Peoria Carries the Night as Memphis Keeps Rolling
The Cardinal Chronicle
Peoria Carries the Night as Memphis Keeps Rolling
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
The Cardinals’ minor league system split the night Friday, with Memphis and Peoria landing in the win column while Springfield and Palm Beach took losses on the road.
Memphis used a five-run first inning and a strong bullpen finish to beat Iowa, while Peoria got the best all-around performance of the night behind Jack Gurevitch, Jesús Báez, Tanner Franklin and some late defense. Springfield was shut out in Arkansas, and Palm Beach rallied late before falling in walk-off fashion at St. Lucie.
Memphis Redbirds
Record / Standings: 30-19, 1st place, International League West
Score: Memphis 8, Iowa 4
Memphis jumped Iowa early and never gave the Cubs enough room to recover, scoring five runs in the first inning on the way to an 8-4 win at Principal Park.
Blaze Jordan helped set the tone with a 3-for-5 night, including a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Colton Ledbetter also went 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Ramon Mendoza added two hits, while Brody Moore finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Matt Koperniak drove in three runs with a double as the Redbirds finished with 14 hits and five doubles.
Quinn Mathews started and worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts. The bullpen handled the rest. Luis Gastelum, Chris Roycroft, Ryan Murphy and Scott Blewett combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings, with Murphy striking out four over two perfect frames.
The Redbirds remain atop the International League West, continuing to show why Memphis has been the most consistent club in the Cardinals’ system.
Springfield Cardinals
Record / Standings: 17-26, 5th place, Texas League North
Score: Arkansas 14, Springfield 0
Springfield had one of those nights a club has to flush quickly.
The Cardinals were shut out by Arkansas, 14-0, managing only three hits while striking out 13 times. Noah Mendlinger, Rainiel Rodriguez and Graysen Tarlow had Springfield’s only hits.
Liam Doyle started and struck out seven over four innings, but control was the problem. He allowed four runs on three hits and walked six. Arkansas broke the game open from there, scoring five runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and six more in the seventh.
Darlin Saladin allowed four runs over two innings, Edwin Núñez was charged with six runs in one-third of an inning, and Domenic Picone finished the night by allowing one hit over 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Springfield slipped to 17-26 and sits 10 games back in the Texas League North.
Peoria Chiefs
Record / Standings: 18-24, 6th place, Midwest League West
Score: Peoria 5, Cedar Rapids 4
Peoria had the best organizational win of the night, beating Cedar Rapids, 5-4, behind timely power, a strong start and two late defensive plays that helped preserve the lead.
Jack Gurevitch earned Player of the Day honors after going 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, three RBIs and a run scored. His fifth-inning home run broke a 1-1 tie and gave Peoria the lead for good.
Jesús Báez added a 2-for-4 night with a solo home run, two runs scored and an RBI. His seventh-inning homer gave the Chiefs a key insurance run and continued his recent power surge.
Tanner Franklin earned Pitcher of the Day honors after allowing two runs on two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one, struck out four and gave Peoria exactly what it needed from the rotation.
Jose Cordoba also had two hits and an RBI, then threw out the potential tying run at the plate from center field in the seventh. Luis Pino added a running catch near the warning track in right field in the eighth. Patrick Galle worked the ninth and held on for the save.
Peoria improved to 18-24 and remains sixth in the Midwest League West.
Palm Beach Cardinals
Record / Standings: 24-19, 2nd place, Florida State League East
Score: St. Lucie 7, Palm Beach 6
Palm Beach made a late push Friday night, but the comeback fell one run short in a 7-6 walk-off loss at St. Lucie.
The Cardinals trailed by three entering the ninth and scored three times to tie the game, only for St. Lucie to answer with the winning run in the bottom half.
Daniel Rojas made his Palm Beach debut after being assigned from the FCL Cardinals and went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jonathan Mejía went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Yordalin Peña reached base three times, scored twice and drove in a run. Ryan Mitchell drew three walks and scored once.
Cade Crossland started and struck out seven over 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk. Yadiel Batista retired both batters he faced, José Davila allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings, and Jovi Gálvez worked 1 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run.
Palm Beach finished with nine hits and six walks, but 12 strikeouts and the late St. Lucie answer proved too much. The Cardinals remain near the top of the Florida State League East race at 24-19.
Player of the Day
Jack Gurevitch, Peoria Chiefs
Jack Gurevitch gets the nod after going 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, three RBIs and a run scored in Peoria’s 5-4 win over Cedar Rapids. His fifth-inning home run changed the game and gave the Chiefs the lead they would not give back.
Pitcher of the Day
Tanner Franklin, Peoria Chiefs
Tanner Franklin earns Pitcher of the Day honors after turning in 5 1/3 innings of two-run baseball for Peoria. He allowed only two hits, walked one and struck out four while earning his first win.
Transactions
SS Daniel Rojas was assigned to Palm Beach from the FCL Cardinals.
The St. Louis Cardinals recalled OF Bryan Torres from Triple-A Memphis.
OF Cameron Nickens was assigned to Peoria from Palm Beach.
Peoria placed OF Tai Peete on the 7-day injured list.
The St. Louis Cardinals placed LF Nathan Church on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 21, with a left shoulder strain.
The St. Louis Cardinals recalled OF Bryan Torres from Memphis in the corresponding major-league move.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports