Farm Report: Clean Sweep on the Farm as Peoria Wins a 1-0 Duel
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Farm Report: Clean Sweep on the Farm as Peoria Wins a 1-0 Duel
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Thursday was exactly the kind of night the Cardinals’ farm system needed.
After several uneven reports, the full-season affiliates came through with a 4-0 sweep. Memphis won in 10 innings. Springfield answered with a 10-inning win of its own. Peoria won a 1-0 pitching duel behind Yhoiker Fajardo and a dominant bullpen effort. Palm Beach handled Tampa behind strong pitching and another homer from Yordalin Peña.
The headline performance at the plate belonged to Thomas Saggese, while the best pitching line came from Yhoiker Fajardo.
Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 56-43
Second Half: 9-15, tied for ninth in the International League West, 7.0 GB
Streak: W1
Memphis 7, Durham 5 — 10 innings
Memphis finally stopped the slide, beating Durham 7-5 in 10 innings at AutoZone Park.
The Redbirds scored three runs in the bottom of the 10th to win it, and Thomas Saggese was the offensive star. Saggese went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored, earning Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day honors.
Colton Ledbetter also had a strong night, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a stolen base. Joshua Báez drove in his 74th run of the season, while Noah Mendlinger added an RBI single.
On the mound, Memphis used four pitchers. Brandt Thompson worked 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Hancel Rincón had command issues but struck out four over 1.2 innings. Victor Santos was excellent, throwing two scoreless innings with four strikeouts, and Ryan Fernandez handled the final two innings, allowing one unearned run.
Takeaway: Memphis needed this one badly. The second half has been rough, but Saggese and Ledbetter carried the offense, and the Redbirds found a way to win late.
Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 45-47
Second Half: 14-10, tied for first in the Texas League North
Streak: W1
Springfield 5, Northwest Arkansas 4 — 10 innings
Springfield got back in the win column with a 5-4, 10-inning win over Northwest Arkansas.
This was a strong bounce-back win for a team trying to stay at the top of the Texas League North second-half race. The Cardinals improved to 14-10 in the second half, moving back into a tie for first place with Tulsa.
Trey Paige had one of the biggest offensive nights, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. Jesús Báez hit his ninth home run of the season and drove in a run. Miguel Ugueto doubled and drove in a run, while Dakota Harris added an RBI. Springfield also got stolen bases from Won-Bin Cho, Tre Richardson III and Zach Levenson.
On the mound, Blake Aita gave Springfield 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Nolan Sparks allowed two runs in relief, but Michael Watson steadied the game with 1.1 scoreless innings.
The late hero on the mound was Randel Clemente, who threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out six. That is a loud relief appearance in extra innings.
Takeaway: Springfield needed a response after a three-game skid, and this was a good one. The Cardinals are back tied for first, and Clemente slammed the door with authority.
Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Overall Record: 44-48
Second Half: 12-14, fifth in the Midwest League West, 4.5 GB
Streak: W3
Peoria 1, West Michigan 0
Peoria won the pitchers’ duel of the night, beating West Michigan 1-0 at Dozer Park.
The Chiefs managed only three hits, but they made the one run count. Ian Petrutz drove in the only run of the game, bringing home Jalin Flores in the bottom of the ninth. Flores had one of Peoria’s three hits, while Josh Kross and Anyelo Encarnación added the others.
The story was pitching.
Yhoiker Fajardo was outstanding, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, walking none and striking out eight. He threw 76 pitches, 55 for strikes, and set the tone for a dominant staff effort.
Bobby Olsen, Dominic Freeberger and Christian Worley finished the shutout. Worley was excellent over the final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out four.
As a staff, Peoria held West Michigan to four hits, walked only two and struck out 14.
Takeaway: This was old-fashioned winning baseball. Pitching, defense and one timely run. Peoria has now won three straight, and the Chiefs are starting to show some life in the second-half race.
Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A
Overall Record: 48-44
Second Half: standings not included in supplied table
Streak: W1
Palm Beach 5, Tampa 1
Palm Beach handled Tampa 5-1 behind a strong pitching effort and a productive night from the lower half of the lineup.
Yordalin Peña hit his 14th home run of the season and drove in his 53rd run, continuing a strong offensive year. Ryan Mitchell went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base, while Jonathan Mejía doubled. Brayden Smith drove in his 30th run of the season, and the Cardinals stole six bases as a team.
Palm Beach did strike out 15 times, but the Cardinals also drew seven walks and kept pressure on Tampa all night.
On the mound, Brian Holiday worked 5.1 innings, allowing one run on 10 hits. That is a lot of traffic, but he made pitches when he had to and limited the damage. Liam Best, Joseph King, Antoni Cuello and Jesús García combined for 3.2 scoreless innings to finish it.
Cuello struck out two in a clean eighth, and García closed it out in the ninth.
Takeaway: Tampa had 11 hits but only one run. That tells you Palm Beach pitchers made pitches in traffic, and the bullpen did its job. Peña’s power and the club’s speed gave the Cardinals enough offense.
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Thomas Saggese, SS, Memphis Redbirds
Saggese earns the honor after going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and three runs scored in Memphis’ 7-5 win over Durham.
That is a complete offensive night, and it came in a game Memphis badly needed after a rough second-half stretch.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP, Peoria Chiefs
Fajardo gets the nod after throwing 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, walking none and striking out eight in Peoria’s 1-0 win over West Michigan.
That is the kind of pitching line that jumps off the page. No walks, eight strikeouts and no runs in a one-run game.
Final Word
Thursday was a clean sweep.
Memphis won in extras. Springfield won in extras. Peoria won a 1-0 duel. Palm Beach held Tampa to one run.
That is a good farm report.
Saggese gave Memphis the offensive spark it needed. Fajardo dominated for Peoria. Springfield moved back into a tie for first place. Peoria won its third straight. Palm Beach got strong work from its bullpen and another homer from Peña.
After a few rough nights, this one was simple.
Four games.
Four wins.
No complaints from this desk.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP, Peoria Chiefs | MilB