Wick’s plus power has been deflated for much of the year. mlblogspeoriachiefs.com
The prodigious power of Canadian right fielder Rowan Wick has been on hold for most of this year. Getting his first taste of the Florida State League, Wick has greatly struggled as he entered Saturday’s action with a .179 batting average and a .291 slugging percentage. In 31 games, he’d hit just 2 home runs and 8 extra base hits in all. For comparison, in 35 games at State College last season, Wick hit .378/.475/.815 with 14 homers and 23 extra base hits. Moreover, he’s struck out 12 more times this year than he did at State College last year.
Despite that, he was a big part of the Palm Beach victory on Saturday night. In the 1st inning, Mason Katz shot a one-out single to left. Bruce Caldwell sent a base hit to center field. Luke Voit drew a walk to load the bases for Jimmy Bosco. Bosco hit an infield single that scored Katz and kept the bases loaded. Carson Kelly lofted a sac fly to center field to score Caldwell. Brett Wiley walked to load the bases for Wick. After Bradenton made an early pitching change, Wick crushed his third home run of the year to right field for a grand slam.
Omaha Storm Chasers 0
Memphis Redbirds 5
Game Highlights
Tim Cooney utterly dominated the Storm Chasers. With 104 pitches, Cooney tossed 7.2 innings striking out 6 and walking 2. He took a no-hitter into the 7th inning when he gave up his only a hit, a one-out single to center. Marcus Hatley got the final 4 batters and ended the game on a strikeout looking.
Ed Easley opened the scoring with his third home run of the year in the 1st inning. In the 4th, Stephen Piscotty, starting in center field, singled to right. Dan Johnson and Matt Williams drew walks to load the bases. Mike O’Neill singled to center to score Piscotty and Johnson with Williams getting thrown out at third base. The Redbirds loaded the bases again in the 5th inning on a Ty Kelly single and walks to Easley and Piscotty. Johnson sent a sacrifice fly to center to score Kelly. Johnson tacked on another run with a solo shot in the 8th.
Player Highlights
3B Kelly 1-for-4, R
C Easley 1-for-3, BB, solo HR
CF Piscotty 1-for-3, R, BB
DH Johnson 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, solo HR
SS Greg Garcia 1-for-4
LF O’Neill 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Cooney (W, 3-2) 7.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 K
Hatley 1.1 IP, 1 K
Springfield Cardinals 2
Northwest Arkansas Naturals 10
Game Highlights
The Springfield Cardinals brought a run across the plate in the 6th and 7th innings. Nick Martini led off the 6th by ripping a single to right. Anthony Garcia drew a walk, and Aledmys Diaz lined a single up the middle to score Martini. In the 7th, Alex Mejia drew a leadoff walk. Charlie Tilson sent a single to center. Martini grounded into what should have been a 1-6-3 double play, but shortstop Raul Mondesi threw the ball away on the turn as Mejia scored.
Thomas Lee had another poor start for Springfield. He lasted just 4 innings and allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk. He did strike out 4 batters. The inconsistent Lee has now given up at least 4 runs in 5 of his 7 starts. In his other 2, he’s thrown 15.2 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts. Chris Thomas shut down the Naturals in his 3 innings allowing just a walk while striking out 5. Jordan Swagerty struggled yet again. He have up a home run, a double, a wild pitch, a triple, a line-drive single, and a walk before handing the ball to Corey Baker. Swagerty did start his day with a flyout. Corey Baker got the final 2 outs for Springfield while allowing an unearned run on a single to left.
Player Highlights
CF Tilson 1-for-5
LF Martini 1-for-5, R
2B Jacob Wilson 0-for-2, 2 BB
RF Jeremy Hazelbaker 1-for-4, SB
SS Diaz 1-for-4, RBI
3B Mejia 1-for-2, R, BB
Lee (L, 2-3) 4 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Thomas 3 IP, 1 BB, 5 K
Swagerty 0.1 IP, 4 R, 5 R (3 ER), 1 BB
Baker 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER)
Palm Beach Cardinals 8
Bradenton Marauders 6
Final/11
Game Highlights
Jimmy Reed had a rough start for the Cardinals but left the game with a lead. Reed gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in just 3.1 innings while striking out a pair of batters. Tyler Melling took over for Reed and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk in his 1.2 innings. Melling struck out 2 batters as well. Cody Schumacher shouldered 3 innings and got his second hold of the year. He gave up a hit and struck out 1.
In the bottom of the 9th, Josh Lucas came on for the save. He gave up a one-out single to center field. He tried to pick off the pinch runner, Chris Diaz, but he threw the ball away with Diaz taking third. Lucas then gave up a sacrifice fly to center. Lucas threw a scoreless 10th inning and stranded the bases load with a 1-2-3 double play. Steven Sabatino got the save giving up a hit and a walk in the 11th but striking out his final batter looking.
The Cardinals needed a big hit in the 11th, and Voit got it for them. Juan Herrera picked up a one-out single to right, and C.J. McElroy followed with a single to left. Katz sent a single to center, loading the bases. Voit then shot a base hit to right field to bring home Herrera and McElroy.
Player Highlights
CF McElroy 2-for-6, R, SB
2B Katz 4-for-6, 2B, R
3B Caldwell 1-for-5, R, BB, SB
1B Voit 2-for-5, R, 2 RBI, BB
LF Bosco 1-for-6, R, RBI
C Kelly 0-for-3, RBI, BB
DH Wiley 0-for-3, R, BB
RF Wick 2-for-5, grand slam
SS Herrera 1-for-5, R
Reed 3.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 K
Melling 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Schumacher (H, 2) 3 IP, 1 H, 1 K
Lucas (BS, 1)(W, 2-1) 2 IP, 4 H, 1 R (0 ER)
Sabatino (S, 1) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Beloit Snappers 6
Peoria Chiefs 8
Game Highlights
Two big late innings sealed the win for the Chiefs. The Chiefs started their scoring in the 1st. Oscar Mercado laced a double to left and stole third base. Danny Diekroeger hit his own double to left to score Mercado. They were held scoreless until the 6th inning. Steve Bean shot a single to right and took second on an error. Alex De Leon drew a walk. Luis Cruz then grounded to second. De Leon got forced at second, but the Beloit shortstop threw the ball away with Bean scoring.
In the 7th, Casey Turgeon led off with a single to center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mercado reached first on an error at third while Turgeon crossed the plate. Mercado advanced to second on a balk and scored on a base hit from Diekroeger. Bean beat out an infield single, and De Leon walked to load the bases. Cruz got hit with a pitch to bring in another run. In the 8th, Magneuris Sierra singled to the third baseman. After Diekroeger drew a walk, Collin Radack hit his second home run of the year to clear the bases.
Fernando Baez struggled with command once again. He covered 4.2 innings allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks while notching 4 strikeouts. If he doesn’t gain better command, he likely won’t be in the rotation much longer. However, he could be a very good reliever. Nick Lomascolo tossed 2.1 innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. Kyle Grana got his first win of the year pitching 1.2 innings. He struck out 2 batters and left after allowing an infield single. Robby Rowland came in and got the final out of the game on a swinging strikeout.
Player Highlights
CF Sierra 0-for-5, R
SS Mercado 2-for-5, 2B, 2 R, 2 SB
3B Diekroeger 2-for-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
RF Radack 1-for-5, 3-run HR
C Bean 2-for-4, R, BB
1B De Leon 1-for-2, 2 BB
DH Cruz 0-for-2, RBI, BB
2B Turgeon 1-for-4, R
Baez 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 4 K
Lomascolo 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB
Grana (W, 1-0) 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Rowland (S, 7) 0.1 IP, 1 K
Sunday’s Probable Starters
Memphis Redbirds vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Game 1, 1:35 pm CDT) – LHP Nick Greenwood (2-1, 10.53 ERA, 1.98 WHIP, 19.2 IP, 6 BB, 5 K) vs. TBD
Memphis Redbirds vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Game 2) – LHP John Gast (1-2, 4.97 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 29 IP, 8 BB, 24 K) vs. Clayton Mortensen (2-3, 7.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, 23.2 IP, 14 BB, 14 K)
Springfield Cardinals @ Northwest Arkansas Naturals (2:05 pm CDT) – RHP Arturo Reyes (0-1, 5.68 ERA, 2.37 WHIP, 6.1 IP, 5 BB, 4 K) vs. TBD
Palm Beach Cardinals @ Bradenton Marauders (12:00 pm CDT) – RHP Alex Reyes (1-2, 1.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 32.1 IP, 15 BB, 52 K) vs. LHP Cody Dickson (2-3, 1.55 WHIP, 31 IP, 11 BB, 19 K)
Peoria Chiefs vs. Beloit Snappers (5:00 pm CDT) – RHP Luis Perdomo (1-2, 2.20 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 28.2 IP, 11 BB, 28 K) vs. RHP Brett Graves (2-0, 5.35 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 35.1 IP, 14 BB, 24 K)
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