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THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Chen-Wei Lin&nbsp; St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurChen-Wei Lin did not have a spotless line Sunday afternoon, but he gave Springfield exactly what it needed.Lin is the Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day after working four innings in the Cardinals’ 9-3 win over Northwest Arkansas at Arvest Ballpark.His final line:4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 KThat is a solid day’s work, especially when the strikeout stuff is showing.Lin allowed two runs, both coming on solo home runs, but he did not let the game get away from him. He limited Northwest Arkansas to three hits, walked only one, and struck out six over four innings. That strikeout-to-walk line matters, and it was the strongest part of his outing.For a young pitcher still trying to build consistency, this was a step in the right direction. The home runs are part of the line, but so are the six strikeouts and only one walk. Lin kept Springfield in the game long enough for the offense to take over, and once it did, the Cardinals never looked back.The game was tied 2-2 after five innings before Springfield broke it open with a five-run sixth. Zach Levenson supplied the biggest thunder, hitting three home runs, including a grand slam, and driving in six runs. That gave the Cardinals more than enough room to pull away.But Lin helped make sure Springfield was still in position when the bats erupted.He threw 63 pitches, 43 for strikes, faced 16 batters, and worked around the two long balls without letting the Naturals build a larger inning. That is not always easy. A solo homer can stay a solo homer, or it can become the start of a crooked number. Lin kept it from becoming anything more.The bullpen followed with steady work. Michael Watson, Randel Clemente, Tyler Bradt and José Davila combined for four scoreless innings before Northwest Arkansas added one run in the ninth.For Springfield, the win was another important one. The Cardinals have now won four straight and remain in first place in the Texas League North second-half standings.That is the bigger picture.Levenson owned the offensive headline, but Lin gave Springfield the start that helped set the table. He missed bats, limited free passes, and kept the Cardinals in control long enough for the lineup to take over.It was not perfect.It was productive.And on Sunday, it was enough to earn the spotlight.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day: Chen-Wei Lin, RHP, Springfield Cardinals Final Line: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 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: Chen-Wei Lin, Springfield Cardinals | MiLB

MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Chen-Wei Lin

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Player of the Day: Levenson Launches Three Homers, Including a Grand Slam St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurSome nights, a player has a good game.Some nights, he takes over the box score.On Sunday, Zach Levenson took over the whole farm report.Levenson is the Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day after going 3-for-3 with three home runs, six RBIs, four runs scored and a walk in Springfield’s 9-3 win over Northwest Arkansas at Arvest Ballpark.His final line:3-for-3, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, BBThat is one of the loudest individual performances in the Cardinals’ system this season.Levenson hit three home runs, and one of them was a grand slam. Anytime one swing accounts for four runs batted in, that is not just a home run. That is a game-changing swing. Add two more home runs around it, and suddenly you are not just talking about a big night.You are talking about a career-type night.Levenson came into the game with six home runs on the season and left with nine. He drove in six of Springfield’s nine runs and scored four times, reaching base in all four plate appearances.Three hits. Three home runs. Six RBIs. Four runs scored. A walk.There is not much more a hitter can do.Springfield needed the offense, too. The Cardinals and Naturals were tied 2-2 after five innings before Springfield broke the game open with a five-run sixth. Levenson was right in the middle of the damage, helping turn a tight game into another win for a team that continues to build momentum.The Cardinals have now won four straight and remain in first place in the Texas League North second-half standings. When a club is trying to protect first place, nights like this matter.Levenson had help. Rainiel Rodriguez doubled twice. Trey Paige added two hits, a double and an RBI. Jon Jon Gazdar collected two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. But this was Levenson’s day from start to finish.On the mound, Chen-Wei Lin gave Springfield four innings with six strikeouts, and the bullpen kept Northwest Arkansas from making a serious push. But the headline belonged to the left fielder who kept circling the bases.Three-home run games are rare. Three-home run games with a grand slam are even louder.For Levenson, this was the kind of performance that can change the look of a season line quickly. His average climbed to .219, and his OPS moved to .731, but numbers almost feel secondary on a day like this.The story is the swing.Actually, the story is three of them.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day: Zach Levenson, LF, Springfield Cardinals Final Line: 3-for-3, 3 HR, Grand Slam, 6 RBI, 4 R, BB 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: Zach Levenson Springfield Cardinals | MiLB

MiLB Player of the Day: Zach Levenson

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Farm Report: Levenson's Three Homers, Memphis Power Show, Springfield on Fire St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurSunday brought plenty of offense across the Cardinals’ farm system, and the loudest swing belonged to Zach Levenson.Actually, make that three swings.Levenson blasted three home runs and drove in six as Springfield beat Northwest Arkansas, 9-3, and kept its hold on first place in the Texas League North. Memphis also brought the thunder, hitting five home runs in a 12-4 win over Durham. Palm Beach rallied past Tampa, while Peoria’s pitching staff had a rough afternoon in a 13-6 loss to West Michigan.The full-season affiliates finished 3-1 on the day.Memphis Redbirds — Triple-A Overall Record: 58-44 Second Half: 11-16, tied for eighth in the International League West, 6.0 GB Streak: W1Memphis 12, Durham 4Memphis put this one away early, scoring seven runs in the second inning and rolling to a 12-4 win over Durham at AutoZone Park.The Redbirds hit five home runs and finished with 14 hits.Joshua Báez continued his power surge, going 2-for-4 with a double, his 31st home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. He now has 77 RBIs on the season.Thomas Saggese also went deep, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, a run scored and a walk. Victor Scott II had one of his better games at Memphis, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Nolan Gorman added his fifth homer and drove in two, while César Prieto homered, reached three times and scored three runs.On the mound, Pete Hansen worked four innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. The best relief work came from Hancel Rincón, who struck out five over two perfect innings. Jared Shuster allowed two runs over two innings, and Victor Santos finished with a scoreless ninth.Takeaway: Memphis had been searching for consistency in the second half, and this was the kind of offensive day that can settle a lineup. Five home runs and 12 runs will play.Springfield Cardinals — Double-A Overall Record: 48-47 Second Half: 17-10, 1st in the Texas League North Streak: W4Springfield 9, Northwest Arkansas 3Springfield won its fourth straight and stayed alone in first place with a 9-3 win over Northwest Arkansas.The headline was Zach Levenson, and there is no need to dress it up.He went 3-for-3 with three home runs, six RBIs, four runs scored and a walk.That is not just Player of the Day material. That is one of the loudest offensive games in the Cardinals’ system this season.Levenson hit his seventh, eighth and ninth home runs of the season, driving Springfield’s offense almost by himself. Trey Paige added two hits, a double and an RBI. Jon Jon Gazdar had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Rainiel Rodriguez doubled twice, while Won-Bin Cho and Deniel Ortiz each added hits.On the mound, Chen-Wei Lin earned Pitcher of the Day honors after working four innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out six. He gave up two solo home runs, but the strikeout-to-walk line was strong and he kept Springfield in position to take control.The bullpen handled the rest. Michael Watson, Randel Clemente, Tyler Bradt and José Davila combined for four scoreless innings before Domenic Picone allowed a run in the ninth.Takeaway: Springfield is rolling. The Cardinals have won four straight, sit alone in first place, and Levenson delivered a monster performance.Peoria Chiefs — High-A Overall Record: 45-50 Second Half: 13-16, fifth in the Midwest League West, 6.5 GB Streak: L2West Michigan 13, Peoria 6Peoria had enough offense to make noise, but the pitching staff could not keep West Michigan under control in a 13-6 loss.The Chiefs led 2-0 after four innings, but West Michigan scored three in the fifth, one in the sixth, one in the seventh and then broke it open with an eight-run eighth inning.Jack Gurevitch stayed hot, going 2-for-5 with a double, his 14th home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Jalin Flores also had a strong game, going 3-for-5 with his 12th home run and three RBIs. Cade McGee added his 12th home run and scored twice.Peoria’s offense hit three home runs, but West Michigan answered with 16 hits and three home runs of its own.On the mound, Leonel Sequera allowed two runs over 4.1 innings with three strikeouts. Nate Dohm struck out three over two innings but allowed two runs. The game got away from Dylan Driessen, who was charged with eight runs in the eighth inning.Christian Worley finished with 1.1 scoreless innings and two strikeouts.Takeaway: The bats were there, especially from Gurevitch, Flores and McGee, but the eight-run eighth turned a competitive game into a rough finish.Palm Beach Cardinals — Low-A Overall Record: 49-46 Second Half: standings not included in supplied table Streak: W1Palm Beach 5, Tampa 3Palm Beach fell behind early but rallied for a 5-3 win over Tampa at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.The Cardinals trailed 3-1 after the second inning, then slowly worked their way back. They scored in the fifth, tied the game in the sixth, and pushed across two runs in the eighth to take control.Yordalin Peña delivered the biggest swing, hitting his 15th home run of the season and driving in two. He also stole his 20th base. Ryan Weingartner went 2-for-4 with an RBI and his 32nd stolen base, while Ryan Mitchell went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, a walk and his 30th stolen base.Johnfrank Salazar doubled and drove in a run, and Trevor Haskins added a hit and scored.The pitching staff did excellent work after a rough start. Cade Crossland allowed three runs in 1.2 innings, but the bullpen shut Tampa down the rest of the way.Keiverson Ramírez was outstanding, throwing four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. Peter Strzelecki, Liam Best and Jesús García each added scoreless work to finish the game.Takeaway: Palm Beach’s bullpen won this game. After Tampa scored three early, the Cardinals held the Tarpons scoreless over the final seven innings.Cardinal Chronicle Player of the Day Zach Levenson, LF, Springfield CardinalsLevenson earns the honor after one of the biggest individual games in the Cardinals’ system this season.His final line:3-for-3, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, BBThree home runs. Six RBIs. Four runs scored. Reached base all four times.That is a Sunday worth remembering.Cardinal Chronicle Pitcher of the Day Chen-Wei Lin, RHP, Springfield CardinalsLin gets the nod after giving Springfield four solid innings in its 9-3 win over Northwest Arkansas.His final line:4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 KHe allowed a pair of solo home runs, but the strikeout stuff was working, and he gave the Cardinals a chance to build the lead and hand the game to the bullpen.The Final Word Sunday’s farm report had plenty of thunder.Memphis hit five home runs. Springfield got three from Zach Levenson alone. Peoria hit three more in a loss. Palm Beach got another big swing from Yordalin Peña and a strong bullpen effort to finish off Tampa.The biggest team story remains Springfield.The Cardinals have won four straight, sit alone in first place, and are getting contributions from all over the roster. On Sunday, Levenson made sure his name sat at the top of the report.Three home runs will do that. 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: Springfield Cardinals | MiLB

Levenson's Three Homers, Memphis Power Show, Springfield on Fire

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Pallante, Cardinals Blank Reds St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals needed a clean response.Andre Pallante gave them one.After letting Friday night’s opener against Cincinnati slip away, the Cardinals came back Saturday night at Busch Stadium with the kind of win that settles a clubhouse and calms a fan base, blanking the Reds, 7-0, behind seven dominant innings from Pallante and one decisive offensive eruption in the sixth.This was not complicated baseball.The starter threw strikes. The defense played behind him. The offense finally broke through. The Reds never found an answer.That is a good night at the ballpark.Pallante set the tone from the first inning, and he never really gave Cincinnati room to breathe. He worked seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out eight. He threw 90 pitches, 57 for strikes, and kept the Reds from building anything that resembled sustained pressure.For a Cardinals club that has spent too many recent nights watching games get loose late, this was exactly what the doctor ordered.No chaos.No late collapse.No bullpen fire drill.Just a starter taking the baseball and doing his job.The Cardinals grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first. JJ Wetherholt reached on an error by Elly De La Cruz, and Jordan Walker followed with a single to left. Alec Burleson then came through with a single to left-center, scoring Wetherholt and giving St. Louis a 1-0 lead.It was not a big inning, but it mattered.After the way the offense had struggled Friday night, getting on the board early gave the Cardinals a little room to exhale. Hunter Greene limited the damage from there, striking out Iván Herrera and getting Lars Nootbaar to ground into a double play, but the Cardinals had at least forced Cincinnati to chase.Pallante made that one run look larger than it was.He struck out Tyler Stephenson and TJ Friedl in the second, worked around a two-out single by De La Cruz in the third, and stranded JJ Bleday after a fourth-inning single and stolen base. Every time Cincinnati looked like it might create a little movement, Pallante shut it down.That has been the best version of Pallante.He was not just throwing. He was pitching.He changed speeds, worked ahead, got ground balls when he needed them, and missed bats when the Reds tried to get aggressive. Cincinnati’s lineup never looked comfortable, and Pallante’s confidence seemed to build inning by inning.The Cardinals had chances before the sixth. Walker doubled in the third, but Burleson struck out to end the threat. Greene settled in for a stretch and kept St. Louis from stretching the lead.Then the sixth arrived.That inning changed everything.Wetherholt walked to start the frame, and after Walker fouled out, Burleson singled to right. Herrera followed with the biggest swing of the night, driving a double to shallow left that scored both Wetherholt and Burleson, pushing the Cardinals’ lead to 3-0.That gave St. Louis separation.Then the Cardinals kept going.Nootbaar walked, Masyn Winn singled to right, and Bryan Torres followed with an RBI single of his own, scoring Herrera and making it 4-0. Blaze Jordan then stepped in and delivered another timely swing, lining a two-run single to right to bring home Winn and Nootbaar.Just like that, it was 6-0.Nathan Church added the final run of the inning with a sacrifice bunt that scored Torres, giving the Cardinals a 7-0 lead and turning a tight game into a comfortable one.That was the inning this lineup needed.Not one swing and done. Not one run and hope the pitching staff makes it stand. The Cardinals strung together at-bats, kept the line moving, and put real pressure on Cincinnati. The inning forced Greene from the game and gave Pallante all the breathing room he needed.Greene finished with 5.1 innings, allowing eight hits and seven runs, six earned, while walking two and striking out three. He had held the Cardinals close for five innings, but the sixth got away from him in a hurry.The Cardinals finished with 10 hits, and the production came from several places. Burleson drove in the first run and helped start the sixth-inning rally. Herrera delivered the two-run double. Torres added an RBI single. Blaze Jordan drove in two more. Church executed the sacrifice bunt. Walker reached with a single and a double.That is how a lineup gets healthy.For St. Louis, the win also carried some weight beyond the box score. Friday night’s 4-2 loss was the kind of game that feeds frustration. Dustin May pitched well, the Cardinals briefly had the lead, and then the bullpen let it slip. Coming back less than 24 hours later with a shutout was the right answer.It does not erase the larger questions around this team.It does not fix every concern at the trade deadline.It does not suddenly make the recent rough stretch disappear.But it does stop the bleeding for a night.And sometimes that is where a club has to start.The Cardinals needed a starter to take control.Pallante did.They needed the offense to show some life.The sixth inning took care of that.They needed a clean win.They got one.Cardinals 7, Reds 0.That’s a winner.Bottom LineThe Cardinals needed this one.Andre Pallante controlled the Reds for seven innings. The offense finally erupted in the sixth. Burleson, Herrera, Torres, Blaze Jordan and Church all helped drive the scoring, and St. Louis walked away with a clean 7-0 win.After too many messy nights lately, this one was simple.Pitch well.Hit with men on base.Win the game.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: Andre Pallante, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

Pallante, Cardinals Blank Reds

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Game Day Preview: Leahy Takes the Ball as Cardinals Seek Series Win Over Reds St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe St. Louis Cardinals will try to carry the momentum from Saturday night’s shutout victory into this afternoon’s rubber game against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium.First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. CT.Right-hander Kyle Leahy will start for St. Louis against Cincinnati left-hander Andrew Abbott. The game will be televised on Cards.TV and carried on KMOX and WIJR.Cincinnati Reds: LHP Andrew Abbott, 5-6, 3.89 ERA, 90 strikeouts St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Kyle Leahy, 7-4, 3.59 ERA, 79 strikeoutsThe Cardinals enter Sunday at 53-51 after responding to Friday night’s frustrating loss with a convincing 7-0 victory Saturday.Andre Pallante delivered seven scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out eight. The Cardinals supported him with a six-run sixth inning that finally broke open a game that had remained close through the first five frames. (Reuters)Alec Burleson collected three hits, while Iván Herrera, Bryan Torres and Blaze Jordan helped turn a one-run game into a comfortable Cardinals victory.It was exactly the kind of complete performance St. Louis had been searching for.The starter controlled the game. The offense eventually added on. The bullpen finished the job.Now the challenge is doing it again.The Cardinals have spent much of the second half alternating between encouraging victories and painful defeats. Winning Saturday was important, but taking the series would mean considerably more than splitting another pair of games and leaving the weekend with another missed opportunity.St. Louis leads Cincinnati 5-2 in the season series. A victory today would give the Cardinals their second series win over the Reds at Busch Stadium and provide some momentum before the Chicago Cubs arrive Monday.The Cardinals also remain directly involved in the National League Wild Card race.Arizona holds the final postseason position at 55-50. St. Louis is 53-51, 1½ games behind the Diamondbacks, while Pittsburgh sits another half-game behind the Cardinals at 53-52. (MLB.com)That makes today another game the Cardinals cannot afford to treat casually.The Reds may be below .500, but they have already shown how quickly they can change a game. Cincinnati won Friday’s opener 4-2 after Eugenio Suárez hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning, turning a 2-1 Cardinals lead into another late defeat.Saturday, St. Louis answered with its best pitching performance of the series and one of its most productive innings since the All-Star break.Today determines whether that response carries any weight.Leahy enters the game pitching some of the best baseball of his Major League career.The right-hander has gone 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA and 20 strikeouts over his last five appearances. He has allowed only two earned runs during that span. (StatMuse)His most recent start came Monday night in Anaheim, when he gave the Cardinals six strong innings against the Angels. St. Louis carried a 2-1 lead into the ninth before losing on a walk-off hit-by-pitch. (Reuters)Leahy did his job.That has become a familiar theme throughout his first full season in the rotation.He does not attract the same attention as the hardest throwers in the organization, but he has become one of the club’s most dependable pitchers. Leahy changes speeds, competes in the strike zone and has shown the ability to adjust as a lineup sees him multiple times.He has also demonstrated the versatility that originally made him valuable as a swingman.The Cardinals once viewed Leahy as someone who could fill nearly any role on a pitching staff. He could start, provide multiple innings from the bullpen or cover an emergency situation.This season, he has become something more.He has become a legitimate Major League starting pitcher.Leahy will need to control the top of Cincinnati’s order and prevent the Reds from creating havoc on the bases.Elly De La Cruz remains the centerpiece of everything Cincinnati does offensively. His combination of speed and power forces pitchers and defenders to remain alert from the moment he reaches base.The Cardinals handled him Saturday, although three defensive errors by De La Cruz helped St. Louis score its first run. (Reuters)Leahy cannot give him free passes today.Sal Stewart has also become one of Cincinnati’s most dangerous hitters. He has consistently produced in the middle of the order and has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields.Suárez remains the veteran power threat who punished the Cardinals on Friday, while Tyler Stephenson, Spencer Steer and Noelvi Marte provide additional depth.The Reds do not need many opportunities to score if De La Cruz is running and the heart of the order is coming to the plate.Leahy must attack the strike zone, control the running game and avoid allowing Cincinnati to create extended innings through walks or defensive mistakes.On the other side, the Cardinals will face a pitcher who knows them well.Abbott will make his 10th career start against St. Louis, more than he has made against any other opponent. He is 4-4 in his career against the Cardinals. (MLB.com)The 27-year-old left-hander enters with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. His most recent start came Monday in Seattle, where he worked six innings, allowed four hits and one unearned run, and struck out six. (MLB.com)Abbott is not an overpowering pitcher in the traditional sense, but he is capable of keeping hitters uncomfortable.He changes speeds, moves the ball around the strike zone and understands how to keep hitters from sitting on one pitch. He is especially effective when opponents become impatient and begin chasing pitches outside the zone.The Cardinals will likely need their right-handed hitters to carry a larger share of the load.Jordan Walker, Iván Herrera, Masyn Winn and Blaze Jordan should all have opportunities to do damage against the Cincinnati left-hander.Walker remains the Cardinals’ most dangerous right-handed power bat. Herrera continues to provide quality at-bats and on-base ability, while Winn’s ability to put the ball in play can be important against a pitcher who changes speeds.Blaze Jordan has also continued to make the most of his opportunity.His two-run double supplied the Cardinals’ only hit Friday night, and he helped keep Saturday’s six-run inning moving. Jordan has not looked overwhelmed by Major League pitching, and his willingness to use the entire field has given the Cardinals another productive right-handed bat.The Cardinals must also continue receiving production from Burleson.He was at the center of Saturday’s victory, collecting three hits and driving the offense when the game remained close. Burleson has been one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup, regardless of whether the opposing pitcher throws left-handed or right-handed.St. Louis cannot afford to rely on one hitter, however.Saturday’s sixth inning was successful because several hitters contributed. Herrera reached. Torres delivered. Jordan kept the inning moving. Burleson added another hit. The Cardinals created pressure and did not allow Cincinnati to escape after the first mistake.That is what a productive Major League offense looks like.It does not wait for one three-run homer to solve everything. It strings together competitive at-bats and forces the opposing pitcher and defense to record every out.The Cardinals will need that approach against Abbott.They cannot spend five innings watching hittable pitches and hoping the game remains tied. They must make the left-hander work, create traffic and take advantage when runners reach scoring position.They must also resist the temptation to expand the strike zone simply because Abbott changes speeds effectively.A rubber game should be managed with urgency.Leahy has pitched well enough recently to deserve an opportunity to work deep into the game, but Oliver Marmol cannot allow the game to drift away while waiting for the perfect bullpen matchup.JoJo Romero remains unavailable following his appendicitis, and the Cardinals’ late-inning roles have been unsettled.That means leverage must matter more than inning labels.The best available reliever may be needed in the seventh inning if De La Cruz, Stewart and Suárez are coming to the plate. Saving that pitcher for a ninth-inning lead that never arrives would serve no purpose.Saturday’s seven-run advantage allowed Marmol to avoid some of those difficult decisions.Today is unlikely to be that comfortable.Abbott has been too effective, and the Reds have too much offensive talent, to expect another easy afternoon.This game may be decided by one opportunity with runners in scoring position, one defensive play or one bullpen decision.The Cardinals have already secured the season-series advantage over Cincinnati, but winning today would do more than improve that record.It would give St. Louis its second victory in three days after a difficult stretch in which the club lost seven of nine games. It would move the Cardinals two games above .500. It would allow them to welcome the Cubs to Busch Stadium having won a division series rather than explaining another opportunity that slipped away.The trade deadline is also approaching, and every result continues to influence how the Cardinals evaluate their position.A team that wins series remains in the postseason race.A team that settles for occasional victories eventually runs out of schedule.Kyle Leahy has been one of the Cardinals’ best starters over the past month.The offense finally erupted Saturday.The season series belongs to St. Louis, and the Wild Card remains within reach.Now the Cardinals must finish the weekend.Win the rubber game, take the series and turn the page toward Chicago. 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: Kyle Leahy, St. Louis Cardinals | MLB

Sunday Game Day Preview: Leahy Takes the Ball

THE CARDINAL CHRONICLE Liam Doyle Delivers First Scoreless Start for Springfield St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurLiam Doyle gave Springfield exactly what it needed Saturday night.The Cardinals’ highly regarded left-handed pitching prospect turned in his first scoreless start of the season, working five shutout innings in Springfield’s 3-0 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Arvest Ballpark.Doyle allowed just two hits, walked three and struck out four, earning the win and helping Springfield continue its climb in the Texas League North second-half race.His final line:5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 KIt was not a perfect outing, but it was an important one.Doyle had to work through traffic at times, but he made pitches when he needed them. For a young pitcher still adjusting to the professional schedule and Double-A hitters, that matters. The box score will show five scoreless innings. The development staff will also see a pitcher who managed the game, limited hard damage and gave his club a chance to win.That is what top pitching prospects are supposed to do.Doyle, the Cardinals’ No. 2 overall prospect, came into pro ball with big expectations. St. Louis selected him fifth overall in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, signing him for a $7.25 million bonus after a dominant college season at Tennessee.With the Volunteers, Doyle was named SEC Pitcher of the Year after setting a Tennessee single-season record with 164 strikeouts. Before Tennessee, he also pitched at Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss, giving him one of the more interesting college paths in the 2025 draft class.The Cardinals drafted him because the arm talent was obvious.Saturday night was another glimpse of why.Doyle did not overpower Northwest Arkansas for a massive strikeout total, but he controlled the scoreboard. He kept the Naturals off the board for five innings, handed the game to the bullpen with a lead, and watched Springfield finish off a clean shutout.The Cardinals’ bullpen did the rest.Jack Findlay followed Doyle with two scoreless innings, and Nolan Sparks closed it out with two scoreless innings of his own. Sparks earned his first save, finishing a combined six-hit shutout for Springfield.The pitching staff did not need much offense, but the Cardinals got it early.Jesús Báez wasted no time, jumping on the first pitch of the game and sending it over the center-field wall for his team-leading 11th home run of the season. Báez has now homered in three straight games, giving Springfield a quick 1-0 lead before Northwest Arkansas could settle in.That first-pitch swing set the tone.Trey Paige added a solo home run later in the contest, giving the Cardinals another insurance run and helping Springfield close out a 3-0 victory.For Springfield, this was more than just another win. It was the kind of game good teams need in a second-half race. Quality starting pitching. Clean relief work. Early power. Enough offense. No panic.Doyle earned the win, improving to 2-6, while Sparks picked up his first save.The record does not tell the full story with Doyle. Not for a young arm. Not at Double-A. Not with a pitcher who entered pro ball with the kind of résumé and expectations he carries.The important part is the direction.Saturday night was a step.Five scoreless innings. A shutout win. His first scoreless start of the season.For Liam Doyle and the Springfield Cardinals, that is the kind of night worth building on. 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: Liam Doyle, Springfield Cardinals | Kason Huckabay

Liam Doyle Delivers First Scoreless Start for Springfield

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.

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle, Ray Mileur

The Cardinal Notebook

MiLB Pitcher of the Day: Chen-Wei Lin

MiLB Player of the Day: Zach Levenson

Levenson's Three Homers, Memphis Power Show, Springfield ...

Pallante, Cardinals Blank Reds

Sunday Game Day Preview: Leahy Takes the Ball

Liam Doyle Delivers First Scoreless Start for Springfield