Cardinals Minors Spring Training Report: 3/19

Wednesday’s St. Louis Cardinals minor league spring training game results. Pitcher and Player of the Day are Tyler Herron and Allen Craig, respectively.

Wednesday’s opponents for the St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers were the Florida Marlins teams, with the games having been played on their side of the Roger Dean Stadium complex in Jupiter, Florida. The Cardinals charges went 2-2 on the day.

On Thursday, Memphis and Springfield venture up to Vero to play the Dodgers, while the single-A clubs stay home to entertain LA’s clubs.

Scout.com Cardinals Pitcher of the Day – Wednesday

Palm Beach’s Tyler Herron worked four scoreless innings, allowing just three baserunners on a pair of hits and one walk. Herron, our sixth-ranked prospect in the Cardinals’ system fanned three hitters. After dominating the Midwest League at the age of 20, the right-handed starter looks ready to take on the Florida State League.

Scout.com Cardinals Hitter of the Day – Wednesday

For Springfield, third baseman Allen Craig has almost impossible to get out. Our 11^th-ranked prospect went 4-for-5, including a double and a home run. Craig collected two RBIs. Craig tore up the pitching-oriented Florida State League before getting the call to Double-A late last season.

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Memphis defeated Albuquerque, 7-1

In his second outing on the spring, major league veteran Dewon Brazelton is making up for lost time. He pitching two innings while were perfect with the exception of one walk. Brazelton fanned five and took the win. Lefty Joe Rogers must have had the knuckleball working again as he allowed a lone walk in four impressive hitless innings. He fanned two. Lefty Ron Flores was charged with a run in his inning on the mound. Fireballer Jason Motte finished up, allowing one hit and striking out two.

In his first at-bat in minor league camp, Joe Mather announced his arrival a three-run home run. Chris Duncan, who came down to simply get at-bats, hit a solo shot and a double while leading off every inning, going 3-for-9 overall. Veteran catchers Mark Johnson went 2-for-3 with a double and Gabe Johnson hit a two-run home run.

Springfield lost to Carolina, 8-4

Adam Ottavino pitched 3.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. Our number five prospect in the Cardinals system walked no one and fanned four. Obviously not completely back from shoulder surgery, Stuart Pomeranz took the loss, allowing six runs in one inning on four hits and three walks. Bob Zimmerman had a nice day, tossing 2.1 innings of one-hit shutout ball and fanning three in the process.

Josh Dew pitched a perfect inning with a pair of strikeouts. Dew, the Cards’ 14th-round pick out of Troy University, was our Reliever of the Year at Batavia, ranking second in the New York-Penn League with 15 saves. Still, jumping two levels seems unlikely.

Offensively, A.J. Van Slyke continues his strong spring with a home run.

Palm Beach lost to Jupiter, 5-3

Blake King allowed three runs in two innings on four hits and two walks. King fanned two. He could end up back in Quad Cities. Former Independent Leaguer Justin Fiske allowed the other two runs on four hits in 1.1 innings.

Outfielder Jim Rapoport had a double among his two hits. First baseman Brandon Buckman had a pair of hits for the third consecutive day. Oliver Marmol made the most of his one at-bat, singling and scoring.

Quad Cities defeated Greensboro, 5-4

Nick Additon yielded two runs on three hits over three-plus innings. Former Illinois high schooler and 12^th round pick last June, Brett Zawacki earned the win despite being charged with two runs on four hits over three innings. Matt Spade picked up the save with a perfect ninth inning.

First baseman Carlos Pupo hit a two-run home run. Justin Roberson and 2007 first-rounder Pete Kozma were each on base three times with a single, walk and a hit-by-pitch. Adron Chambers had three hits and scored twice. Joey Hage had a pair of hits before plating the game-winner on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly. Brian Cartie was also on base three times with a single and a pair of walk.

Basic player stats provided through the courtesy of Cardinals Director of Minor League Operations John Vuch.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at [e-mail].

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