Ledbetter Leads Memphis Rally, Eagen Fans 11 for Springfield
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Farm Report: Ledbetter Leads Memphis Rally, Eagen Fans 11 for Springfield
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, prospect notes and the daily Top 30 Prospect Watch.
The regular season is now over for the Peoria Chiefs and Palm Beach Cardinals, so the daily farm report shifts to the two Cardinals affiliates still playing — and both are headed for the postseason.
Memphis and Springfield both won Tuesday night.
The Redbirds rallied for an 11-10, 10-inning win over Norfolk, while Springfield beat Arkansas, 10-7, behind 12 hits, three home runs and an 11-strikeout start from Daniel Eagen.
The Cardinals’ two active full-season affiliates finished 2-0.
Colton Ledbetter earned Hitter of the Day honors after going 3-for-6 with a home run, two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored for Memphis. Daniel Eagen, the MLB Pipeline No. 17 prospect, earned Pitcher of the Day honors after striking out 11 over 5.2 innings for Springfield.
Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 77-62
Second Half: 30-34, 8th in the International League West, 6.0 GB
Streak: W5
Status: Playoff-bound
Memphis 11, Norfolk 10 — 10 innings
Memphis had to fight for this one.
The Redbirds trailed Norfolk after a rough middle stretch, but they kept coming. Memphis scored five runs in the fourth, added one in the seventh, two in the ninth to force extras, and then won it with a run in the 10th. The Redbirds finished with 11 runs on 15 hits in the comeback win.
Colton Ledbetter had the biggest offensive night in the system, going 3-for-6 with a home run, two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored.
His final line: 3-for-6, HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R
That is a leadoff spark.
Jimmy Crooks also homered, doubled, drove in a run and scored twice. Chase Davis had two hits and drove in four. Brody Moore went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk, while Bligh Madris and Noah Mendlinger each had two hits and reached base four times.
On the mound, Memphis had to survive a tough start. Josh Fleming allowed six earned runs over 3.2 innings, and Peter Strzelecki allowed four earned runs over 1.1 innings.
But the bullpen saved the night.
Matt Svanson, Sandro Santana, Skylar Hales and Hancel Rincon combined for five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out five. Rincon handled the 10th with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts.
Takeaway: Memphis won its fifth straight, and the offense picked up the pitching staff with a late rally and a 10-inning finish.
Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 75-57
Second Half: 44-20, 1st in the Texas League North, 6.0 games ahead
Streak: W5
Status: Playoff-bound
Springfield 10, Arkansas 7
Springfield kept winning, and the bats had plenty to say.
The Cardinals beat Arkansas, 10-7, scoring three runs in the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and four more in the seventh. Springfield finished with 10 runs on 12 hits.
The home run ball carried the offense.
Jack Gurevitch, the MLB Pipeline No. 30 prospect, went 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Deniel Ortiz, the MLB Pipeline No. 27 prospect, went 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored. Ian Petrutz added a home run and drove in three.
Rainiel Rodriguez, the MLB Pipeline No. 1 prospect, went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Ryan Campos had two hits and scored twice. Cade McGee went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored, while Luis Pino added two hits and a run.
On the mound, Daniel Eagen gave Springfield the strikeout performance of the night.
Eagen worked 5.2 innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs and one walk while striking out 11.
His final line: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 11 K
Chen-Wei Lin, the MLB Pipeline No. 29 prospect, finished the final 3.1 innings, allowing four runs while striking out four. Springfield pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.
Takeaway: Springfield won its fifth straight, stayed six games up in the Texas League North, and got enough power to back Eagen’s 11-strikeout start.
Top 30 Prospect Watch
Rainiel Rodriguez, MLB Pipeline No. 1, went 2-for-4 with a run scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .314 with a .960 OPS, 24 home runs and 82 RBIs.
Liam Doyle, MLB Pipeline No. 2, did not pitch Tuesday. His season line is listed at 3.77 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 125 strikeouts over 98.0 innings.
Jurrangelo Cijntje, MLB Pipeline No. 9, did not pitch Tuesday. His season line is listed at 5.12 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 154 strikeouts over 123.0 innings.
Josiah Ragsdale, MLB Pipeline No. 10, went 0-for-5 for Springfield. His season line is listed at .305 with a .987 OPS, 24 home runs and 64 RBIs.
Yhoiker Fajardo, MLB Pipeline No. 11, did not pitch Tuesday. His season line is listed at 3.82 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 130 strikeouts over 101.1 innings.
Daniel Eagen, MLB Pipeline No. 17, struck out 11 over 5.2 innings for Springfield. His season line is listed at 4.72 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 146 strikeouts over 116.1 innings.
Mason Molina, MLB Pipeline No. 18, did not pitch Tuesday. 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 0-for-1 with an RBI and a run scored for Springfield. His season line is listed at .281 with a .907 OPS, 37 home runs and 103 RBIs.
Sandro Santana, MLB Pipeline No. 22, worked two scoreless innings for Memphis, allowing no hits and one walk while striking out one. His season line is listed at 2.20 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 93 strikeouts over 57.1 innings.
Chen-Wei Lin, MLB Pipeline No. 29, worked 3.1 innings for Springfield and struck out four. His season line is listed at 4.80 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 114 strikeouts over 99.1 innings.
Jack Gurevitch, MLB Pipeline No. 30, homered and drove in three for Springfield. His season line is listed at .276 with an .873 OPS, 28 home runs and 87 RBIs.
Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats
1. Colton Ledbetter, Memphis: 3-for-6, home run, two doubles, two RBIs, three runs.
2. Daniel Eagen, Springfield: 5.2 innings, five hits, three earned runs, one walk, 11 strikeouts. MLB Pipeline No. 17
3. Chase Davis, Memphis: 2-for-6, four RBIs.
4. Jack Gurevitch, Springfield: 1-for-4, home run, three RBIs, run scored. MLB Pipeline No. 30
5. Ian Petrutz, Springfield: 1-for-4, home run, three RBIs, run scored.
6. Brody Moore, Memphis: 3-for-5, two RBIs, two runs, walk.
7. Deniel Ortiz, Springfield: 2-for-4, home run, RBI, two runs. MLB Pipeline No. 27
8. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 2-for-4, run scored. MLB Pipeline No. 1
9. Sandro Santana, Memphis: 2.0 scoreless innings, no hits, one walk, one strikeout. MLB Pipeline No. 22
10. Hancel Rincon, Memphis: 1.0 scoreless inning, no hits, one walk, two strikeouts.
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Colton Ledbetter, RF, Memphis Redbirds
Ledbetter gave Memphis the biggest offensive line of the night.
His final line: 3-for-6, HR, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R
Three hits.
Three extra-base hits.
Three runs scored.
A Memphis comeback win.
That is a Player of the Day performance.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Daniel Eagen, Springfield Cardinals
MLB Pipeline Ranking: No. 17
Eagen gave Springfield a strikeout-heavy start in a 10-7 win over Arkansas.
His final line: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 11 K
Eleven strikeouts.
One walk.
A Springfield win.
That is a Pitcher of the Day performance.
Final Word
The farm report looks different now.
Peoria and Palm Beach have finished their seasons, so the focus shifts to the two affiliates still active — Memphis and Springfield — and both are playoff-bound.
Tuesday was a good start to that final stretch.
Memphis won its fifth straight with an 11-10 comeback win in 10 innings. Springfield won its fifth straight with a 10-7 win over Arkansas. Colton Ledbetter powered the Memphis offense, and Daniel Eagen struck out 11 for Springfield.
Two active teams.
Two wins.
Two playoff clubs still playing.
That is the farm report.