Gurevitch, Clarke Lead Springfield to Eighth Straight Win
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Farm Report: Gurevitch, Clarke Lead Springfield to Eighth Straight Win
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 remains focused on the two Cardinals affiliates still playing.
The regular season is over for the Peoria Chiefs and Palm Beach Cardinals, leaving Memphis and Springfield as the two active clubs.
Friday was another split night.
Memphis lost to Norfolk, 5-3, after the Tides scored late to erase an early Redbirds lead. Springfield beat Arkansas, 5-3, behind a strong pitching night and another big game from Jack Gurevitch.
The two active affiliates finished 1-1.
Jack Gurevitch, the MLB Pipeline No. 30 prospect, earned Hitter of the Day honors after going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored for Springfield. Brandon Clarke, the MLB Pipeline No. 7 prospect, earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 77-65
Second Half: 30-37, 8th in the International League West, 8.0 GB
Streak: L3
Status: Playoff-bound
Norfolk 5, Memphis 3
Memphis let this one get away late.
The Redbirds scored three runs in the first inning and held a 3-2 lead until the eighth, but Norfolk scored once in the eighth and twice in the ninth to hand Memphis a 5-3 loss. The Redbirds finished with three runs on six hits.
Zach Levenson supplied the offense, going 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. His homer was his fifth of the season and accounted for all three Memphis runs. Jimmy Crooks went 2-for-4, while Dakota Harris doubled and walked. Noah Mendlinger singled and walked, and Ramon Mendoza walked and scored.
On the mound, Jurrangelo Cijntje, the MLB Pipeline No. 9 prospect, worked 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five. Peter Strzelecki followed with 1.1 scoreless innings, and Sandro Santana, the MLB Pipeline No. 22 prospect, added a clean inning with one strikeout.
The game turned late, when Norfolk scored three runs over the final two innings.
Takeaway: Memphis has dropped three straight, but the Redbirds remain playoff-bound. The concern now is sharpening up before postseason play.
Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 78-57
Second Half: 47-20, 1st in the Texas League North, 6.0 games ahead
Streak: W8
Status: Playoff-bound
Springfield 5, Arkansas 3
Springfield keeps rolling.
The Cardinals beat Arkansas, 5-3, scoring one run in the first, two in the second, one in the fifth and one in the sixth. The Travelers made it interesting with three runs in the ninth, but Springfield held on for its eighth straight win.
Jack Gurevitch, the MLB Pipeline No. 30 prospect, had the biggest offensive night in the system, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
His final line: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Rainiel Rodriguez, the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, went 1-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Deniel Ortiz, the MLB Pipeline No. 27 prospect, went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Won-Bin Cho doubled, walked and scored, while Jon Jon Gazdar had two hits, an RBI and a stolen base.
On the mound, Brandon Clarke was outstanding.
Clarke worked four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out seven.
His final line: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Darlin Saladin followed with 2.1 scoreless innings and five strikeouts. Joseph King added 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Springfield pitching struck out 17 batters in the win.
Takeaway: Springfield has won eight straight and continues to look like the hottest team in the Cardinals’ system heading into postseason play.
Top 30 Prospect Watch
Rainiel Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline No. 1, went 1-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, a run scored and a walk for Springfield. His season line is listed at .323 with a .983 OPS, 26 home runs and 86 RBIs.
Liam Doyle, MLB Pipeline No. 2, did not pitch Friday. 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, did not pitch Friday. His season line is listed at 3.94 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 133 strikeouts over 105.0 innings.
Brandon Clarke, MLB Pipeline No. 7, worked four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out seven for Springfield. His season line is listed at 3.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 44 strikeouts over 29.2 innings.
Jurrangelo Cijntje, MLB Pipeline No. 9, worked 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out five for Memphis. His season line is listed at 5.08 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 159 strikeouts over 127.2 innings.
Josiah Ragsdale, MLB Pipeline No. 10, went 0-for-4 for Springfield. His season line is listed at .298 with a .964 OPS, 24 home runs and 65 RBIs.
Mason Molina, MLB Pipeline No. 18, did not pitch Friday. His season line is listed at 3.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 140 strikeouts over 113.0 innings.
Tai Peete, MLB Pipeline No. 19, went 1-for-4 for Springfield. His season line is listed at .301 with a .924 OPS, 13 home runs and 56 RBIs.
Jesús Báez, MLB Pipeline No. 21, did not appear in the Springfield lineup. His season line is listed at .279 with a .907 OPS, 38 home runs and 108 RBIs.
Sandro Santana, MLB Pipeline No. 22, worked one scoreless inning for Memphis with one strikeout. His season line is listed at 2.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 95 strikeouts over 60.1 innings.
Deniel Ortiz, MLB Pipeline No. 27, went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Springfield. His season line is listed at .271 with an .853 OPS, 10 home runs and 41 RBIs.
Jack Gurevitch, MLB Pipeline No. 30, went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .282 with an .896 OPS, 31 home runs and 94 RBIs.
Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats
1. Jack Gurevitch, Springfield: 3-for-4, home run, two RBIs, two runs. MLB Pipeline No. 30
2. Brandon Clarke, Springfield: 4.0 scoreless innings, one hit, one walk, seven strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 7
3. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 1-for-3, home run, RBI, run scored, walk. MLB Pipeline No. 1
4. Zach Levenson, Memphis: 1-for-4, home run, three RBIs.
5. Darlin Saladin, Springfield: 2.1 scoreless innings, one hit, two walks, five strikeouts.
6. Joseph King, Springfield: 1.2 scoreless innings, no hits, no walks, three strikeouts.
7. Deniel Ortiz, Springfield: 2-for-4, RBI. MLB Pipeline No. 27
8. Jon Jon Gazdar, Springfield: 2-for-3, RBI, stolen base.
9. Jimmy Crooks, Memphis: 2-for-4.
10. Sandro Santana, Memphis: 1.0 scoreless inning, no hits, no walks, one strikeout. MLB Pipeline No. 22
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Jack Gurevitch, 1B, Springfield Cardinals
MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 30
Gurevitch gave Springfield the biggest offensive line of the night.
His final line: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Three hits.
A home run.
Two RBIs.
Two runs scored.
A Springfield win.
That is a Player of the Day performance.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Brandon Clarke, Springfield Cardinals
MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 7
Clarke gave Springfield four scoreless innings and missed bats all night.
His final line: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Four scoreless.
One hit allowed.
Seven strikeouts.
A Springfield win.
That is a Pitcher of the Day performance.
THE Final Word
The farm report now belongs to Memphis and Springfield, and the direction of the two clubs could not look much different this week.
Memphis lost its third straight, falling to Norfolk, 5-3, after giving up three runs over the final two innings. Springfield won its eighth straight, beating Arkansas, 5-3, behind Jack Gurevitch’s bat and a 17-strikeout night from the pitching staff.
Peoria and Palm Beach are done for the season.
Memphis fell.
Springfield kept rolling.
The postseason focus continues.
That is the farm report.