Memphis Split, Springfield Wins, Peoria Falls in Slugfest & Palm Beach Shut Out

The Cardinal Chronicle
Morning Farm Report
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Redbirds Split, Springfield Wins, Peoria Falls in Slugfest and Palm Beach Shut Out

The Cardinals’ farm system had a mixed Wednesday across the organization, with Memphis holding its spot atop the International League West, Springfield winning its second straight, Peoria getting caught in a home run exchange at Dozer Park, and Palm Beach dropping a tight 1-0 game that tightened the Florida State League East race.

Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Record: 23-12, first place, International League West

Memphis opened its road trip in Toledo with a doubleheader split against the Mud Hens, dropping the opener 4-3 in eight innings before taking the second game 3-1.

The Redbirds jumped out to a 3-0 lead in both games, but Toledo rallied in the first contest, tying the game in the sixth before winning it in extra innings. Bryan Torres hit his second home run of the season, while Colton Ledbetter went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Starter Byrcen Mautz gave Memphis five innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

In Game 2, Miguel Villarroel drove in his first Triple-A run, and Blaze Jordan provided the big blow with a 415-foot, two-run homer, his eighth of the season. Bruce Zimmermann improved to 4-0 after allowing one run over 5 1/3 innings, while Matt Pushard picked up the save with 1 2/3 scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Despite the split, Memphis remained 1.5 games up in the International League West and has not spent a day outside at least a share of first place this season. 

Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Record: 9-19, fifth place, Texas League North

Springfield opened its series with Corpus Christi by outlasting the Hooks 10-6 at Route 66 Stadium, giving the Cardinals back-to-back wins and a positive start to the homestand after Tuesday’s rainout.

Ryan Campos continued to swing a loud bat, going 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBIs. It was his second straight game with a home run. Noah Mendlinger and Jeremy Rivas also drove in two runs apiece, giving Springfield enough offense to survive a messy afternoon that included eight combined errors.

The Cardinals also made things happen on the bases, stealing four bags, with Chase Davis swiping two and Travis Honeyman and Dakota Harris adding one each. Out of the bullpen, Hunter Hayes, Edwin Núñez, Dominic Picone, and Austin Love combined for 4 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run. Hayes earned the win to improve to 2-1.

Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Record: 13-15, fifth place, Midwest League West

Peoria got caught in a home-run derby at Dozer Park, falling 8-5 to Wisconsin as the Timber Rattlers used a barrage of long balls to even the series at one game apiece.

The Chiefs answered an early 2-0 deficit with power of their own in the second inning. Josh Kross launched a solo home run to left-center, and José Suárez followed two batters later with a two-run shot after a Cade McGee single, giving Peoria a 3-2 lead.

Wisconsin kept punching back. Tayden Hall homered in the fourth and later added an RBI single, while Andrew Fischer and Josh Adamczewski went back-to-back in the sixth. Josiah Ragsdale added a seventh-inning homer for the Timber Rattlers. Peoria stayed within reach, tying the game in the fourth on a wild pitch and cutting the deficit to 7-5 in the sixth on Jose Cordoba’s RBI hit, but the Chiefs left runners in scoring position in the eighth and another runner at second in the ninth.

Palm Beach Cardinals — Single-A
Record: 16-13, tied for first place, Florida State League East

Palm Beach was shut out 1-0 by Jupiter at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, with the only run coming in the eighth inning on Abrahan Ramirez’s solo home run to right center.

The loss was a tough one for the Cardinals, who were held scoreless one night after Jupiter’s 13-1 win. The back-to-back losses pulled the Hammerheads even with Palm Beach at 16-13 atop the Florida State League East standings. Palm Beach has now dropped two straight, while Jupiter has won three in a row.

Old School Take

Memphis continues to look like the most complete club in the system, and Wednesday’s split showed why. Even when the Redbirds let one get away, they came right back with pitching, power, and enough veteran steadiness to keep their place at the top.

Springfield’s record still has a long way to go, but back-to-back wins matter, especially when the offense is spreading around the production, and the bullpen is giving the club a chance to breathe.

Peoria showed fight but paid for missed locations in a hitter-friendly game, and Palm Beach is now in a flat-footed tie with Jupiter after two rough nights. That is baseball on the farm - some days you harvest, some days the weeds get a little tall.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.