MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Quinn Mathews
The Cardinal Chronicle
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Quinn Mathews
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Quinn Mathews did his job Saturday night.
Mathews is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after giving Memphis six strong innings in the Redbirds’ 5-4, 10-inning loss to Iowa at AutoZone Park.
His final line:
6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
That is exactly the kind of start Memphis needed.
Mathews held Iowa to one run over six innings, scattered three hits, walked just one batter and kept the game under control. He threw 86 pitches, 56 for strikes, and lowered his ERA to 3.39 with a 1.16 WHIP.
This was not a dominant strikeout-heavy performance, but it was a steady, professional start. Mathews attacked the zone, limited traffic and gave Memphis a real chance to win. For a Triple-A starter, that is the assignment.
The only run he allowed came in the sixth inning, and even then, he kept the damage limited. He did not let one run become three. He did not let the inning get away from him. He kept Memphis in the game and handed the ball off with the score tied.
That matters.
Brycen Mautz followed with two scoreless innings, and for most of the night, Memphis pitching had done enough. The game did not slip away until extra innings, when Iowa scored four runs in the top of the 10th. The Redbirds answered with three in the bottom half, but the comeback fell short.
That final score should not take anything away from Mathews.
He gave Memphis six innings of one-run baseball against a division opponent, and he did it with efficiency. He faced 21 batters, worked ahead often enough to stay out of trouble, and kept Iowa from building momentum.
For the Cardinals organization, starts like this continue to matter. Mathews has been one of the more important arms to watch at Memphis, and outings like Saturday’s show why. He does not have to be perfect to be valuable. He has to give length, throw strikes, limit damage and give his club a chance.
He did all of that.
Memphis did get some late offense. Colton Ledbetter drove in two runs, while Nolan Gorman and Brody Moore each added an RBI. Leo Bernal had two hits, Ramon Mendoza tripled and walked twice, and Joshua Báez walked twice and stole his 15th base.
But the night’s best pitching performance belonged to Mathews.
Six innings.
One run.
Three hits.
One walk.
A quality start that deserved better.
That earns the spotlight.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day:
Quinn Mathews, LHP, Memphis Redbirds
Final Line: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Quinn Mathews, Memphis Redbirds | MiLB