On
Saturday, the St. Louis Cardinals minor league games were played early due to an
inclement weather forecast. Sunday, the by-product was to be dealt with as the
Cardinals’ fields at the Roger Dean Stadium complex in Jupiter,
Florida were
unplayable due to standing water.
As a
result, all games were shifted to the Mets’ home at St. Lucie, rather than the
single-A clubs at home. The Mets only had three fields available, another
adjustment was required.
Rather
than playing the four scheduled nine-inning games, instead they played 11, 12
and 12 innings. That enabled the scheduled pitchers to all get their work in.
However, the Quad Cities pitchers and position players were sprinkled among the
three other games, which means nothing should be read into which teams certain
players appeared with on Sunday.
Coaches
Mike Shildt, Dyar Miller and Derek Lilliquist pulled off the Easter magic,
adapting on the fly and avoiding losing an important day of preparation for the
Cardinals minor leaguers.
Fields
permitting, the Cardinals move over to the Marlins side of the Jupiter complex
as the “away” teams on Monday.
Scout.com Cardinals Pitcher of the
Day – Sunday
For
Palm
Beach, Mark McCormick (pictured) put together
the type of performance that has been anticipated from him over several
injury-racked seasons. On Sunday, our #20 ranked Cardinals
prospect earned the win with five shutout innings on two hits, no walks and five
punchouts.
Scout.com Cardinals Hitter of the
Day – Sunday
The
Palm
Beach game also supplied the big bat as
Tony Cruz had a pair of extra-base
hits in four at-bats. He doubled and slugged a home run, good for two runs
batted in.
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New Orleans 12,
Memphis 6 (11
innings)
The
Memphis pitching was a study of contrasts
on Easter Sunday.
Apparently on the bubble in terms
of assignment between Triple-A and Double-A, lefty Jaime Garcia made a major statement.
The starter went five innings, allowing a single run on three hits and a
walk.
Coming off an impressive outing
last time out, Dewon Brazelton laid
an egg, getting the same number of outs as runs allowed – five. He yielded seven
hits and a walk. Cory Rauschenberger had a very similar
trying day, with the same number of runs, hits and walks allowed over two
innings.
Zack Zuercher was charged with one earned run
on two hits in his inning and Thomas Eager finished up with a pair of one-hit shutout innings, striking out two.
Before they appeared in the MLB
game later in the afternoon, Colby Rasmus had a hit in three at-bats (and hit a two-run home run for the
Cardinals) and Rico Washington
doubled (and singled twice in four at-bats against the big Mets). Jarrett Hoffpauir went 3-for-6. Also
in the extra-base column are Joe Mather with two doubles and Mike Folli with a two-run triple.
Other players who appeared in the
Major League game were Mark Johnson
(1-for-1), Gabe Johnson (1-for-1),
Amaury Marti (1-for-1, RBI, run
scored) and Jose Martinez (0-for-2).
Luke Gregerson and Matt Scherer were available in Tony La
Russa’s pen if needed.
Binghamton 5,
Springfield 4 (12
innings)
P.J. Walters made himself a serious contender
for another Pitcher of the Day award. This time out, he went five innings on two
hits and two walks. Two runs crossed the plate, but just one run was earned.
P.J. fanned six. Stuart Pomeranz was
off again, allowing two earned runs on three hits in 1.2 innings. Kenny Maiques and Jon Mikrut each threw one scoreless
inning. Brandon Garner finished with
three one-run innings on just one hit and no walks.
Luke Gorsett led the way offensively, with a
single and home run in four at-bats, and two RBIs. Allen Craig singled, walked and had an
RBI. Tyler Greene singled in three
at-bats and scored. Justin Roberson
contributed an RBI single in his only at-bat.
Palm
Beach 7. St.
Lucie 3 (12 innings)
Two runs scored during David Kopp’s four innings, but only one
run was earned. He yielded three
hits and one walk and fanned two. Chuckie Fick was touched for a single
run in two innings. He allowed two hits and a walk. Pete Parise contributed a perfect
inning.
Offensively Daniel Descalso led the way with a pair
of singles in four at-bats and delivered three runs batted in. Steve Hill and Nick Derba each doubled, walked and
scored a run. Daryl Jones went
1-for-4 with an RBI. Donovan Solano
had a single, a double and an RBI in two at-bats. D’Marcus Ingram and Jon Edwards each singled in two
appearances.
Basic player stats provided
through the courtesy of Cardinals Director of Minor League Operations John Vuch.
Brian Walton can be reached via
email at brwalton@earthlink.net.
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