Cardinals Farm Report: Alex Reyes Returns, Jhonny Peralta Rehabs among Weekend Highlights

The previous weekend in the Cardinals’ farm system is highlighted by the returns of some key players, perhaps the most buzzworthy being that of praised starting-pitching prospect Alex Reyes, who was granted the nod in Sunday’s game for the Memphis Redbirds. The other notable return was that of St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who began a rehab assignment with the Peoria Chiefs on Friday. Peralta started Friday’s game at short and Saturday’s game at third base.

Friday, May 20

Memphis 8, Grizzlies 7

• Arturo Reyes (SP): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
• Anthony Garcia (LF): 2-4, R, 3 RBIs
• David Washington (1B) 1-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBIs
• Patrick Wisdom (3B): 2-3, 2 R

A five-run inning proved to be key in Friday night’s meeting between the Redbirds and Grizzlies, an eventual 8-7 victory for Memphis. Jon Singleton hit a three-run homer in the top of the first to greet Memphis starter Arturo Reyes, whose offense backed him up with two runs in their half of the first thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of David Washington, his fifth long ball of 2016. The Redbirds took the lead in the third against Grizzlies starter Juan Minaya, two runs crossing the dish on a double off the bat of Anthony Garcia. Matt Duffy tied the game with a two-run bomb in the fifth, but Garcia retaliated with a go-ahead RBI single in his half of the frame.

Travelers 6, Springfield 4

• Corey Baker (SP): 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB. 5 K
• Chris Jacobs (DH): 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBIs
• Bruce Caldwell (3B): 1-4, 2 RBIs

The Travelers put up two go-ahead runs in the seventh against reliever John Brebbia to take the first game of their four-game series with Springfield. Springfield received two RBIs each from designated hitter Chris Jacobs and third baseman Bruce Caldwell, but that couldn’t quite match up to the six tallies put up by the Travelers, including a three-RBI day recorded by second baseman Alex Yarbrough.

Palm Beach 4, Threshers 1

• Austin Gomber (SP): 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
• Darren Seferina (2B): 3-4, 3B, R
• Casey Grayson (1B): 2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs

With a seven-inning performance from Austin Gomber and the ability to capitalize on two errors committed by the Threshers, Palm Beach took Friday evening’s contest by a 4-1 score. Casey Grayson drove in a run in the third and another in the eighth which proved to be all Palm Beach’s hurlers would need to secure a victory. Gomber, Landon Beck, and Rowan Wick combined to hold the Threshers to one run on five hits. The Theshers’ lone run of the ballgame came in the bottom of the first on a single off the bat of right fielder Andrew Pullin, who collected two of his team’s handful of hits and the only RBI.

Peoria 8, Snappers 3

• Ryan Helsley (SP): 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
• Juan Perez (RP): 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Jhonny Peralta (SS): 0-2
• Chris Chinea (1B): 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBIs
• Craig Aikin (LF): 2-4, 2 RBIs
• Leobaldo Pina (PH -- eighth inning): 1-1, R, 2 RBIs

The Chiefs strung together a seven-run eighth inning, plenty of runs to secure an 8-3 win on Friday night. Ryan Helsley held the Snappers to two runs through his outing that gave way to reliever Juan Perez, who recorded the final two outs of the seventh and pitched the entire eighth inning before Peoria’s offense erupted in their second-to-last turn to bat. RBIs from Eliezer Alvarez, Craig Aikin, Magneuris Sierra and two from each Chris Chinea and Lebaldo Pina gave the Chiefs a sturdy lead heading into the ninth inning, where Steven De La Cruz secured Peoria’s five-run victory.

Saturday, May 21

Grizzlies 7, Memphis 1

• Deck McGuire (SP): 4.1 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
• Patrick Wisdom (3B): 2-4, RBI

The Grizzlies’ two runs in the second wouldn’t be all they would score, but they were all they would need to defeat Memphis on Saturday. A pair of homers hit by Jon Singleton and Jon Kemmer gave Fresno a 2-0 lead that inflated to a 6-0 lead by the time the fifth inning was in the books Deck McGuire’s night had been shut down. The Redbirds’ lone run of the day came on an RBI single from third baseman Patrick Wisdom in the fifth against Brady Wyatt, who struck out eleven Redbirds in under seven innings.

Springfield 6, Travelers 4

• Mike Mayers (SP): 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
• Paul DeJong (3B): 1-4, HR, R, 3 RBIs
• Carson Kelly (C): 2-3

Three first-inning runs set Springfield off on the right foot in Saturday’s game, ultimately a 6-4 victory for the Cardinals over the Travelers. After scoring four times through one out in the fourth, three runs credited to Paul DeJong’s seventh homer of the year, Springfield knocked Travelers starter Troy Scribner out of the game. The Travelers -- whose brief offensive comeback ultimately fell short -- scored once in the sixth off of Springfield starter Mike Mayers before scoring three times while facing Chris Perry in the seventh and eighth innings.

Palm Beach 9, Threshers 6

• Jack Flaherty (SP): 6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
• Allen Staton (3B): 3-5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBIs
• Casey Grayson (1B): 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBIs

Seven runs through the first four innings of play paired with 6 2/3 frames of dependability from Jack Flaherty was the formula for a Palm Beach win on Saturday over the Threshers. Palm Beach plated three runs in the top of the first and one in the second against Threshers starter Tyler Viza to take an early 4-0 lead. Threshers left fielder Andrew Pullin homered off of Flaherty in the second before Palm Beach scored three times across the third and fourth frames. Down 9-2 in the seventh, the Threshers scored four times, twice against Flaherty and twice against reliever Cody Schumacher, who faced four batters and failed to record an out. Lucky for Schumacher, Palm Beach’s 9-6 lead was just fine for those who followed him out of the ‘pen to handle, as Chandler Hawkins recorded four outs in succession of Schumacher and Landon Beck pitched a scoreless ninth, his first save of the season.

Snappers 10, Peoria 1

• Brennan Leitao (SP): 5.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Jhonny Peralta (3B): 0-2
• Thomas Spitz (CF): 3-4, 2B
• Eliezer Alvarez (2B): 1-4, 2B, RBI, SB

Nine runs across the final four innings of play broke the tie in score and gave the Snappers a formidable amount of run support to win Saturday’s contest in Peoria. The score was tied at one run through the first five innings of play until Snappers shortstop Trace Loehr lined a two-RBI double in the sixth. Beloit added on by scoring three times in the eighth and four times in the ninth against Peoria reliever Brady Bowen, giving the Snappers a 10-1 lead that they completed the game with.

Sunday, May 22

Memphis 8, Grizzlies 1

• Alex Reyes (SP): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
• Patrick Wisdom (3B): 3-3, 2B, 2 R
• Jon Rodriguez 3-4, HR, R, 4 RBIs

In his first start of the 2016 regular-season campaign Alex Reyes held the Grizzlies to two hits through four innings while racking up eight strikeouts. On the other side, Grizzlies starter Mike Hauschild held the Redbirds to three runs (one earned) through six innings. The Grizzlies’ lone run of the afternoon came off of Ryan Sherriff in the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Danny Worth. The Redbirds piled on five runs in the seventh and eighth, including a solo homer and bases-clearing double to Jon Rodriguez.

Travelers 6, Springfield 4

• Daniel Poncedeleon (SP): 3.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Nick Thompson (DH): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBIs

The Travelers knocked Springfield starter Daniel Poncedeleon around for four runs through the first four innings of Sunday’s contest, supporting the Travelers on their way to a 6-4 win. The Travelers scored four runs in the fourth and twice in the sixth, two runs coming on back-to-back home runs from Eric Aguilera and Jabari Henry. Nick Thompson put Springfield on the board in the seventh with a two-run homer, his first of the season. The Cardinals scored two more runs, though they wouldn’t factor into the final decision of the ballgame.

Palm Beach 5, Threshers 1

• Blake McKnight (SP): 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Kyle Grana (RP): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
• Casey Turgeon (2B): 3-4, 3B, R
• Casey Grayson (1B): 2-4, 2 RBIs

Eight dazzling innings from starter Blake McKnight backed Palm Beach in their 5-1 victory over the Threshers on Sunday. McKnight held the Threshers to one run that came as a result of a fielding error by shortstop Oscar Mercado in the sixth. Aside from that blemish on McKnight’s line, he and Kyle Grana represented Palm Beach’s pitching staff wonderfully. Palm Beach scored twice in the second, once in the third, once in the eighth, and again in the ninth for a total of five runs, more than enough to support the Cardinals’ pitchers in the ballgame.

Snappers 3, Peoria 1 (F/11)

• Derian Gonzalez (SP): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
• Craig Aikin (LF): 1-4, 3B, RBI

Peoria tied the game at 1-1 in the eighth, prompting extra innings in Sunday’s contest, an eventual 3-1 win in eleven innings for the Snappers. Derian Gonzalez pitched the 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball for the Chiefs, the one run credited to an RBI base hit off the bat of Snappers outfielder Justin Higley. James Naile, Beloit’s starter for Sunday’s game, logged eight innings in the ballgame, surrendering one run in his outing, an RBI triple off the bat of Craig Aikin in the home half of the eighth. In the top of the eleventh with Peoria reliever Steven De la Cruz on the mound, Snappers designated Chris Iriart clubbed a two-run homer, his eighth of the season. Beloit closer Cody Kurz pitched a clean eleventh inning en route to a 3-1 victory and his fourth save of the year.