photo: Cesar Prieto (Memphis Redbirds)
Memphis concluded the Cardinals system’s 2023 Minor League season with a Sunday home loss. The Cardinal Nation’s Player of the Day, César Prieto, walked and hit a two-run homer. Arizona Fall League play begins in one week – on October 2.
Results from the game played on Sunday, September 24th.
Ending the 2023 season, the Memphis Redbirds (32-42) fell to the International League East last place Charlotte Knights (CWS, 18-56) at AutoZone Park on Sunday afternoon.
Starter Adam Kloffenstein took his second Redbirds loss after he surrendered three runs in five innings. TCN’s no. 21 prospect yielded four hits, one walk and three strikeouts. In relief, Kyle Leahy fanned one in a scoreless inning. Ryan Loutos was roughed up for five runs in 1/3 of an inning and Grant Black tossed a scoreless 2/3 of an inning.
Down 8-0 and without a hit entering the seventh inning, the Redbirds offense scored their only two runs. Matt Koperniak was hit by a pitch and César Prieto blasted a two-run home run, his sixth at Triple-A.
Prieto says no, no to the no-no pic.twitter.com/bE2Oi0gfEA
— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) September 24, 2023
Pete Hansen made his first Triple-A appearance after his call-up from Palm Beach on Friday. TCN’s no. 15 prospect pitched a 1-2-3 scoreless eighth. Chris Roycroft walked one in a scoreless ninth.
Over nine innings, the depleted Redbirds lineup had only two hits and two walks. Prieto homered and walked. Moisés Gómez doubled. The lineup was 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position.
In the field, Leahy committed an error. Kloffenstein picked off a runner and Jimmy Crooks had a passed ball.
Memphis finished the 2023 season with a 71-78 overall record. In the first half, they went 39-36 and were in fifth place in the International League West. In the second half, they were 32-42 and well out of playoff contention, ending in ninth place, 15 ½ games back.
What is next?
The Cardinal Nation will have daily coverage of the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League when play starts on Monday, October 2. Eight Cardinals will be playing in the desert.
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