Games Played Sunday
Batavia Muckdogs (SS) - Winners 9-3 over Jamestown
Starter Hector Cardenas pitched six strong innings and right fielder Shane Peterson drove in a pair of runs as the Muckdogs beat the Jamestown Jammers, 9-3, to capture the New York-Penn League title.
Cardenas held the Jammers to one run on four hits and a walk for the clinching win at Dwyer Stadium, in front of the hometown crowd. It's the first league title for the club since the Batavia Pirates won the crown in 1963.
Peterson, who hit .409 in the postseason, went 3-for-5 with an RBI single and a run-scoring double to lead the Muckdog’s offense. His third hit highlighted a five-run eighth inning as Batavia put the game out of reach.
Catcher Charles Cutler had a great postseason, hitting .474 in the playoffs, capping it with a 2-for-4 day Sunday. Cutler had an RBI and scored twice. Center fielder Frederick Parejo went 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the championship win.
Closer Adam Reifer earned his second playoff save, striking out three in 1 2/3 scoreless. The All-Star right-hander recorded 22 during the regular season.
Batavia’s bats came alive in the postseason, as the team they hit a league leading .303 in the five playoff games, while their bullpen picked up four saves and of course the pitching staff finished the postseason with a 4-1 record and second best 3.97 ERA.
Standout offensive performances included; outfielder Shane Peterson and catcher Charles Cutler hitting over .400, .409 and .474 respectively, both leading Batavia with nine hits in the postseason. Edwin Gomez leading the team with seven RBIs and 12 total bases, while outfielder Chris Swauger drove in six runs. Infielder Cold Sedbrook led the team with seven runs scored and a .458 on-base-percentage.
Off the mound, Hector Cardenas made two of the five starts for the Dogs, finishing with a 1-0 record and 1.50 ERA, including winning the championship game. Cardenas pitched a league and team leading 12 innings, giving up only two runs on five hits and five walks, while striking out 11 batters to earn the Birdhouse' NYP League postseason MVP honors.
Other standout performances came from starters, Scott Gorgen, who didn’t get a decision in his start, but pitched six shutout innings and Adam Veres who picked up a win with seven solid innings in his only start.
Batavia is the first St. Louis affiliate to win a championship since the Palm Beach Cardinals claimed the 2005 Florida State League crown. The Muckdogs, who won the Pinckney Division with a 46-28 record, joined the Cards' system last year after two decades as an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Recently the Batavia Muckdogs and St. Louis Cardinals extended they player development contract for two more years.
BOXSCORE
RECORD: Championship Series 2-0 – NYP League Champions
Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A) - Season Over
RECORD: 75-67, 2nd place, 8.0 GB
Springfield Cardinals (Double-A) -
RECORD: 76-64 overall, 2nd place in first and second half
Palm Beach Cardinals (High-A) -
RECORD: 75-62 overall, 1st place, first half and 4th place, 2nd half
Quad Cities River Bandits (A) -
RECORD: 68-66 overall, 4th place in first and second half
Johnson City Cardinals (R) - Season Over
RECORD: 40-25, 2nd place, 0.5 GB
Gulf Coast League Cardinals (R) - Season Over
RECORD: 17-38, 5th place, 16.0 GB
VSL Cardinals (R) - Season Over
RECORD: 31-34, 5th Place, 13.5 GB
DSL Cardinals (R) - Season Over
RECORD: 27-39, Last Place, 15.0 GB
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Minor League Pitcher of the Day - Hector Cardenas
Pitched six solid innings, giving up only one run, to pick up the historic win.
Minor League Player of the Day - Shane Peterson
Had a big day at the plate Sunday, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
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