Springfield's Stars Shine, But Bullpen, Errors and Missed Chances Cost it Texas League Title

Rainiel Rodriguez and Liam Doyle, the top two prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League system, certainly did their parts in the pressure-packed moments of an elimination game on Wednesday night, but Springfield ultimately missed out on a Texas League title because of a leaky bullpen, two defensive errors and too many missed chances.

Rodriguez crushed a long third-inning homer and Doyle did not allow an earned run over five innings of work, but they could only look on in horror as Amarillo rallied for five runs late in the night for a 6-4 victory over Springfield to win the Texas League championship.

In other Cardinals' Minor League action, Triple-A Memphis scored four times in the second inning and added nine more runs in the third to beat Rochester 15-4 and force a Game 3 in the International League championship series. Former big leaguer Jimmy Crooks hit a three-run homer in the second inning and drove in five in the big win. Left-hander Mason Molina didn't allow a run over five innings of work to record the playoff victory. 

A Springfield squad loaded with a cluster of top prospects won Game 1 7-2 on Sunday in Amarillo, but it fell each of the past two nights to fail in its bid for consecutive Texas League championships. The Cardinals, a dominant, MiLB-best 47-22 second half, were shut out 4-0 on Tuesday and scored in just two innings on Wednesday night.

Amarillo (Dbacks) closer Alfred Morillo struck out Tai Peete, Won-Bin Cho between a Rodriguez and a 109-mph double by Jesus Baez. Then, after striking out Ryan Campos on an inside fastball, Morillo threw down his glove and did a backflip right beside the pitching mound.

Amarillo scored two times in the sixth inning off Cardinals’ reliever Nolan Sparks to tie the game at 3. In the seventh inning, the Sod Poodles expanded their lead to 5-3 when Avery Owusu-Asiedu crushed a two-run homer off right-handed reliever Randel Clemente.

The Cardinals loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, but they failed to score when outfielder Won-Bin Cho and catcher Ryan Campos struck out.

In addition to committing two defensive errors, Springfield went just 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position and it stranded 10 runners.

Springfield had the first two reach base in the eighth inning on walks, but second baseman Tre Richardson III grounded into a double play and Josiah Ragsdale grounded out to third base.

Rodriguez, the Texas League batting champion with a .328 batting average, crushed a two-run homer in the third inning to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. Rodriguez, 19, went 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Doyle showed why he is the No. 2-ranked prospect in the Cardinals system by striking out six and allowing just four hits. The one run scored off Doyle came in the first inning, and it was unearned when it came after Peete misplayed a single to left-center field. Of Doyle’s 89 pitches, 56 went for strikes.