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Cardinals Minor League Roundup: Harrison Bader Continues to Rake

By Patrick Karraker

Mar 12, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Harrison Bader is congratulated after the victory over the Houston Astros during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Harrison Bader is congratulated after the victory over the Houston Astros during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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Three Cardinals minor-league teams won on Saturday in a day that was dominated by offense.

Three of the Cardinals’ minor-league affiliates won on Saturday, which ended up being a heavy-offense day throughout the system. Two outfield prospects, Harrison Bader and Magneuris Sierra, had standout days while shortstop Oscar Mercado (the organization’s number 29 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline) had a day to forget.

Triple-A Memphis lost 16-10 to Las Vegas

  • Memphis starting pitcher J.C. Sulbaran got knocked around in a ballpark that is possibly the most favorable hitter’s park in affiliated baseball. In 3.2 innings, Sulbaran gave up 10 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits and two walks. Five of the runs he allowed came on home runs, a three-run first-inning shot by left fielder T.J. Rivera and a two-run homer in the second by catcher Johnny Monell. It was Sulbaran’s sixth loss of the season, which ties him with Deck McGuire for the most losses among Memphis starters.
  • On the bright side, Memphis’s offense reaped the benefits of the hitter’s environment at Cashman Field as well. Outfielder Nick Martini led the offensive charge, going 4-for-5 with a walk and an RBI. Mike Ohlman, usually a catcher, came on in the sixth inning to play first base and went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI. Infielder Patrick Wisdom, playing his third career game at shortstop in a bid to become more versatile, went 2-for-4 with two walks, including a two-run homer in the eighth.
  • Veteran catcher Michael McKenry, who was signed to a minor-league deal on Friday, made his debut with the Redbirds and went 1-for-4 with a walk. His lone hit, a seventh-inning double, drove in three runs.

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Double-A Springfield won 5-3 over Frisco

  • Shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who’s on a rehab assignment at Springfield, cut open his thumb while opening a box and was scratched from the Cardinals’ lineup on Saturday. He’ll miss a few days as he recovers.
  • Center fielder Harrison Bader continued his tear at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double, a home run (his third homer in three days), and one RBI. Springfield DH Collin Radack was perfect at the plate, connecting for three hits and a walk in four plate appearances while also collecting an RBI.
  • Springfield starter Trey Nielsen threw seven strong innings, striking out eight while allowing seven hits and two walks. All of the runs that Nielsen allowed came on two home runs, one in the first and one in the second.

High-A Palm Beach won 4-3 over Jupiter

  • First baseman Casey Grayson had half of the Cardinals’ hits and drove in two of their four runs on Saturday. The Cardinals collected six walks, with left fielder Michael Pritchard and shortstop Oscar Mercado walking twice each.
  • It was a rough day overall for Mercado, who was taken in the second round of the 2013 draft as a defense-first shortstop. Mercado committed two errors—his 15th and 16th of the season—tying him for the most in the Florida State League. He was also caught stealing for the 13th time this year and was hitless in two at-bats, dropping his batting average to .193.

Next: How Will Cardinals Solve Impending Catching Conundrum?

Class A Peoria won 9-2 over Quad Cities

  • Every batter in the Peoria lineup besides first baseman R.J. Dennard and left fielder Craig Aikin had a hit.
  • For the second day, center fielder Magneuris Sierra was a difference-maker at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, and an RBI.
  • Catcher Brian O’Keefe, who served as Peoria’s designated hitter on Saturday, hit his second home run of the season, a two-run shot in the ninth.
  • Starter Derian Gonzalez was solid, giving up one earned run on five hits and three walks in five innings while striking out five. The best pitching performance of the day, though, came from reliever Harley Holt, who allowed no earned runs over three innings, giving up three hits and no walks, to earn his first save of the season.
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