MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Blake Aita

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Blake Aita Deals as Springfield Stays Hot
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Blake Aita gave Springfield exactly what a first-place club needs from a starting pitcher to keep the Cardinals fying high.

Aita is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after working 6.1 strong innings in the Cardinals’ 5-2 win over San Antonio on Tuesday night.

His final line:n6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

That is a winning start on any given day.

Aita allowed five hits, but he did not walk a batter. That was the key. He filled the strike zone, worked ahead, limited free traffic and kept San Antonio from building any kind of sustained threat.

He threw 88 pitches, 59 for strikes, and gave Springfield length, efficiency and control. For a pitching staff trying to protect a division lead, that kind of outing matters.

The Missions scored once in the first inning, but Aita settled in and kept the game there long enough for Springfield’s offense to answer. The Cardinals scored one in the second, two in the third and later added insurance with two more in the eighth.

After Aita left, the bullpen finished the job. Nolan Sparks recorded two outs, Jack Findlay worked the eighth, and Darlin Saladin closed it out with a clean ninth, striking out two.

Springfield’s offense gave Aita enough support. Jesús Báez hit his 15th home run of the season, a two-run shot, and drove in two. Zach Levenson went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI, while Ryan Campos added two hits and a double. Tai Peete went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base, and Deniel Ortiz doubled and drove in a run.

But the pitching headline belonged to Aita.

No walks.
Six strikeouts.
One earned run.
A road win for a first-place team.

Springfield improved to 54-48 overall and 23-11 in the second half, remaining alone in first place in the Texas League North.

Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day:
Blake Aita, RHP, Springfield Cardinals
Final Line: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K

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

Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary:
www.cardinalchronicle.com

Photo Credit: Blake Aita, Springfield Cardinals | MLB