photo: Jose Rondon (Jim Rassol/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 1-4 on Friday, as Palm Beach split a twin bill. Our Player of the Day is Jose Rondon, who went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run for 4 RBI in Memphis’ home loss to Durham.
Results for games played Friday, May 7.
On Friday night, Memphis lost its fourth consecutive game to the Durham Bulls. As one Redbirds Rondon fared better than the other, the Bulls outslugged the Redbirds for a 13-5 victory at AutoZone Park.
Memphis pitching couldn’t hold back the Durham offense. Before the Redbirds could put a run on the board, Durham score 10 against the combination of starter Angel Rondon, who gave up six runs, and relievers Jesus Cruz and Alex FaGalde, who surrendered two each. Rondon tossed 4 1/3 innings, struck out two, walked one and allowed nine hits. Cruz finished the fifth inning and FaGalde pitched the sixth.
The Redbirds finally put a run on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Max Moroff singled to right and Jose Rondon drove him home on a double to left.
Durham scored one run in the top of the seventh off Redbird reliever Connor Jones. Memphis added four in the bottom of the eighth to bring the score closer at 11-5. Kramer Robertson led off with solo home run, Scott Hurst doubled to center and Evan Mendoza singled to right. Rondon brought them in with a three-run blast to left center field. It was the veteran infielder’s second long ball in as many nights.
The Bulls answered in the ninth with two more runs off reliever Junior Fernandez. He replaced Connor Jones who pitched the seventh and eighth. All five Memphis pitchers surrendered runs to Durham. A total of 15 hits and 13 runs were allowed.
Catcher Tyler Heinemann was picked off and caught stealing.
Saturday’s game: vs. Durham, Zack Thompson LHP (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA 6:15 CT.
The Double-A Cardinals were defeated in a slugfest with Wichita at Hammons Field on Friday night. In the first inning, the Wind Surge scored three runs off Springfield starter Kyle Leahy. The Cardinals offense responded in the bottom of the inning with four runs to take a 4-3 lead.
Nolan Gorman singled (his first hit of the season) and Ivan Herrera followed him with a two-run home run to left field, his first at Double-A. Juan Yepez drew a walk and Justin Toerner singled. Both later scored on a single by David Vinsky.
The score remained 4-3 until the top of the fourth. With Leahy still on the mound for Springfield, the Wind Surge scored two more runs on two walks, a hit by pitch and two singles. Leahy went four innings and gave up five runs on nine hits.
Patrick Dayton replaced Leahy in the fifth. Dayton surrendered three runs on a single, a triple, and a two-run home run. Dayton then allowed a solo home run in the sixth. Edgar Escobar relieved with no outs in the seventh and allowed the inherited runner from Dayton to score. Escobar pitched the final innings and relinquished a run of his own in the eighth.
The Springfield offense closed the deficit with three runs in the home eighth. Irving Lopez and Delvin Perez singled. Gorman drew a walk to load the bases. Herrera was hit by a pitch and Lopez scored. Yepez reached on an error that sent Perez and Gorman home.
Herrera and Toerner each had two hits and Nick Plummer went 3-for-4.
Gorman committed a fielding error. Vinsky had an outfield assist at second base.
Saturday’s game: vs. Wichita, Alvaro Seijas RHP (0-0, 0.00) v. Dakota Chalmers RHP (0-0, 0.00) 6:05 CT.
The Peoria Chiefs took on the Kernels at Perfect Game Field on Friday night, but suffered their third loss of the young season after Thursday’s win.
Peoria got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second. Chandler Redmond was hit by a pitch and Moises Castillo followed with a single moving Redmond to third. Castillo advanced to second on an error. Cristhian Longa singled to plate Redmond and Castillo.
Chiefs starter Michael YaSenka got into trouble early, giving up two singles followed by a three-run blast to right field to give the Kernels the 3-2 lead in the bottom of the second. After walking the second batter he faced in the fourth inning, YaSenka was replaced by Cole Aker with one out. Aker surrendered a triple that scored the inherited runner and then gave up two additional runs to put Cedar Rapids in a 6-2 lead. Jacob Schlesener allowed further damage with two runs yielded in the fifth and another in the sixth. The final pitcher for the Chiefs, Wilfredo Pereira, was the team’s lone pitcher to emerge unscathed.
Peoria managed its final run in the seventh on a double by Redmond, who scored on a single by Jhon Torres. Redmond’s double was the only extra base hit of the five Chiefs hits on the evening.
Castillo was caught stealing for the first time in the season.
Saturday’s game: at Cedar Rapids, Nathanael Heredia RHP (0-0, 0.00) vs. Jon Olsen RHP (0-0, 0.00) 6:35 CT.
Palm Beach 3, Daytona 1 (seven innings, Game 1)
The Palm Beach Cardinals defeated the Tortugas 3-1 in the first game of a twin bill at Roger Dean on Friday. Thursday’s game was postponed due to rain and was made up as part of this doubleheader.
Beach Birds starter Ludwin Jimenez tossed two scoreless innings. The right hander struck out two and issued three free passes. The offense staked Jimenez with a 1-0 lead in the first with a leadoff walk by Masyn Winn, followed by a Jordan Walker double and a sac fly by L.J Jones to plate Winn.
Here ya go @B_Walton https://t.co/feSPrhlhpQ
— Matt T (@mdthomp_PLive) May 7, 2021
http://thecardinalnation.com/player/lj-jones-iv/
Reliever Inohan Paniagua followed Jimenez and surrendered the tying run on a walk, a wild pitch and a single. That would be Daytona’s only score of the game. Paniagua hurled three innings of relief and was followed by Ramon Santos, who pitched the final two scoreless innings.
Palm Beach’s offense took the lead in the fifth and again 2020 draftees Winn, Walker and Jones were involved. Winn and Walker drew walks and Jones singled to score Winn. After Walker advanced to third on a ground out, Francisco Hernandez brought Walker home on a sac fly. Those two runs provided the margin of victory.
Winn swiped his second base of the season in the fifth inning.
Palm Beach 2, Daytona 5 (seven innings, Game 2)
The Cardinals split the twin bill with Daytona with a 5-2 loss in Friday’s nightcap. The loss puts Palm Beach at the .500 mark at 2-2 in the early going.
Left hander John Beller started for the Cardinals and went five strong innings. A solo home run by Daytona third sacker Rece Hinds was the only blemish in Beller’s outing. He allowed three hits, fanned four and walked one.
Angel Cuenca relieved Beller in the sixth and pitched a scoreless inning. With Palm Beach holding a 2-1 lead with three outs to go, the wheels came off. Cuenca returned for the seventh and a series of defensive errors by the Cardinals resulted in four runs for the Tortugas. None of the four were earned but Cuenca was tagged with a blown save and the loss. Luis Tena came in to get the final out.
Errors were charged to Franklin Soto, who had two, one fielding and one throwing, Todd Lott and Matt Koperniak had fielding errors. Adanson Cruz was caught stealing, but also had an outfield assist at second base. Catcher Luis Rodriguez picked a runner off first base.
Saturday’s game: vs. Daytona, Edwin Nuñez RHP (0-0, 27.00) vs. Case Williams RHP (0-0, 0.00) 5:30 CT.
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