April 20th Wrap
Memphis
Gomber's Gem Helps Redbirds Split with Round Rock
Austin Gomber tossed a complete-game shutout in Game 2 of Saturday night's doubleheader, helping the Memphis Redbirds (8-8) split the double-dip with the Round Rock Express (Astros).
On the day, Adolis Garcia homered twice and drove in four runs, and Rangel Ravelo had three hits, three RBI, and scored two runs. John Nogowski was on base twice in each game.
With a fifth-inning single in Game 1, Tommy Edman extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He has a hit in 11 of his 13 games played this season.
Game 1: Round Rock 11, Memphis 6
The Redbirds led 6-2 heading into the top of the seventh, but the Express plated nine runs and finished an 11-6 win.
Garcia cranked a three-run home run in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 deadlock.
Alex Reyes started and tossed 3.0 innings, giving up one hit and striking out four. He threw 25 of his 40 pitches for strikes.
Game 2: Memphis 3, Round Rock 0
Gomber was spectacular in 7.0 innings, giving up just three hits and non after the fourth inning. He faced the minimum in his final five innings of work, including retiring nine-straight Express to end the ballgame.
He needed just 87 pitches, 55 of which went for strikes.
Garcia homered again in the nightcap, and Drew Robinson and Edmundo Sosa drove in Memphis' other runs.
Springfield
Cancel sends Naturals to 5-3 walk-off win in 10 innings
The Springfield Cardinals (5-12) tied it in the top of the ninth, but Naturals (8-9) 2B Gabriel Cancel connected on a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th, propelling Northwest Arkansas to the 5-3 walk-off win on Saturday night.
DECISIONS:
W: RHP Grant Gavin (3-1)
L: RHP Kodi Whitley (0-1)
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED:
-Cardinals RHP Williams Perez and rehabbing Royals LHP Danny Duffy alternated scoreless frames before the Naturals broke through in the bottom of the 5th. With runners at second and third and two down, CF Khalil Lee laced a two-run single to center, lifting the Naturals ahead, 2-0.
-The Cardinals got on the board in the sixth on a run-scoring error, before tying it in the seventh with a two-out RBI single from RF Shane Billing, evening it at 2-2.
-The Naturals seized the lead right back in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI base hit from LF Nick Heath for the 3-2 advantage.
-Springfield tied it in the top of the ninth when LF Conner Capel, who had led off the inning with a single and moved to third throughout the frame, darted home on a passed ball to even it, 3-3.
-After Springfield failed to score in the top of the 10th, 2B Gabriel Cancel sent the final blow to left field with a game-winning two-run home run.
NOTABLES:
-With his RBI single tonight, RF Shane Billings is 5x10 with a homer and four RBIs through his first three starts of the season.
-RHP Williams Perez tossed his best start of the season, going 6.0 innings with just two runs on five hits, striking out a season-high nine batters in the no-decision.
-SS Kramer Robertson and CF Dylan Carlson both went 2x4 with a pair of singles apiece.
Palm Beach
Cardinals split twin bill with Mets, win series
Due to weather on Friday night, the Palm Beach Cardinals and St. Lucie Mets played a doubleheader on Saturday in which the teams split.
The Cardinals shutout the Mets in the opening game 6-0 behind a masterful start by Johan Oviedo. The 21-year-old threw five shutout innings to lower his season ERA to 1.71 and struck out 7 in the process. Zach Prendergast pitched a perfect final two innings, striking out three.
At the plate, the Beach Birds wasted to time getting on the scoreboard with an RBI groundout in the first from Chase Pinder. In the fourth, Palm Beach extended its lead to 3-0 when Michael Perri hit an inside-the-park two-run homer to deep center field.
In the fifth, Alexis Wilson's RBI single and Rayder Ascanio's sac fly made it a 5-0 game. In the next frame, a wild pitch scored Bryce Denton who went 1-3.
Zach Kirtley had a game high three hits with Wilson and Perri adding multi-hit games of their own.
In the second half of the doubleheader, Edgar Gonzalez was rolling to begin the game. After allowing a two-out RBI double in the first inning followed by a second run on an error by Kirtley, Gonzalez sent down the next eight batters in order.
Palm Beach got one run back in the second on a Julio Rodriguez 404-foot blast, but that was the only offense the Cardinals would get.
The Mets jumped out to a 3-1 lead off of Gonzalez in the fourth and in the sixth scored one more unearned run off the Mountain View, California native. In total, the righty threw five innings allowing just one earned runs (four total) on six hits and two walks while striking out six.
Patrick Dayton threw a scoreless inning out of the bullpen before Junior Fernandez relinquished the last run the Mets would score all night.
Once it was all over, the Mets won by a 6-1 final.
Despite the split, the Cardinals won their fourth series of the season after a series opening victory on Thursday.
Peoria
Shaw Collects Two Hits, RBI in 6-1 Chiefs Loss
The Peoria Chiefs scored first but fell to the Burlington Bees 6-1 on Saturday evening.
The loss drops the Chiefs to 5-11 on the season with the entire Midwest League having Sunday off for the Easter holiday.
The Chiefs took the lead in the top of the third inning against Burlington starter Jose Soriano. An error at second base and a fielders' choice to shortstop put Edwin Figuera at first base with one down. Figurea stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Harrison Wenson. With two down, the Chiefs took a 1-0 lead as Josh Shaw lined a single to left field.
The lead was short lived as the Bees bounced back against Kyle Leahy in the bottom of the inning. After Leahy struck out Wenson for his fifth straight strikeout, DC Arendas drew a walk and moved to third on a double by Michael Stefanic. Livan Soto singled to right to score Arendas as the Chiefs picked up an out at the plate with Stefanic tagged out by Ivan Herrera for 9-3-6-2 rundown out.
The game stayed tied into the sixth when the Chiefs left the bases loaded against reliever Tyler Smith. Burlington got a leadoff single and a one-out home run to take a 3-1 lead as Leahy was lifted for Mike Brettell who also made his 2019 debut on the mound. Brettell got out of the sixth but the Bees scored twice in the seventh on two singles, two errors and walk to take a 5-1 lead. The hosts added a run in the eighth against lefty Jacob Schlesener with two walks, a balk and a single for the 6-1 final score.
Leahy (0-1) took the loss in his Chiefs debut, allowing three runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings while walking one, hitting one and striking out six. Brettell allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits over 1 2/3 innings as he struck out one and walked one. Schlesener allowed one run on one hit and two walks as he struck out one in his one inning of work.