove in Tarlow on a single. Bryce Madron singled. Richardson was caught stealing home. Gazdar walked. Madron came home on a single by Joshua Baez.
Beloit scored their only run in the sixth.
Peoria scored three runs on eight hits. Richardson was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Gazdar was 2-for-3.
On the bases, Gazdar stole his first base of the season. Richardson was caught stealing. On defense, Richardson made a fielding error.
Peoria is 7-17 on the season.
Saturday’s game: vs. Beloit, Darlin Saladin RHP (0-1, 6.28) vs. Jake Brooks RHP (1-1, 10.61) 7:05 CT.
The Low-A Cardinals lost to the Flying Tigers in Lakeland by the score of 2-1 on Friday.
Starter Brandt Thompson pitched five innings, gave up one run on five hits, fanned five and walked one. Thompson, who was named The Cardinal Nation’s April Pitcher of the Month earlier in the day, took the hard-luck loss.
Nelfy Ynfante relieved Thompson and surrendered one run in the final three innings.
The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when Lakeland took a 1-0 lead. They added a second run in the seventh.
The Beach Birds rallied for one run in the ninth. Yordalin Pena tripled and was driven in on a single from Sammy Hernandez.
Palm Beach scored one run on seven hits. Christian Martin was 2-for-4. Pena had the only extra base hit. The offense was 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.
Palm Beach is 14-11 on the season.
Saturday’s game: at Lakeland, RHP Leonel Sequera (0-2, 2.11) vs. TBD 5:00 CT
Florida Complex League Cardinals
The rookie level Florida Complex League season begins on Saturday, May 3 with the Cardinals playing under new manager Willi Martin. The full detailed roster, which carries over from extended spring training, can be viewed here.
The FCL Cardinals begin their 2025 season today!
Opening Day Lineup at FCL Mets:
CF Facundo Velasquez
SS Yairo Padilla
C Rainiel Rodriguez
2B Bracewell Taveras
3B Yancel Guerrero
DH Paulo Asprilla
1B Hancel Almonte
LF Daniel Rojas
RF Yaisel Ramos
SP Keiverson RamirezFull… pic.twitter.com/SwZdXDtDsl
— Cardinals Player Development (@CardsPlayerDev) May 3, 2025
Saturday’s game: at FCL Mets, RHP Keiverson Ramirez (US debut) vs. TBA 9:00 am CT.
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