Peete Hits for the Cycle, Franklin Deals, Peoria Sweeps Doubleheader
THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE
Farm Report: Peete Hits for the Cycle, Franklin Deals, Peoria Sweeps Doubleheader
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Saturday belonged to Tai Peete and the Peoria Chiefs.
Peoria swept a doubleheader at Cedar Rapids, moved back to .500 overall, and extended its winning streak to five games. In the second game, Peete delivered one of the best individual performances in the Cardinals’ system this season, going 4-for-4 with a home run, triple, double, single, four RBIs, four runs scored, a walk and two stolen bases.
That is a cycle, with power, speed and run production piled on top.
Memphis held on late in Jacksonville, Springfield bounced back with a one-run win over Wichita, and Palm Beach lost in extras despite a strong offensive night from Jonathan Mejía.
The full-season affiliates finished 4-1 on the day.
Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A
Overall Record: 60-47
Second Half: 13-19, 9th in the International League West, 8.0 GB
Streak: W1
Memphis 8, Jacksonville 7
Memphis built a big lead, watched Jacksonville make it uncomfortable late, and still found a way to hold on for an 8-7 win.
The Redbirds scored one in the first, five in the second and two more in the fifth. That gave them an 8-0 lead before Jacksonville began chipping away with two runs in the sixth and five more in the eighth.
Nolan Gorman supplied the loudest swing for Memphis, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. César Prieto also went deep, hitting his 12th home run of the season and finishing 2-for-4.
Joshua Báez doubled, drove in two runs, walked and stole his 17th base. He is now up to 83 RBIs on the season. Graysen Tarlow doubled and drove in his first run, while Brody Moore, Ramon Mendoza and Colton Ledbetter also added hits.
On the mound, Pete Hansen gave Memphis 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Durbin Feltman followed with 1.1 scoreless innings. The eighth got messy when Andrew Schultz allowed five runs, but Hancel Rincón came in and helped settle the game, covering the final 1.2 innings with three strikeouts.
Takeaway: Memphis made it harder than it needed to be, but a win is a win. Gorman’s two-homer game and Báez’s continued run production carried the offense.
Springfield Cardinals — Double-A
Overall Record: 52-48
Second Half: 21-11, 1st in the Texas League North
Streak: W1
Springfield 4, Wichita 3
Springfield bounced back from Friday’s loss with a 4-3 win over Wichita at Route 66 Stadium.
The Cardinals did their damage early. Jesús Báez hit his 13th home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave Springfield the lead in the third inning. Ryan Campos also homered, his 11th of the season, and drove in his 50th run.
Those two swings were enough.
Dakota Harris singled, walked, stole his 27th base and scored. Rainiel Rodriguez walked and scored, while Deniel Ortiz and Jon Jon Gazdar added hits.
On the mound, Chen-Wei Lin gave Springfield 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Domenic Picone followed with 1.2 scoreless innings, and Randel Clemente was excellent over the final two frames, striking out six while keeping Wichita off the board.
Springfield pitchers struck out 15 on the night.
Takeaway: Springfield got back in the win column and remains alone in first place. Báez supplied the big swing, and Clemente slammed the door with authority.
Peoria Chiefs — High-A
Overall Record: 50-50
Second Half: 18-16, 5th in the Midwest League West, 3.0 GB
Streak: W5
Game 1: Peoria 6, Cedar Rapids 5 — 10 innings
Game 2: Peoria 13, Cedar Rapids 2 — 7 innings
Peoria had itself a day.
The Chiefs finished off Friday’s suspended game with a 6-5, 10-inning win, then came back and hammered Cedar Rapids, 13-2, in the nightcap.
In the resumed game, Peoria rallied from an early hole and won in extras. Luis Pino had a big game, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and two RBIs. Anyelo Encarnación added two hits, two RBIs, two walks and two stolen bases. Jalin Flores doubled and scored, while Cade McGee doubled, drove in a run and scored twice.
The pitching headline in the opener belonged to Christian Worley, who threw 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three to help close it out.
Then came the second game, and Tai Peete took over.
Peete went 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a double, four RBIs, four runs scored, a walk and two stolen bases. His fourth hit completed the cycle, and he pushed his season line to .299 with a .983 OPS.
That is a ridiculous game.
Peete was not alone. Sammy Hernandez went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, Jalin Flores drove in three, Jack Gurevitch reached three times and drove in his 43rd run, and Michael Dattalo added two hits and an RBI. Peoria drew nine walks and scored 13 runs on 13 hits.
On the mound, Tanner Franklin earned Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day honors by throwing 5.1 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, walking none and striking out seven. Dominic Freeberger finished the final 1.2 innings.
Takeaway: Peoria is suddenly moving. Five straight wins, back to .500 overall, and Peete delivered a cycle in one of the loudest games of the season.
Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A
Overall Record: 52-48
Second Half: standings not included in supplied table
Streak: L1
Fort Myers 8, Palm Beach 7 — 10 innings
Palm Beach had the lead, lost it late, reclaimed it in extras, and still fell 8-7 to Fort Myers.
The Cardinals scored twice in the second, once in the third, once in the fourth and two more in the fifth to build a 6-5 lead. Fort Myers tied it in the seventh, Palm Beach scored in the top of the 10th, but the Mighty Mussels answered with two in the bottom half to win it.
Jonathan Mejía gave Palm Beach the big swing, hitting his 12th home run and driving in three. He also scored three runs and walked twice. Trevor Haskins tripled and drove in two, while Alex Birge added an RBI.
Miguel Hernández doubled, walked twice and scored. Cristofer Lebrón had two hits and stole two bases. Yairo Padilla stole his eighth base, and Ryan Mitchell stole his 33rd.
On the mound, Cade Crossland struck out six over 3.2 innings but allowed five runs, four earned. Joseph King was sharp in relief, throwing two scoreless innings, and Yadiel Batista gave Palm Beach three innings with one run allowed. Fort Myers finally got to Zeke Wood in the 10th.
Takeaway: Palm Beach had chances and got a strong game from Mejía, but the Cardinals could not finish it in extras.
Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day
Tai Peete, CF/DH, Peoria Chiefs
Peete earns the honor after a massive second game in Peoria’s doubleheader sweep.
His final line:
4-for-4, HR, 3B, 2B, 4 RBI, 4 R, BB, 2 SB
That is a cycle. That is four RBIs. That is four runs scored. That is two stolen bases.
That is one of the best individual performances in the Cardinals’ system this season.
Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day
Tanner Franklin, RHP, Peoria Chiefs
Franklin gets the nod after giving Peoria 5.1 strong innings in the Chiefs’ 13-2 win over Cedar Rapids.
His final line:
5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
No walks. Seven strikeouts. One earned run.
That will play every time.
The Final Word
Saturday’s farm report belonged to Peoria.
The Chiefs swept a doubleheader, pushed their winning streak to five games, moved back to .500 overall, and got a cycle from Tai Peete. Tanner Franklin gave them the pitching performance of the day, and the offense poured it on in the nightcap.
Memphis held on for a win. Springfield stayed in first place with another strong pitching night. Palm Beach came up just short in extras.
The system went 4-1, but Peoria owned the headline.
A doubleheader sweep.
A five-game winning streak.
A cycle from Tai Peete.
That is a pretty good Saturday night down on the farm.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
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Photo Credit: Tai Peete, Peoria Chiefs | MLB