Games Played Monday

Memphis (Triple-A) – All-Star Break.

RECORD:  54-44, 2^nd place, 5.0 games back

Springfield (Double-A) – Doubles up Tulsa 4-2 (Game 1)

Kyle Mura had a hiccup in the first when the Drillers scored two runs off the right-hander.  Mura would regroup to throw 5.2 shutout innings, falling one out short of the complete game.  The 23 year old has posted an impressive 2.04 ERA in his first three Double-A starts.  Luke Gregerson recorded the final out to log his ninth save.

Allen Craig continues his torrid pace with his second consecutive multi-hit game since having his hit streak broken.  In the second, Craig hit his fourteenth home run of the season, a solo shot.  In the game, he had two hits and drove in two runs.  Jose Martinez singled twice and scored a run. 

Springfield – Winners over Tulsa 7-3 (13 innings - Game 2)

Tyler Greene doubled and scored a run in the top of the first.  Springfield got two runs in the fourth after Mark Shorey walked and Brandon Yarbrough and Isa Garcia collected extra base hits.  The score remained tied at three after seven innings so the game would have to be settled in extra innings. 

In the top of the ninth, the Cardinals loaded the bases for Jose Martinez.  With two out, the second baseman watched the third strike to get the Drillers out of the inning. 

Springfield made noise again in the tenth but once again without any tallies to show for it.  In an interesting move in the inning, Pop Warner sent pitcher Fernando Salas to the plate with one on and no out.  After a failed bunt attempt, Salas swung away and grounded into a force out.  Salas would remain on base but not come out to pitch the bottom of the inning.

The score would remain tied until the 13^th when Springfield put four runs on the board.  The first run of the inning scored on back-to-back doubles off the bats of Cody Haerther and Andrew Brown.  The Cardinals eventually loaded the bases for Matt Pagnozzi, who cleared them with a three-run double. 

Pagnozzi would then come back out to the mound to record three groundouts to end the game.  Normally a catcher, Pagnozzi recorded 2.1 innings of one hit baseball to record his first victory. 

Returning to Double-A, Haerther reached base five times via two doubles, two walks, and a single.  After going hitless in the first game, Jon Jay contributed three hits in game two.  Brandon Yarbrough chipped in three hits and an RBI. 

Justin Fiske drew the start and hurled three shutout innings, striking out five.  Jon Mikrut entered in the fourth to a rude welcome from the hosts.  The Drillers tagged Mikrut for three runs on five hits in only a third of an inning.  Marco Gonzalez stopped the bleeding with 1.2 shutout innings. Salas and Josh Dew combined for 3.2 scoreless innings and six strikeouts. 

Both games were scheduled for seven innings. 

RECORD:  12-11, 3^rd place, 1.0 games back

Link to boxscore – game 1

Link to boxscore – game 2

Palm Beach (High-A) – Shut out Lakeland 1-0

Tyler Henley led off the game with a double and scored on a Charlie Kingrey single to put the Cardinals up 1-0.  It was all Shaun Garceau and two relievers would need.  Garceau threw a seven-inning gem, allowing only one hit and striking out five.  Francisco Samuel struck out two in a perfect ninth to pick up his 19^th save. 

Henley finished the game with two hits as did Daniel Descalso.  

With the victory, the Cardinals take over first place in the Florida State League East.

RECORD:  14-9, 1^st place

Link to boxscore

Quad Cities (A) – Winners over Clinton 7-2

Richard Castillo continues to win, with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.  The 18 year old now stands at 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA.  The River Bandits bullpen was superb spinning 3.1 shutout innings.  The Lumberkings were only able to manage two hits off the trio of Wayne Daman, Eduardo Sanchez and Pete Parise.

Carlos Pupo had his best game since being promoted with three hits and a run scored.  Pete Kozma doubled and scored a run.  Roberto Espinoza had a two-run double. 

RECORD:  13-12, 5^th place, 4.0 games back

Link to boxscore

Batavia (SS) – Falls to Aberdeen 3-1 (Game 1)

Colt Sedbrook led the Muckdogs with two singles.  Xavier Scruggs singled and drove in the only run on a sacrifice fly.  Chris Swauger doubled and scored a run. 

Josh Hester allowed three runs on six hits in a three-inning start.  Lance Lynn followed and continued to stifle NY-Penn League hitters.  The former ‘Ole Miss Rebel hurled four shutout innings, striking out five, while lowering his ERA to 0.61. 

Batavia – Defeats Aberdeen 8-7 (Game 2)

The Muckdogs scored five in the final two innings to prevent the doubleheader sweep.  After having the only RBI in game one, Xavier Scruggs hit a two-run double with two outs in the final frame for the win.

Shane Peterson singled, doubled, and scored two runs.  The 2008 second round pick is now hitting a robust .346.  Charlie Cutler singled twice and drove in two runs. 

Arquimedes Nieto continued his stellar play with four innings of one run ball.  Zachary Pitts was roughed up for three runs in only 1.1 innings of relief.  Hector Cardenas picked up his first win of the season after pitching a scoreless inning.

Both games were seven innings. 

RECORD:  15-12, 2^nd place, 4.0 games back

Link to boxscore – game 1

Link to boxscore – game 2

Johnson City (R) – Lost to Kingsport 7-6

The Baby Birds were down five late but put two on the board in the seventh inning to pull within three.  With two outs in the ninth, Paul Cruz reached on an error to put runners on first and third.  Alex Castellanos came to the plate to try to extend the game and the third baseman out of Belmont-Abbey did just that.  Castellanos parked a Manuel Alvarez pitch over the left field wall to tie the game.

It was Castellanos’ second dinger of the game and his fourth of the season.  The 21 year old finished with three hits and four RBIs.  Travis Mitchell singled, tripled, and drove in a run.  Nico Vasquez reached base three times and drove in a run.

Reliever Joel Pichardo was charged with the defeat after giving up a run in the 12^th.  JC starter Carlos Gonzalez was roughed up for six runs on seven hits in just three innings of action.  Samuel Freeman hurled three shutout innings and struck out three. 

RECORD:  12-14, 5^th place, 7.0 games back

Link to boxscore

Gulf Coast League Cardinals (R) – Tied with the Marlins 9-9

This game was suspended due to rain and will be completed on July 19.  Ryde Rodriguez and Braulio Hiraldo both had two hits and two RBIs. 

The rehabbing David Kopp was touched for two runs in 2.2 innings of work. 

RECORD: 8-11, 4^th place, 6.5 games back

Link to boxscore

VSL Cardinals – Doubled up by the Tigers 4-2

Starter Hector Corpas picked up his sixth loss after scattering seven hits that led to three runs in 5.2 innings.  Fabian Marquez was tagged with a run in a solid 3.1 innings of relief. 

Hector Garcia collected an RBI double.  It was the only extra base hit for the Cardinals.  Wilfred Vivas singled and scored a run. 

RECORD:  24-25, 4^th place, 10.0 games back

Link to boxscore

DSL Cardinals – Defeated by the Phillies 4-3

The Cardinals fell behind early but rallied with two runs in the eighth to eventually force the game into extra innings.  Luis Pimentel and Audris Perez both singled and doubled during the game.  Wader Perez reached base twice and stole two bases. 

The Cardinals made four errors.

Juan Jaquez spun four shutout innings but did not factor into the decision. 

RECORD: 13-22, 4^th place, 12.0 games back

Link to boxscore

Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Day: Shaun Garceau

With a shot at first place, Garceau took a one run first inning cushion and rode it to into the Florida State League East Division lead.  The 20 year old was stellar, allowing only one hit in seven shutout innings for Palm Beach. 

Cardinals Minor League Player of the Day: Xavier Scruggs

So far, professional baseball has been a struggle for Xavier Scruggs.  But it became a bit easier on Monday night, as the former UNLV Rebel drove in Batavia’s only run in the first game of a doubleheader before driving in the winning runs in the nightcap, too. 

Dustin Mattison can be reached via email at dustin@whiteyball.com.

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