MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Braden Davis, Helps Cards Move into First

The Cardinal Chronicle
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Braden Davis Helps Springfield Grab First Place
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

It was not the cleanest pitching line of the season, but Braden Davis did enough Sunday to help Springfield win the most important game on the Cardinals’ farm.

Davis is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after working three innings in Springfield’s 3-1 win over Tulsa, a victory that moved the Cardinals into sole possession of first place in the Texas League North second-half standings.

His final line:

3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 2 K

The five walks are impossible to ignore. Davis had to work through traffic, and his command was not sharp. He threw 75 pitches, only 36 for strikes, and also hit two batters.

That is the part that needs to be better.

But here is the other side of it: he allowed only one hit, gave up just one run, and kept Springfield close long enough for the offense and bullpen to take over. Sometimes a pitcher does not have his best command and still has to compete his way through the outing. Davis did that.

Tulsa scored once in the first inning, but Davis avoided the big inning. That mattered. The Drillers had chances to do real damage, but Davis limited the scoreboard damage and handed the game over with Springfield still very much alive.

From there, the bullpen was excellent.

Darlin Saladin, Jack Findlay, D.J. Carpenter, Hunter Hayes, Michael Watson and Domenic Picone combined for six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits the rest of the way. Picone closed it out in the ninth, and Springfield finished off a 3-1 win that carried real standings weight.

The offense did just enough. Dakota Harris went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a walk, while Jesús Báez drove in two runs and finished 2-for-4 with a double. Won-Bin Cho added the other RBI, and Springfield turned a tight game into a first-place win.

That is the big-picture takeaway.

This was not just another Sunday box score in July. Springfield improved to 12-6 in the second half, moving one game ahead of Tulsa in the Texas League North. After an uneven first half, the Cardinals have put themselves in position to control the race.

Davis’ outing was imperfect, but it served its purpose.

He did not let the game get away.
He limited the damage.
He kept Springfield within reach.
And the Cardinals won a first-place game.

That earns the spotlight.

Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day:
Braden Davis, RHP, Springfield Cardinals
Final Line: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 2 K

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Braden Davis, Springfield Cardinals | MLB