MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Tanner Franklin

The Cardinal Chronicle
MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Tanner Franklin Deserved Better in Peoria Loss
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Sunday was not a pretty day across the Cardinals’ farm system, but Tanner Franklin gave Peoria something worth highlighting.

Franklin is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after turning in the best pitching performance in the system during Peoria’s 7-0 loss to South Bend.

His final line: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

That is a strong outing, even if the final score does not show it.

Franklin gave the Chiefs a real chance early. He allowed just one hit, walked only one, struck out four and kept South Bend from breaking the game open while he was on the mound. Through four innings, Peoria was still very much in the game.

The trouble came after Franklin exited.

South Bend scored five runs in the fifth inning, and only one of those runs was charged to Franklin. From there, the Cubs kept adding on, while the Peoria offense could not answer. The Chiefs were shut out on five hits, wasting what had been a solid start from Franklin.

That is the frustrating part.

Franklin did his job. He attacked the zone, limited traffic and gave Peoria the kind of start it needed after a rough stretch for the pitching staff. He threw 70 pitches, 40 for strikes, and left with a pitching line that deserved a much better outcome.

The best sign was the efficiency in traffic control. One hit and one walk across 4.1 innings usually gives a club a fighting chance. Franklin was not piling up empty strikeouts while walking the yard. He was keeping the game under control.

That matters.

Peoria did get some offense from Sammy Hernandez, who went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base, but the Chiefs never found the big hit. Jack Gurevitch, José Suárez and Luis Pino added singles, but South Bend kept Peoria off the scoreboard.

For Franklin, the outing lowered his ERA to 4.62 and his WHIP to 1.33. More importantly, it gave the Chiefs a clean starting effort on a day when clean pitching performances were hard to find across the system.

Sometimes a pitcher earns the spotlight without earning the win.

Sunday was one of those days.

Franklin gave Peoria length, limited damage and kept the game alive. The offense did not respond, and the bullpen could not hold the line, but his outing still stands on its own.

Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day:
Tanner Franklin, RHP, Peoria Chiefs
Final Line: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Tanner Franklin, Peoria Chiefs | MLB