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THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Jesús Báez Delivers Four Hits as Springfield Keeps Rolling St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurJesús Báez keeps swinging his way into the conversation.Báez, the MLB Pipeline No. 21 prospect in the Cardinals’ system, had the best offensive night on the farm Tuesday, going 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base in Springfield’s 3-2 win over Corpus Christi.His final line: 4-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R, SBThat is a complete night for a player, a week for some players.Springfield scored once in the first inning and twice more in the fifth, and Báez was right in the middle of it. The Cardinals finished with 12 hits, but Báez had four of them, including one of Springfield’s two home runs.Josiah Ragsdale, the MLB Pipeline No. 10 prospect, also went deep and drove in a run. Rainiel Rodriguez, the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, added two hits and a walk. But Báez had the loudest line of the night.Four hits. A home run. Two RBIs. A stolen base. A one-run Springfield win.That is the kind of line that jumps off the page.Báez’s season line is now listed at .276 with a .903 OPS, 36 home runs and 98 RBIs, and the power production continues to be one of the bigger stories in the Cardinals’ system.Springfield keeps winning, and Báez keeps producing.That is a Player of the Day performance.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Jesús Báez, SS, Springfield CardinalsMLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 21Final Line: 4-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R, SB The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Jesús Báez,, Springfield Cardinals | Springfield Daily Citizen

MiLB Player of the Day: Jesús Báez

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Tanner Franklin Fans Nine as Springfield Keeps Rolling St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurTanner Franklin gave Springfield exactly what it needed Tuesday night.The Cardinals were in a tight one at Corpus Christi, and Franklin made sure the game stayed within reach until the offense could do just enough.Franklin, the MLB Pipeline No. 5 prospect in the Cardinals’ system, worked six innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs and three walks while striking out nine in Springfield’s 3-2 win over the Hooks.His final line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 KThat is a winning start.Franklin missed bats all night, and while he had to work around three walks, he limited the damage and held Corpus Christi to three hits. Springfield scored once in the first inning and twice more in the fifth, and Franklin made that stand up.He had help behind him.Chen-Wei Lin, the MLB Pipeline No. 29 prospect, followed with three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out six. Together, Franklin and Lin held Corpus Christi to five hits and struck out 15.The offense did its part behind them. Jesús Báez went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base, while Josiah Ragsdale also homered and drove in a run.But the game's tone came from Franklin.Six innings. Three hits allowed. Nine strikeouts. A one-run Springfield win.That is a Pitcher of the Day performance.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Tanner Franklin, Springfield CardinalsMLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 5Final Line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Tanner Franklin, Springfield Cardinals | Springfield Daily Citizen

MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Tanner Franklin

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Morning Farm Report: Báez, Franklin Lead Springfield; Palm Beach Blasts Five St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your most complete daily look at the Cardinals’ minor league system — from box scores and standings to standout performances, prospect notes and the daily Top 30 Prospect Watch.Tuesday was a good night on the farm.Springfield stayed hot, Memphis got back in the win column, Palm Beach broke out the bats in a shutout win, and Peoria let a late lead slip away. The Cardinals’ full-season affiliates finished 3-1.Jesús Báez earned Hitter of the Day honors after going 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base for Springfield. Tanner Franklin earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working six innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out nine.Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A Overall Record: 72-61 Second Half: 25-33, 9th in the International League West, 9.0 GB Streak: W1Memphis 7, Durham 2Memphis got back in the win column with a 7-2 win over Durham at AutoZone Park.The Redbirds scored three runs in the second inning, added single runs in the third, fourth, fifth and eighth, and finished with 13 hits.The offense came with power. Jimmy Crooks, Chase Davis, Zach Levenson and Noah Mendlinger all homered. Mendlinger had the biggest line, going 3-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and three runs scored. Davis and Levenson each had two hits and a home run, while Colton Ledbetter added two hits and drove in his 50th run.On the mound, Mason Molina, the MLB Pipeline No. 18 prospect, worked four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five. Matt Svanson, Sandro Santana and Jared Shuster combined for four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, with Shuster striking out three over the final two frames.Takeaway: Memphis used four home runs, 13 hits and 11 strikeouts from the pitching staff to end its losing streak.Springfield Cardinals — Double-A Overall Record: 70-56 Second Half: 39-19, 1st in the Texas League North, 6.0 games ahead Streak: W2Springfield 3, Corpus Christi 2The Cardinals beat Corpus Christi, 3-2, behind a big night from Jesús Báez and a strong pitching performance from Tanner Franklin and Chen-Wei Lin. Springfield scored once in the first and twice in the fifth, then made the lead stand.Báez, the MLB Pipeline No. 21 prospect, went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base.His final line: 4-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R, SBJosiah Ragsdale, the MLB Pipeline No. 10 prospect, also homered, went 2-for-4, drove in a run, scored a run and walked. Rainiel Rodriguez, the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, went 2-for-4 with a run and a walk.Franklin, the MLB Pipeline No. 5 prospect, worked six innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs and three walks while striking out nine.His final line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 KLin followed with three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out six. Together, Franklin and Lin held Corpus Christi to five hits and struck out 15.Takeaway: Springfield won its second straight, stayed six games up in the Texas League North, and got a Hitter of the Day and Pitcher of the Day performance in the same game.Peoria Chiefs — High-A Overall Record: 60-66 Second Half: 28-32, 5th in the Midwest League West, 10.5 GB Streak: L2Quad Cities 5, Peoria 4Peoria had a lead late, but could not close it out.The Chiefs fell 5-4 to Quad Cities after the River Bandits scored twice in the ninth inning. Peoria had scored two runs in the second, one in the third and one in the fifth, but the offense was held quiet from there.Ian Petrutz gave Peoria its biggest swing, going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Sammy Hernandez doubled and drove in a run, while Jalin Flores singled, walked and drove in a run. Andrew Williamson scored twice, walked, stole a base and was hit by two pitches.Ty Van Dyke started and worked six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five. Bobby Olsen and Zeke Wood each worked a scoreless inning before Quad Cities rallied in the ninth.Takeaway: Peoria was one inning away from a win, but Quad Cities scored twice in the ninth to hand the Chiefs their second straight loss.Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A Overall Record: 63-64 Second Half: 30-31, 2nd in the Florida State League East, 6.5 GB Streak: W1Palm Beach 11, Daytona 0Palm Beach delivered one of its loudest wins of the season.The Cardinals shut out Daytona, 11-0, finishing with 15 hits, five home runs and a clean defensive night.The power came from all over the lineup. Trevor Condon, Miguel Hernández, Dee Kennedy, Owen Henne and Jayden Lobliner all homered. Hernández went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, an RBI and three runs scored. Lobliner went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, while Gabe Camacho went 3-for-5 with two doubles.Alexander Frias, the MLB Pipeline No. 4 prospect, went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. Ryan Mitchell, the MLB Pipeline No. 24 prospect, drove in two runs. Owen Henne drove in four.The pitching was just as strong. Branneli Franco worked four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out five. Dallis Moran followed with three perfect innings and four strikeouts. Justin Militello finished it with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Palm Beach pitching held Daytona to four hits and struck out 12.Takeaway: Palm Beach hit five home runs and got a four-hit shutout from Franco, Moran and Militello.Top 30 Prospect Watch Rainiel Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline No. 1, went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk for Springfield. His live season line is listed at .316 with a .966 OPS, 24 home runs and 77 RBIs.Alexander Frias, MLB Pipeline No. 4, went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base for Palm Beach. His live line is listed at .318 with a .920 OPS, 10 home runs and 72 RBIs.Tanner Franklin, MLB Pipeline No. 5, earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working 6.0 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs and three walks while striking out nine for Springfield.Jurrangelo Cijntje, MLB Pipeline No. 9, remains listed with 149 strikeouts over 117.0 innings at Triple-A.Josiah Ragsdale, MLB Pipeline No. 10, went 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk for Springfield. His live line is listed at .307 with a .998 OPS, 24 home runs and 62 RBIs.Yhoiker Fajardo, MLB Pipeline No. 11, remains listed at 3.78 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 127 strikeouts over 97.2 innings for Springfield.Sebastian Dos Santos, MLB Pipeline No. 14, went 0-for-4 for Palm Beach. His live line is listed at .244 with an .851 OPS, 13 home runs and 48 RBIs.Mason Molina, MLB Pipeline No. 18, worked 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five for Memphis.Jesús Báez, MLB Pipeline No. 21, went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base for Springfield. His live line is listed at .276 with a .903 OPS, 36 home runs and 98 RBIs.Sandro Santana, MLB Pipeline No. 22, worked a scoreless inning for Memphis, allowing no hits while striking out one.Ryan Mitchell, MLB Pipeline No. 24, went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk for Palm Beach. His live line is listed at .228 with a .754 OPS, 13 home runs and 51 RBIs.Chen-Wei Lin, MLB Pipeline No. 29, worked 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out six for Springfield.Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats 1. Jesús Báez, Springfield: 4-for-5, home run, two RBIs, run scored, stolen base. MLB Pipeline No. 212. Tanner Franklin, Springfield: 6.0 innings, three hits, two earned runs, three walks, nine strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 53. Palm Beach pitching staff: 9.0 innings, four hits, no runs, two walks, 12 strikeouts.4. Noah Mendlinger, Memphis: 3-for-4, home run, RBI, three runs scored.5. Miguel Hernández, Palm Beach: 3-for-5, double, home run, RBI, three runs scored.6. Jayden Lobliner, Palm Beach: 3-for-4, home run, two RBIs, run scored.7. Josiah Ragsdale, Springfield: 2-for-4, home run, RBI, run scored, walk. MLB Pipeline No. 108. Alexander Frias, Palm Beach: 2-for-4, triple, two runs, walk, stolen base. MLB Pipeline No. 49. Mason Molina, Memphis: 4.0 scoreless innings, four hits, two walks, five strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 1810. Chen-Wei Lin, Springfield: 3.0 scoreless innings, two hits, three walks, six strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 29Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day Jesús Báez, SS, Springfield Cardinals MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 21Báez had the best offensive line in the system.His final line: 4-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R, SBFour hits. A home run. Two RBIs. A stolen base. A Springfield win.That is a Player of the Day performance.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day Tanner Franklin, Springfield Cardinals MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 5Franklin gave Springfield six strong innings and missed bats all night.His final line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 KNine strikeouts. Three hits allowed. Six innings. A Springfield win.That is a Pitcher of the Day performance.The Final Word Springfield carried the headline again.The Cardinals beat Corpus Christi, 3-2, behind Jesús Báez’s four-hit night and Tanner Franklin’s nine-strikeout start. Chen-Wei Lin finished it with three scoreless innings and six strikeouts, giving Springfield 15 strikeouts on the night.Memphis got back in the win column with four home runs and 13 hits. Palm Beach put together a complete win, blasting five home runs and shutting out Daytona. Peoria was close, but Quad Cities scored twice in the ninth.The affiliates finished 3-1.Springfield keeps rolling. Memphis powered up. Palm Beach exploded. Peoria let one get away.That is the farm report. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Jesús Báez , Springfield Cardinals | MLB

Báez, Franklin Lead Springfield; Palm Beach Blasts Five

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Bernal Gets First MLB Hit as Cardinals Outslug Dodgers, 13-8 St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurLeo Bernal will remember this one.So will the St. Louis Cardinals.On a night that began with Bernal making his major-league debut at Dodger Stadium, the Cardinals gave their rookie catcher plenty of support. St. Louis hit five home runs, built a big early lead and held off a late Los Angeles push to beat the Dodgers, 13-8, Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series.Bernal’s first big-league hit came in the third inning, and it was not a quiet one.With the bases loaded and the Cardinals already leading, Bernal lined a two-run single into left-center field, scoring Jordan Walker and Iván Herrera. The ball came off his bat at 107.6 mph, a firm introduction for the 22-year-old catcher who had just been promoted from Triple-A Memphis as rosters expanded.That swing pushed the Cardinals’ lead to 5-0.It also gave Bernal a moment he will never forget.The Cardinals did plenty around him.Ramón Urías homered. Thomas Saggese homered twice. Walker launched a two-run shot. Joshua Báez added a solo homer. Herrera had two hits and drove in a run. Nathan Church added an RBI single. José Fermín contributed a sacrifice fly.It was one of the Cardinals’ loudest offensive nights of the season, and it came in a ballpark where they needed something positive to open September.St. Louis had dropped the final two games of its weekend series against Pittsburgh and entered this road trip still trying to stay relevant in the National League Wild Card picture. The Cardinals have spent too much of the season hovering just below the line, trying to find consistency before the schedule runs out.Tuesday night did not fix all of that.But it helped.The Cardinals jumped on Dodgers starter Eric Lauer in the second inning. Urías opened the scoring with a solo home run to left field, giving St. Louis a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Saggese followed with a solo homer of his own to center field.Just like that, the Cardinals had a 2-0 lead.The third inning turned the game into something much bigger.José Fermín reached and scored when Herrera singled to center, making it 3-0. Walker and Herrera were aboard when Bernal stepped in and delivered the swing of the night, lining his first MLB hit into left-center for two runs.It was the kind of at-bat the Cardinals hoped they would someday see from Bernal.They just got it on his first night.The inning kept going. Joshua Báez moved to third on Bernal’s single and scored on Saggese’s sacrifice fly. Church then reached on an infield single to second, bringing Bernal home and extending the lead to 7-0.The Cardinals had scored five runs in the inning.They had knocked Lauer around.They had Bernal standing in the middle of a big-league game with his first hit, his first two RBIs and his first run scored.That is a pretty good first night at work.Of course, against the Dodgers, nothing comes easy for long.Los Angeles answered in the bottom of the third. Michael McGreevy had the benefit of a seven-run lead, but the Dodgers put traffic on the bases and Mookie Betts did what stars do. Betts drove a bases-clearing double to right, trimming the Cardinals’ lead to 7-3 and reminding everyone that even a big lead at Dodger Stadium does not always feel safe.The Cardinals answered right back.In the fourth, Herrera singled and Walker followed with a two-run home run to center field, his 28th of the season. The swing pushed the lead to 9-3 and moved Walker to 99 RBIs on the year.That is a number worth pausing on.For all the conversation around Walker’s season, the production has continued to matter. He has been one of the Cardinals’ most dangerous bats, and Tuesday night was another example. Two hits. Two runs. Two RBIs. Another home run.The Cardinals needed the power.Walker supplied it.Saggese supplied even more.After homering in the second and lifting a sacrifice fly in the third, Saggese went deep again in the fifth, driving a solo home run to right-center field. It was his second homer of the game and third of the season, giving him three RBIs on the night and pushing the Cardinals’ lead to 10-3.That was the kind of night it became for St. Louis.Urías started it.Saggese doubled down on it.Walker added to it.Báez joined it.And Bernal made it memorable.The Dodgers got a run back in the bottom of the fifth on Betts’ second RBI double of the night, cutting the lead to 10-4. Betts drove in four runs and was the biggest reason Los Angeles stayed within reach as long as it did.McGreevy was not dominant, but he gave the Cardinals enough with the lead they built. He worked five innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out four.That line will not turn many heads by itself.But in a game like this, with the offense setting the tone early, McGreevy’s job was to keep the game from getting away. He did that. He took the ball into the fifth, limited the damage after the Dodgers’ three-run third and handed the bullpen a lead.The Cardinals kept adding.Joshua Báez hit a solo home run to center field in the seventh, his sixth of the season, stretching the lead to 11-4. Báez has had the kind of early big-league experience that comes with loud power and some swing-and-miss, but the power is real. When he connects, the ball does not come off softly.That was true again Tuesday.The Dodgers answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh on Will Smith’s double, scoring Shohei Ohtani and cutting the lead to 11-5.Then the Cardinals added two more in the eighth.Saggese scored on a wild pitch, and Church later scored on Fermín’s sacrifice fly to left, pushing the lead to 13-5. Those two runs looked like extra padding at the time.By the end of the ninth, they mattered.The Dodgers made the final score look a lot closer with a five-run ninth inning, taking advantage of one final rally to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 13-8. That kept the Cardinals from enjoying a quiet finish, but it did not erase the work they had done through the first eight innings.St. Louis had built enough of a lead to survive it.That was important.Against a Dodgers lineup with Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Betts, Max Muncy, Will Smith and Kyle Tucker, games at Dodger Stadium rarely feel finished until the final out. The Cardinals had to keep scoring, and they did.The final score reflected both sides of the night.The Cardinals’ offense was excellent.The finish was not as clean as it should have been.Still, the win matters.St. Louis finished with 13 runs on 13 hits. The Cardinals got home runs from five swings and contributions from nearly every part of the lineup. Saggese had two homers and three RBIs. Walker homered and drove in two. Bernal had the two-run single in his debut. Herrera had two hits and an RBI. Báez homered. Urías homered. Church drove in a run. Fermín added the sacrifice fly.That is a full lineup win.It was also a night for the young players.Bernal made his debut and delivered his first hit. Walker continued building toward a 100-RBI season. Báez added another home run. Saggese had one of the best nights of his young career. Church added another useful at-bat.That does not solve the season.It does show why September still matters for this club.The Cardinals are trying to balance two things at once. They are still trying to win games, still trying to hang around the Wild Card race, still trying to make the final month mean something. At the same time, they are evaluating young players who are going to shape the next version of this roster.Tuesday night brought both sides together.The kids produced.The Cardinals won.That is the combination the organization has been trying to find.Bernal’s night will be the one many remember, and it should be. Catchers do not often get a chance to make their debut at Dodger Stadium, hit in the middle of a five-run inning and drive in two runs with their first big-league hit.Bernal did and that is a special moment.But the larger story was the offense as a whole. The Cardinals did not tiptoe through the game. They attacked Lauer early, forced the Dodgers to dig into the bullpen and kept adding enough runs to stay clear of Los Angeles’ late push.For a team that has too often gone quiet after scoring early, that was encouraging.The Cardinals scored twice in the second.They scored five in the third.They scored two in the fourth.They scored again in the fifth.They scored again in the seventh.They scored twice more in the eighth.That is how a team wins at Dodger Stadium.Not by hoping one inning holds up.By continuing to apply pressure.The Dodgers made it uncomfortable late, but the Cardinals had already done the necessary work. They opened the series with a win over one of the best teams in the National League and did it with a lineup that looked alive from top to bottom.That is worth something.September is here. The margin is thin. The Cardinals still have ground to make up and plenty of questions to answer.But Tuesday night was a good start to the road trip.A rookie catcher got his first big-league hit.The offense hit five home runs.Walker moved closer to 100 RBIs.Saggese had a two-homer night.Báez added another glimpse of his power.And the Cardinals walked out of Dodger Stadium with a 13-8 win.For one night, the future did not have to wait.It helped win a game in Los Angeles. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Leo Bernal, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

Bernal Gets First MLB Hit as Cardinals Outslug Dodgers, 13-8

The Cardinal Chronicle Cardinals Open September Road Trip With Big Test in Los Angeles St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinals are out of runway for soft explanations.September is here, the standings are real, and St. Louis opens the final month with one of the toughest assignments on the schedule: three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.The series begins Tuesday night in Los Angeles, with first pitch scheduled for 9:10 p.m. CT. Right-hander Michael McGreevy gets the ball for the Cardinals against Dodgers left-hander Eric Lauer.The Cardinals enter at 68-70 after dropping the final two games of their weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. They have lost seven of their last nine, slipped two games under .500 and now begin a nine-game West Coast road trip that will take them through Los Angeles, Colorado and San Francisco.That makes this series more than just another stop on the schedule.It is a test.The Dodgers enter at 82-55, leading the National League West and again looking like a team built for October. Their lineup has star power, their rotation has front-line arms, and their run prevention has been among the league's best.For the Cardinals, the challenge is obvious.They have to find a way to stop letting winnable games slip away, while also proving the final month is not simply about waiting for tomorrow.Sunday’s 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh was another example of where this team is right now. The Cardinals trailed 4-0, fought back, had the tying run at third in the seventh inning and still came up short. Alec Burleson drove in his 100th run of the season, a significant milestone in any era, but it came in another loss.That has been the problem.There have been moments.There have not been enough wins.Now the Cardinals go to Los Angeles with a roster that looks a little different. With September roster expansion underway, St. Louis has added outfielder Victor Scott II, catcher Leo Bernal and right-hander Hancel Rincón. Catcher Jimmy Crooks was optioned to Triple-A Memphis as part of the roster shuffle.Those moves add speed, defense, catching depth and another arm to a pitching staff that badly needs help.Scott brings elite speed and outfield range. Bernal gives the Cardinals one of their better defensive catching prospects and another look behind the plate. Rincón gives the bullpen a fresh right-handed option and could make his major league debut if he gets into a game.That is the development side of September.The standings side is less forgiving.The Cardinals still have games to play that matter, but the margin is shrinking. The injuries have piled up, the rotation has thinned, and the offense has been too uneven to cover all of it. Hunter Dobbins and Andre Pallante remain on the injured list. JJ Wetherholt is dealing with a wrist issue. Masyn Winn could return early in the road trip, but the Cardinals are still not playing with a full deck.That puts even more importance on McGreevy in the opener.McGreevy enters at 5-9 with a 3.86 ERA and 98 strikeouts. His record does not tell the full story. He has been one of the steadier arms available to the Cardinals, and in this series, steady has value. St. Louis cannot afford to turn every game into a bullpen problem by the fourth inning.The opener is the game the Cardinals need to target.Lauer enters at 8-6 with a 4.78 ERA and 70 strikeouts. Against this Dodgers rotation, that is the most manageable matchup on paper. That does not mean easy. Nothing about this series is easy. But with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tarik Skubal scheduled for the next two games, St. Louis cannot afford to sleepwalk through Tuesday night.The Cardinals need traffic early.They need Burleson, Jordan Walker, Iván Herrera, Joshua Báez, Nolan Gorman and the rest of the lineup to make Lauer work. They need Victor Scott II’s speed to matter if he gets into the lineup. They need Bernal, if used, to bring stability behind the plate. They need the bottom of the order to give them something more than empty innings.Walker remains the biggest power presence in the lineup, with 27 home runs and 97 RBIs. Burleson has been one of the steadiest bats on the club, carrying a .288 average and now sitting at 100 RBIs. Those two have to be in the middle of anything St. Louis does offensively.But this cannot be a two-man offense.The Dodgers are too deep for that.Los Angeles enters the series averaging more runs per game than St. Louis, with more home runs, a higher team batting average, and a better pitching staff by ERA. The Dodgers also hold opponents to a much lower batting average than the Cardinals’ staff has allowed this season, which underscores the separation between the two clubs.Shohei Ohtani remains the first name on the scouting report. He leads the Dodgers with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs. Freddie Freeman is still one of the best pure hitters in the sport and continues to produce at Dodger Stadium. Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman, Kyle Tucker and the rest of the lineup give Los Angeles enough length to punish mistakes from the first inning through the ninth.The Cardinals cannot give them extra baserunners.No leadoff walks. No defensive gifts. No two-out mistakes with traffic on base. No innings that should be over but keep going because St. Louis failed to finish a play or a pitch.That has been too much of the season already.Wednesday’s matchup gets even tougher, with Yamamoto scheduled for Los Angeles and the Cardinals’ starter still listed as TBD. Yamamoto enters at 12-8 with a 2.56 ERA and 153 strikeouts. He gives the Dodgers a front-line starter who can control the strike zone, miss bats and make a struggling offense look even more uncomfortable.Thursday brings Skubal, another left-handed test and another reminder of how steep the gap can look. Skubal enters at 8-7 with a 2.84 ERA and 153 strikeouts, giving the Dodgers another arm capable of taking over a game.The Cardinals’ starters for Wednesday and Thursday remain unannounced, adding to concerns about the early success of this road trip.This is where the injuries show up. Dobbins and Pallante being down is not just a line on the injury report. It changes how the Cardinals cover a series. It changes how aggressively they can use the bullpen. It changes how much pressure lands on McGreevy, Liberatore, Kyle Leahy, Quinn Mathews and whoever else is asked to get outs.A nine-game road trip in September is hard enough.Starting it against the Dodgers with pitching questions is a different level.Still, the Cardinals cannot treat this series like a measuring-stick exercise they are already excused from failing. They need wins. They need cleaner baseball. They need to show that the final month is more than a prospect showcase and more than another chapter in the promise of tomorrow.There are things worth watching.Bernal’s arrival gives St. Louis a look at a catcher who may factor into the organization’s future behind the plate. Rincón gives the bullpen another arm at a time when innings are precious. Scott gives the Cardinals speed and defense that can change late-game decisions. Burleson’s march through a 100-RBI season deserves attention. Walker’s development remains one of the biggest stories on the major league roster. Báez still has the kind of power that can change a game with one swing.But all of that plays better when the Cardinals are winning games.That is the part September will not let them avoid.The Dodgers do not need help. They already have enough. The Cardinals cannot give them extra outs, short starts and quiet innings.The assignment is simple, even if the opponent is not.Win the opener.Make Los Angeles work.Get length from McGreevy.Do not let Yamamoto and Skubal turn the final two games into damage control.The Cardinals begin September in Los Angeles with a difficult series and a shrinking margin.Now they have to show what is still left in this season.Series ScheduleTuesday, September 1 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers First Pitch: 9:10 p.m. CT / 7:10 p.m. PT Where: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium Probable Pitchers: RHP Michael McGreevy vs. LHP Eric Lauer McGreevy: 5-9, 3.86 ERA, 98 SO Lauer: 8-6, 4.78 ERA, 70 SO Broadcast: SportsNet LA / Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365Wednesday, September 2 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers First Pitch: 9:10 p.m. CT / 7:10 p.m. PT Where: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium Probable Pitchers: Cardinals TBD vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto Yamamoto: 12-8, 2.56 ERA, 153 SO Broadcast: SportsNet LA / Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365Thursday, September 3 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers First Pitch: 9:10 p.m. CT / 7:10 p.m. PT Where: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium Probable Pitchers: Cardinals TBD vs. LHP Tarik Skubal Skubal: 8-7, 2.84 ERA, 153 SO Broadcast: SportsNet LA / Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365Series Info Matchup: St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers Where: UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Records: Cardinals 68-70; Dodgers 82-55 Series: Three games, Tuesday through Thursday Cardinals: Third place, NL Central Dodgers: First place, NL WestThe Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Cardinals Open September Road Trip With Big Test in LA

The Cardinal Chronicle In the Spotlight: Leo Bernal St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurLeo Bernal has waited his turn.Now, with roster expansion opening the door, the Cardinals are giving one of their most polished catching prospects his first look in St. Louis.Bernal’s promotion is not just another September transaction. It is a meaningful evaluation point for an organization with real decisions coming behind the plate. According to Viva El Birdos, the Cardinals were set to add catcher Leonardo Bernal and right-hander Hancel Rincon as the two roster-expansion additions, giving St. Louis one position player and one pitcher as rosters expanded.For Bernal, the call-up is the next step in a steady climb that began when the Cardinals signed him out of Panama in January 2021.MiLB Today lists Bernal as a 22-year-old switch-hitting catcher who spent the season with Triple-A Memphis, where he carried a .281 average, .845 OPS, 16 home runs, 77 RBI, nine stolen bases, 48 walks and 84 strikeouts. He is listed as the Cardinals’ No. 6 prospect on the MiLB Today player page.That is the first thing to understand about Bernal.He is not coming to St. Louis on defense alone anymore.The glove has always been the foundation. Bernal has long had a reputation as one of the best defensive catchers in the Cardinals’ system. Baseball Savant lists his 2026 scouting grades at 50 hit, 50 power, 30 run, 60 arm, 60 field and 50 overall, a profile that points to a legitimate catching prospect with everyday upside if the bat continues to hold.The defensive résumé is strong.Bernal won a Rawlings MiLB Gold Glove Award in 2025, and when the Cardinals added him to the 40-man roster that November, MLB.com noted that he had thrown out 27 of 69 attempted base stealers for Springfield.That matters because catching is not just about the bat.It is game-calling. Receiving. Blocking. Controlling the running game. Handling pitchers. Knowing when to slow a game down and when to push it forward. Bernal has built his prospect value on those traits, and that is why this September look is important.The Cardinals already know he can catch.Now they need to find out how much he can hit.The offensive growth this season at Memphis should not be ignored. Official MiLB data lists Bernal’s 2026 line at .278 with 16 home runs, 77 RBI, nine stolen bases and an .831 OPS. His MiLB career totals show 55 home runs, 306 RBI and a .753 OPS across 1,742 at-bats.For a catcher, that is real production.It does not mean Bernal is walking into St. Louis as an instant middle-of-the-order bat. That would be getting carried away, and baseball has a way of punishing carried away. But it does mean the bat has developed enough to make the conversation more interesting.Baseball Savant’s scouting report describes Bernal as a true switch-hitter with better bat-to-ball skills from the left side and more thump from the right side. The same report notes his 82 percent in-zone contact rate and 77 percent overall contact rate, while projecting enough power for 15 to 18 home runs at peak.That is a useful offensive profile behind the plate.The splits are worth watching. Baseball Savant shows Bernal hit .267/.362/.422 against left-handed pitching and .282/.364/.482 against right-handed pitching for Memphis. The right-handed pitching split is where more of the damage showed up, with 13 of his 16 home runs coming against righties.That gives the Cardinals something to evaluate immediately.Can Bernal’s switch-hitting profile play against major-league pitching? Can the left-handed swing continue producing enough contact and power? Can the right-handed swing handle big-league breaking balls and soft stuff? Can he be more than a defensive catcher with occasional pop?Those are fair questions.But they are not empty questions.Bernal has earned the chance to answer them.His month-to-month line at Memphis shows the shape of the season. He struggled some in April, heated up in May, remained productive enough in June, then exploded in July with a .338 average, six home runs, 24 RBI and a 1.143 OPS. He cooled again in August, but still reached base at a .373 clip for the month.That is what development often looks like.It is not one straight climb. It is adjustment, pushback, recovery, and another adjustment. Bernal has done enough of that to reach St. Louis at 22 years old with a real chance to impact the catching picture.And that catching picture is crowded.Ivan Herrera has the bat, but defensive questions have followed him. Pedro Pagés has handled major-league work, but his offensive ceiling is more limited. Rainiel Rodriguez may be the organization’s No. 1 prospect and the long-term star behind the plate, but he is still 19 and developing at Double-A.Bernal falls right in the middle of that conversation.He is more advanced defensively than Herrera. He has more offensive upside than the traditional glove-only backup. He is closer to St. Louis than Rodriguez. That does not make the decision easy. It makes it important.The Cardinals have reached the point where they need real answers behind the plate, not just theories.That is why Bernal’s promotion is worth watching.This is not simply a September reward for a good Triple-A season. It is a chance for the Cardinals to learn what they have. Can Bernal handle a major-league staff? Can he control the running game at this level? Can his contact skills and emerging power survive against major-league arms? Can he make himself part of the 2027 roster conversation?Those answers may not come in one week.But the evaluation starts now.The Cardinals protected Bernal from the Rule 5 Draft last offseason, adding him to the 40-man roster along with Joshua Báez, Cooper Hjerpe and Brycen Mautz. MLB.com noted at the time that Bernal, Báez and Mautz had been driving forces for the 2025 Springfield team that won the Texas League title.Now two of those names have already reached St. Louis.That says something about the wave moving through the organization.Bernal is not the flashiest prospect in the system. He is not the loudest bat. He is not the headline-grabbing slugger. But catchers who can defend, throw, lead, switch-hit and produce enough offense have a way of staying in the major leagues for a long time.That is the path in front of him.He does not have to become Yadier Molina. Nobody should carry that burden, and Cardinals fans ought to be careful with that comparison. Molina became a franchise legend, a generational defender and one of the defining Cardinals of the modern era.Bernal only needs to become Leo Bernal.A switch-hitting catcher with a strong arm, advanced defensive reputation, improving power and enough offensive growth to make the Cardinals take a longer look.That is plenty.For a team trying to figure out what comes next, Bernal’s arrival gives St. Louis another piece of the catching puzzle. Maybe he becomes part of a future tandem. Maybe he pushes for more. Maybe he becomes a valuable trade chip if Rodriguez continues climbing behind him.But before any of that gets decided, the Cardinals need to see him.Now they will.Leo Bernal has reached St. Louis, not as a finished product, but as a prospect with a real foundation and a real opportunity.For September, that is enough.For the Cardinals’ future behind the plate, it might mean much more.The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

In The Spotlight - Leo Bernal

The Cardinal Chronicle Liam Doyle Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurSPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Liam Doyle gave the Cardinals exactly what they wanted to see in August.The Double-A Springfield left-hander is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month after putting together the best overall month among pitchers in the system.Doyle made four appearances during the month, working 20.2 innings while allowing just 10 hits, four runs, three earned runs and no home runs. He struck out 29, posted a 1.31 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and finished with three wins.That is a strong month by any standard.At Double-A, it carries even more weight.Doyle’s month was built on the two things that matter most for a pitching prospect trying to push his way forward: run prevention and swing-and-miss. He kept hitters off the scoreboard, limited damage, missed bats and did not allow the long ball.That combination made him the choice.The strikeouts stand out immediately. Twenty-nine punchouts over 20.2 innings show the kind of bat-missing ability that has made Doyle one of the most closely watched arms in the Cardinals’ system. The stuff has played, and in August, the results matched the profile.But this was not just about strikeouts.Doyle allowed only 10 hits for the month. That tells the bigger story. Opposing hitters were not squaring him up consistently, and even when he worked through traffic, he avoided the kind of damage that can turn a good start into a crooked inning.There were other strong candidates.Cade Crossland made a real push from High-A, working 25.0 innings with 34 strikeouts, a 2.88 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Daniel Eagen also had a strong month at Double-A, striking out 31 over 24.0 innings with an impressive 0.79 WHIP.Cooper Hjerpe’s month at Triple-A deserves mention as well. Hjerpe posted a 0.95 ERA over 19.0 innings, but the 17 walks pushed the WHIP to 1.42 and kept him behind Doyle. Jurrangelo Cijntje led the group in strikeouts with 35 at Triple-A, but his 4.18 ERA left too much separation in run prevention.Doyle had the cleanest overall case.He did not throw the most innings. He did not record the most strikeouts. But he gave the Cardinals the best blend of dominance, efficiency and run prevention. A 1.31 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 29 strikeouts and zero home runs allowed over 20.2 innings is the kind of month that deserves the award.For Springfield, Doyle has become one of the arms worth watching closely down the stretch. The Cardinals’ system has several interesting pitchers, but few matched Doyle’s August combination of swing-and-miss stuff and results.That is the difference between being interesting and being effective.Doyle was both.The development path for any young pitcher still comes with questions. Command, workload, sequencing and consistency all remain part of the picture. Doyle did walk nine batters during the month, and that is something to keep tightening. But the larger story is clear: he kept runs off the board, missed bats and gave Springfield a chance to win.That wins monthly honors.The Cardinal Chronicle Minor League Pitcher of the Month: Liam Doyle, LHP, Double-A SpringfieldMonthly Line: 4 G, 20.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 9 BB, 29 K, 0 HR, 1.31 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 3 WWhy He Was Chosen: Doyle delivered the best overall pitching month in the Cardinals’ system, combining a 1.31 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 29 strikeouts and no home runs allowed over 20.2 innings. His run prevention and swing-and-miss production gave him the edge.Also in the Mix: Cade Crossland, High-A — Crossland had a strong month, working 25.0 innings with 34 strikeouts, a 2.88 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.Daniel Eagen, Double-A — Eagen struck out 31 over 24.0 innings and posted a sharp 0.79 WHIP, making him one of the strongest challengers.Cooper Hjerpe, Triple-A — Hjerpe allowed only two earned runs in 19.0 innings, good for a 0.95 ERA, but the walks kept Doyle ahead.Jurrangelo Cijntje, Triple-A — Cijntje struck out 35 in 23.2 innings, the loudest strikeout total of the group, but Doyle’s run prevention gave him the stronger monthly case.Old School Take: There is still no substitute for keeping runs off the board.Doyle did that all month.The strikeouts were there. The hits were limited. The ball stayed in the yard. He was not perfect, and the walks are still worth watching, but a left-hander who gives you a 1.31 ERA with 29 strikeouts in Double-A has earned the honor.Liam Doyle did not just flash promise in August.He produced. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Liam Doyle, Springfield Cardinals | MLB

MiLB Pitcher of the Month: Liam Doyle

The Cardinal Chronicle Rainiel Rodriguez Named Cardinals Minor League Player of the Month St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurSPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Rainiel Rodriguez did not just have a strong month.He had the kind of month that reminds everyone why he sits at the top of the Cardinals’ prospect list.Rodriguez, the 19-year-old catcher for Double-A Springfield, is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Cardinals Minor League Player of the Month after putting together the best offensive month in the organization.In 21 games, Rodriguez hit .393 with a 1.249 OPS, 10 doubles, nine home runs, 22 RBIs and 21 runs scored. He finished the month with 35 hits in 89 at-bats, walked six times and struck out only 12 times.That is elite production from any player.From a teenage catcher in Double-A, it is something you cannot ignore.Rodriguez’s month checked every box. He hit for average. He hit for power. He drove in runs. He scored runs. He controlled the strike zone well enough to keep the strikeout total from overwhelming the production. And he did it while carrying the extra burden that comes with playing behind the plate.That last part matters.Catching is not just another position. It is preparation, game-calling, receiving, blocking, throwing, managing pitchers, and taking the physical beating that comes with the job. For Rodriguez to produce at this level while handling those responsibilities makes the month even more impressive.The Cardinals had several hitters put together outstanding months, especially at Double-A Springfield.Jesús Báez made a strong case of his own, hitting .337 with a 1.073 OPS, nine home runs and 27 RBIs. Tai Peete also had a terrific month, hitting .352 with a .992 OPS, four home runs, 19 RBIs and nine stolen bases. Sammy Hernandez continued to build his profile at High-A Peoria with a 1.004 OPS, five home runs and nine stolen bases.But Rodriguez separated himself.The average was the separator. The OPS was the separator. The position was the separator. The age-to-level performance was the separator.A 19-year-old catcher hitting .393 with nine home runs in a month at Double-A is not common. It is not something to be treated like just another hot stretch. It is a reminder that Rodriguez is not simply holding his own against older competition. He is producing like one of the best hitters in the league.That is why this award belongs to him.Rodriguez has been one of the defining players in the Cardinals’ minor-league season, and August may have been his strongest statement yet. The power continues to show up in games. The contact quality is producing results. The doubles are stacking up. The home runs are leaving the yard. The run production is there.And the strikeout rate remains encouraging.For young power hitters, especially young catchers, there is often a tradeoff. More damage usually comes with more swing-and-miss. Rodriguez avoided that trap in August. He struck out only 12 times in 89 at-bats while still producing 19 extra-base hits.That is the kind of offensive balance that gets attention.The Cardinals have invested heavily in player development, and Rodriguez offers the organization one of its clearest success stories. There are still steps ahead. There always are for a young catcher. The defensive work, game management, physical grind and adjustments against better pitching will continue.But the bat is no longer just promising.It is performing.Rodriguez did not win Player of the Month because of projection. He won it because of production. He was the best hitter in the system in August, and he did it from the most demanding position on the field.That is a month worth recognizing.The Cardinal Chronicle Minor League Player of the Month: Rainiel Rodriguez, C, Double-A SpringfieldMonthly Line: 21 G, 89 AB, 21 R, 35 H, 10 2B, 9 HR, 22 RBI, 6 BB, 12 K, .393 AVG, 1.249 OPSWhy He Was Chosen: Rodriguez delivered the strongest offensive month in the Cardinals’ system, combining average, power, run production and premium positional value. His .393 average, 1.249 OPS and nine home runs made him the clear choice.Also in the Mix: Jesús Báez, SS, Double-A Springfield — Báez had a terrific month of his own, hitting .337 with nine home runs, 27 RBIs and a 1.073 OPS. His power and run production kept him in the race.Tai Peete, CF, Double-A Springfield — Peete added a strong all-around month, hitting .352 with a .992 OPS, four home runs, 19 RBIs and nine stolen bases.Sammy Hernandez, C, High-A Peoria — Hernandez continued to show power, patience and athleticism, posting a 1.004 OPS with five home runs, 16 walks and nine stolen bases.Old School Take: A 19-year-old catcher hitting .393 with nine home runs in a month at Double-A is not something you talk yourself out of.You can sort through the modern numbers, and there is value in that. But sometimes the old numbers tell the story just fine.Thirty-five hits. Ten doubles. Nine home runs. Twenty-two RBIs.Rainiel Rodriguez earned this one with the bat, from behind the plate, against Double-A pitching.That is Player of the Month baseball. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Rainiel Rodriguez, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

MiLB Player of the Month: Rainiel Rodriguez

The Cardinal Chronicle&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Cardinals’ Comeback Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to Pirates St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurST. LOUIS — The Cardinals spent most of Sunday afternoon trying to overcome an early four-run deficit, but their comeback ended three outs short.Pittsburgh defeated St. Louis 5-4 at Busch Stadium, taking two of three games in the weekend series and dropping the Cardinals to 68-70.The Cardinals pulled within one run in the seventh inning but went down in order against Mason Montgomery in the ninth. Joshua Báez grounded out, Iván Herrera popped out and Alec Burleson grounded out to end the game.Matthew Liberatore struck out nine over 5⅔ innings, but two home runs and a defensive mistake helped Pittsburgh build a 4-0 lead. The left-hander allowed six hits and four runs, three earned, with two walks.Esmerlyn Valdez opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the second inning. Oneil Cruz scored on Ramón Urías’ fielding error in the third, and Jared Triolo made it 4-0 with a solo homer in the fifth.St. Louis finally got to Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft in the bottom of the fifth. Thomas Saggese and Bryan Torres opened the inning with consecutive singles before Iván Herrera drove in Saggese with a base hit to center. Alec Burleson followed with an RBI single, scoring Torres and cutting the deficit to 4-2.The RBI was Burleson’s 100th of the season, giving the Cardinals their first 100-RBI player since Nolan Arenado drove in 103 runs in 2022.The Pirates restored a three-run advantage against Luis Gastelum in the seventh. Cruz walked, Rafael Flores Jr. followed with another walk and Brandon Lowe delivered a two-out RBI single.The Cardinals answered again in the bottom half. Urías walked, Saggese singled and Torres brought home Urías with a sacrifice fly. Herrera then doubled home Saggese, pulling St. Louis within 5-4.With Herrera representing the tying run at second, Yohan Ramírez retired Burleson to end the inning. The Cardinals managed only one more hit—a José Fermín single in the eighth—and never put another runner in scoring position.Herrera went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Saggese finished 3-for-4 and scored twice, while Torres reached base three times with two hits, a walk and an RBI. However, Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman and Nathan Church combined to go 0-for-12.Ashcraft earned the victory after allowing two runs on six hits over five innings. Montgomery worked a clean ninth for the save.Gordon Graceffo kept the Cardinals within striking distance by pitching two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. St. Louis pitching recorded 15 strikeouts, but the early damage proved too much to overcome.The Cardinals finished with nine hits but left eight runners on base.After an off day Monday, St. Louis opens a road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. The Cardinals have not announced their starting pitcher, while Eric Lauer is scheduled to start for Los Angeles. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

Cardinals’ Comeback Falls Short in 5-4 Loss to Pirates

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle 

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle is dedicated to preserving Cardinals history, covering today’s game, and following the next generation through the minor leagues. Written in the tradition of the old beat writers, it’s baseball with perspective — steady, faithful, and rooted in a lifelong love for the game.