Doyle Deals, Ugueto Flirts With Cycle in Springfield

The Cardinal Chronicle
Doyle Deals, Ugueto Flirts With Cycle in Springfield Win
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

The St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league system had one win and three losses Saturday night, but the evening still produced several strong individual performances, led by Liam Doyle’s best professional start and Miguel Ugueto’s near-cycle performance for Springfield.

Memphis fell in Toledo, Springfield rallied late at home, Peoria dropped a tight one at Dozer Park, and Palm Beach lost a wild one in Jupiter despite a big night from Ryan Mitchell.

Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Toledo 13, Memphis 6

The Memphis Redbirds continued their six-game road trip with a 13-6 loss to the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field.

Designated hitter Jimmy Crooks continued to swing a loud bat, launching his 12th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth inning that pulled Memphis within a run at the time. Crooks finished 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBIs. Catcher Leo Bernal also had a two-hit night, going 2-for-5.

The trouble came on the mound, where Memphis starter Quinn Mathews was tagged for six runs, five earned, on six hits over one inning. He walked two and struck out one. Five of the six runs he allowed came in the second inning, putting the Redbirds in an early hole.

Matt Pushard gave Memphis its cleanest pitching work of the night, throwing a perfect inning with two strikeouts in his rehab appearance.

Memphis returns to AutoZone Park on Tuesday, May 12, to open a six-game series against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

Top Performers
Jimmy Crooks: 2-for-4, double, home run, two RBIs
Leo Bernal: 2-for-5
Matt Pushard: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Springfield 7, Corpus Christi 5
Record: 11-21

Liam Doyle gave Springfield exactly the kind of start it needed Saturday night, turning in his best outing as a professional in a 7-5 win over the Corpus Christi Hooks at Route 66 Stadium.

Doyle struck out a career-high eight batters over five innings, allowing two runs on five hits without issuing a walk. He completed five innings for the first time this season and did not factor into the decision, but his outing gave Springfield a firm foundation.

The Cardinals built an early 4-0 lead in the first inning before Corpus Christi worked its way back and eventually tied the game, 5-5. Springfield answered in the bottom of the eighth when Jeremy Rivas delivered a go-ahead two-run single. Mason Burns handled the ninth inning for his third save.

Miguel Ugueto had one of the system’s best offensive nights, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, home run and RBI. He finished a single shy of Springfield’s first cycle since Thomas Saggese in 2023. His triple was Springfield’s first of the season.

Rivas also extended his hitting streak to seven games with the decisive hit.

Springfield wraps up the series Sunday afternoon against Corpus Christi. Switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje is scheduled to start against left-hander Trey Dombroski.

Top Performers
Miguel Ugueto: 3-for-4, double, triple, home run, RBI
Zach Levenson: 2-for-3, double, RBI
Liam Doyle: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Mason Burns: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, save

Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Wisconsin 7, Peoria 5

The Peoria Chiefs dropped a 7-5 decision to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday night.

Peoria got a big swing from Won-Bin Cho, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. That gave the Chiefs some needed offense, but Wisconsin had enough answers to hold off Peoria.

Starter Tanner Franklin worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out four.

Top Performers
Won-Bin Cho: 1-for-4, home run, three RBIs
Tanner Franklin: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Palm Beach Cardinals — Single-A
Jupiter 9, Palm Beach 8

Palm Beach lost a high-scoring back-and-forth game Saturday night, falling 9-8 to the Jupiter Hammerheads.

Ryan Mitchell delivered the biggest offensive line of the night for the Cardinals, going 2-for-4 with a double, home run and four RBIs. Brayden Smith went 3-for-5, while Chase Heath added a double and an RBI. Cameron Nickens also homered, finishing 1-for-2 with a home run, three walks and two RBIs.

The Cardinals had plenty of offense, but Jupiter pushed across enough to survive the late pressure.

Starter Cade Crossland lasted four innings, allowing one hit, one earned run and six walks while striking out six.

Top Performers
Ryan Mitchell: 2-for-4, double, home run, four RBIs
Brayden Smith: 3-for-5
Chase Heath: 1-for-4, double, RBI
Cameron Nickens: 1-for-2, home run, three walks, two RBIs
Yordalin Pena: 1-for-5, home run, RBI

Minor League Player of the Day
Miguel Ugueto, Springfield Cardinals

Ugueto gets the nod after going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, home run and RBI in Springfield’s 7-5 win over Corpus Christi. He finished a single short of the cycle, recorded Springfield’s first triple of the season, and helped set the tone early in a game the Cardinals eventually had to win late.

Ryan Mitchell made this a tough call with a home run, double and four RBIs for Palm Beach, but Ugueto’s three extra-base hits and near-cycle performance in a Springfield win carry the day.

Minor League Pitcher of the Day
Liam Doyle, Springfield Cardinals

Doyle turned in his best start as a professional, striking out a career-high eight over five innings while allowing two runs on five hits and no walks. For a young pitcher, that zero in the walk column matters. That is not just stuff. That is command, tempo and trust.

He did not get the decision, but he gave Springfield the start it needed and showed the kind of swing-and-miss ability that makes him one to keep watching.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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