MiLP Pitcher of the Day: Cooper Hjerpe
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Cooper Hjerpe Sets Tone in Memphis Shutout
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Cooper Hjerpe did exactly what Memphis needed Tuesday night.
He set the tone.
Hjerpe, who was recently promoted from the Springfield Cardinals, is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after working four scoreless innings in the Redbirds’ 6-0 win over Durham. He allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out five, giving Memphis a clean start on a night when the pitching staff owned the story.
His final line: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
That is a strong day’s work.
Hjerpe did not work deep enough to qualify for a traditional win, but this was still the kind of outing that gives a club control of the game. He kept Durham off the board, missed bats, limited contact and handed the ball to the bullpen with Memphis in position to finish the job.
The bullpen did exactly that.
Jared Shuster, Matt Svanson, Austin Love and Skylar Hales combined to cover the final five innings, helping Memphis finish a four-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts as a staff.
That is how you close the door.
The Redbirds’ offense gave the pitching staff room to work. Memphis scored three runs in the fifth, two more in the sixth and added one in the ninth to finish off the 6-0 win.
Noah Mendlinger had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in two. Colton Ledbetter hit his eighth home run of the season. Thomas Saggese doubled and drove in two runs. Joshua Báez added two hits and stole two bases.
But the pitching headline belonged to Hjerpe.
Four scoreless innings.
One hit allowed.
Five strikeouts.
A shutout win.
That is the kind of start that does not always dominate the box score, but it shapes the entire night. Hjerpe gave Memphis the first clean four innings, and the bullpen followed his lead.
The Redbirds have now won two straight, and Tuesday’s win was built the right way: score first, pitch clean, defend the lead and finish the shutout.
Hjerpe got it started.
That earns the spotlight.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day:
Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Memphis Redbirds
Final Line: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
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Photo Credit: Cooper Hjerpe, Memphis Redbirds | MLB