Farm Report: Gurevitch Goes Nuclear, Peoria Rolls, Palm Beach Holds On
The Cardinal Chronicle
Farm Report: Gurevitch Goes Nuclear, Peoria Rolls, Palm Beach Holds On
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Tuesday night across the Cardinals’ full-season affiliates belonged to Jack Gurevitch and the Peoria Chiefs.
Gurevitch did not just have a good night. He put together one of the loudest offensive games in the Cardinals’ system this season, going 4-for-4 with three home runs, a double, five RBIs, three runs scored and a walk in Peoria’s 16-3 win over West Michigan.
Peoria and Palm Beach picked up wins, while Memphis and Springfield both dropped their games. The full-season affiliates finished 2-2 on the night.
Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 55-42
Second Half: 8-14, tied for ninth in the International League West, 7.0 GB
Streak: L3
Durham 10, Memphis 8
Memphis put together a solid offensive night, but the Redbirds could not overcome a seven-run fifth inning in a 10-8 loss to Durham.
The Redbirds finished with 13 hits, including home runs from Nolan Gorman and Leo Bernal. Bernal continued swinging a strong bat, going 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. Gorman went 2-for-4 with his fourth homer of the season, an RBI, a run scored and a walk.
Victor Scott II added two hits and drove in a run. César Prieto went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Thomas Saggese had two hits and stole his fifth base. Colton Ledbetter doubled and drove in two.
The problem was run prevention. Pete Hansen allowed six runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings, though he did strike out five without issuing a walk. Austin Love had a rough fifth, allowing four runs, three earned, while walking three in two-thirds of an inning.
The bullpen did settle things down after that. Brycen Mautz threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts, and Hancel Rincón recorded 1.1 scoreless innings.
Takeaway: Memphis had enough offense to win on plenty of nights, but the seven-run fifth inning was too much to overcome. The Redbirds are now 8-14 in the second half and have dropped three straight.
Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 44-46
Second Half: 13-9, tied for first in the Texas League North
Streak: L2
Northwest Arkansas 6, Springfield 2
Springfield had traffic but not enough damage in a 6-2 loss to Northwest Arkansas.
The Cardinals finished with nine hits, but struck out 13 times and managed only two runs. Deniel Ortiz had the lone RBI, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base. Tre Richardson III also had a good night, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Zach Levenson added two hits, while Jesús Báez singled and scored. Dakota Harris stole his 25th base of the season.
On the mound, Chen-Wei Lin gave Springfield five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk. It was not overpowering — he did not record a strikeout — but he kept the Cardinals within reach.
The game slipped away in the sixth when Jack Findlay was charged with three runs, two earned. Darlin Saladin allowed another run over 1.1 innings, and Andrew Schultz finished with two clean outs and a strikeout.
Takeaway: Springfield has lost two straight, but the Cardinals remain tied with Tulsa for first place in the second-half race. That softens the blow, but the offense needs to do more with traffic.
Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Overall Record: 42-48
Second Half: 10-14, fifth in the Midwest League West, 5.5 GB
Streak: W1
Peoria 16, West Michigan 3
Peoria unloaded Tuesday night.
The Chiefs hammered West Michigan 16-3 behind 17 hits, five home runs, four doubles and a triple. This was not a close call. This was a full lineup ambush.
The headline belonged to Jack Gurevitch, who delivered one of the best individual games in the Cardinals’ system this season:
4-for-4, 3 HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 3 R, BB
Three home runs. Four extra-base hits. Five RBIs. He raised his average to .302 and his OPS to .903. That is the kind of performance that gets circled in red ink.
And he was not alone.
Tai Peete had a monster night of his own, going 3-for-5 with two home runs, a triple, four RBIs and three runs scored. Between Gurevitch and Peete, the Chiefs got five home runs and nine RBIs from the top two spots in the order.
José Suárez went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, three runs scored, a walk and two stolen bases. Michael Dattalo had two hits, including a double, and drove in three. Ian Petrutz stayed hot, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, lifting his average to .368 and OPS to .957. Sammy Hernandez added two hits and an RBI.
On the mound, Leonel Sequera earned Pitcher of the Day honors, working 3.2 innings, allowing two hits, no earned runs, four walks and striking out five. The walks keep the line from being spotless, but he missed bats and limited damage.
The bullpen was not clean from a command standpoint — Peoria pitchers walked 10 — but the Chiefs held West Michigan to three runs, only one earned.
Takeaway: Peoria is still 5.5 games back in the second-half race, but this was the kind of win that can wake up a clubhouse. Gurevitch was the clear headline, Peete nearly matched him, and the lineup delivered one of the most explosive offensive games of the season.
Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A
Overall Record: 47-43
Second Half: standings not included in supplied table
Streak: W1
Palm Beach 4, Tampa 3
Palm Beach held on for a 4-3 win over Tampa, using a three-run third inning and strong relief work to finish the job.
Yairo Padilla stayed hot, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases. He lifted his average to .355 and OPS to .993, continuing a strong stretch for Palm Beach.
Yordalin Peña drove in two runs, pushing his RBI total to 52. Ryan Weingartner drove in his 50th run of the season, walked, and stole his 30th base. Ryan Mitchell singled, walked, scored and stole his 24th base. Matthew Miura walked three times, scored and stole his 14th base.
The Cardinals ran wild, stealing six bases as a team.
On the mound, Payton Graham allowed two runs over 4.1 innings, giving up five hits and three walks while striking out three. From there, the bullpen carried the win.
Zeke Wood was excellent, throwing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Yadiel Batista added a clean inning, and Nelfy Ynfante gave up a run in the ninth but closed the door.
Takeaway: Palm Beach did not put up a big hit total, but the Cardinals worked walks, ran the bases aggressively and got strong relief pitching. Padilla continues to look like one of the hottest bats on the Low-A club.
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Jack Gurevitch, DH, Peoria Chiefs
There is no debate here.
Gurevitch went 4-for-4 with three home runs, a double, five RBIs, three runs scored and a walk in Peoria’s 16-3 win over West Michigan.
That is a video-game line. Three homers, four extra-base hits and five RBIs in one night is about as loud as it gets.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Leonel Sequera, RHP, Peoria Chiefs
Sequera gets the nod after working 3.2 innings, allowing two hits, no earned runs, walking four and striking out five.
The command was not perfect, but he kept runs off the board, missed bats and helped set the tone in Peoria’s blowout win.
The Final Word
Tuesday night was about Peoria.
The Chiefs scored 16 runs, hit five home runs and got unforgettable nights from Jack Gurevitch and Tai Peete. Gurevitch had the kind of box score that makes you read it twice just to make sure it is real.
Palm Beach also picked up a good win, with Yairo Padilla staying hot and the bullpen holding off Tampa.
Memphis had the offense but not the pitching. Springfield had hits but not enough damage.
From a standings perspective, Springfield remains in good shape, tied for first in the Texas League North. Memphis is scuffling badly in the second half at 8-14. Peoria still has ground to make up, but Tuesday was a reminder of what that lineup can do when the bats catch fire.
A 2-2 night across the system, but Peoria made sure this farm report had a clear headline.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Jack Gurevitch, Peoria Chiefs | MiLB