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The Cardinal Chronicle: Completing the Comeback Season When I launched the Cardinal Chronicle back in the spring, the purpose was to cover the 2026 St. Louis Cardinals season in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the 2006 World Series championship and the opening of Busch Stadium. This was always intended to be a one-season comeback, not the beginning of another long-term daily operation.As the season draws to a close, it is time to honor that original purpose and bring this chapter to an end.The Cardinal Chronicle will discontinue daily coverage. The website and Facebook page will be shut down by September 30.My X account will remain active, but it will no longer provide daily Cardinals coverage. I may occasionally share thoughts about the Cardinals, respond to questions, or join a baseball conversation from time to time—but without the demands of operating a full-time publication.This was not an easy decision. Baseball writing has been part of my life for nearly three decades, from The Birdhouse and the opportunities that followed to covering the Houston Astros and returning once more to cover the Cardinals in 2026.I am grateful to everyone who read an article, shared a post, offered encouragement, or joined the conversation this season. Whether you were with me years ago or discovered the Cardinal Chronicle during this comeback, thank you for allowing me to share the game with you.We came back to celebrate the past, cover one more season, and honor a special chapter in Cardinals history. We did that—and now it is time to step away from daily coverage.Thank you for being part of the journey.Kindest regards,Ray Mileur

The Cardinal Chronicle: Completing the Comeback Season

Grichuk’s Ninth-Inning Homer Sinks Cardinals in 6-5 LossRookie catcher Leo Bernal gave St. Louis a late lead, but Riley O’Brien could not close it out ST. LOUIS — On a night devoted to celebrating two of the greatest players in Cardinals history, St. Louis could not close out the game.Former Cardinal Randal Grichuk hit a two-run homer off Riley O’Brien in the ninth inning Saturday, lifting the Chicago White Sox to a 6-5 comeback victory at Busch Stadium.The loss spoiled a memorable night for rookie catcher Leo Bernal, whose 421-foot home run in the eighth had restored a one-run Cardinals lead. It also followed a pregame ceremony in which Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and the late Bill Sherdel were inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame.St. Louis carried a 5-4 lead into the ninth, but O’Brien walked Brooks Baldwin Doyle before Grichuk drove a pitch over the right-field wall. The 358-foot homer turned Bernal’s potential game-winner into a footnote and handed O’Brien his eighth loss of the season.Bryan Hudson retired the Cardinals in order in the bottom of the ninth for his eighth save.The defeat dropped St. Louis to 73-76 and evened the three-game series at one victory apiece. Chicago improved to 76-72 and strengthened its hold on first place in the American League Central. ESPN box scoreThe Cardinals built a 3-0 advantage in the second inning against a White Sox pitching plan that began with left-hander Sean Newcomb as an opener.Nolan Gorman walked and Thomas Saggese reached before Masyn Winn doubled into the left-field corner, driving home both runners. José Fermín followed with a sacrifice fly that brought Winn home.St. Louis added another run in the fourth when Gorman scored on Nathan Church’s two-out double to right, giving the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.Kyle Leahy did his part, working three scoreless innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. The right-hander allowed two hits, struck out four and did not issue a walk, throwing 26 of his 38 pitches for strikes.Cooper Hjerpe, however, could not protect the lead.Making his first appearance at Busch Stadium after winning his major-league debut at Colorado, Hjerpe struggled badly with his command. The rookie left-hander allowed four runs on two hits and four walks in one inning. He also hit two batters and needed 52 pitches—only 25 strikes—to record three outs.Hjerpe escaped the fourth after allowing one run, but Chicago erased the remainder of the lead in the fifth. Munetaka Murakami drew a bases-loaded walk, Grichuk brought home a run by grounding into a double play and Tristan Peters tied the game with a two-out single.Church prevented further damage by throwing Peters out as he tried to stretch the hit into a double.It was a sharp reversal for Hjerpe after his encouraging debut in Colorado. His breaking pitches still produced three strikeouts, but he could not consistently reach the strike zone. Major-league hitters do not require many invitations, and the White Sox accepted every one he offered.Luis Gastelum, Justin Bruihl, Ryne Stanek and George Soriano combined to keep Chicago scoreless over the next four innings, allowing the Cardinals to regain the lead.Bernal stepped to the plate against Grant Taylor to begin the eighth and drove a pitch deep into the right-center-field seats.The 421-foot blast was Bernal’s third major-league home run and his first at Busch Stadium. It came one night after the rookie collected three hits and two RBIs in his first home game with the Cardinals.For a young catcher playing in front of a near-capacity crowd gathered to honor Molina and Pujols, it was the kind of moment that should have been remembered as the defining swing of the night.Instead, Grichuk supplied the final one.Bernal finished 1-for-4, while Winn went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Church continued his strong series by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and an outfield assist. Gorman reached twice and scored two runs.The Cardinals collected eight hits and drew five walks, but they struck out 12 times. Joshua Báez went 0-for-4, and the first four hitters in the St. Louis lineup combined to go hitless in 11 at-bats.The Cardinals spent the afternoon honoring Pujols, Molina and Sherdel—three men representing vastly different eras but the same winning tradition.Pujols and Molina built their reputations on October baseball, late-inning execution and finishing games. That made Saturday’s result feel especially bitter.St. Louis received three scoreless innings from Leahy, another big hit from Bernal and three hits from Church. The Cardinals led by four runs in the fourth inning and by one entering the ninth.They still walked away with a loss.That has been the dividing line too often this season. The young players continue to offer reasons for optimism, but the Cardinals have not consistently converted those performances into victories.Saturday night provided both sides of that story: Bernal gave the crowd a glimpse of the future, while another late bullpen failure delivered a familiar ending.Final: White Sox 6, Cardinals 5 Winning pitcher: Jordan Hicks (3-2) Losing pitcher: Riley O’Brien (3-8) Save: Bryan Hudson (8) Cardinals record: 73-76 Attendance: 45,040 Source: MLB Gameday

Grichuk’s Ninth-Inning Homer Sinks Cardinals in 6-5 Loss

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Farm Report: Madris, Molina Lead Memphis; Springfield’s Streak Ends St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your 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.The report remains focused on the two Cardinals affiliates still playing.The regular season is over for the Peoria Chiefs and Palm Beach Cardinals, leaving Memphis and Springfield as the two active clubs.Saturday was a split night.Memphis beat Norfolk, 8-1, behind a strong start from Mason Molina and a big night from Bligh Madris. Springfield’s eight-game winning streak ended with an 11-5 loss to Arkansas.The two active affiliates finished 1-1.Bligh Madris earned Hitter of the Day honors after going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and two walks for Memphis. Mason Molina, the MLB Pipeline No. 18 prospect, earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working 5.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A Overall Record: 78-65 Second Half: 31-37, 8th in the International League West, 8.0 GB Streak: W1 Status: Playoff-boundMemphis 8, Norfolk 1Memphis got back in the win column.The Redbirds beat Norfolk, 8-1, scoring once in the first, three times in the fourth, twice in the fifth, once in the seventh and once more in the eighth. Memphis finished with eight runs on 13 hits, while the pitching staff held Norfolk to one run on three hits.Bligh Madris had the biggest offensive line of the night, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and two walks.His final line: 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BBAndy Yerzy also homered and drove in three. César Prieto went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Brody Moore added two hits, a double, an RBI and a run scored. Chase Davis doubled, drove in a run, walked, scored and stole a base.On the mound, this was Mason Molina’s night.Molina worked 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out eight.His final line: 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 KHancel Rincon followed with 2.1 innings, allowing one run while striking out five. Austin Love finished it with a scoreless ninth. Memphis pitching combined for 14 strikeouts.Takeaway: Memphis snapped its three-game losing streak with a complete win — 13 hits from the lineup and 14 strikeouts from the pitching staff.Springfield Cardinals — Double-A Overall Record: 78-58 Second Half: 47-21, 1st in the Texas League North, 5.0 games ahead Streak: L1 Status: Playoff-boundArkansas 11, Springfield 5Springfield’s winning streak came to an end.The Cardinals fell to Arkansas, 11-5, as the Travelers scored five runs in the second, three in the third and three more in the ninth. Springfield finished with five runs on 11 hits, but four errors helped make the night harder to climb out of.There were still several offensive bright spots.Rainiel Rodriguez, the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, went 2-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored. Jesús Báez, the MLB Pipeline No. 21 prospect, went 2-for-4. Cade McGee went 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored. Deniel Ortiz, the MLB Pipeline No. 27 prospect, went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Tre Richardson III and Ian Petrutz also drove in runs.On the mound, Springfield had to cover innings after an early deficit. Braden Davis allowed five runs over 1.2 innings, while José Davila allowed three runs over 1.2 innings. Domenic Picone, Christian Worley and Nolan Sparks combined for 4.2 scoreless innings in relief before Arkansas added three more in the ninth.Takeaway: Springfield’s eight-game winning streak is over, but the Cardinals still sit in first place in the Texas League North and remain the system’s hottest postseason club.Peoria Chiefs — High-A Season CompletePalm Beach Cardinals — Low-A Season CompleteTop 30 Prospect Watch Rainiel Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline No. 1, went 2-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .324 with a .987 OPS, 27 home runs and 87 RBIs.Liam Doyle, MLB Pipeline No. 2, did not pitch Saturday. His season line is listed at 3.76 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 130 strikeouts over 103.0 innings.Tanner Franklin, MLB Pipeline No. 5, did not pitch Saturday. His season line is listed at 3.94 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 133 strikeouts over 105.0 innings.Brandon Clarke, MLB Pipeline No. 7, did not pitch Saturday. His season line is listed at 3.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 44 strikeouts over 29.2 innings.Jurrangelo Cijntje, MLB Pipeline No. 9, did not pitch Saturday. His season line is listed at 5.08 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 159 strikeouts over 127.2 innings.Josiah Ragsdale, MLB Pipeline No. 10, went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .296 with a .958 OPS, 24 home runs and 65 RBIs.Mason Molina, MLB Pipeline No. 18, worked 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out eight for Memphis. His season line is listed at 3.64 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 148 strikeouts over 118.2 innings.Tai Peete, MLB Pipeline No. 19, went 0-for-5 for Springfield. His season line is listed at .296 with a .908 OPS, 13 home runs and 56 RBIs.Jesús Báez, MLB Pipeline No. 21, went 2-for-4 for Springfield. His season line is listed at .281 with a .908 OPS, 38 home runs and 108 RBIs.Sandro Santana, MLB Pipeline No. 22, did not pitch Saturday. His season line is listed at 2.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 95 strikeouts over 60.1 innings.Deniel Ortiz, MLB Pipeline No. 27, went 1-for-4 with two RBIs for Springfield. His season line is listed at .270 with an .847 OPS, 10 home runs and 43 RBIs.Jack Gurevitch, MLB Pipeline No. 30, did not appear in the Springfield lineup. His season line is listed at .282 with an .896 OPS, 31 home runs and 94 RBIs.Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats 1. Bligh Madris, Memphis: 2-for-3, home run, double, two RBIs, two runs, two walks.2. Mason Molina, Memphis: 5.2 scoreless innings, one hit, three walks, eight strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 183. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 2-for-5, home run, RBI, two runs. MLB Pipeline No. 14. Andy Yerzy, Memphis: 1-for-3, home run, three RBIs, two runs, walk.5. César Prieto, Memphis: 3-for-5, double, run scored.6. Cade McGee, Springfield: 3-for-4, triple, run scored.7. Hancel Rincon, Memphis: 2.1 innings, two hits, one run, no walks, five strikeouts.8. Brody Moore, Memphis: 2-for-3, double, RBI, run scored.9. Jesús Báez, Springfield: 2-for-4. MLB Pipeline No. 2110. Chase Davis, Memphis: 1-for-4, double, RBI, run scored, walk, stolen base.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day Bligh Madris, 1B, Memphis RedbirdsMadris powered the Memphis lineup in an 8-1 win over Norfolk.His final line: 2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BBA home run. A double. Two RBIs. Two walks. A Memphis win.That is a Player of the Day performance.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day Mason Molina, Memphis Redbirds MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 18Molina gave Memphis the start it needed.His final line: 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 KOne hit allowed. Eight strikeouts. No runs. A Memphis win.That is a Pitcher of the Day performance.The Final Word Saturday was a reset night for Memphis and a rare stumble for Springfield.The Redbirds snapped their three-game losing streak with an 8-1 win over Norfolk, getting a big night from Bligh Madris and 5.2 scoreless innings from Mason Molina.Springfield’s eight-game winning streak ended in an 11-5 loss to Arkansas, but Rainiel Rodriguez homered again and the Cardinals remain in first place in the Texas League North.Peoria and Palm Beach are done for the season.Memphis bounced back. Springfield finally cooled off. The postseason focus continues.That is the farm report. Photo Credit: Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield Cardinals | MLB

Madris, Molina Lead Memphis; Springfield’s Streak Ends

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinals Open Homestand With 7-3 Win Over White Sox St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals opened their final homestand of the season the way they had to.With offense.With pressure.With the young players right in the middle of it.St. Louis collected 13 hits Friday night at Busch Stadium, getting run-scoring swings from Alec Burleson, Joshua Báez, Leo Bernal and Masyn Winn in a 7-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.It was not a postseason race-changing win for the Cardinals.At this point, very little is.But it was a good night at Busch Stadium, a good start to the weekend series and another look at the players who are beginning to shape the next version of this roster.On a night when the organization celebrated its 2006 World Series championship team, the present-day Cardinals leaned on a much younger group.Jordan Walker had two hits and scored twice.Báez had two hits, including a run-scoring double, and drove in two.Bernal had two hits, including a double, and drove in another run.Thomas Saggese added a hit and scored.Winn drove in a run.Burleson delivered twice, driving in two runs from the middle of the order.That was enough to beat a White Sox club still trying to protect its place in the American League Central race.Chicago struck first against Matthew Liberatore, and it happened quickly. Chase Meidroth led off the game with a home run to left-center field, putting the White Sox in front, 1-0, before the Cardinals came to the plate.For a pitcher who has had too many rough first innings this season, that was not the start Liberatore wanted.But this time, the inning did not unravel.Randal Grichuk followed with a double, and Miguel Vargas moved him to third. Liberatore responded by striking out Colson Montgomery and Brenton Doyle, working around a walk to Edgar Quero and keeping the deficit at one.That mattered.The Cardinals answered in the bottom half.Iván Herrera was hit by a pitch with one out, and after Walker flied out, Burleson doubled to right field, scoring Herrera and tying the game, 1-1.It was a simple answer, but an important one.Chicago had landed the first punch. St. Louis did not let it sit there long.The Cardinals moved in front in the second inning, and Bernal helped get it started. The rookie catcher doubled to center field, continuing what has been a strong first look in the majors. Saggese followed with a single, putting runners on the corners.Winn then put the ball in play, reaching on a fielder’s choice as Bernal scored and Saggese was forced out at second.That gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.It did not last long.Meidroth got to Liberatore again in the third inning, hitting his second home run of the night, this one to left field, tying the game, 2-2. Meidroth was the biggest problem for St. Louis, finishing with two homers and two RBIs.But the Cardinals answered again.Walker singled to center in the bottom of the third, moved up when Burleson grounded out, and Báez followed with a run-scoring single to center. Walker scored, Báez advanced to second, and St. Louis had the lead back, 3-2.That sequence was another example of what Báez can bring when he is making contact.The power is the first thing everyone notices. It should be. But Friday was not just about loud fly balls. Báez drove in runs with a single and a double, used the middle of the field, and helped the Cardinals keep pressure on Chicago every time the White Sox tried to pull even.That matters.The game held there into the fifth, and that was where St. Louis created the separation it needed.Liberatore opened the inning on the mound and got Meidroth to ground out, but Grichuk singled, ending his night. Gordon Graceffo entered and worked through traffic, including a stolen base, a walk and a hit batter, before striking out Tristan Peters to keep Chicago off the board.That was one of the quieter turning points of the game.The White Sox had a chance to tie it or take the lead.Graceffo stopped the inning.Then the Cardinals stretched the lead.Walker doubled to left in the bottom of the fifth. Burleson followed with a single to center, scoring Walker and making it 4-2. Báez then doubled deep to left, bringing Burleson home and extending the lead to 5-2.Bernal followed with a single to left-center, scoring Báez and pushing the Cardinals in front, 6-2.That was the inning that decided the game.Three runs.Four hits.Production from the middle and lower half of the order.Walker started it. Burleson cashed it in. Báez added more. Bernal finished the sequence.That is the kind of inning the Cardinals have needed to see more often.Not one swing doing all the work.A full inning built on pressure.Bernal continues to make a strong impression. Since arriving in St. Louis, he has shown the defensive reputation that followed him through the system, but the bat has also looked more playable than some may have expected this quickly.Friday was another positive step.Two hits.A double.An RBI.A run scored.Behind the plate, he also helped manage a pitching staff that had to work through traffic but never let Chicago put together the big inning.For a young catcher still getting settled in the majors, that is meaningful.Liberatore’s line was not dominant, but it was better than some of his recent outings. He worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He walked three, struck out two and gave up both Meidroth home runs.The two homers are the obvious blemish.The larger takeaway is that he kept the game under control long enough for the offense to take over. That has not always been the case during his rough stretch. The Cardinals did not get length, but they did get a chance to win.Graceffo, Gastelum and the bullpen did enough from there.Luis Gastelum worked through the sixth inning, allowing traffic but keeping Chicago off the board. The White Sox had chances throughout the night, finishing with nine hits and leaving 12 men on base, but they could not find the hit that turned pressure into a crooked number.That was the difference.The Cardinals kept turning their chances into runs.Chicago did not.St. Louis added another run in the seventh, stretching the lead to 7-2. The White Sox got one back in the eighth, but the Cardinals had already done enough work early and in the middle innings to keep the game under control.This was not a clean, overpowering win.It was a useful one.And at this stage of the season, useful still counts.The Cardinals improved to 73-75, snapping back after a difficult finish to the San Francisco series and giving the home crowd something to enjoy on the opening night of a nine-game homestand. The Cardinals are still under .500, still facing long odds and still trying to make sense of a season that has been uneven from the start.But Friday night had value.It showed the lineup can produce without needing a home run.It showed Báez continuing to settle into big-league at-bats.It showed Bernal looking more comfortable.It showed Walker right in the middle of another scoring night.It showed Burleson doing what he has done all season: driving in runs.That is the part worth watching now.The standings matter, but September also has become about identification. Who fits? Who is ready? Who is forcing the organization to make room next spring? Who looks like part of the next winning Cardinals team?Friday night gave the Cardinals some encouraging answers.Báez and Bernal are two of the most important names in that group.Báez brings impact power and run production. Bernal brings defense, maturity behind the plate and enough offensive feel to keep earning opportunities. Together with Walker, Saggese, Winn and others, they are giving the Cardinals a younger core worth evaluating every night down the stretch.That does not erase the frustration of the season.It does make the final weeks more interesting.The White Sox came to St. Louis with more at stake in the standings, but the Cardinals played the cleaner offensive game. They answered Chicago’s early home run. They responded again after Meidroth tied it. They took control in the fifth and did not give it back.That is how a team wins a game without needing one dramatic moment.One inning at a time.One run at a time.One young player after another.Burleson drove in two.Báez drove in two.Bernal drove in one.Winn drove in one.Walker scored twice.The Cardinals beat the White Sox, 7-3, and opened the homestand with the kind of win that lets the future share the spotlight with the past.The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Cardinals Open Homestand With 7-3 Win Over White Sox

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Farm Report: Gurevitch, Clarke Lead Springfield to Eighth Straight Win St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your 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.The report remains focused on the two Cardinals affiliates still playing.The regular season is over for the Peoria Chiefs and Palm Beach Cardinals, leaving Memphis and Springfield as the two active clubs.Friday was another split night.Memphis lost to Norfolk, 5-3, after the Tides scored late to erase an early Redbirds lead. Springfield beat Arkansas, 5-3, behind a strong pitching night and another big game from Jack Gurevitch.The two active affiliates finished 1-1.Jack Gurevitch, the MLB Pipeline No. 30 prospect, earned Hitter of the Day honors after going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored for Springfield. Brandon Clarke, the MLB Pipeline No. 7 prospect, earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A Overall Record: 77-65 Second Half: 30-37, 8th in the International League West, 8.0 GB Streak: L3 Status: Playoff-boundNorfolk 5, Memphis 3Memphis let this one get away late.The Redbirds scored three runs in the first inning and held a 3-2 lead until the eighth, but Norfolk scored once in the eighth and twice in the ninth to hand Memphis a 5-3 loss. The Redbirds finished with three runs on six hits.Zach Levenson supplied the offense, going 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. His homer was his fifth of the season and accounted for all three Memphis runs. Jimmy Crooks went 2-for-4, while Dakota Harris doubled and walked. Noah Mendlinger singled and walked, and Ramon Mendoza walked and scored.On the mound, Jurrangelo Cijntje, the MLB Pipeline No. 9 prospect, worked 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five. Peter Strzelecki followed with 1.1 scoreless innings, and Sandro Santana, the MLB Pipeline No. 22 prospect, added a clean inning with one strikeout.The game turned late, when Norfolk scored three runs over the final two innings.Takeaway: Memphis has dropped three straight, but the Redbirds remain playoff-bound. The concern now is sharpening up before postseason play.Springfield Cardinals — Double-A Overall Record: 78-57 Second Half: 47-20, 1st in the Texas League North, 6.0 games ahead Streak: W8 Status: Playoff-boundSpringfield 5, Arkansas 3Springfield keeps rolling.The Cardinals beat Arkansas, 5-3, scoring one run in the first, two in the second, one in the fifth and one in the sixth. The Travelers made it interesting with three runs in the ninth, but Springfield held on for its eighth straight win.Jack Gurevitch, the MLB Pipeline No. 30 prospect, had the biggest offensive night in the system, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.His final line: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 RRainiel Rodriguez, the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, went 1-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Deniel Ortiz, the MLB Pipeline No. 27 prospect, went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Won-Bin Cho doubled, walked and scored, while Jon Jon Gazdar had two hits, an RBI and a stolen base.On the mound, Brandon Clarke was outstanding.Clarke worked four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out seven.His final line: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 KDarlin Saladin followed with 2.1 scoreless innings and five strikeouts. Joseph King added 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Springfield pitching struck out 17 batters in the win.Takeaway: Springfield has won eight straight and continues to look like the hottest team in the Cardinals’ system heading into postseason play.Top 30 Prospect Watch Rainiel Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline No. 1, went 1-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk for Springfield. His season line is listed at .323 with a .983 OPS, 26 home runs and 86 RBIs.Liam Doyle, MLB Pipeline No. 2, did not pitch Friday. His season line is listed at 3.76 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 130 strikeouts over 103.0 innings.Tanner Franklin, MLB Pipeline No. 5, did not pitch Friday. His season line is listed at 3.94 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 133 strikeouts over 105.0 innings.Brandon Clarke, MLB Pipeline No. 7, worked four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out seven for Springfield. His season line is listed at 3.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 44 strikeouts over 29.2 innings.Jurrangelo Cijntje, MLB Pipeline No. 9, worked 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out five for Memphis. His season line is listed at 5.08 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 159 strikeouts over 127.2 innings.Josiah Ragsdale, MLB Pipeline No. 10, went 0-for-4 for Springfield. His season line is listed at .298 with a .964 OPS, 24 home runs and 65 RBIs.Mason Molina, MLB Pipeline No. 18, did not pitch Friday. His season line is listed at 3.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 140 strikeouts over 113.0 innings.Tai Peete, MLB Pipeline No. 19, went 1-for-4 for Springfield. His season line is listed at .301 with a .924 OPS, 13 home runs and 56 RBIs.Jesús Báez, MLB Pipeline No. 21, did not appear in the Springfield lineup. His season line is listed at .279 with a .907 OPS, 38 home runs and 108 RBIs.Sandro Santana, MLB Pipeline No. 22, worked one scoreless inning for Memphis with one strikeout. His season line is listed at 2.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 95 strikeouts over 60.1 innings.Deniel Ortiz, MLB Pipeline No. 27, went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Springfield. His season line is listed at .271 with an .853 OPS, 10 home runs and 41 RBIs.Jack Gurevitch, MLB Pipeline No. 30, went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .282 with an .896 OPS, 31 home runs and 94 RBIs.Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats 1. Jack Gurevitch, Springfield: 3-for-4, home run, two RBIs, two runs. MLB Pipeline No. 302. Brandon Clarke, Springfield: 4.0 scoreless innings, one hit, one walk, seven strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 73. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 1-for-3, home run, RBI, run scored, walk. MLB Pipeline No. 14. Zach Levenson, Memphis: 1-for-4, home run, three RBIs.5. Darlin Saladin, Springfield: 2.1 scoreless innings, one hit, two walks, five strikeouts.6. Joseph King, Springfield: 1.2 scoreless innings, no hits, no walks, three strikeouts.7. Deniel Ortiz, Springfield: 2-for-4, RBI. MLB Pipeline No. 278. Jon Jon Gazdar, Springfield: 2-for-3, RBI, stolen base.9. Jimmy Crooks, Memphis: 2-for-4.10. Sandro Santana, Memphis: 1.0 scoreless inning, no hits, no walks, one strikeout. MLB Pipeline No. 22Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day Jack Gurevitch, 1B, Springfield Cardinals MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 30Gurevitch gave Springfield the biggest offensive line of the night.His final line: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 RThree hits. A home run. Two RBIs. Two runs scored. A Springfield win.That is a Player of the Day performance.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day Brandon Clarke, Springfield Cardinals MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 7Clarke gave Springfield four scoreless innings and missed bats all night.His final line: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 KFour scoreless. One hit allowed. Seven strikeouts. A Springfield win.That is a Pitcher of the Day performance.THE Final Word The farm report now belongs to Memphis and Springfield, and the direction of the two clubs could not look much different this week.Memphis lost its third straight, falling to Norfolk, 5-3, after giving up three runs over the final two innings. Springfield won its eighth straight, beating Arkansas, 5-3, behind Jack Gurevitch’s bat and a 17-strikeout night from the pitching staff.Peoria and Palm Beach are done for the season.Memphis fell. Springfield kept rolling. The postseason focus continues.That is the farm report.

Gurevitch, Clarke Lead Springfield to Eighth Straight Win

The Cardinal Chronicle Cardinals Open Final Homestand Against White Sox Team Feeling Its Own September Pressure St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinals come home with September getting smaller by the day.After taking two of three from the Dodgers, winning a series at Colorado, and then giving all of that momentum back with a sweep in San Francisco, St. Louis returns to Busch Stadium tonight to open a three-game weekend series against the Chicago White Sox.First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT, with left-hander Matthew Liberatore getting the ball for the Cardinals against Chicago left-hander Anthony Kay.The Cardinals enter at 72-75, losers of three straight and now 6.5 games out of the final National League Wild Card spot. The White Sox come in at 75-71, still holding first place in the American League Central, but hardly looking comfortable after being swept at home by the Pittsburgh Pirates.That makes this weekend interesting.The Cardinals are trying to keep whatever remains of their postseason hopes from slipping completely out of reach.The White Sox are trying to stop a slide that has turned a division lead into a much tighter race than it looked like earlier in the season.Chicago has led the AL Central for much of the year, but the gap is down to 1.5 games over Cleveland. The White Sox are 3-7 over their last 10, have lost three straight, and now come to St. Louis knowing a bad weekend could put them in danger of losing the division lead and being pulled into the Wild Card mess altogether.The stakes are high on both sides.For St. Louis, the math is less forgiving.The Cardinals are not out of it, but they are running out of the kind of time that makes “still alive” sound meaningful. Wednesday’s loss in San Francisco was another reminder of why the standings look the way they do. St. Louis led 6-1 entering the eighth inning, then watched the Giants score six times and complete the sweep with a 7-6 win.That one hurt.Not because the Giants are a powerhouse. They are not.It hurt because the game was there. The series was there. The road trip was there. The Cardinals had a chance to come home with a winning record on the trip and some real momentum. Instead, they came back under .500 again, carrying another late-inning collapse into a homestand where every game now has to matter.The Cardinals do get one important boost tonight.Masyn Winn is expected back in the lineup after missing time with a thumb injury. That should help both the defense and the overall shape of the lineup. Winn has been missed, and getting him back for the final home stretch gives St. Louis a steadier presence at shortstop and another bat capable of extending innings.Liberatore gets the first chance to set the tone.He enters at 5-14 with a 5.57 ERA and 144 strikeouts. There is still swing-and-miss in the profile, but the Cardinals need more than strikeouts tonight. They need length. They need clean innings. They need a start that does not force the bullpen into another long, stressful night.That has been the theme for weeks.The Cardinals have had too many games decided not by a lack of fight, but by a lack of finish. Short starts. Heavy bullpen usage. Defensive lapses. Late-inning mistakes. One more baserunner. One more bad pitch. One more inning that should have ended and did not.Against Chicago, that cannot continue.The White Sox have power. They have a division race to protect. They have enough offense to punish mistakes. Colson Montgomery leads Chicago with 31 home runs and 83 RBIs. Chase Meidroth leads the club in average at .267. The White Sox have hit 190 home runs as a team, compared with 156 for the Cardinals, so keeping the ball in the yard has to be at the top of the scouting report.Liberatore cannot give them free traffic.No leadoff walks.No mistakes in the middle of the plate with runners aboard.No allowing a slumping team to use Busch Stadium as a place to breathe again.The White Sox are coming off a rough series against Pittsburgh, where they were shut out 2-0 Thursday as the Pirates completed a three-game sweep. That makes Chicago dangerous in a different way. A first-place team coming off a bad series usually arrives with urgency. The Cardinals have to match that from the first inning.On the other side, Kay enters at 9-8 with a 4.47 ERA and 116 strikeouts. This is a matchup the Cardinals should be able to compete in, but that has been said too many times this season, only to be followed by quiet innings.St. Louis has to make Kay work early.Get traffic in front of Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker.Make Kay work.Do not let Chicago bring its division race into Busch Stadium and take over the weekend.The Cardinals have talked all season about tomorrow.There are only so many tomorrows left.Tonight needs to be about winning today.Game Info Matchup: Chicago White Sox at St. Louis Cardinals When: Friday, September 11, 2026 First Pitch: 7:15 p.m. CT / 8:15 p.m. ET Where: Busch Stadium, St. Louis Probable Pitchers: LHP Anthony Kay vs. LHP Matthew Liberatore Kay: 9-8, 4.47 ERA, 116 SO Liberatore: 5-14, 5.57 ERA, 144 SO Records: White Sox 75-71; Cardinals 72-75 Broadcast: Chicago Sports Network / Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 / KMOV-4 Radio: KMOX / WIJR 880 AM SpanishSeries Schedule Friday, September 11: White Sox at Cardinals, 7:15 p.m. CT Saturday, September 12: White Sox at Cardinals, 6:15 p.m. CT Sunday, September 13: White Sox at Cardinals, 1:15 p.m. CTThe Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Cards Open Series Against a Team Under it's own September Pressure

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.

The Cardinal Chronicle, Ray Mileur, Publisher

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