Cardinals Minor-League Roundup: Luke Weaver Dominates

Former first-rounder Luke Weaver was the standout performer on an all-around strong day for the Cardinals’ minor-league system.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ minor-league system went 4-0 on Thursday, so it’s safe to say that it was a solid day across the system. After a shaky last couple days for the organization’s starting pitchers, it was a dominant day for all the starters in the system on Thursday. Jerome Williams, Luke Weaver, Sandy Alcantara, and Winston Nicacio all had memorable starts, and particularly in the cases of Williams and Weaver, they were able to pitch well enough to overcome their teams’ lack of offense. On the bright side at the plate, Kolten Wong, Brian O’Keefe, and Brian Sanchez were all able to continue their recent hot streaks.

Triple-A Memphis won 5-2 over Nashville

Jerome Williams had his second straight impressive start for the Redbirds, allowing one earned run on six hits and a walk through six innings. The only run that Williams gave up came on a Ryon Healy solo home run in the fifth inning.
Two big-leaguers were active again in rehab appearances. Brayan Pena started behind the plate and went 1-for-4 with a walk, while Seth Maness threw a scoreless seventh inning.
Kolten Wong and Tommy Pham both went 2-for-4, combining for four of the Redbirds’ seven hits on the night. Pham hit a two-run homer in the third inning and finished the night with four RBI.

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Double-A Springfield won 2-1 over Northwest Arkansas

Luke Weaver continued his streak of dominant starts to begin his 2016 season, giving up just one earned run while throwing 100 pitches through eight full innings. Weaver gave up seven hits, walked none, and struck out six. Through his first three Double-A starts, Weaver now has a 0.89 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
Second baseman Bruce Caldwell had the Cardinals’ only two extra-base hits, picking up two doubles, and he was one of only two Springfield hitters to collect multiple hits on Thursday. Right fielder Anthony Garcia went 2-for-4 to raise his batting average to .359 since being demoted to Double-A.

High-A Palm Beach had an off day.

Class A Peoria won 4-3 over Burlington

Peoria starter Sandy Alcantara was the star of the night, striking out 12 Burlington hitters through five innings. Alcantara allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks.
As prolific as Alcantara was in terms of striking out hitters, reliever Brennan Leitao was equally impressive, giving up one unearned run on two hits and no walks and earning the win with four innings of relief. Leitao struck out five hitters.
DH Brian O’Keefe continued his spectacular month of June, collecting multiple hits in a game for the fifth time this month. O’Keefe went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Shortstop Edmundo Sosa (2-for-4) and left fielder Vaughn Bryan (2-for-3 with a double and a walk) also had multiple-hit nights.

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DSL Cardinals won 7-2 over DSL Nationals

After a shaky professional debut last Friday, Cardinals starter Winston Nicacio was extremely effective on Thursday, throwing five shutout innings while allowing four hits, walking one, and striking out five.
Third baseman Elehuris Montero was a perfect 4-for-4 on Thursday, finishing with a double and two RBI. 20-year-old Brian Sanchez–who’s hitting a cool .556 to start the season–went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, and catcher Irving Wilson also had two hits. Shortstop Raffy Ozuna had a two-run homer in the first inning.

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