photo: Chandler Redmond (Gardner-Webb University)
Chandler Redmond led Peoria to its first 2021 win as St. Louis’ system went 2-1 with a rain out on Thursday. Springfield won for the first time too but Memphis still seeks its initial victory of the season. Palm Beach’s contest was postponed.
Results from games played Thursday, May 6th.
Memphis 3 vs. Durham 4
Memphis starter Matthew Liberatore’s strong Triple-A debut was not enough as the Redbirds (0-3) fell to the Durham Bulls at AutoZone Park.
The only mark against the southpaw (L, 0-1) during his six innings on the mound was a two-run third-inning home run. The bomb comprised one of the five hits allowed versus five strikeouts. Liberatore did not walk a batter.
Here to bless your timelines with some Matthew Liberatore highlights 🙌
Six 💪 innings and five K’s in his AAA debut! pic.twitter.com/AGQJCZEd35
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) May 7, 2021
Durham’s 2-0 lead doubled in the seventh after reliever Roel Ramirez was tagged for two runs on three hits. A bright spot out of the bullpen was lefty Garrett Williams’ two scoreless frames with just one walk (and a hit batsman) in his organization debut.
Shortstop Jose Rondon, a minor league free agent signee, finally put his team on the board with a three-run long ball. His blast scored Kramer Robertson (walk) and Max Moroff (single), cutting the score to 4-3 after eight. Moroff compiled two of Memphis’ six hits, singling twice in four at bats.
Friday’s game: vs. Durham (TB) (3-0), 7:10 pm CT, TBA (perhaps LHP Bernardo Flores, Jr. (Triple-A and season debut))
Springfield 7 vs. Wichita 6
Starter Connor Thomas tossed five shutout frames while Juan Yepez’ solo shot provided the winning margin as Springfield (1-2) edged Wichita, 7-6. It was the S-Cards’ first victory of the 2021 campaign and gave the Hammons Field home crowd something to cheer.
In Thomas’ first Double-A start, he halted the Wind Surge on five hits and a base-on-balls. The lefty notched five K’s and departed with a 1-0 lead after centerfielder Justin Toerner unloaded over the wall in left center in the home half of the fifth.
Bullpenner Jacob Patterson kept the opposition off the board the next frame but could not match that feat in the seventh. Patterson (BS, 1) was tagged for five runs on two hits, two walks and plunked batter, the scoring capped by a grand slam.
Springfield responded for a five-run seventh of their own to go back up 6-5. The runs were generated by small ball – five singles plus a free pass. The S-Cards’ production displayed the team-wide offensive attack featuring eight starters accumulating at least one of the team’s 10 hits. (Alas, Nolan Gorman is still looking for his first hit of 2021.)
Jake Walsh (W, 1-0) (BS,1) could not hold the advantage in his Double-A debut, yielding a tally via a base-on-balls and RBI double. Except for a 1 2/3-inning rehab stint in 2019, the eighth inning was the righty’s first action since the 2018 season.
Yepez led off the eighth with a solo home run. It was his only hit in four at bats while teammates Ivan Herrera and David Vinsky each singled twice in four at bats, Herrera driving in two and Vinsky touching home once.
Righthander Salvador Justo worked around a lead-off walk and double, retiring his last three batters faced, for his first save. It was the Dominican native’s first game as a member of the St. Louis organization since signing as a free agent way back in November 2019.
Friday’s game: vs. Wichita (MN) (2-1), 7:05 pm CT, RHP Kyle Leahy (season debut)
Peoria 11 at Cedar Rapids 2
A seven-run ninth transformed a competitive game into an easy 11-2 Peoria (1-2) victory at Cedar Rapids. The Chiefs’ first win of 2021 also featured a noteworthy professional debut by starter Mac Lardner.
Three Chiefs garnered three-hit performances: third baseman Malcom Nunez, right fielder Alec Burleson and left fielder Chandler Redmond. Hitting back-to-back in the two and three spots, Nunez and Burleson both scored twice with the former knocking in one and the latter working a free pass plus two RBI, including a fifth-inning solo shot. The team had 15 hits in total.
CLIP: @C_Redmond13 gets his first HR of the season!#SoundTheAlarm pic.twitter.com/Bjyp3U4oQE
— Peoria Chiefs (@peoriachiefs) May 7, 2021
The biggest bat belonged to Redmond, our Player of the Day, who went 3-for-4 with a base-on-balls, runs scored and four driven in. His first long ball of the season occurred with Brendan Donovan (walk) and Zade Richardson (single) on base and was the finale of the ninth inning scoring.
A final Chiefs’ effort that should not be passed by without comment was that of Pedro Pages. The catcher was responsible for four tallies, going 2-for-5, crossing home once and knocking in three.
Lardner, a June 2020 free agent signee from Gonzaga, held the Kernels scoreless over four innings. The southpaw permitted a hit and two walks, tossing 40 of his 68 pitches for strikes, and hit a batter.
Michael Brettell (W, 1-0) was credited with the victory in his first High-A action. The Canadian allowed two runs on three hits and a base-on-balls, the final tally scoring with Ian Oxnevad on the mound. The lefty (S, 1) gave up three hits against five out recorded, stranding one of two inherited runners. Oxnevad missed the 2019 season due to injury.
Friday’s game: at Cedar Rapids (MN) (2-1), 6:35 pm CT, Michael YaSenka (full season debut)
Palm Beach vs. Daytona – postponed
Game three of the six-game series between Palm Beach (1-1) and Daytona was postponed due to rain. The contest is scheduled to be made up as part of a twi-night double header on Friday, May 7th.
Friday’s games: vs. Daytona (CIN) (1-1). Game 1 – 5:00 pm ET, TBA/TBA (possible Ludwin Jimenez/John Beller)
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now Available – 2021 Cardinals Prospect Guide
Now available, The Cardinal Nation 2021 Prospect Guide is back for a fourth year. It includes over 250 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of color photos.
https://thecardinalnation.com/order-the-cardinal-nation-2021-prospect-guide-now/
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
© 2021 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.