MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Cooper Hjerpe
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Cooper Hjerpe
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Cooper Hjerpe did not work deep Sunday afternoon, but he gave Memphis the best starting line in the Cardinals’ system and helped set up the Redbirds’ 7-4 win over Durham.
Hjerpe is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after working 3.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run and three walks while striking out five.
His final line: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
The walks kept Hjerpe from getting deeper into the game, but the swing-and-miss was there.
He struck out five of the 15 batters he faced, threw 60 pitches, 37 for strikes, and kept Durham from putting together the kind of inning that could have changed the game early. It was not a spotless outing, but it was effective enough to give Memphis control.
That mattered on a day when the Redbirds were the only full-season Cardinals affiliate to win.
Hjerpe left with traffic on the bases, and Brycen Mautz did a big piece of work behind him. Mautz entered and struck out both batters he faced, stranding the inherited runners and keeping Memphis in front.
That was one of the quieter but more important moments of the game.
The Redbirds bullpen finished the job from there. Matt Svanson allowed a run in the fifth, but Hancel Rincón was excellent, working 2.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Ryan Murphy covered the final two innings as Memphis closed out the win.
The offense gave the pitching staff plenty to work with.
Memphis finished with 15 hits, led by multi-hit games from Victor Scott II, Leo Bernal, Thomas Saggese, Colton Ledbetter, Chase Davis and Ramon Mendoza. Bernal hit his 15th home run of the season and drove in his 73rd run. Mendoza added his ninth home run, while Davis drove in two.
But the pitching spotlight goes to Hjerpe.
Three and one-third innings.
Five strikeouts.
One earned run.
A Memphis win.
It was not a long start, but it was the top pitching line on a day when the system needed something to hold onto. Hjerpe missed bats, limited the damage and helped Memphis set the tone before the bullpen carried it home.
Sometimes Pitcher of the Day is not about the cleanest-looking box score.
Sometimes it is about who gives his club the best chance to win.
That was Hjerpe on Sunday.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day:
Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Memphis Redbirds
Final Line: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Cooper Hjerpe, Memphis Redbirds | Springfield Daily Citizen