Peoria Wins Series, Davis Dominates Despite Springfield Loss
The Cardinal Chronicle
Peoria Wins Series, Davis Dominates Despite Springfield Loss
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
The Cardinals’ farm system had a rough Sunday overall, with Peoria standing as the only affiliate to land in the win column.
Memphis was hit hard in Iowa and fell out of first place for the first time this season. Springfield wasted a dominant start from Braden Davis in a late loss at Arkansas. Palm Beach put together 11 hits and a late rally but came up short at St. Lucie. Peoria, however, gave the system its bright spot, using home runs from Tre Richardson III and Josh Kross to beat Cedar Rapids and take the series.
Memphis Redbirds
Record / Standings: 30-21, 2nd place, International League West
Score: Iowa 18, Memphis 4
Memphis jumped out to an early lead Sunday afternoon, but the game turned quickly and turned hard.
The Redbirds scored three runs in the first inning, with Blaze Jordan driving in two on a double and Memphis taking early control at Principal Park. But Iowa answered with nine runs in the second inning and later added eight more in the eighth, handing Memphis an 18-4 loss.
It was a costly day in the standings as well, as the Redbirds fell out of first place for the first time in 2026.
Lars Nootbaar continued his rehab assignment as the designated hitter and went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jordan finished 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, while Colton Ledbetter came off the bench and added an RBI double. Matt Koperniak also had a hit and scored a run.
The pitching line told the story. Ian Bedell started and allowed three runs in one inning. Jason Savacool followed and was charged with six runs in two-thirds of an inning. Hancel Rincon, Max Rajcic and Chris Roycroft slowed things down for a stretch, but the game got away again in the eighth when Scott Blewett was charged with seven runs.
For Memphis, it was simply one of those games to flush. The Redbirds have been one of the most consistent clubs in the system all season, but Sunday was a reminder that even good teams have ugly afternoons.
Springfield Cardinals
Record / Standings: 18-27, Texas League North
Score: Arkansas 3, Springfield 1
Braden Davis deserved a better fate Sunday night.
Davis turned in one of the best starts by any Cardinals minor league pitcher this season, striking out 10 over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Springfield’s 3-1 loss to Arkansas. He allowed only three hits, did not walk a batter and gave the Cardinals every chance to win the series finale.
Springfield took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Dakota Harris singled, moved through the inning and scored on Miguel Ugueto’s RBI single. That lead held until the sixth, when Arkansas tied the game after Davis exited.
The Travelers then scored twice in the eighth to take the lead for good.
Jon Jon Gazdar led Springfield with two hits, while Trey Paige added two hits, including a triple. Ugueto had the lone RBI. The Cardinals finished with seven hits but struck out 11 times and could not produce the late hit they needed.
Still, the story of the night was Davis. Ten strikeouts, no walks and no earned runs over 5 2/3 innings is a headline performance, even in a loss. It was the kind of start that should get attention inside the organization.
Peoria Chiefs
Record / Standings: 20-24, Midwest League West
Score: Peoria 5, Cedar Rapids 3
Peoria closed the weekend the right way.
The Chiefs beat Cedar Rapids, 5-3, on Sunday night at Dozer Park, using an early three-run homer from Tre Richardson III and a late go-ahead shot from Josh Kross to take the series from the Kernels.
Cedar Rapids scored first, but Peoria answered in the second inning when Richardson launched a three-run homer to give the Chiefs a 3-1 lead. Cedar Rapids fought back to tie the game, but Kross delivered the biggest swing of the night in the eighth, hitting a two-run homer that put Peoria back in front for good.
Kross finished 1-for-3 with the home run, two RBIs and a walk. Richardson went 1-for-3 with the three-run homer and three RBIs. Cade McGee added a double, and Jack Gurevitch reached twice with a hit and a walk.
Blake Aita gave Peoria a strong start, allowing one run on two hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out seven. Bobby Olsen, Jawilme Ramírez and Patrick Galle handled the final four innings, with Galle closing it out in the ninth.
Peoria has quietly put together a strong stretch, and Sunday’s win was a good example of how the Chiefs are starting to win games — power in the middle of the order, enough starting pitching and a bullpen that held the line late.
Palm Beach Cardinals
Record / Standings: 24-21, Florida State League East
Score: St. Lucie 5, Palm Beach 4
Palm Beach outhit St. Lucie on Sunday, but the Cardinals could not finish the comeback in a 5-4 loss at Clover Park.
The Cardinals finished with 11 hits, including a big day from Heriberto Caraballo, who went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, an RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Caraballo was the best offensive player in the system Sunday and gave Palm Beach production every time he stepped to the plate.
Michael Dattalo also stayed hot, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Ryan Weingartner added two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Brayden Smith had a triple and scored a run, while Daniel Rojas doubled.
Jacob Odle started and continued to show swing-and-miss stuff, striking out eight over three innings. He allowed one run on two hits and walked two. Yadiel Batista also threw well, striking out four over two scoreless innings.
The difference came in the middle and late innings. St. Lucie scored twice in the fourth and twice more in the eighth. Palm Beach pushed across two runs in the ninth, but the rally stopped one run short.
It was a tough loss, but Caraballo’s day and Odle’s strikeout total were two clear positives.
Player of the Day
Heriberto Caraballo, Palm Beach Cardinals
Heriberto Caraballo earns Player of the Day honors after going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, an RBI, two runs scored and a walk in Palm Beach’s 5-4 loss to St. Lucie.
Caraballo reached base four times and supplied Palm Beach’s biggest swing of the afternoon. In a game where the Cardinals had 11 hits but fell just short, he was the clear offensive standout.
Peoria had strong candidates with Josh Kross and Tre Richardson III both going deep in a series-clinching win, but Caraballo’s full day at the plate was too much to pass over.
Pitcher of the Day
Braden Davis, Springfield Cardinals
Braden Davis earns Pitcher of the Day honors after delivering 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Springfield’s 3-1 loss at Arkansas.
Davis allowed only three hits, walked none and struck out 10. He became the clear standout on a day when the Cardinals’ system had several uneven pitching lines.
Springfield did not hold the lead after he left the game, but Davis did his job and then some. Ten strikeouts, no walks and no earned runs is not just a good start — it is the kind of outing that belongs at the top of the report.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports