Farm Report: Doyle Strikes out 10; Bernal Homers; Palm Beach Winners
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Farm Report: Doyle Strikes Out 10, Bernal Homers, Palm Beach Wins Its Third Straight
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Friday’s farm report was a mixed bag across the Cardinals’ full-season affiliates.
Memphis lost in Jacksonville despite three home runs, Springfield saw its seven-game winning streak snapped despite a strong start from Liam Doyle, Peoria’s game was suspended in the third inning, and Palm Beach continued to play well with a 2-1 win over Fort Myers.
The completed affiliates finished 1-2, with Peoria set to resume its suspended game Saturday.
The top offensive performance belonged to Leo Bernal, while Liam Doyle earned Pitcher of the Day honors after striking out 10 in Springfield’s loss.
Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 59-47
Second Half: 12-19, 9th in the International League West, 8.0 GB
Streak: L2
Jacksonville 9, Memphis 5
Memphis had enough offense to stay in the game, but the pitching staff could not contain Jacksonville in a 9-5 loss Friday night.
The Redbirds scored twice in the first, added a run in the third, another in the sixth and one more in the ninth. They finished with nine hits and three home runs, but Jacksonville answered with six runs between the sixth and eighth innings to take control.
Leo Bernal had the best offensive night for Memphis, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. The homer was his 14th of the season, and he pushed his RBI total to 64.
Victor Scott II also homered, his second, and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and his 10th stolen base. Thomas Saggese hit his eighth home run and drove in a run. Colton Ledbetter added two hits, including a double, and stole his 17th base.
The issue was on the mound. Memphis pitchers walked 10 batters. Jurrangelo Cijntje worked five innings, allowing three runs on three hits, but walked six and struck out five. Brycen Mautz allowed three runs in one-third of an inning, and Cade Winquest later allowed three more over 1.2 innings.
Takeaway: The power showed up, but 10 walks are hard to survive. Bernal had the best night at the plate, but Memphis dropped its second straight.
Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 51-48
Second Half: 20-11, 1st in the Texas League North
Streak: L1
Wichita 6, Springfield 1
Springfield’s seven-game winning streak came to an end in a 6-1 loss to Wichita at Route 66 Stadium.
The loss was frustrating because Liam Doyle gave the Cardinals a real chance.
Doyle turned in one of his best swing-and-miss outings of the season, working 5.2 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, walking none and striking out 10. He threw 85 pitches, 59 for strikes, and gave Springfield everything it needed to stay in the game.
His final line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K
That is a strong Double-A start.
The problem was the offense never got going. Springfield finished with six hits and did not score until the ninth inning. Zach Levenson drove in the lone run. Won-Bin Cho went 2-for-4, while Rainiel Rodriguez, Deniel Ortiz, Tre Richardson III and Levenson each added hits. Ortiz doubled, and Miguel Ugueto stole his 24th base.
The game also included the ejection of Jesús Báez in the fourth inning.
After Doyle left, Wichita did its damage against the bullpen. Darlin Saladin allowed two runs over 1.1 innings, Nolan Sparks gave up a solo homer in the eighth, and Jack Findlay allowed two runs in the ninth.
Takeaway: Doyle was excellent, but Springfield’s offense was quiet and the bullpen could not hold the line late. Even with the loss, the Cardinals remain in first place.
Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Overall Record: 48-50
Second Half: 16-16, 5th in the Midwest League West, 4.0 GB
Streak: W3
Peoria at Cedar Rapids — Suspended in the third inning
Peoria’s Friday night game at Cedar Rapids was suspended in the bottom of the third inning with the Kernels leading, 2-0.
The game was halted with nobody out and a runner on first in the bottom of the third. It will resume Saturday at 4:35 p.m., followed by a seven-inning game as part of a doubleheader.
Rain had already delayed first pitch by 38 minutes, and heavy rain later forced the suspension.
Cedar Rapids scored twice in the first inning on back-to-back solo home runs from Eduardo Tait and Danny De Andrade. Peoria had chances offensively but stranded one runner in each of the first three innings.
Through two innings, Peoria starter Jack Martinez had allowed two runs on five hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Cedar Rapids starter Dasan Hill had struck out six and walked none through three innings.
Takeaway: No completed box score, so Peoria’s report will carry into Saturday. The Chiefs entered the night at .500 in the second half and riding a three-game winning streak.
Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A
Overall Record: 52-47
Second Half: 19-14, 2nd in the Florida State League East, 1.5 GB
Streak: W3
Palm Beach 2, Fort Myers 1
Palm Beach kept rolling with a 2-1 win over Fort Myers, giving the Cardinals their third straight victory.
This was a pitching win.
Palm Beach allowed only two hits and did not give up an earned run. The staff walked nine, so it was not spotless, but the Cardinals made pitches when they had to and kept Fort Myers from cashing in.
Brandon Clarke started and worked two hitless innings, allowing one unearned run with four walks and three strikeouts. Gabriel Chinchilla was excellent in relief, throwing four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking three and striking out seven. Liam Best added a scoreless inning, and Nelfy Ynfante finished the final two innings without allowing a hit.
Palm Beach struck out 13 Fort Myers hitters.
The offense did just enough. Trevor Haskins hit his ninth home run of the season and drove in a run. Jonathan Mejía added an RBI single, giving him 50 RBIs on the season. J.P. Cabrera went 2-for-4 and stole his first base. Ryan Weingartner doubled, while Brayden Smith singled, walked and stole his 28th base.
Takeaway: Palm Beach’s pitching staff bent but did not break. Two hits allowed, 13 strikeouts and a one-run win keep the Cardinals right in the race.
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Leo Bernal, C, Memphis Redbirds
Bernal earns the honor after going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and a run scored in Memphis’ loss at Jacksonville.
His final line: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R
The homer was Bernal’s 14th of the season, and he pushed his RBI total to 64. On a night when Memphis lost, Bernal still supplied the best offensive line in the system.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Liam Doyle, LHP, Springfield Cardinals
Doyle gets the nod after striking out 10 over 5.2 innings in Springfield’s loss to Wichita.
His final line: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K
No walks. Ten strikeouts. One earned run.
That is a serious step forward, even if the Cardinals could not finish the night with a win.
The Final Word
Friday’s report belonged to individual performances more than team results.
Leo Bernal homered and doubled for Memphis. Liam Doyle struck out 10 with no walks for Springfield. Palm Beach won its third straight behind a strong pitching effort. Peoria’s game will have to wait until Saturday.
Springfield’s winning streak is over, but the Cardinals remain in first place. Palm Beach continues to stay close in the Florida State League East. Memphis is still searching for second-half traction.
The headline of the night was Doyle’s strikeout total.
Ten punchouts, no walks, and one earned run is something to build on.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Liam Doyle, Springfield Cardinals | MiLB