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Cardinals Minor-League Roundup: Seth Maness Shines in Rehab Appearance

By Patrick Karraker

Mar 14, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Seth Maness (43) warms up against the Minnesota Twins during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Twins defeated the Cardinals 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2016; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Seth Maness (43) warms up against the Minnesota Twins during the game at Roger Dean Stadium. The Twins defeated the Cardinals 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wednesday was generally a day to forget in the Cardinals’ minor-league system, as the organization lost four of the five games that it took part in. Starting pitching was generally an issue throughout the system, though Peoria’s Juan Perez came out of the bullpen to deliver a spot start during a doubleheader and was extremely impressive. If there was one positive aspect to the day, it was that major-leaguers Brayan Pena and Seth Maness moved their rehab assignments to Triple-A and succeeded in their first Triple-A action of the year.

Triple-A Memphis lost 16-3 to Nashville

  • To put it mildly, it was a rough day on the mound for the Redbirds. Starter Arturo Reyes recorded just six outs, giving up eight earned runs on seven hits and two walks. Kurt Heyer came in to relieve him, experiencing an equal level of ineffectiveness and giving up four earned runs on five hits while failing to even make it out of the third inning. Relievers Juan Gonzalez and Corey Littrell would also go on to give up two earned runs each on a disastrous day for the Memphis pitching staff.
  • Backup catcher Alberto Rosario was brought on to get the last out of the game, which marked his second pitching appearance of the season for Memphis.
  • It was a good day for two major-league players participating in rehab assignments. Backup catcher Brayan Pena returned from a two-day leave of absence and went 1-for-4 while playing eight innings. Reliever Seth Maness threw a perfect seventh inning in his first appearance at Triple-A.
  • Michael McKenry, who spent most of the day as the DH but came on to catch when Rosario moved to the mound, was the only Memphis player to collect multiple hits, going 2-for-4. Jose Martinez had the team’s only extra-base hit, coming up with a double in the sixth inning.

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Double-A Springfield lost 12-6 to Northwest Arkansas

  • The Cardinals had a fantastic day at the plate, but things just didn’t come together in terms of scoring runs until the game was already out of hand. They left seven runners on base through five innings and failed to score a run over that stretch. They were able to rally late and score six runs in the last four innings, but they were already down by eight when they scored their first run.
  • Six Cardinals hitters–Harrison Bader, Jonathan Rodriguez, Bruce Caldwell, Luke Voit, Luis Cruz, and Mike Ohlman–reached base multiple times. However, the Cardinals got just two extra base hits: a Voit double and a Paul DeJong home run.
  • The Cardinals’ pitching staff was roughed around as a whole on Wednesday. Starter Corey Baker gave up five runs through three and two-thirds innings, while relievers Chris Perry and Chris Thomas gave up three earned runs each as well. Catcher Luis Cruz threw the last inning and a third, allowing an earned run on five hits and a walk.

High-A Palm Beach won 7-4 over Brevard County

  • Shortstop Oscar Mercado (2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two RBI) and right fielder Orlando Olivera (2-for-4 with a double and one RBI) both had strong days at the plate, while DH Allen Staton and center fielder Blake Drake also contributed two singles each.
  • Cardinals starter Ian McKinney had a rough day, allowing four runs on nine hits and a walk through five and a third.
  • Though they surrendered a collective five walks, four Palm Beach relievers–Kyle Grana, Landon Beck, Chandler Hawkins, and Rowan Wick–combined for three scoreless innings of relief.

Game 1: Class A Peoria lost 7-4 to Clinton

  • In the first game of a doubleheader, the Chiefs were decent enough offensively. Edmundo Sosa, Eliezer Alvarez, and Craig Aikin doubled during the seven-inning affair, and the team had a total of eight hits.
  • Catcher Brian O’Keefe continued his spectacular month at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a homer and a walk. He’s hitting .317 with a 1.025 OPS during the month of June.
  • It was a rough game for the Chiefs’ pitching staff. Starter Derian Gonzalez left with an injury in the second inning, and his replacement, Nick Frey, gave up six runs on seven hits and a walk over three innings.

Next: Cardinals Sign First-Rounder Dylan Carlson

Game 2: Class A Peoria lost 2-1 to Clinton

  • In a makeup game for last night’s rainout, Peoria struggled at the plate, failing to collect an extra-base hit and reaching base just five times in seven innings. No Chiefs hitter reached base twice, and center fielder Magneuris Sierra had the club’s lone RBI.
  • In his first start of the season, Peoria righthander Juan Perez was extremely solid, throwing five scoreless frames while allowing four hits, walking one, and striking out six. Unfortunately, Perez’s strong effort was negated by reliever Harley Holt, who gave up two runs in the seventh inning and took the loss.
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