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THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Jurrangelo Cijntje Strikes Out 11 Before Leaving With Hamstring Injury St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurJurrangelo Cijntje deserved a better ending Thursday night.Both on the scoreboard and physically.Cijntje is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after delivering one of the strongest strikeout starts in the Cardinals’ system this week, working 6.1 innings in Memphis’ 3-2, 10-inning loss to Durham before leaving the game with a hamstring injury.His final line: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 KThat is a dominant Triple-A start.Cijntje allowed only two hits, walked just one batter and struck out 11. He threw 72 pitches, 53 for strikes, and gave Memphis the kind of outing that should have been enough to win.It was power, efficiency and swing-and-miss all wrapped into one.Durham did not score against him until the seventh inning, and even then, the damage was limited. Cijntje left with one out in the seventh, with Memphis still very much in position to win the game.The concern, of course, is the hamstring.For a pitcher who was in the middle of one of his best outings since reaching Triple-A, seeing the night end that way takes some shine off what should have been a clean pitching headline. The performance was excellent. Now the next question is how serious the injury may be and whether it costs him any time.The Redbirds’ pitching staff was excellent overall. Memphis allowed only three hits through nine innings and struck out 15 Durham hitters. Cade Winquest struck out the side in the eighth, and Hancel Rincón added a scoreless ninth with one strikeout.But the offense could not do enough.Joshua Báez provided the Memphis scoring, going 2-for-4 with his 34th home run of the season and both Redbirds RBIs. The homer pushed Báez to 90 RBIs on the year, another loud marker in one of the best power seasons in the Cardinals’ system.Still, Memphis finished with only four hits and struck out 14 times. Durham tied the game in the seventh, then scored twice in the 10th to walk it off.That should not take anything away from Cijntje’s night.Six and one-third innings. Two hits. One earned run. One walk. Eleven strikeouts.That is the kind of start that jumps off the page.Cijntje has had to battle through the adjustment to Triple-A, and the season line still reflects some of that turbulence. But Thursday night was a reminder of why the arm remains so interesting.The stuff missed bats. The control was there. The efficiency was there. The performance was there.The win was not.And now the Cardinals will have to hope the hamstring issue is not anything serious.Sometimes the box score result does not match the outing.This was one of those nights.Cijntje gave Memphis a gem, struck out 11 and owned the pitching headline across the Cardinals’ farm system.That earns the spotlight.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP, Memphis Redbirds Final Line: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K Note: Left the game with a hamstring injury The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP, Memphis Redbirds | MLB

MiLB Pitcher of the Day: an Jurrangelo Cijntjes

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Farm Report: Cijntje Fans 11, Mitchell Homers, Springfield and Peoria Win St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe Cardinal Chronicle Farm Report is your most complete daily look at the Cardinals’ minor league system — from box scores and standings to standout performances and prospect notes.Thursday’s farm report had two headline performances.Jurrangelo Cijntje struck out 11 over 6.1 innings for Memphis, while Ryan Mitchell drove in three runs and homered for Palm Beach.The full-season affiliates finished 2-2, with Springfield and Peoria landing in the win column, while Memphis lost in extra innings and Palm Beach came up one run short after a late rally.Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A Overall Record: 65-52 Second Half: 18-24, 9th in the International League West, 9.0 GB Streak: L1Durham 3, Memphis 2 — 10 inningsMemphis lost the game, but Jurrangelo Cijntje owned the pitching headline.Cijntje was outstanding, working 6.1 innings, allowing just two hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out 11.His final line: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 KThat is one of the best strikeout starts of his Triple-A run.The Redbirds’ staff struck out 15 Durham hitters and allowed only three hits, but Memphis could not give the pitching staff enough support. Durham tied the game in the seventh and scored two in the 10th to win it.Joshua Báez provided the offense, going 2-for-4 with his 34th home run and both Memphis RBIs. He now has 90 RBIs on the season. Colton Ledbetter and Nolan Gorman had the other hits for the Redbirds.Memphis finished with only four hits and struck out 14 times.Takeaway: Cijntje deserved better. Eleven strikeouts, one walk and one earned run over 6.1 innings is a serious start, but Memphis could not turn it into a win.Springfield Cardinals — Double-A Overall Record: 57-53 Second Half: 26-16, 1st in the Texas League North Streak: W2Springfield 10, Northwest Arkansas 3Springfield made it two straight wins and did it with power, balance and a strong start from Liam Doyle.The Cardinals beat Northwest Arkansas 10-3, scoring two runs in the fourth, three in the fifth, two in the sixth and three more in the eighth.Tai Peete hit his first Double-A home run and drove in three runs. Tre Richardson III hit his seventh home run. Dakota Harris added his 10th homer. Springfield finished with three home runs and 10 RBIs.Rainiel Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, two walks and a run scored. Jesús Báez went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored. Deniel Ortiz doubled and drove in two runs, while Won-Bin Cho added an RBI.On the mound, Doyle gave Springfield six strong innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. He walked four and struck out six.His final line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 KJosé Davila struck out two in a scoreless seventh, Joseph King struck out two in the eighth, and Andrew Schultz finished it with a scoreless ninth.Takeaway: Springfield has answered back with two straight wins. The offense hit three home runs, and Doyle gave the Cardinals six quality innings.Peoria Chiefs — High-A Overall Record: 55-55 Second Half: 23-21, 5th in the Midwest League West, 2.5 GB Streak: W2Peoria 5, Beloit 3Peoria has quietly put together back-to-back wins.The Chiefs beat Beloit 5-3 behind 12 hits and a strong start from Cade Crossland.Crossland worked 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, four walks and five strikeouts.His final line: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 KIt was not always clean, but it was effective.Michael Dattalo led the offense with a 3-for-4 night and an RBI. Ian Petrutz went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Jalin Flores had two hits, a double and RBI No. 74. Yordalin Peña followed up his two-homer night with two more hits and an RBI.Ryan Weingartner reached three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and two stolen bases. Sammy Hernandez drove in his 29th run, and José Suárez added RBI No. 46.The bullpen made it hold up. Dylan Driessen struck out three over two innings, and Bobby Olsen struck out two in a scoreless ninth.Takeaway: Peoria is back to .500 overall and has won two straight. The Chiefs did not homer, but they kept traffic moving all night.Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A Overall Record: 55-56 Second Half: 22-23, 2nd in the Florida State League East, 7.0 GB Streak: L3Daytona 10, Palm Beach 9Palm Beach nearly pulled off a wild comeback, but the early hole was too deep.Daytona scored eight runs in the second inning and held on for a 10-9 win, despite Palm Beach finishing with 16 hits, seven walks and a four-run ninth inning.Ryan Mitchell earned Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day honors after going 2-for-4 with his 12th home run, three RBIs, two runs scored and two walks.His final line: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BBMitchell was not alone.Yairo Padilla went 3-for-6 with a double, a triple and an RBI. Matthew Miura went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, a walk and his 17th stolen base. Sebastian Dos Santos went 2-for-4 with his fifth home run, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.Heriberto Caraballo, in his first game back after coming of the Development List, had two hits, a double and an RBI. J.P. Cabrera doubled and drove in a run, and Trevor Haskins added his 21st double.The pitching staff could not overcome the second inning. Gabriel Chinchilla allowed seven earned runs over 1.2 innings, and Jacob Haley allowed two more over 2.1 innings. Nathan Shinn gave Palm Beach a chance to climb back, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.Takeaway: Palm Beach hit enough to win most nights, but Daytona’s eight-run second inning decided the game.Quick Hits: 10 Players, 10 Stats 1. Jurrangelo Cijntje, Memphis: 6.1 innings, two hits, one earned run, one walk, 11 strikeouts.2. Ryan Mitchell, Palm Beach: 2-for-4, home run, three RBIs, two runs, two walks.3. Joshua Báez, Memphis: 2-for-4, 34th home run, two RBIs, 90 RBIs on the season.4. Tai Peete, Springfield: First Double-A home run, three RBIs, two runs scored.5. Rainiel Rodriguez, Springfield: 2-for-3, double, RBI, two walks, run scored.6. Liam Doyle, Springfield: 6.0 innings, two hits, one earned run, six strikeouts.7. Michael Dattalo, Peoria: 3-for-4 with an RBI.8. Cade Crossland, Peoria: 5.1 innings, three hits, one earned run, five strikeouts.9. Yairo Padilla, Palm Beach: 3-for-6, double, triple, RBI.10. Ryan Weingartner, Peoria: Reached three times and stole two bases.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day Ryan Mitchell, LF, Palm Beach CardinalsMitchell had the top offensive line in the system Thursday night, reaching base four times and driving in three runs.His final line: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BBPalm Beach lost the game, but Mitchell’s bat helped keep the Cardinals alive all the way to the final inning.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP, Memphis RedbirdsCijntje was the easy choice.His final line: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 KMemphis lost in 10 innings, but Cijntje gave the Redbirds a dominant start and struck out 11.The Final Word Thursday was a split night, but it was not short on standout performances.- Cijntje struck out 11. - Joshua Báez hit home run No. 34 and reached 90 RBIs. - Springfield hit three home runs and won its second straight. - Peoria climbed back to .500 overall. - Palm Beach nearly erased a huge early deficit.The wins belonged to Springfield and Peoria.The loudest pitching line belonged to Cijntje.And the top offensive line belonged to Mitchell.That is the farm report. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP, Memphis Redbirds | MLB.com

Cijntje Fans 11, Mitchell Homers, Springfield and Peoria Win

MLB Pipeline Reshuffles the Top 30 Prospects

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinals Take Series From Phillies St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThis was the kind of win the St. Louis Cardinals needed.Not just because they beat the Philadelphia Phillies.Not just because they won the game by six runs.But because they took the series from a team sitting directly in the National League Wild Card traffic.The Cardinals beat the Phillies, 7-1, Wednesday afternoon at Busch Stadium, using a strong start from Kyle Leahy, timely hitting against Zack Wheeler, and a clean bullpen finish to take two of three from Philadelphia.That matters.The Cardinals dropped the opener Monday night, 6-5, after a late rally came up one run short. They came back Tuesday with a 2-0 win behind Andre Pallante and Riley O’Brien. Then Wednesday, they finished the job.For a team trying to stay alive in the postseason picture, that is the part that matters most.They did not just avoid a bad series.They won a good one.Leahy set the tone on the mound, and the Cardinals gave him an early lead in the second inning. Jordan Walker reached and came around when Nathan Church doubled to left, putting St. Louis in front, 1-0.It was a simple piece of offense, but it was important. Against Wheeler, runs are not usually easy to find. Getting one early gave Leahy something to work with and forced Philadelphia to chase.The Phillies tied the game in the fourth after Bryce Harper doubled and Luis Arraez followed with a run-scoring double. That made it 1-1 and briefly quieted Busch Stadium.Leahy did not let the inning get away.That was a theme.Philadelphia had six hits against him, but Leahy avoided the big inning, did not walk a batter, and kept the Phillies from building sustained pressure. He worked five innings, allowed one run, struck out six, and left with the Cardinals in control after the offense broke the game open.That came in the fifth.César Prieto reached, JJ Wetherholt got aboard, and Iván Herrera lined a single into deep right-center field to score Prieto and move Wetherholt to third. That gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead and flipped the game back in their direction.Then Alec Burleson delivered the swing that changed the afternoon.Burleson drove a double to deep center field, scoring Wetherholt and Herrera to push the Cardinals’ lead to 4-1. Moments later, Walker doubled to left, bringing Burleson home and stretching the lead to 5-1.Four runs in the inning.All against Wheeler.That was the inning the Cardinals needed.Wheeler came in with a 2.69 ERA and the kind of track record that usually makes clubs work for every inch. The Cardinals did more than work. They punished mistakes, drove the baseball into the gaps, and made Philadelphia pay for giving them traffic.Wheeler finished after five innings, allowing six hits and five runs, four earned, with one walk and five strikeouts.That is a good day’s work for a Cardinals lineup that had to beat one of the better arms in the National League.The Cardinals added on in the seventh against José Alvarado. Wetherholt scored on Burleson’s single to right, and Church followed with a sacrifice fly to score Herrera. That pushed the lead to 7-1 and gave the Cardinals the kind of separation they have not always been able to find.Burleson finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Church drove in two. Walker doubled, walked, stole a base and drove in a run. Wetherholt reached three times, scored twice and stole his 13th base. Herrera reached, scored twice and drove in a run.That is what a lineup is supposed to look like when several pieces are working at the same time.And for the Cardinals, the offensive balance was the encouraging part.This was not one player carrying the day. Burleson had the biggest RBI total, but Wetherholt helped set the table. Herrera drove in a run and scored twice. Walker applied pressure. Church delivered early and added on late. Prieto started the fifth-inning push.The Cardinals finished with eight hits and seven runs.That is efficient baseball.The bullpen also did its job.Justin Bruihl followed Leahy and kept Philadelphia off the board. Gordon Graceffo worked clean relief behind him. Luis Gastelum handled the ninth, and the Cardinals closed out the Phillies without ever letting the game tighten again.That is how a team protects a big inning.Too many times this season, St. Louis has scored, then immediately given momentum back. Wednesday was different. Once the Cardinals built the 5-1 lead, they never let Philadelphia breathe. Once they pushed it to 7-1, the game felt finished.That is what good teams do.The Phillies came into the series ahead of the Cardinals in the Wild Card race. St. Louis could not afford to let this series pass without taking advantage of the head-to-head opportunity. After Monday’s loss, that became harder. After Tuesday’s win, the door reopened.Wednesday, the Cardinals walked through it.They moved back over .500, took the series, and did it against a playoff-caliber opponent.That does not solve everything. It does not erase the inconsistency that has followed this team for much of the summer. It does not suddenly make the postseason path easy.But this was still a big win.The Cardinals beat Wheeler.Leahy outpitched the moment.Burleson drove in three.Wetherholt kept reaching base.Herrera and Walker helped apply pressure.The bullpen gave Philadelphia nothing late.That is a winning formula.And on a Wednesday afternoon in August, against a team they are chasing, the Cardinals needed exactly that.Cardinals 7, Phillies 1.A big win.A series win.That’s a winner. The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

Cardinals Take Series From Phillies

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Yhoiker Fajardo Deals as Springfield Stops the Slide St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurYhoiker Fajardo gave Springfield exactly what it needed Wednesday night to get back in the win column.A clean start. A steady hand. And a chance to get back in the win column.Fajardo is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after working 5.2 scoreless innings in Springfield’s 3-1 win over Northwest Arkansas at Route 66 Stadium.His final line: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 KThat is a first-place kind of start.Springfield entered the night trying to put a rough stretch behind it, and Fajardo made sure the game never got away. He held Northwest Arkansas to three hits, worked around two walks and struck out five, handing the ball to the bullpen with the Cardinals in control.The Naturals never scored against him.That was the difference.Fajardo threw 86 pitches, 52 for strikes, and kept the ball on the ground. He recorded nine groundouts and only two flyouts, which tells part of the story. This was not just swing-and-miss. This was a pitcher controlling contact, staying out of big innings and making Northwest Arkansas earn everything.They did not earn much.The Springfield bullpen followed his lead. Sandro Santana worked 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Domenic Picone handled a clean eighth with two strikeouts. Randel Clemente allowed one run in the ninth, but finished off the win.As a staff, Springfield pitching combined for:9.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 KThat is how you stop a losing streak.The offense did enough to support the pitching. Jesús Báez drove in his 40th run of the season. Jack Gurevitch added an RBI. Zach Levenson doubled and drove in a run. Tre Richardson III walked, stole his 17th base and scored.It was not an offensive explosion.It did not have to be.Not with Fajardo setting the tone.This was the kind of game where one strong start changed the whole feel of the night. Springfield played clean baseball, the pitching staff kept Northwest Arkansas quiet, and the Cardinals stayed on top in the Texas League North.Fajardo gave them the start they needed.Five and two-thirds scoreless innings. Three hits allowed. Five strikeouts. A Springfield win.That earns the spotlight.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP, Springfield Cardinals Final Line: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Yhoiker Fajardo, RHP, Springfield Cardinals | MLB.com

Yhoiker Fajardo: MiLB Pitcher of the Day

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Yordalin Peña Powers Peoria With Two-Homer Night St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurYordalin Peña had the loudest bat in the Cardinals’ system Wednesday night.Peña is the Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day after going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, four RBIs and three runs scored in Peoria’s 8-4 win over Beloit at Dozer Park.His final line:3-for-4, 2 HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R&nbsp;That is how you take over a game.Peña did not just have a good night. He powered the Chiefs’ offense from the middle of the lineup, collecting three extra-base hits and driving in half of Peoria’s runs.Two home runs. One double. Four RBIs. Three runs scored.That is a box score worth circling for the record books.The home runs were Peña’s first two with Peoria, and they came at the right time for a Chiefs club looking to get back in the win column. Peoria jumped on Beloit early with four runs in the first inning, added two more in the fourth, another in the fifth and one more in the eighth.Peña was right in the middle of it.His power carried the headline, but Peoria had help throughout the lineup. Cade McGee continued to swing the bat well, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Ian Petrutz added two hits, an RBI, a run scored and his sixth stolen base. Alex Birge drove in two runs and stole his first base, while Anyelo Encarnación reached twice and stole his 16th base.But the night belonged to Peña.At High-A, a two-homer game always gets attention. A two-homer game with three extra-base hits, four RBIs and three runs scored does more than that. It gives a lineup a jolt.Peoria finished with 11 hits, and Peña’s bat gave the Chiefs the separation they needed in an 8-4 win.Sometimes Player of the Day is a tough call.This was not one of those nights.Peña supplied the thunder, filled up the stat sheet and helped Peoria turn the game in its favor early.That earns the spotlight.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Yordalin Peña, DH, Peoria Chiefs Final Line: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports &amp; MiLB Today Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary: www.cardinalchronicle.comPhoto Credit: Yordalin Peña, DH, Peoria Chiefs | MLB

MiLB Player of the Day: Yordalin Peña

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle 

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle is dedicated to preserving Cardinals history, covering today’s game, and following the next generation through the minor leagues. Written in the tradition of the old beat writers, it’s baseball with perspective — steady, faithful, and rooted in a lifelong love for the game.