The minor league affiliates found more success than the big league club on Monday. Memphis, Springfield and Palm Beach each picked up wins. Adam Wainwright made an effective rehab start, and seems to be aiming for a fast return to the St. Louis rotation.
Memphis Redbirds 4 at Nashville Sounds 1
Daniel Poncedeleon (SP): 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 8 K’s
Arturo Reyes (RP): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 5 K’s
Luke Voit (DH): 1-4, HR, 2 RBI
Alex Mejia (2B): 2-3, RBI
Memphis was able to avoid being swept by the Nashville Sounds on Monday. Starter Daniel Poncedeleon was remarkably effective, allowing the Sounds to only scatter two hits. The only bump in the road for Poncedeleon was the third, when he issued two leadoff walks that resulted in Nashville’s only run. Arturo Reyes was dominant in a two-inning relief spot, and Preston Guilmet picked up the save.
Poncedeleon’s shaky third didn’t keep the Redbirds down for long. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill led off the fourth inning with a single before scoring on a Luke Voit two-run homer to left. First baseman Rangel Ravelo continued the inning with a double. Ravelo eventually scored on a Adolis Garcia sac fly. The win moves Memphis to 20-12 on the season. They take on Oklahoma City tonight at 7:05 CST.
Springfield Cardinals 6 Tulsa Drillers 2
Adam Wainwright (SP): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K’s
Tommy Edman (3B): 1-4, 2B, RBI
Chris Chinea (1B): 2-3, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI
Randy Arozarena (RF): 2-4, 2 R
Adam Wainwright continued his journey back into the big league rotation with five scoreless innings against Tulsa. The only two hits he allowed were a pair of singles in the fourth inning. Tulsa couldn’t muster a run until Connor Jones relieved Wainwright. Jones tossed 1.2 innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out two.
Infielder Ramon Urias opened the scoring on Monday with a first inning single to drive in Randy Arozarena. The Cardinals would add another on run with a Thomas Spitz sac fly in the second. Tommy Edman kept the train rolling in the fifth, lacing a double to score two. The win was Springfield’s fourth in a row, moving the team to 18-11. They take on Tulsa again at 6:30 CST tonight.
Palm Beach 4 Jupiter Hammerheads 0
Casey Meisner (SP): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K’s
Brian O’Keefe (C): 2-4, RBI, R
Johan Mieses (CF): 2-4, R
Andy Young (2B): 2-3, BB
Starter Casey Meisner navigated his way up and down the Jupiter lineup on Monday, allowing no extra base hits and limiting baserunners over six strong innings. The effort allowed Meisner to pick up his first win of the season. Over fifteen innings of work so far, Meisner is sporting a 2.40 ERA and striking out nearly a batter per inning.
The Palm Beach offense dealt Jupiter a slow death on Monday. Seven of nine Cardinals hitters picked up a hit, but none went for extra bases. Dylan Carlson and Juan Yepez were the only players left out of the parade of singles. Second baseman Andy Young continues to hit in the nasty environment of Roger Dean. On the season, the former 37th rounder is slashing .316/.389/.568. The win puts Palm Beach at 17-13 on the season. They’ll continue the series against the Hammerheads tonight at 5:30 CST.
Bowling Green Hot Rods 7 Peoria Chiefs 5
Johan Oviedo (SP): 3.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 BB, 2 K’s
Scott Hurst (CF): 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Irving Lopez (2B): 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
Bryce Denton (RF): 3-4, R
Nick Plummer (LF): 1-3, BB
Peoria was the only Cardinal’s affiliate to pick up a loss on Monday. Starter Johan Oviedo continued his rough start to the season, never quite getting off the ground against Bowling Green. Oviedo was never able to find the strike zone. He threw 94 pitches over his limited amount of frames but less than half went for strikes. His cause wasn’t helped his defense, as Peoria committed five errors on the day.
The Chiefs jumped out to an early lead before things unraveled for Oviedo, scoring two runs in both the first and second innings. Outfielder Scott Hurst led things off and has done nothing but hit since getting a late start to the season. The two for five effort moves Hurst to .341/.396/.477 through 44 at bats. Nick Plummer worked more late counts, picking up another walk while striking out twice and recording a single. Plummer is slashing .224/.372/.434 on the year while running high walk and strikeout rates. Peoria dropped to 13-15 on the season and will play Bowling Green again tonight at 5:35 CST.
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Tuesday’s Probables
MEM: Sean Gilmartin
SPR: TBD
PMB: TBD
PEO: Evan Guillory