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St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Report, Playoff Edition: Petrick and Anderson carry the playoff load, Mercado's hit streak continues

The two hurlers combined for 13.1 innings without allowing an earned run. Mercado went 2-4 in Johnson City's loss to Danville.

By Eric M. Johnson
MiLB.com

Memphis 4 Omaha 3 (Series tied: 1-1)

Player of the Game:

Zach Petrick: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 0 ER, BB, 4 K

Petrick held the Storm Chasers at bay for 6 innings, with the lone Omaha runs coming after a fielding error by second baseman Greg Garcia.  Petrick's initial struggles at the AAA level seem to be over and he's pitched very well the last month with just one poor start in which he failed to record an out on the way to giving up 5 runs on 4 hits. Excepting that outing, he's given up just 5 ER in his last 6 appearances, totaling 23 innings.

Notables:

  • Tommy Pham (CF): 0-3, R, BB, 2 K
  • Scott Moore (3B): 1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
  • Stephen Piscotty (RF): 0-4, K
  • Greg Garcia (2B): 2-4, 2 R, 2 K, SB
  • Rafael Ortega (LF): 2-4, 3B, RBI, K
Game Notes:
  • Pham walked to lead off the game and scored on Moore's 2 run homer to put the Redbirds up early.
  • Garcia scored on a triple by Ortega in the 4th to extend the lead to 3-0. Omaha scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning after Garcia error on a ground ball by Matt Fields led off the inning. Fields would later score and Chelsor Cuthbert would also score in the inning on a ground out that would have ended the inning.
  • Omaha tied the game in the 7th with a homer by Whit Merrifield (props to his parents for that name, nicely done) off of Eric Fornataro.
  • The winning run came in the top of the ninth for Memphis. Garcia singled with one out, stole second base, and then advanced to third after the throw from catcher Brett Hayes ended up in center field. With Luis Mateo still at the plate, Clayton Mortenson (!) threw a wild pitch and Garcia scored on the play.  Not how Hoyle would have drawn it up, but a win is a win. Who says stolen bases and defense don't win games?
  • The series continues tonight with Boone Whiting on the hill for Memphis and Sugar Ray Marimon (nope, not a misprint) taking the bump for Omaha. Hopefully the Redbirds fare better than Tommy Hearns in their Sugar Ray matchup.  The game can be streamed on MiLB.tv if you have access; 7:05 CST for first pitch.

State College 3 Hudson Valley 0 (Series Tied: 1-1)

Player of the Game:

Will Anderson: 7.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Anderson was a 26th round draft choice of the Cardinals a year ago out of Cal State - Monterey Bay and has really been the ace of the State College staff this season, sporting a 2.43/2.22 ERA/FIP and a 59/11 K/BB ratio in 70.1 innings coming into his start on Thursday, where he was again dominant. The Hudson Valley lineup is no slouch either, featuring the top overall prospect in the Rays system, 2014 1st round draftee Casey Gillaspie (hitless in 4 PA's), and a number of other solid players having good seasons (Grant Kay, Bralin Jackson)

Notables:

  • Darren Seferina (2B): 1-4, R, K
  • Nick Thompson (RF): 1-3, R, RBI, BB
  • Jake Stone (DH): 2-4, K
  • Robelys Reyes (SS): 1-4, R, 3B, K
  • Jhohan Acevedo (CF): 0-2, RBI
  • Josh Lucas (RP): 1.2 IP, H, 3 K
Notes:

  • Lucas was as good in relief of Anderson as the latter was the first 7 innings, completing the shutout in dominant fashion by striking out 3 of the six hitters he faced and pumping strikes with a 3-0 lead.
  • Thompson scored a key insurance run in the 7th on a fielding error that allowed Robelys Reyes to reach. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Reyes' speed made a big difference on this play and would have been the third out of the inning.
  • Series resumes tonight with Fernando Baez on the hill for State College. the Hudson Valley starter has not been determined at this time.

Danville 6 Johnson City 1 (Series tied 1-1)

Player of the Game:

Andrew Waszak (SP): 6.2 IP, 7 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K

Waszak scattered 7 hits in his 6+ innings of work after struggling in the first frame allowing a triple to Oscar Mercado who later scored on a Blake Drake ground ball after beating out Jordan Edgerton's throw home. Waszak then allowed a single to Casey Grayson, putting runners on 1st and 3rd with only one out and worked out of the jam.  No Johnson City runner passed second base in the next 5+ innings of work.

Notables:

  • Oscar Mercado (SS): 2-4, R, 3B, K, SB (4th of the postseason)
  • Casey Grayson (1B): 1-1, 3 BB
  • Magneuris Sierra (CF): 1-4, SB
  • Steven Farinaro (SP): 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, BB, 3 K
Notes:

  • Mercado has been impressive this postseason, hitting .400/.458/.545 so far in 5 games while being 4 of 5 in stolen base attempts.
  • It's been a bit of a lost season for Steven Farinaro, who has really struggled in his second year in the pros.
  • Series continues tonight with Dailyn Martinez slated to pitch for Johnson City. Danville's starter has yet to be determined.

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