Frias Homers, Thompson Fans Eight, Palm Beach Only Win
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Farm Report: Frias Homers, Thompson Fans Eight, Palm Beach Saves the Night
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
The Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your most complete daily look at the Cardinals’ minor league system — from box scores and standings to standout performances and prospect notes.
Saturday was a rough night across the Cardinals’ farm system, with Palm Beach providing the only win.
Alexander Frias hit his first home run for Palm Beach and helped the Cardinals snap a four-game losing streak. Brandt Thompson gave Memphis five strong innings with eight strikeouts, but the Redbirds could not turn it into a win. Springfield was shut out, and Peoria was swept in a doubleheader at Dozer Park.
The full-season affiliates finished 1-4 in completed games.
Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 66-53
Second Half: 19-25, 8th in the International League West, 9.0 GB
Streak: L1
Durham 4, Memphis 1
Memphis scored in the first inning and then went quiet.
The Redbirds managed only three hits and struck out 14 times in a 4-1 loss to Durham.
Brandt Thompson earned Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day honors after giving Memphis five strong innings. He allowed four hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out eight.
His final line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
That was more than good enough to keep Memphis in the game.
The problem was the offense. Victor Scott II doubled, walked and scored the only Redbirds run. Leo Bernal drove him in, giving Bernal 72 RBIs on the season. Colton Ledbetter doubled and stole his 20th base.
That was the Memphis offense.
The bullpen could not hold the 1-1 tie. Skylar Hales allowed two runs in the seventh, and Jared Shuster allowed another in the eighth. Ryan Fernandez did strike out two in a scoreless inning.
Takeaway: Thompson gave Memphis a strong start, but three hits and 14 strikeouts were too much to overcome.
Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 58-54
Second Half: 27-17, 1st in the Texas League North
Streak: L1
Northwest Arkansas 3, Springfield 0
Springfield’s offense never got started.
The Cardinals were held to two hits and struck out 15 times in a 3-0 loss to Northwest Arkansas.
Daniel Eagen pitched better than the final score may suggest. He worked six innings, allowing four hits, three runs, only one earned, one walk and four strikeouts.
His final line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
The Springfield bullpen was excellent. Nolan Sparks, Michael Watson and Darlin Saladin combined for three hitless, scoreless innings.
Offensively, there was not much to grab. Jack Gurevitch and Dakota Harris had the only Springfield hits. Harris also stole his 28th base.
Takeaway: Springfield pitching allowed only one earned run, but the offense had two hits and no answers.
Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Overall Record: 55-57
Second Half: 23-23, 5th in the Midwest League West, 4.5 GB
Streak: L2
Beloit 3, Peoria 2 — Game 1
Beloit 2, Peoria 1 — Game 2
Peoria played two tight games Saturday and lost them both.
The Chiefs dropped the opener, 3-2, then lost the second game, 2-1. Across the doubleheader, Peoria scored only three runs.
In Game 1, Brayden Smith went 2-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Caden Ferraro drove in a run, and Sammy Hernandez added his 30th RBI of the season. Brandon Clarke gave Peoria 3.2 innings, allowing one run on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts.
In Game 2, the Chiefs were held to one hit. Yordalin Peña had that hit, a double, and also stole two bases. Caden Ferraro drove in Peoria’s only run.
The pitching kept Peoria close again. Jacob Odle allowed two runs over four innings, while Gerardo Salas and Christian Worley combined for three scoreless innings. Worley struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh.
Takeaway: Peoria’s pitching gave the Chiefs a chance in both games, but the offense produced only three runs across 14 innings.
Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A
Overall Record: 56-57
Second Half: 23-24, 2nd in the Florida State League East, 7.0 GB
Streak: W1
Palm Beach 4, Daytona 1
Palm Beach saved the night for the system.
The Cardinals beat Daytona, 4-1, behind strong pitching and timely extra-base damage.
Alexander Frias earned Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day honors after going 1-for-3 with his first Palm Beach home run, an RBI, a run scored, a walk and a stolen base.
His final line: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R, BB, SB
Frias gave Palm Beach power and speed in the same box score, and that was enough to earn the spotlight on a quiet offensive night around the system.
Matthew Miura also had a strong game, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Trevor Haskins hit his 12th home run of the season. Sebastian Dos Santos had two hits, a walk, a run scored and his 16th stolen base. Heriberto Caraballo added a triple.
On the mound, Jefferson Moran gave Palm Beach five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk with two strikeouts.
His final line: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Yadiel Batista covered three innings, allowing one run, and Jesús García finished the ninth with a scoreless inning and a strikeout.
Takeaway: Palm Beach snapped its four-game losing streak with a clean 4-1 win. Frias homered, Miura doubled twice and Moran set the tone on the mound.
Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats
1. Alexander Frias, Palm Beach: 1-for-3, home run, RBI, run, walk, stolen base.
2. Brandt Thompson, Memphis: 5.0 innings, four hits, one earned run, one walk, eight strikeouts.
3. Jefferson Moran, Palm Beach: 5.0 scoreless innings, three hits, one walk, two strikeouts.
4. Matthew Miura, Palm Beach: 2-for-3, two doubles, two RBIs.
5. Trevor Haskins, Palm Beach: 12th home run of the season.
6. Daniel Eagen, Springfield: 6.0 innings, four hits, three runs, one earned run, one walk, four strikeouts.
7. Brayden Smith, Peoria: 2-for-2, walk, stolen base in Game 1.
8. Christian Worley, Peoria: 1.0 perfect inning, three strikeouts.
9. Colton Ledbetter, Memphis: 15th double and 20th stolen base.
10. Yordalin Peña, Peoria: Double and two stolen bases in Game 2.
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Alexander Frias, RF, Palm Beach Cardinals
Frias had the top offensive line of the day and helped Palm Beach earn the only win in the system.
His final line: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R, BB, SB
A home run, a walk, a stolen base and a Palm Beach win.
That earns the honor.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Brandt Thompson, RHP, Memphis Redbirds
Thompson gave Memphis a strong start despite the loss.
His final line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K
He kept the Redbirds in the game, missed bats and gave the bullpen a chance to protect a tie.
The Final Word
Saturday belonged to Palm Beach.
The Cardinals were the only full-season affiliate to win, and they did it behind Frias’ home run, Miura’s two doubles and Moran’s five scoreless innings.
Memphis wasted a strong start from Brandt Thompson. Springfield was shut out despite allowing only one earned run. Peoria lost both ends of a doubleheader despite solid pitching.
One win.
Four losses.
A Palm Beach bright spot.
And a strong outing from Thompson in defeat.
That is the farm report.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Alexander Frias, Palm Beach Cardinals | MLB