Braden Davis Gives Springfield a Winning Start in Tough Road Loss
Cardinal Chronicle
Minor League Pitcher of the Day
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Braden Davis Gives Springfield a Winning Start in Tough Road Loss
Braden Davis did his job Tuesday night.
The Springfield Cardinals did not finish the night with the win, falling 4-3 to the Tulsa Drillers at ONEOK Field, but Davis gave them every chance to take the opener.
The left-hander worked 5.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking three and striking out eight. It was a strong road start against a good Tulsa club, and for most of the night, it looked like it might be enough.
Davis had swing-and-miss working early and often. He struck out eight of the 20 batters he faced, kept the Drillers from putting together big innings, and left the game with Springfield in position to win.
That is the job.
The Cardinals gave him an early lead when Travis Honeyman homered in the first inning. Springfield added another run in the third, then Dakota Harris hit a solo home run in the sixth to put the Cardinals ahead 3-1.
Davis kept Tulsa quiet through the first five innings and into the sixth, holding the Drillers to just three hits. His command was not spotless, with three walks and a balk, but he competed through traffic and kept damage off the board.
That is what mattered most.
The game turned after Davis exited. Tulsa scored twice in the seventh to tie it, then pushed across the winning run in the ninth. The bullpen could not protect the lead, and Springfield’s offense, which struck out 14 times, could not add on late.
Still, Davis’ outing stood apart.
On a night when Memphis staged a wild comeback and Cade Winquest struck out six over two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, Davis gets the nod because of the length and quality of his start. He gave Springfield 5.1 innings of one-run baseball on the road, missed bats, and handed the game over with the Cardinals in position to win.
That is a winning start, even when the final score does not cooperate.
For Davis, the eight strikeouts were another reminder of the arm talent. When he is around the zone and getting ahead, he can make hitters uncomfortable. Tulsa found very little against him, and the game was still in Springfield’s hands when his night ended.
Baseball can be cruel that way.
A starter can do enough to deserve the win and still leave with nothing attached to his name in the final box score. But the organization will know what he did. The line tells the story.
5.1 innings.
Three hits.
One run.
Eight strikeouts.
That is why Braden Davis is the Cardinal Chronicle Minor League Pitcher of the Day.
Old School Take: A pitcher cannot finish what the bullpen does not hold, but Braden Davis gave Springfield a road start good enough to win. One run over 5.1 innings with eight strikeouts will play, even when the final score takes a wrong turn.
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Photo Credit: Braden Davis, Springfield Cardinals | MiLB