photo: Alex Fagalde (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals system went 2-3 on Saturday. Our Player of the Day is Palm Beach starter Alex Fagalde, who pitched seven one-run innings. For Memphis, Adam Wainwright had another successful rehab outing.
Results for games played Saturday, September 1.
The Redbirds vanquished the Sounds in Nashville in the first game of the final series of the regular season. In what is likely the final rehab start for Adam Wainwright, the right-hander pitched five scoreless innings, allowing five hits, striking out seven and walking two. Wainwright needed 90 pitches, 63 of which went for strikes, and earned the win. Tyler Lyons picked up his third save with four innings of relief during which he surrendered one run on three hits, fanned five and issued no free passes.
Memphis scored three runs in the third to take the lead and never looked back. Alex Mejia and Tommy Edman singled, and Wilfredo Tovar singled to plate Mejia and Edman. A wild pitch and a single by Rangel Ravelo put Tovar on third. Lane Thomas grounded into a force out and Tovar scored.
In the fifth, Edman singled and scored on another Ravelo single. Max Schrock drew a walk in the sixth and later scored on a wild pitch. In the seventh, Ravelo walked and later scored when Ramon Urias grounded into a double play. Edmundo Sosa singled and later scored on balk. Edman singled and scored on yet another Ravelo single. Nos. 1, 2, and 3 hitters Edman, Tovar and Ravelo each had three singles and totaled five runs scored and four RBI.
The Redbirds are 82-56 and are in first place in the PCL American Southern. Memphis has clinched the Division and will begin play in the Division Series on September 5 against the winner of the PCL American Northern Division.
Sunday’s game: at Nashville, Jake Woodford (4-5, 4.81) 6:15 CT.
The Cardinals were defeated by Tulsa in the first game of the final regular season series. Springfield righty starter Matt Pearce dug a 4-0 hole for his offense in the second and third innings. Pearce pitched into the seventh, but gave up a fifth run and came out of the game with two outs. Connor Jones induced a ground out for the final out and remained to pitch two more scoreless innings.
The Cardinals bats were no-hit into the fifth, when Jeremy Martinez singled, but Springfield did not score. The runs came in the seventh. John Nogowski walked and Victor Roache singled. Both scored on Jose Martinez’ single. A third run came home in the eighth when Evan Mendoza hit a leadoff double and scored on a force out.
The Cardinals are 60-77 overall, 27-40 in the second half, and are in last place in the Texas League North. Springfield has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Sunday’s game: vs. Tulsa, Casey Meisner (2-1, 3.44) 6:10 CT.
The Cardinals were 7-2 victors at Lakeland in Game 2 of the final series of the regular season. Lakeland scored one run in the first inning, but the Cardinals took the 3-1 lead in the fourth. Dylan Carlson was hit by a pitch and Scott Hurst singled. Both came in on Ryan McCarvel’s double. McCarvel scored on Juan Yepez’ single.
In the fifth, Kramer Robertson led off with a single. Carlson doubled, and with Elehuris Montero at the plate, Robertson scored on a wild pitch. Montero walked. With Conner Capel at the plate, a passed ball scored Carlson. Montero came home on a fielding error. A run was added in the sixth when Jose Godoy singled and scored on a wild pitch.
Cardinals starter Alex Fagalde won his fourth game with Palm Beach. Fagalde pitched seven one-run innings, allowing five hits, fanning eight and walking one. Griffin Roberts tossed a scoreless eighth. Bryan Dobzanski surrendered one run in the ninth.
Palm Beach is 75-57 overall and 36-32 in the second half to put them in third place in the FSL South. The Cardinals were the first half division winners and will play in the Division Championship series beginning Sept. 5.
Sunday’s game: at Lakeland, TBA 10am CT.
The Chiefs were defeated by Quad Cities in the first game of the final series of the regular season. Peoria fell behind 3-0 in the third, but responded with two runs in the fifth to decrease the lead to one run. Brandon Benson and Andres Luna both walked and advanced on a ground out by Justin Toerner. Benson scored on force attempt throwing error. Luna came home on a force out.
Quad Cities scored four more runs to increase their lead to 7-2. In the top of the seventh, Toerner walked and Nolan Gorman singled. Luken Baker singled and plated Toerner. Gorman scored on a ground out. The Chiefs were unable to add on after the seventh. Zach Kirtley went 0-for-5, but had both of Peoria’s RBI.
Zach Prendergast was on the bump to start for the Chiefs. The right hander gave up three runs on three hits in 2 2/3 innings. Patrick Dayton struck out his only batter in the third, pitched a scoreless fourth but gave up two runs in the fifth. C.J. Saylor got the final out of the fifth. Saylor returned for the sixth and surrendered two runs. Saylor was replaced with two outs by Ben Yokley, who struck out his only batter to escape the jam. Yokley allowed one run in the seventh but pitched a scoreless eighth. Prendergast took the loss. Overall, Chiefs pitching gave up nine hits and walked eight more.
The Chiefs are 76-61 overall, 37-30 in the second half, and are in third place in the Midwest League Western Division. Peoria has clinched a playoff spot as the first half wild card and will begin a best of three series against Quad Cities on Sept. 5.
Sunday’s game: at Quad Cities, TBA 1:15 CT.
State College 3 at Williamsport 7
The Spikes began the last series of their season, and the first game in Williamsport ended in a loss. Franyel Casadilla gave up seven runs on seven hits in his 5 1/3 inning start. Cory Malcom tossed the final 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Casadilla took his third defeat against four wins with State College.
The offense scored in the fifth when Wadye Ynfante doubled to lead off and came home on a throwing error. The Spikes put up two runs in the ninth. Alexis Wilson doubled and scored on Delvin Perez’ triple. Perez crossed the plate on Edwin Figuera’s single. With a single and a double, Stanley Espinal had two of State College’s six hits.
The Spikes are 34-40 on the season and are in third place in the New York Penn League Pinckney Division. State College has already been eliminated from the playoffs.
Sunday’s game: at Williamsport, Eli Kraus (2-2, 3.71) 4:05 CT.
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