Franklin Fans Eight as Springfield Wins Seventh Straight

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Morning Farm Report: Franklin Fans Eight as Springfield Wins Seventh Straight
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

The Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your daily look at the Cardinals’ minor league system — from box scores and standings to standout performances, prospect notes and the daily Top 30 Prospect Watch.

The report is now down to two active clubs.

The regular season is over for the Peoria Chiefs and Palm Beach Cardinals, leaving Memphis and Springfield as the two Cardinals affiliates still playing.

Thursday was a split night.

Memphis lost to Norfolk, 9-2, while Springfield held off Arkansas, 4-3, for its seventh straight win.

The two active affiliates finished 1-1.

Dakota Harris earned Hitter of the Day honors after going 1-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk for Memphis. Tanner Franklin, the MLB Pipeline No. 5 prospect, earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working six strong innings for Springfield.

Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 77-64
Second Half: 30-36, 8th in the International League West, 7.0 GB
Streak: L2
Status: Playoff-bound

Norfolk 9, Memphis 2

Memphis dropped its second straight.

The Redbirds fell to Norfolk, 9-2, as the Tides scored in five of the first six innings and built a lead Memphis could not chase down. Memphis finished with two runs on eight hits.

Dakota Harris supplied the biggest swing for Memphis, hitting his first home run and driving in one. César Prieto went 2-for-4 and drove in a run. Brody Moore had the best overall day in the lineup, going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Chase Davis singled, walked and stole a base.

On the mound, Brandt Thompson had a rough night, allowing six earned runs over four innings. Matt Svanson struck out three in one inning, Skylar Hales worked 2.1 scoreless innings, and Hancel Rincon added a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts.

Takeaway: Memphis is still playoff-bound, but the Redbirds have now dropped two straight and need to tighten things up before postseason play.

Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 77-57
Second Half: 46-20, 1st in the Texas League North, 6.0 games ahead
Streak: W7
Status: Playoff-bound

Springfield 4, Arkansas 3

Springfield kept rolling.

The Cardinals beat Arkansas, 4-3, scoring twice in the third and twice more in the sixth. Arkansas made it uncomfortable with two runs in the ninth, but Springfield held on for its seventh straight win.

The Cardinals finished with 10 hits, including five doubles.

Josiah Ragsdale, the MLB Pipeline No. 10 prospect, went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Rainiel Rodriguez, the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, went 2-for-4 and stole his seventh base. Jesús Báez, the MLB Pipeline No. 21 prospect, doubled, while Won-Bin Cho, Jack Gurevitch, Cade McGee and Tre Richardson III also doubled. Richardson drove in two.

On the mound, Tanner Franklin gave Springfield the start it needed.

Franklin worked six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight.

His final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Domenic Picone followed with 1.2 scoreless innings, and Michael Watson recorded the final out after Arkansas pushed two across in the ninth.

Takeaway: Springfield has won seven straight and continues to look postseason-ready.

Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Season Complete

Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A
Season Complete

Top 30 Prospect Watch
Rainiel Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline No. 1, went 2-for-4 with a stolen base for Springfield. His season line is listed at .321 with a .977 OPS, 25 home runs and 85 RBIs.

Liam Doyle, MLB Pipeline No. 2, did not pitch Thursday. His season line is listed at 3.76 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 130 strikeouts over 103.0 innings.

Tanner Franklin, MLB Pipeline No. 5, worked six innings, allowing one earned run while striking out eight. His season line is listed at 4.09 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 125 strikeouts over 99.0 innings.

Josiah Ragsdale, MLB Pipeline No. 10, went 1-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base for Springfield. His season line is listed at .302 with a .976 OPS, 24 home runs and 64 RBIs.

Mason Molina, MLB Pipeline No. 18, did not pitch Thursday. His season line is listed at 3.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 140 strikeouts over 113.0 innings.

Jesús Báez, MLB Pipeline No. 21, went 1-for-4 with a double for Springfield. His season line is listed at .280 with a .908 OPS, 38 home runs and 108 RBIs.

Sandro Santana, MLB Pipeline No. 22, did not pitch Thursday. His season line is listed at 2.12 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 94 strikeouts over 59.1 innings.

Deniel Ortiz, MLB Pipeline No. 27, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .266 with an .851 OPS, 10 home runs and 40 RBIs.

Jack Gurevitch, MLB Pipeline No. 30, went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .278 with an .883 OPS, 30 home runs and 92 RBIs.

Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Dakota Harris, 1B, Memphis Redbirds

Harris supplied the biggest swing for Memphis.

His final line:1-for-3, HR, RBI, R, BB

One swing.
One home run.
One bright spot in a Memphis loss.

Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Tanner Franklin, Springfield Cardinals
MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 5

Franklin gave Springfield six strong innings and helped push the Cardinals’ winning streak to seven.

His final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Six innings.
One earned run.
Eight strikeouts.
A Springfield win.

That is a Pitcher of the Day performance.

Final Word
The farm report is now simple.

Memphis lost.
Springfield won.
Peoria and Palm Beach are done for the season.

Memphis fell to Norfolk, 9-2, and has dropped two straight. Springfield beat Arkansas, 4-3, and has now won seven straight as it continues preparing for postseason play.

Two active teams.
One win.
One loss.
The playoff focus continues.

Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats
1. Tanner Franklin, Springfield: 6.0 innings, five hits, one earned run, two walks, eight strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 5

2. Dakota Harris, Memphis: 1-for-3, home run, RBI, run scored, walk.

3. Brody Moore, Memphis: 3-for-3, double, run scored.

4. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 2-for-4, stolen base. MLB Pipeline No. 1

5. Josiah Ragsdale, Springfield: 1-for-4, RBI, run scored, stolen base. MLB Pipeline No. 10

6. Tre Richardson III, Springfield: 1-for-4, double, two RBIs.

7. César Prieto, Memphis: 2-for-4, RBI.

8. Matt Svanson, Memphis: 1.0 scoreless inning, two hits, three strikeouts.

9. Domenic Picone, Springfield: 1.2 scoreless innings, one hit, no walks, two strikeouts.

10. Hancel Rincon, Memphis: 1.0 scoreless inning, no hits, no walks, two strikeouts.

That's your morning farm report.