Farm Report: Brayden Smith Powers Peoria’s Wild Win
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Farm Report: Smith Powers Peoria’s Wild Win
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
The Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your most complete 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.
Saturday belonged to Peoria.
Memphis finally got back on the field after Friday’s rainout in Charlotte, but the Redbirds dropped both games of a doubleheader. Springfield’s 10-game winning streak came to an end at Route 66 Stadium. Peoria won an 11-inning slugfest, and Palm Beach was postponed by rain, with the game scheduled to be made up today.
Brayden Smith earned Hitter of the Day honors after going 5-for-6 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Brian Holiday earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out six.
The completed box scores finished 1-3.
Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 71-60
Second Half: 24-32, 9th in the International League West, 10.0 GB
Streak: L2
Charlotte 5, Memphis 4
Charlotte 2, Memphis 0 — 7 innings
Memphis had a long Saturday in Charlotte and came away with two losses.
In the first game, the Redbirds fell 5-4 after Charlotte scored the winning run in the ninth. Memphis trailed 3-0 early, scored four in the sixth, but could not hold the lead.
Colton Ledbetter went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. César Prieto, Ramon Mendoza and Dakota Harris each doubled, while Brody Moore drove in two runs.
On the mound, Cooper Hjerpe, the MLB Pipeline No. 16 prospect, worked four innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks while striking out six. Pete Hansen followed with four innings, allowing one run and striking out four.
The second game was quieter. Memphis was held to two hits in a 2-0 loss. Chase Davis singled, Dakota Harris doubled, and that was it for the Redbirds’ offense.
Josh Fleming went the distance in the seven-inning game, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk.
Takeaway: Memphis had one late lead slip away and then could not get the bats going in the nightcap.
Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 68-56
Second Half: 37-19, 1st in the Texas League North, 5.0 games ahead
Streak: L1
San Antonio 6, Springfield 2
The winning streak is over.
Springfield’s 10-game run ended Saturday night with a 6-2 loss to San Antonio at Route 66 Stadium. The Missions scored twice in the first and never let Springfield settle into the game.
The Cardinals were held to five hits, but Jesús Báez, the MLB Pipeline No. 21 prospect, had another productive night, going 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Tre Richardson III also had two hits, including a double, and stole two bases. Trey Paige drove in Springfield’s other run.
Josiah Ragsdale, the MLB Pipeline No. 10 prospect, walked and scored a run. Deniel Ortiz, the MLB Pipeline No. 27 prospect, walked twice and scored.
On the mound, Blake Aita allowed six runs, five earned, over four innings. The bullpen did its job from there, with Nolan Sparks, Michael Watson and Andrew Schultz combining for five scoreless innings. Schultz struck out four over 1.1 innings.
Takeaway: Springfield’s streak ended at 10, but the Cardinals still hold a five-game lead in the Texas League North.
Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Overall Record: 60-64
Second Half: 28-30, 5th in the Midwest League West, 8.5 GB
Streak: W2
Peoria 13, West Michigan 10 — 11 innings
Peoria played the wildest game in the system and came out with a win.
The Chiefs beat West Michigan, 13-10, in 11 innings, scoring six runs in the top of the 11th and surviving a three-run answer from the Whitecaps in the bottom half.
Brayden Smith had the biggest night of his season, going 5-for-6 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.
His final line: 5-for-6, HR, 3 RBI, R
That is a loud night in any ballpark
Peoria hit four home runs. Caden Ferraro went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. Cade McGee went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Tristan Bissetta homered, drove in three, walked, scored twice and stole a base.
Andrew Williamson drove in a run, Alex Birge reached three times and stole a base, and Peoria finished with 13 runs on 13 hits.
On the mound, Brian Holiday worked 5.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out six.
His final line: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
It was not a spotless night for the staff, but Holiday gave Peoria needed length and kept the Chiefs in the game before the offense finally took over late.
Takeaway: Peoria’s offense carried the day with four home runs, 13 hits and six runs in the 11th inning.
Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A
Overall Record: 62-62
Second Half: 29-29, 2nd in the Florida State League East, 7.0 GB
Streak: L1
Palm Beach at Fort Myers — postponed
Palm Beach did not complete a game Saturday night.
The Cardinals’ game against Fort Myers was postponed because of rain and is scheduled to be made up today. MiLB Today listed no completed box score for Palm Beach for the date.
The postponement leaves Palm Beach at .500 in the second half, still sitting second in the Florida State League East and seven games behind Daytona.
Takeaway: Palm Beach was washed out Saturday and is scheduled to make up the game today against Fort Myers.
Top 30 Prospect Watch
Rainiel Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline No. 1, did not play Saturday, but remains the top-ranked prospect in the system with a live season line listed at .315, .961 OPS, 23 home runs and 76 RBIs.
Liam Doyle, MLB Pipeline No. 2, also did not pitch on Saturday, but remains the top pitching prospect in the system, listed with a 3.90 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 121 strikeouts over 92.1 innings.
Alexander Frias, MLB Pipeline No. 4, did not play because Palm Beach was postponed by rain, but his live line remains strong at .318 with a .914 OPS, 10 home runs and 72 RBIs.
Brandon Clarke, MLB Pipeline No. 7, continues to show progress at High-A, listed with a 3.68 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 31 strikeouts over 22.0 innings.
Josiah Ragsdale, MLB Pipeline No. 10, went 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored for Springfield. His live season line now sits at .309 with a 1.001 OPS, 23 home runs and 59 RBIs.
Jacob Odle, MLB Pipeline No. 13, who did not appear on the mound Saturday, remains one of the better recent pitching stories at Peoria, with a live line of 3.16 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 131 strikeouts over 91.0 innings.
Cooper Hjerpe, MLB Pipeline No. 16, worked 4.0 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits and three walks while striking out six for Memphis.
Jesús Báez, MLB Pipeline No. 21, went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI for Springfield. His live season line is listed at .270 with an .891 OPS, 35 home runs and 95 RBIs.
Deniel Ortiz, MLB Pipeline No. 27, went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored for Springfield.
Jack Gurevitch, MLB Pipeline No. 30, remains one of the system’s top power bats, listed at .282 with an .890 OPS, 26 home runs and 82 RBIs.
Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats
1. Brayden Smith, Peoria: 5-for-6, home run, three RBIs, run scored.
2. Brian Holiday, Peoria: 5.2 innings, three hits, three earned runs, one walk, six strikeouts.
3. Caden Ferraro, Peoria: 2-for-5, home run, three RBIs, three runs scored.
4. Cade McGee, Peoria: 2-for-5, home run, two RBIs, three runs scored.
5. Tristan Bissetta, Peoria: Home run, three RBIs, two runs, walk, stolen base.
6. Colton Ledbetter, Memphis: 2-for-4, double, RBI, run scored, stolen base.
7. Cooper Hjerpe, Memphis: 4.0 innings, three runs, one earned, three hits, three walks, six strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 16
8. Jesús Báez, Springfield: 2-for-5, double, RBI. MLB Pipeline No. 21
9. Tre Richardson III, Springfield: 2-for-3, double, two stolen bases.
10. Pete Hansen, Memphis: 4.0 innings, two hits, one earned run, one walk, four strikeouts.
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Brayden Smith, CF, Peoria Chiefs
Smith had the biggest offensive line of the day. His final line: 5-for-6, HR, 3 RBI, R
Five hits.
A home run.
Three RBIs.
A Peoria extra-inning win.
That is a Player of the Day performance.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Brian Holiday, Peoria Chiefs
Holiday gave Peoria needed length in a wild extra-inning win. His final line: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
He allowed only three hits, walked one and struck out six before the bullpen and offense had to sort out the rest.
The Final Word
Saturday belonged to Peoria.
The Chiefs scored 13 runs, hit four home runs and won an 11-inning game that nearly got away late. Brayden Smith had five hits. Caden Ferraro, Cade McGee and Tristan Bissetta also homered. Brian Holiday gave Peoria the best start of the day.
Memphis lost both ends of a doubleheader in Charlotte. Springfield’s 10-game winning streak came to an end, though the Cardinals remain in first place by five games. Palm Beach was postponed by rain and is scheduled to make up the game today.
The completed box scores finished 1-3.
Memphis got swept. Springfield’s streak ended. Peoria won wild.
Palm Beach was washed out.
That is the farm report.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Brayden Smith, Peoria Chiefs | MLB