Farm Report: Memphis Picks Up only Win Behind 15 Hits,
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Farm Report: Memphis Picks Up only Win Behind 15 Hits,
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Sunday was not a great day in the win-loss column, but Memphis made sure the system avoided a sweep.
The Redbirds beat Durham, 7-4, behind a 15-hit attack. Cooper Hjerpe gave Memphis the top pitching line of the day, while Jalin Flores supplied the loudest swing with a grand-slam-style four-RBI homer in Peoria’s ninth inning.
The full-season affiliates finished 1-3.
One other note before we get into the farm: Quinn Mathews is being called up to pitch Game 1 of today’s doubleheader in Cincinnati, adding a big-league storyline to a system already moving arms through Memphis.
Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 67-53
Second Half: 20-25, 8th in the International League West, 8.0 GB
Streak: W1
Memphis 7, Durham 4
Memphis bounced back with a 7-4 win over Durham, and the Redbirds did it with traffic all afternoon.
The Redbirds finished with 15 hits, scoring in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings.
Cooper Hjerpe earned Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day honors after working 3.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and three walks while striking out five.
His final line: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
The walks kept Hjerpe from working deeper, but the swing-and-miss was there, and he left the game with Memphis in position to win.
The bullpen did enough from there. Brycen Mautz came in and struck out both batters he faced, stranding inherited traffic. Hancel Rincón was excellent, working 2.1 scoreless innings with one hit allowed and three strikeouts. Ryan Murphy allowed two runs over the final two innings, but Memphis had already built enough cushion.
Offensively, Leo Bernal hit his 15th home run of the season and drove in his 73rd run. Ramon Mendoza added his ninth home run and RBI No. 45. Chase Davis continued to swing the bat well, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Colton Ledbetter went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Victor Scott II had two hits and his 10th double. Thomas Saggese also had two hits and stole his eighth base.
Takeaway: Memphis got production up and down the lineup, and Hjerpe’s start set the tone before the bullpen finished the win.
Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 58-55
Second Half: 27-18, tied for 1st in the Texas League North
Streak: L2
Northwest Arkansas 6, Springfield 5
Springfield had the bats working, but the Cardinals could not climb all the way back.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the first inning and finished with 10 hits, but Northwest Arkansas scored four in the fourth and held on for a 6-5 win.
Rainiel Rodriguez had a strong day, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI, lifting his average to .300 and his OPS to .911. Jesús Báez went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Won-Bin Cho added two hits and drove in a run.
Tai Peete doubled, walked and scored twice. Josiah Ragsdale doubled, drove in a run and scored. Deniel Ortiz added an RBI, and Tre Richardson III had a hit.
On the mound, Braden Davis allowed six earned runs over five innings. He walked three, struck out five and gave up two home runs.
The bullpen was outstanding. Andrew Schultz, Domenic Picone, Randel Clemente and Sandro Santana combined for four no-hit, scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
Takeaway: Springfield’s bullpen gave the Cardinals every chance to rally, but the fourth inning was the difference. The Cardinals remain tied for first, but the streak has slipped to two losses.
Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Overall Record: 55-58
Second Half: 23-24, 5th in the Midwest League West, 5.5 GB
Streak: L3
Beloit 16, Peoria 6
Peoria had a miserable afternoon until the ninth inning finally gave the Chiefs something to take from it.
Beloit led 16-0 before Peoria scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth. The rally was too late to change the outcome, but it did produce the top offensive line in the system.
Jalin Flores earned Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day honors after going 2-for-5 with his 16th home run, four RBIs and a run scored.
His final line: 2-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, R
Flores drove in four runs with one swing and pushed his season RBI total to 78.
Brayden Smith also had a strong day, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Sammy Hernandez doubled, drove in his 31st run and stole his 18th base. Ian Petrutz had a hit and two walks.
The pitching side was rough. Peoria allowed 19 hits, 16 runs and seven home runs. Nate Dohm allowed six runs over three innings, including four home runs. Bobby Olsen allowed five runs in two-thirds of an inning. Dylan Driessen did strike out two in a scoreless ninth.
Takeaway: Flores gave Peoria a late offensive headline, but the game was long gone before the ninth-inning rally.
Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A
Overall Record: 56-58
Second Half: 23-25, 2nd in the Florida State League East, 8.0 GB
Streak: L1
Daytona 12, Palm Beach 2
Palm Beach took another tough loss at Daytona, falling 12-2 after the Tortugas broke the game open late.
The Cardinals were within 2-2 after the top of the sixth, but Daytona scored six runs in the bottom half, then added three more in the seventh and one in the eighth.
Ryan Mitchell had the best offensive day for Palm Beach, going 3-for-5. Matthew Miura doubled, drove in both Cardinals runs, walked and stole his 18th base. Alexander Frias doubled and scored, while Trevor Haskins added his 22nd double.
On the mound, Payton Graham gave Palm Beach 3.2 innings, allowing two runs, only one earned, with three walks and five strikeouts. Alan Reyes followed with 1.1 scoreless innings.
After that, the game got away from the bullpen. Kaden Echeman, Dallis Moran and JR Fordham combined to allow 10 runs over the final three innings.
Takeaway: Palm Beach had the game tied in the sixth, but Daytona’s late innings turned it into a runaway.
Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats
1. Jalin Flores, Peoria: 2-for-5, home run, four RBIs, run scored.
2. Cooper Hjerpe, Memphis: 3.1 innings, three hits, one earned run, three walks, five strikeouts.
3. Leo Bernal, Memphis: 15th home run, 73rd RBI and ninth stolen base.
4. Chase Davis, Memphis: 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
5. Colton Ledbetter, Memphis: 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored.
6. Ramon Mendoza, Memphis: Ninth home run and RBI No. 45.
7. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 2-for-4, two doubles, RBI, now hitting .300.
8. Brayden Smith, Peoria: 3-for-4, double, walk, run scored.
9. Matthew Miura, Palm Beach: Double, two RBIs, walk and stolen base No. 18.
10. Hancel Rincón, Memphis: 2.1 scoreless innings, one hit, three strikeouts.
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Jalin Flores, SS, Peoria Chiefs
Flores gets the honor after supplying the biggest offensive swing of the day.
His final line: 2-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, R
The game was already out of hand, but Flores’ ninth-inning homer gave Peoria something to take from a rough afternoon and pushed him to 78 RBIs on the season.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Memphis Redbirds
Hjerpe did not work deep, but he had the top starting line of the day and helped Memphis get the system’s only win.
His final line: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
The five strikeouts stood out, and the bullpen made the lead hold.
The Final Word
Sunday belonged to Memphis, because the Redbirds were the only affiliate to win.
Memphis had 15 hits and enough pitching to beat Durham. Springfield lost by one despite 10 hits and a dominant bullpen. Peoria was buried early before Jalin Flores gave the Chiefs a late four-RBI swing. Palm Beach was tied in the sixth before Daytona broke it open.
The farm went 1-3.
The big-league note is just as important: Quinn Mathews is getting the call to start Game 1 of today’s doubleheader in Cincinnati.
That is the farm report.