Quinn Mathews Earns First Win

 
The Cardinal Chronicle
Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Quinn Mathews
Mathews settles in, strikes out seven, and earns his first win of the season.
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Quinn Mathews remained composed on the mound Saturday night, displaying poise that belied his experience level.

That composure proved to be the defining characteristic of his outing.
Mathews is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Minor League Pitcher of the Day after delivering five strong innings in Memphis’ resounding 13-4 victory over Indianapolis at AutoZone Park. The left-hander scattered two hits and surrendered just one run, issuing three walks and striking out seven to notch his first win of the season.

The only blemish on Mathews’ line came early, when Indianapolis’ leadoff batter launched a home run in the top of the first inning—a moment that often spells trouble for young pitchers, causing the game to spiral.

Mathews did not.

He regrouped, trusted his arsenal—mixing a lively fastball with a sharp breaking ball—and provided Memphis with five innings of steady work as the Redbirds’ offense erupted for 13 runs and 16 hits. Mathews did not need to be flawless; he simply needed to keep the contest under control.
He did exactly that.

For Mathews, the seven strikeouts underscored his ability to miss bats at the Triple-A level. While the three walks are an area for improvement, the overall performance was exactly what Memphis needed. After the early homer, Mathews did not allow Indianapolis to string together hits, seize momentum or make the game uncomfortable.

That matters.

The Redbirds are playing like one of the better clubs in Triple-A, and good teams need starters who can absorb an early punch and still hand the game over in good shape. Mathews gave them that kind of outing Saturday.

It was not a perfect outing, but it was a mature one. In the minor leagues, that maturity can be more valuable than perfection. A pitcher who can adapt after early adversity, remain aggressive and finish his night with seven strikeouts gives his club a foundation for future success.

Springfield left-hander Liam Doyle also merits recognition after limiting Indianapolis to one run on two hits over 4 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out five. It was an encouraging performance for a Springfield club seeking stability in its rotation. However, Mathews earns Pitcher of the Day honors for working deeper into the game, recording seven strikeouts and securing the win for Memphis.

Honorable Mention: Liam Doyle, Springfield — 4 1/3 innings, two hits, one run, one walk, and five strikeouts.

Old School Take: The leadoff homer could have made it a long night. Mathews made it a footnote. That is what good pitchers do — they get back on the mound, get back in the count, and get back to work.

The Cardinal Chronicle in association with Gateway Sports