Farm Report: Odle Dominates, McGee Goes Deep Twice, Bernal Homers
The Cardinal Chronicle
Daily Farm Report
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Farm Report: Odle Dominates, McGee Homers Twice, Bernal Goes Deep in Memphis Loss
The Cardinals’ farm system went 1-2 on Saturday night, with Springfield washed out in Frisco and rescheduled for a Sunday doubleheader.
Peoria carried the night, shutting out Beloit 5-0 behind another strong start from Jacob Odle and a two-homer game from Cade McGee. Memphis jumped ahead early but could not hold off Louisville in an 11-3 loss. Palm Beach dropped a close one in Tampa, falling 4-3 to the Tarpons.
Memphis Redbirds
Record: 37-25, 1st Place, Tie, International League West
Result: Louisville 11, Memphis 3
Memphis got the early swing it wanted, but Louisville controlled the rest of the night.
Leonardo Bernal put the Redbirds in front in the first inning with his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot that gave Memphis an early 2-0 lead. Bernal finished 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and two runs scored, providing the brightest offensive spot in an otherwise frustrating loss.
Yohel Pozo later doubled home Bernal for Memphis’ final run in the fifth inning, but the Redbirds could not build from there. Louisville scored 11 of the final 12 runs and pulled away late.
Brycen Mautz deserved a better fate. The left-hander worked five innings and did not allow an earned run, giving up three unearned runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. It was a competitive outing, and he kept Memphis in position before the game got away.
Max Rajcic took the loss after allowing four runs over two innings, including a pair of two-run home runs. The loss kept Memphis a half-game behind Rochester for first place in the International League first-half standings and dropped the Redbirds into a tie for second with Nashville.
Springfield Cardinals
Record: 25-29, 3rd Place, 9.5 GB, Texas League North
Result: Postponed
Springfield’s Saturday night game against the Frisco RoughRiders was postponed due to inclement weather at Riders Field.
Continuous rain in Frisco forced the teams to call off the matchup before play could begin. The game will be made up Sunday, June 7, as part of a doubleheader.
Game one is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., with game two beginning roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opener. Both games are scheduled as seven-inning contests.
For Springfield, that means a long Sunday and a chance to make up ground quickly. Doubleheaders in the minors can turn a series in a hurry. One clean start, one big inning, or one bullpen arm getting hot can change the whole tone of the weekend.
Peoria Chiefs Record: 29-27, 3rd Place, Midwest League West
Result: Peoria 5, Beloit 0
Peoria stayed hot, and Jacob Odle made sure Beloit never got comfortable.
The Chiefs shut out the Sky Carp 5-0 at Dozer Park, extending their winning streak to five games and remaining unbeaten in June. Peoria improved to 29-27 and continued its strong run against Beloit.
Cade McGee gave the Chiefs the early thunder. He opened the scoring in the first inning with a solo home run, then came back in the third and launched a two-run shot to the same area, giving Peoria a 4-0 lead.
Two swings. Three runs. Ballgame tilted.
Jesús Báez also had a productive night. He drove in Tre Richardson III with an RBI single in the third and later scored from second on a wild pitch and defensive mistake in the fifth to push the lead to 5-0.
But the story on the mound was Odle.
In his first start at Dozer Park, Odle worked 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out eight. That is not just a good line. That is the kind of start that makes people in the organization take another look.
The bullpen finished it cleanly. Jawilme Ramírez worked 1.1 scoreless innings, Jason Savacool handled the eighth, and Bobby Olson closed out the ninth to complete the shutout.
This was Peoria at its best: early power, starting pitching, clean bullpen work, and no late drama. That combination still plays.
Palm Beach Cardinals
Record: 30-26, 1st Place, Florida State League East
Result: Tampa 4, Palm Beach 3
Palm Beach dropped a tight one Saturday night in Tampa, falling 4-3 to the Tarpons at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Cardinals had chances, but Tampa did enough damage to hand Palm Beach another road loss. The box score shows a much closer game than the early storyline suggested, with Palm Beach staying within striking distance but unable to finish the comeback.
For a first-place club, these are the games you want to steal. Palm Beach has been one of the stronger teams in the system, but the Florida State League has a way of turning one missed opportunity into a one-run loss in a hurry.
The Cardinals remain in first place in the Florida State League East, but Saturday was a reminder that even good clubs have to cash in when the door is open.
Player of the Day
Cade McGee, Peoria Chiefs
Cade McGee is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Player of the Day after homering twice in Peoria’s 5-0 win over Beloit.
McGee gave the Chiefs the lead with a solo homer in the first and then gave Jacob Odle breathing room with a two-run blast in the third. That is the kind of offensive impact that changes how a game is played.
Once Peoria had the lead, Odle could attack, the bullpen could work from ahead, and Beloit spent the night chasing.
Leonardo Bernal deserves strong mention for homering and doubling in Memphis’ loss, but McGee’s two-homer night in a shutout win gets the nod.
Pitcher of the Day
Jacob Odle, Peoria Chiefs
Jacob Odle is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Pitcher of the Day after delivering 5.2 scoreless innings in Peoria’s win over Beloit.
Odle allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out eight in his first start at Dozer Park. He gave the Chiefs length, swing-and-miss, and command of the game from the mound.
Brycen Mautz deserves strong mention after allowing no earned runs over five innings for Memphis, but Odle’s scoreless outing, eight strikeouts and role in a combined shutout make this an easy call.
Old School Take
This was Peoria’s night.
McGee supplied the thump. Odle supplied the pitching. The bullpen finished the job. That is how you draw it up.
Memphis had a few bright spots with Bernal and Mautz, but not enough to keep Louisville from running away late. Springfield will have to make up its rainout Sunday. Palm Beach lost a close one in Tampa.
Some nights the farm report is complicated.
This one was not.
Peoria carried the system.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with the Gateway Sports
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Photo Credit: Jacob Odle, Peoria Chiefs | MiLB