A Tough Night Across the Farm System
The Cardinal Chronicle
A Tough Night Across the Farm System
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
It was a tough night across the Cardinals’ minor league system Wednesday, with all four full-season affiliates landing on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
Memphis lost in walk-off fashion at Iowa after rallying in the ninth inning. Springfield received strong starting pitching from Mason Molina and Brandt Thompson but dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Arkansas. Peoria made a late push but fell one run short against Cedar Rapids, while Palm Beach lost a tight one to St. Lucie despite a solid start from Alex Breckheimer and a strong bullpen strikeout showing.
Hitter of the Day
Joshua Báez, Memphis Redbirds
Joshua Báez gave Memphis its best offensive performance of the night, going 3-for-4 with a double in the Redbirds’ 3-2 loss at Iowa. In a game where Memphis had to fight uphill late, Báez was the most consistent bat in the lineup and helped keep the Redbirds within striking distance.
Pitcher of the Day
Mason Molina, Springfield Cardinals
Mason Molina gets the nod after delivering five shutout innings in the first game of Springfield’s doubleheader at Arkansas. Molina allowed just two hits, giving the Cardinals exactly the kind of start they needed in a seven-inning game. The bullpen could not hold the lead, but Molina’s outing stood out as the cleanest pitching performance of the night.
Memphis Redbirds
Record: 28-19, 1st, International League West
Iowa 3, Memphis 2
Memphis entered the ninth inning trailing 2-0 and looked as if it might steal one late.
Nelson Velázquez brought home the Redbirds’ first run with a sacrifice fly, and Bligh Madris followed with a game-tying single. That pushed the game even at 2-2, but Iowa answered in the bottom of the ninth with the winning run to hand Memphis a 3-2 walk-off loss.
Báez led the offense with three hits, including a double, while Madris and Velázquez drove in the two Memphis runs. It was not a loud night for the Redbirds’ bats, but they did enough late to give themselves a chance.
Hunter Dobbins deserved a better ending. The right-hander turned in his first quality start of the season, working seven innings and allowing two runs on three hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. Cade Winquest also made a strong return from the injured list, throwing a perfect inning with two strikeouts.
The loss trimmed Memphis’ lead over Nashville to a half-game in the International League standings, though the Redbirds have still spent every day of the season in at least a tie for first place.
Old-school read: Dobbins gave them seven strong, Winquest looked sharp, and Memphis tied it in the ninth. That is usually enough to feel decent about the night — unless the other club gets the final swing.
Springfield Cardinals
Record: 16-25, 5th, Texas League North
Game 1: Arkansas 3, Springfield 2
Game 2: Arkansas 10, Springfield 0
Springfield got strong work from both starting pitchers Wednesday, but it was not enough to avoid a doubleheader sweep at Arkansas.
Mason Molina gave the Cardinals five shutout innings in the opener, allowing just two hits. Springfield had a 2-0 lead behind solo home runs from Ryan Campos and Chase Davis, but Arkansas rallied late for a 3-2 win. Davis now leads Springfield with seven home runs, while Campos has five.
In the second game, Brandt Thompson struck out a season-high nine batters over 4 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits, but Arkansas eventually pulled away for a 10-0 win.
There was also one notable streak ending: Travis Honeyman did not reach base, snapping his 18-game on-base streak.
The Cardinals’ starters did their part. Molina was excellent, and Thompson missed bats at a high level. But Springfield did not get enough from the bullpen in the opener or enough offense in the nightcap.
That is a hard way to lose two. Good starts are supposed to steady a club in a doubleheader. Instead, Springfield left North Little Rock with two losses and a reminder that pitching well early does not mean much if the rest of the game gets away.
Peoria Chiefs
Record: 16-24, 6th, Midwest League West
Cedar Rapids 4, Peoria 3
Peoria made a late run Wednesday night at Dozer Park but came up one run short in a 4-3 loss to Cedar Rapids.
The Chiefs trailed 3-1 after four innings and were still behind 4-2 entering the ninth. They pushed across one run in the final inning but could not complete the comeback.
Jesús Báez continued to show some pop, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Josh Kross stayed hot, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, raising his average to .305 with an .853 OPS. Cade McGee added an RBI double, while Christian Martin also doubled and scored. Tai Peete, recently activated from the injured list, drove in a run despite going hitless.
Ty Van Dyke made his High-A debut and had to work through traffic. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out two. Bobby Olsen, Jawilme Ramírez, Dominic Freeberger and Christian Worley handled the rest, with Ramírez working two scoreless innings and Worley striking out two in a clean ninth.
Peoria did enough late to make Cedar Rapids sweat, but the Chiefs could not overcome the early deficit. The offense had six hits, three doubles and a home run, but the club left itself with too much to do in the final innings.
Old-school read: Van Dyke’s debut was not clean, but that is part of the climb. New level, better hitters, smaller margin for mistakes. The arm is still worth watching.
Palm Beach Cardinals
Record: 23-18, 2nd, Florida State League East
St. Lucie 4, Palm Beach 3
Palm Beach lost a close one Wednesday morning, falling 4-3 to St. Lucie at Clover Park.
The Cardinals had chances, collecting eight hits and drawing six walks, but they could not push across the tying run after St. Lucie took the lead in the eighth inning.
Ryan Mitchell led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two walks, one run scored and an RBI. Michael Dattalo continued to swing a strong bat, going 2-for-3 with a walk and raising his average to .391 with a .952 OPS. Jonathan Mejía reached three times with a hit and two walks, while Yordalin Peña added a hit and two walks. Brayden Smith, Tuesday’s Hitter of the Day, drove in a run but struck out three times.
Alex Breckheimer gave Palm Beach five solid innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. The bullpen piled up strikeouts behind him. Yordy Herrera struck out all three batters he retired in a scoreless sixth, Nelfy Ynfante added two strikeouts in a scoreless seventh, and Liam Best struck out three in the eighth but allowed the decisive unearned run.
That was the difference. Palm Beach pitching allowed only six hits and struck out 11, but two errors and a late unearned run helped swing the game toward St. Lucie.
Old-school read: When a staff gives up only two earned runs and strikes out 11, that should usually be enough to win. But walks, errors and missed chances have a way of turning a good pitching day into a one-run loss.
Old School Take
This was one of those farm-system nights where the results were rough, but the details were not all bad.
Hunter Dobbins gave Memphis seven strong innings. Mason Molina threw five shutout innings for Springfield. Brandt Thompson struck out nine. Peoria got another home run from Jesús Báez and two more hits from Josh Kross. Palm Beach pitching struck out 11 and Michael Dattalo kept hitting.
That is the development side of the ledger.
The standings side was not as kind. Memphis lost in walk-off fashion. Springfield was swept. Peoria’s comeback fell short. Palm Beach gave up the winning run late.
There is no need to dress it up more than that. The arms gave the Cardinals plenty to like, but across the system Wednesday, the finish was missing.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports