Bruce Zimmermann Steadies Memphis in Doubleheader Split

The Cardinal Chronicle
Minor League Pitcher of the Day
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Bruce Zimmermann Steadies Memphis in Doubleheader Split

Bruce Zimmermann earns The Cardinal Chronicle’s Minor League Pitcher of the Day honors after giving Memphis exactly what it needed Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader at Toledo.

Zimmermann improved to 4-0 after working 5 1/3 innings and allowing just one run in the Redbirds’ 3-1 victory over the Mud Hens. In a seven-inning game, that kind of outing carries extra weight. He gave Memphis length, protected an early lead and helped the Redbirds salvage a split after dropping the opener in extra innings.

Memphis had taken a 3-0 lead in both games of the doubleheader, but after Toledo rallied to win Game 1, the Redbirds needed a steady hand on the mound in Game 2. Zimmermann gave them that, turning the game over to Matt Pushard, who finished the final 1 2/3 innings with three strikeouts to earn the save.

The win kept Memphis in first place in the International League West, where the Redbirds continue to look like the most complete club in the Cardinals’ system.

Honorable Mentions

Matt Pushard, Memphis — Picked up the save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings and three strikeouts in the Redbirds’ Game 2 win.

Hunter Hayes, Springfield — Earned the win as part of a Springfield bullpen effort that covered 4 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run.

Old School Take

Zimmermann did not need fireworks. He gave Memphis innings, kept runs off the board and handed the ball off with the lead. That is winning baseball, plain and simple. Some nights the best thing a pitcher can do is make the game feel boring. Zimmermann did that, and the Redbirds walked away with the split.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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