Cardinals Minor League Notebook – May 5, 2025

photo: Nathan Church (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The St. Louis Cardinals minor league system was 1-3 on Sunday. For the second time in three days, The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day is Springfield OF Nathan Church, who doubled, homered and drove in three. Other standouts include Jason Savacool, Matt Lloyd, Ryan Campos and Nick Raquet.

Results for games played on Sunday, May 4:

Memphis Redbirds 3, Louisville Bats 15

The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds fell to the Louisville Bats in Sunday’s series finale at AutoZone Park.

Alex Cornwell started for Memphis. The left-hander threw 2 ⅓ innings and allowed seven runs, six earned, on seven hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Cornwell took the loss.

Leonardo Taveras yielded four runs in an inning following Cornwell. Matt Svanson pitched 1 ⅔ scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Nick Anderson surrendered four runs in ⅔ of an inning. Zack Weiss lowered his ERA to 1.20 with 1 ⅓ scoreless frames. To conclude the blowout, infielder Brody Moore pitched for the second time in as many days and delivered a scoreless ninth inning.

Already down 15-0 in the seventh inning, the Redbirds scored their first run on Matt Lloyd’s third home run of the season.

Matt Lloyd

Memphis added two more in the bottom of the eighth inning. José Fermín drew a one-out walk, and moved to second base on a César Prieto single. Thomas Saggese took a walk to load the bases with two outs. Lloyd singled home Fermín for his ninth RBI of the series.

Ryan Vilade scored Prieto on the second consecutive single of the frame for Memphis’ third run. The Redbirds were unable to rally further in the loss.

Memphis scored three runs on eight hits. Lloyd was 2-for-4, including a home run and two RBI. Vilade was 2-for-4, including a double and one RBI. Mike Antico tallied a single and two walks.

On defense, Fermín made a throwing error. Memphis did not record a stolen base.

After the 4-2 series win over Louisville, Memphis is 19-12 on the season with a one-game divisional lead. They will head to Charlotte, North Carolina to begin a six-game set on Tuesday against the Knights at Truist Field.

Tuesday’s game: at Charlotte (CWS), TBD vs. LHP Tyler Schweitzer (0-1, 5.40) 5:05 PM CT.

Springfield Cardinals 3, Northwest Arkansas Naturals 2

The Double-A Springfield Cardinals edged the Naturals to win the series finale on Sunday at Hammons Field.

Brycen Mautz made his fifth start for Springfield. The lefty pitched five innings and allowed two runs on five hits, two strikeouts, and no walks.

Left-hander Nick Raquet was dominant in relief of Mautz. The 29-year-old allowed just one hit and fanned three across three scoreless frames to collect his second win for Springfield. Sean Harney struck out a pair of batters in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save of 2025.

Nick Raquet

Springfield fell behind 2-0 early but halved the lead in the fifth. Carlos Linarez led off the frame with his first Double-A triple. Nathan Church doubled to score Linarez.

Nathan Church

The Cardinals plated two runs in the seventh to take their first lead. Linarez singled, moved to second base on a balk, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Church crushed his second home run of the season to put Springfield in front 3-2.

The Cardinals’ bullpen held strong in the comeback win.

Springfield scored three runs on six hits. Church was 2-for-4, with a home run, a double, and three RBI. Linarez was a perfect 3-for-3, including a triple and two runs scored.

On the bases, R.J. Yeager stole his second base of the season. Noah Mendlinger was picked off at first base.

Defensively, second baseman Jeremy Rivas committed a fielding error. Chase Davis continued his impressive defensive season with a diving catch in left field.

Chase Davis

After dropping four of six to the Naturals at home, Springfield is 12-15 on the season and in fourth place, four games out of the division lead. They will head to Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas, to begin a six-game series with the Travelers on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s game: at Arkansas (SEA), LHP Ixan Henderson (2-1, 2.79) vs. RHP Dylan File (1-1, 5.61) 6:35 PM CT.

Peoria Chiefs 7, Beloit Sky Carp 11

The High-A Peoria Chiefs fell to the Beloit Sky Carp in Sunday’s series finale at Dozer Park.

Gerardo Salas started for Peoria. The right-hander pitched 3 ⅓ innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Salas took the loss.

Tyler Bradt struck out three across 1 ⅔ scoreless innings in relief of Salas. Hunter Hayes yielded one run in an inning. Benjamin Arias followed and surrendered four runs, three earned, over two innings. Jawilme Ramirez allowed one run in the ninth inning.

The Chiefs entered the bottom of the fifth inning down 4-0 but scored two to cut the lead in half.

Jon Jon Gazdar walked and swiped second base. Zach Levenson walked. Ian Petrutz singled to load the bases. Ryan Campos followed with a single to score Gazdar for the Chiefs’ first run. Levenson crossed home plate on a double play ball.

Beloit responded with six runs across the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to take control at 10-2. Peoria didn’t give up, narrowing the gap with a five-run eighth inning.

Trey Paige

Miguel Villarroel reached on a fielding error and Tre Richardson was hit by a pitch. Trey Paige lined a single, which coupled with an error, scored Villarroel and Richardson. Paige advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a Gazdar single to make it a 10-5 game. Levenson and Petrutz reached on a walk and hit-by-pitch, respectively, to bring Campos to the plate. Campos singled home Gazdar and Levenson to bring the game within three, at 10-7.

Ryan Campos

The Sky Carp added one in the ninth inning. Peoria was unable to rally further.

The Chiefs scored seven hits on six hits, all singles. Campos was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Petrutz tallied two hits. Gazdar singled, scored a run, and recorded one RBI. Paige singled, scored a run, drove in one run, and walked twice.

On the bases, Gazdar swiped his third bag of the season.

Defensively, second baseman Richardson and third baseman Paige each made a throwing error. Pitcher Arias committed a fielding error.

After the 2-4 home set with Beloit, the Chiefs are 8-18 on the season, in fifth place, 10 games out of first place. They will begin a six-game set with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday at Dozer Park.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Wisconsin (MIL), RHP Cade Winquest (0-2, 4.41) vs. TBD. 6:05 PM CT.

Palm Beach Cardinals 3 at Lakeland Flying Tigers 8

The Low-A Palm Beach Cardinals lost in Lakeland to the Flying Tigers in Sunday’s series finale.

Chen-Wei Lin started for Palm Beach in a rehab assignment, as he works to rejoin the Peoria Chiefs. The right-hander pitched two scoreless innings with no hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.

Chen-Wei Lin

Regular starter Jason Savacool followed Lin and fanned five across four scoreless innings in his first relief appearance of the year.

Jason Savacool

However, asked to protect a 3-0 lead in the late innings, the bullpen let the Cardinals down. Left-hander Jack Findlay surrendered four runs over one-third of an inning. Mason Burns followed and yielded two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Yordy Herrera allowed two runs in the eighth inning. Findlay took the loss.

Palm Beach scored the first two runs of the game in the fourth inning, all with two outs. Josh Kross walked and scored on a Yordalin Pena double. Cade McGee singled home Pena.

Palm Beach added a run in the fifth inning. Christian Martin began the frame with a single, and advanced to second base on a failed pickoff attempt. Luis Pino lined a double to score Martin for the Cardinals’ third run.

The Cardinals scored three runs on seven hits. Pena and Pino each tallied a double and one RBI. McGee singled, walked, and drove in a run.

On the basepaths, McGee was caught stealing second base. Travis Honeyman was picked off at second base.

Defensively, Palm Beach did not commit an error.

Scoring just five runs total in three games, the Cardinals were swept in Lakeland and are riding a five-game losing skid. Palm Beach is 14-13 on the season, one game out of first place. They head home to Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium to begin a six-game set with the Jupiter Hammerheads on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s game: vs. Jupiter (MIA). Pitching probables have not yet been announced. First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 PM CT.

Florida Complex League Cardinals (off-day)

The Florida Complex League Cardinals (1-0) were off Sunday after their Opening Day victory at the FCL Mets on Saturday.

The FCL Cardinals will travel to CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches Complex in West Palm Beach, Florida, to play the FCL Nationals on Monday.

Monday’s game: at FCL Nationals (WSH). LH Yadiel Batista (season debut) vs. TBA. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT.

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