Daily Farm Report: Checking out (Minor League) Opening Day!

On Thursday, the Memphis Redbirds, Springfield Cardinals, Palm Beach Cardinals, and Peoria Chiefs all started their 2018 regular seasons.

Memphis Redbirds 8 at Round Rock Express 4

John Gant (SP): 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ks

Derian Gonzalez (RP): 0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 Ks

Max Schrock (2B): 1-5, HR, R, 3 RBIs

Adolis Garcia (RF): 1-5, HR, R, 2 RBIs

Rangel Ravelo (DH): 3-4, 3 R

Patrick Wisdom (3B): 2-3, 2B, R, 2 RBIs

Carson Kelly (C): 2-4, R

Beginning their quest to defend their PCL title, the Memphis Redbirds enjoyed an 8-4 win over the Express in Round Rock, Texas, on Thursday.

Redbirds starter John Gant turned in six innings of one-run ball, punching out five batters. Reliever Derian Gonzalez got in to trouble in the eighth inning, but he and the rest of the pitching staff were supported by offensive contributions throughout the team’s line up.

Second baseman Max Schrock and right fielder Adolis Garcia went deep; Shrock batted in three runs, and Garcia plated a pair. Designated hitter Rangel Ravelo did his job, going 3-for-4 and scoring three times. Third baseman Patrick Wisdom doubled and drove in two, and backstop Carson Kelly had two base knocks and scored once.

Midland RockHounds 6, Springfield Cardinals 5

Jake Woodford (SP): 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Chris Ellis (RP): 3 ¹⁄₃ IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 Ks

Jacob Evans (RP): ¹⁄₃ IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 Ks

Tommy Edman (2B): 3-4, R, RBI

Andrew Knizner (C): 1-5, HR, RBI, R

John Nogowski (1B): 3-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs, R

Lane Thomas (CF): 2-3, 2B, R

With an eighth-inning rally of two runs, the RockHounds came from behind to beat the Cardinals on Thursday by a 6-5 final score.

Springfield starter Jake Woodford’s outing was shaky, as he allowed four runs in as many innings on seven hits. After Chris Ellis turned in 3 ¹⁄₃ frames with just one run allowed in the eighth - the final inning he pitched in, Jacob Evans surrendered the eventual game-winning run later in the eighth.

Cardinals first baseman John Nogowski led the way at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, and two runs batted in and finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Second baseman Tommy Edman had three base hits, center fielder Lane Thomas doubled and scored a run, and catcher Andrew Knizner blasted a long ball.

Jupiter Hammerheads 3 at Palm Beach Cardinals 2

Anthony Shew (SP): 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 Ks

Greg Holland (RP): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Yeison Medina (RP): ¹⁄₃ IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 Ks (Medina hit two batters.)

Johan Mieses (DH): 2-4, 2B, R

Shane Billings (RF): 1-4, RBI

It was a pretty quiet day for both sides on Thursday, but the Hammerheads were just loud enough to come up with a 3-2 win over Palm Beach.

The Cardinals started Anthony Shew, and he pitched very well. Shew turned in five innings, limiting Jupiter’s lineup to three base hits and two walks while punching out five batters. After Jesus Cruz pitched a scoreless sixth and Greg Holland (Yes, the one who will soon be working out of the St. Louis bullpen.) worked a clean seventh, the Hammerheads put up three runs in the top of the eighth.

At the plate, Palm Beach designated hitter Johan Mieses doubled and scored a run as part of his 2-for-4 day, and right fielder Shane Billings batted in a run.

Peoria Chiefs 4 at Burlington Bees 2

Jake Walsh (SP): 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 Ks

Thomas St. Clair (RP): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 Ks

Nick Plummer (DH): 2-3, 2 2Bs, R

Juan Yepez (1B): 2-3, 2 RBIs

Elehuris Montero (3B): 2-4, R, RBI

Behind their starter’s scoreless outing and a productive string of middle-of-the-order performances, the Chiefs defeated the Bees, 4-2, on Thursday.

Jake Walsh turned in five shutout innings for Peoria, despite issuing four walks. Thomas St. Clair closed the game for the Chiefs, earning the save as he fanned the side in the ninth.

Chiefs third baseman Elehuris Montero had two base hits, leading to him driving in and a scoring a run. Fellow corner infielder Juan Yepez went 2-for-3 with a couple RBIs, and designated hitter Nick Plummer doubled twice.

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Friday’s probables:

MEM: Dakota Hudson

SPR: Ryan Helsley

PMB: TBD

PEO: Johan Oviedo