The Dominican Summer League Cardinals opened the week up extending their losing streak to five games, winning one game and lost the final two of this period. The team has only won three games in the last 16. The club is 11-20 on the season with a .355 PCT and ten games out of first place in the Boca Chica South Division.
Week In Review:
The Cardinals opened this period on the road, for the second game of the series, against the Giants. The Redbirds pitching was attacked all game as the Giants scored in all but three frames. In three of the nine innings, the Giants slapped three runs on the scoreboard. Carlos Talavera collected three hits, one for a RBI triple. The Cardinals tied it up in the fourth, at three, but the Giants pitching and hitters stayed hot the claim the 11-3 victory.
The Cardinals stayed out on the road to face the Rockies in a two-game series. Sandy Alcantara pitched another fine game for the Cardinals, allowing three runs and striking out six over five innings. The Rockies kept the Redbirds at six hits, no walks, and only one run. Carlos Talavera and Joaquin De La Cruz each had multiple hits and Allen Cordoba drove in the only run. The Rockies sent the Cardinals to their fourth straight loss with a 5-1 win.
The Rockies visited the Cardinals in the second game of the two-game set. The Redbirds' bat went absolutely silent only connecting for three hits, two by Hector Linares. Not only were they not hitting, they were also struggling in the field as they committed five errors to help assist the Rockies in scoring. Oneiver Diaz and Derian Gonzalez combined to pitch eight innings giving up eight hits and six runs, with only two as earned runs. The Rockies shutout the Cardinals for the second time this season at a score of 6-0.
The Cardinals hosted the Yankees One in the next game, riding a five-game losing streak. The Redbirds and Yanks fought all they way to the end. Both teams received great performances from their pitchers. Junior Gonzalez out did the Yankees starter by one inning, as he went four and allowed two hits and no runs. Angel Estevez followed with two more scoreless frames. With one run on the board, Andres Luna connected for his first homer of the season and added on another three runs. The Cardinals held a 4-0 lead heading into the seventh, when their bullpen hit a bump in the road and almost gave up the game. Luis Flores doubled in one run in the seventh to give the Cardinals just a tab bit of breathing room and they won 5-4.
The Cardinals looking to continue their renewed offense went on the road for the second game of the series against then Yankees. The Yankees jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning with two runs and kept the Redbirds scoreless through three. David Oca settled to go six innings and only give up three runs and strike out five. The Cardinals offense came to life in the fourth and fifth with five runs including a RBI triple by Allen Cordoba. The Yankees tied the game up in the seventh at five and both teams went silent at the plate to send it into extras. Both teams exchanged two runs a piece in the tenth and the Yankees scored the winner in the eleventh for a 8-7 victory.
The Cardinals stayed out on the road to face another New York-based team, the Mets One club. The Mets scored early and stayed out in front with a 5-0 lead heading into the sixth. The Redbirds managed to score four runs in the sixth and seventh lead by Luis Bandes and Carlos Talavera, who each had a couple hits and one RBI a piece. The Cardinals' pitching just couldn't hold the Mets down as they scored a couple more runs to win 7-4.
Who's Hot:
Luis Flores collected three multi-hit game,s including one with four, and extended his three-game hitting streak. The 17-year old switch-hitter went 8-for-24 (.333) with two doubles, three RBIs (two w/two-outs), one run, three strikeouts, and one caught stealing. He played five games at second base, assisting in two double plays.
Allen Cordoba will look to add on to his three-game hitting streak and also picked up two multi-hit games in the last week. The 18-year old right-handed hitter went 8-for-24 (.333) with one double, one triple, two RBIs (one w/two-outs), five runs, two stolen bases, three strikeouts, and grounded into one double play. He played four games at third base (assisted in one double play and committed one fielding error) and two at shortstop (committed one fielding error).
Joaquin De La Cruz has recently got to swinging the bat and connecting for hits after a very slow start to his season. The 18-year old right-handed hitter went 5-for-15 (.333) with one two-out RBI, one run, two walks, one sacrifice, three strikeouts, and grounded into two double plays. He played two games as designated hitter, one at third base, and one at first base.
Junior Gonzalez pitched his first scoreless outing of the season. The 17-year old right-handed made his sixth start of the season on July 3rd, allowing two hits, no runs, two walks, and struck two out. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 3-to-6. The first-year pro is not much of a strikeout hurlers, more pitches to contact as he leads the team hits allowed.
Sandy Alcantara made another start for the club but could not get the run support needed for the win. The 18-year old right-hander gave up seven hits, three runs (two earned), hit two batters, threw two wild pitches, and struck six out for the losing decision (1-4) on July 1st. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 9-to-1. The July 2, 2013 free agent signing leads the team in strikeouts.
Who's Not:
Luis Bandes struggled at the plate this period which included a short-lived hitless streak of four games. The 18-year old right-handed hitter went 2-for-17 (.118) with one RBI and one strikeout. He played two games in left field (committed one fielding error), two in right field (one outfield assist), and one as designated hitter. The July 2, 2012 free agent signing leads the team in home runs and is tied for doubles.
Henry Alvarado has only managed two hits in his last eight games and is riding a two-game hitless streak. The 18-year old right-handed hitter went 1-for-11 (.091) with one double, one RBI, six strikeouts, and grounded into one double play. He played two games at first base (committed one fielding error) and one as designated hitter.
Will Changarotty was inserted back into the rotation, but continued with the same results. The 18-year old right-handed started on June30th, allowing six hits, four earned runs, one home run, hit one batter, and struck two out. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 3-to-7. The July 24, 2012 free agent signing has the worst ERA among starters, leads the team in earned runs, hit batters, and is tied for walks.
Jesus Narvaez could not get a batter out in his latest relief appearance. The 17-year old left-hander faced two batters of June 30th and walked both, with the two runners both scoring later in the inning. The rookie pitcher has given up two of more runs in four of six games this season.
Rigobert Urena has allowed one or more runs in each of his six appearances this season. The 19-year old left-hander pitched on July 3rd, giving up four hits, three earned runs, one walk, and hit one batter. He had a ground-to-fly out ratio of 0-to-1. The March 11, 2013 free agent signing has only struck out one and walked seven over six innings this season.
Notes:
Irving Wilson, who has been out of action since June 11th, was placed on the 60-day disabled list. He injured his right knee running to first base.
Andy De La Cruz has not pitched since June 23rd, Carlos Luis hasn't played since June 27th, Oscar Cotes since June 30th. Wadye Ynfante only played one game (July 2nd) in the last period.
The St. Louis Cardinals began the 2014 international signing period by signing four Dominican Republic prospects. Right-hander Sebastian Nunez, shortstop Starlin Balbuena, and second baseman Ezequiel Delgado were all signed and expected to be able to play in 2015, if their contracts are approved. Right-handed pitcher Junior Fernandez was able to start for the DSL Cardinals on July 5th. (links included are from Baseball America)
Esequiel Delgado played in a couple games in the International Prospect League going 2-for-7 (.286) with one double, one RBI, .286 OBP, and .429 SLG.
In his professional debut, Junior Fernandez started and pitched four innings, allowing seven hits, five runs (four earned), one walk, and struck three out for the losing decision (0-1).
Dominican Summer League Stats (League Ranking):
The team has gone 253-for-1059 (.239 - 22nd) with 44 doubles, seven triples, 16 home runs (t-3rd), 97 RBIs, 359 total bases, 123 runs, 91 walks, 37 stolen bases, 296 strikeouts (2nd), 18 caught stealing, ,310 OBP (31st), .339 SLG (16th), and 649 OPS (21st).
The club is 11-20 with a 3.69 ERA (20th), 1.45 WHIP (t-23rd), six holds, and eight saves. They have allowed 297 hits (3rd worst), 158 runs, 112 earned runs, five home runs, 98 walks (3rd best), hit 19 batters (t-5th best), and struck 212 out (t-5th worst) over 273.1 innings.
Jonathan Rivera is tied for fifth in hits and tied for eighth in total bases.
Luis Bandes is tied for third in home runs.
Carlos Talavera is tied for fourth in strikeouts.
Sandy Alcantara is tied for third in losses.
Jose Lara is tied for fifth in saves.
Junior Gonzalez is tied for second in hits allowed.
Up Next (2014 Record)(Cardinals Record Vs. Team):
July 7: Mets One (17-14)(1-2)
July 8: Nationals (17-14)(1-1)
July 9: @ Nationals
July 10: @ Mariners (13-18)(0-2)
July 11: Mariners
July 12: @ Orioles Two (11-20)(2-2)
July 13: Off Day
Past 2014 Notebooks:
June 9, 2014 - Will Changarotty, Franyel Casadilla, Allen Cordoba, Hector Linares, and Jonathan Rivera
June 16, 2014 - Sandy Alcantara, Luis Bandes, Allen Cordoba, Dylan Melendez, and Carlos Talavera
June 23, 2014 - Luis Bandes, Luis Flores, David Oca, Jonathan Rivera, and Carlos Rodriguez
June 30, 2014 - Sandy Alcantara, Andy De La Cruz, Derian Gonzalez, Junior Gonzalez, and Jonathan Rivera
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