Aiming to continue a recent string of strong pitching, Cardinals prospect Cooper Hjerpe stifled Fort Wayne's offense with four no-hit innings, during which he struck out five and walked three on Thursday.Â
The first-round selection by ºüÀêÊÓƵ in the 2022 MLB Draft, Hjerpe extended his scoreless innings streak to 11 with the strong performance against the Padres' High-A affiliate. The left-hander departed after throwing 59 pitches.Â
In his 11th start of the year, Hjerpe did not factor in the decision. He has yet to pitch beyond the fourth inning in any start this season, but he has completed four innings in four of his past five starts.Â
Hjerpe retired the side in the first before issuing a walk in each of the following three innings. Fort Wayne managed to hit just two balls out of the infield against the southpaw, both of which were caught.Â
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The sixth-ranked prospect in the Cardinals' minor league system, Hjerpe holds a 2.42 earned run average in his last seven starts. In relief of Hjerpe, Inohan Paniagua earned the win, tossing four one-hit innings with eight strikeouts.Â
Edwin Nuñez bounces back against Arkansas
Looking to rebound after allowing 10 earned runs across his previous three outings, righthander Edwin Nuñez did just that for Class AA Springfield.Â
Nuñez scattered one run and three hits in four innings while striking out four and walking three against Arkansas. It marked one of the stronger efforts of the season for Nuñez, who is transitioning from reliever to starter this season.Â
The four-inning effort tied his longest start of the season. Nuñez, who has struggled with command at times this season, tossed 43 of his 74 pitches for strikes. He strengthened as the start progressed, retiring the final five batters he faced and walking none in his last two innings.
Matz, Gallegos make rehab appearances
Cardinals starting pitcher Steven Matz and reliever Giovanny Gallegos both made rehab appearances for Class AAA Memphis on Tuesday in Omaha, Nebraska.
Matz, who was scheduled to throw approximately 40 pitches or two innings, did not yield a hit in two shutout innings. The left-hander needed just 24 pitches to quiet a potent Omaha offense, recording two strikeouts.Â
On the injured list with a lower back strain since May 1, Matz topped out at 94 mph on a sinker in the first inning. He averaged 92.9 mph on his sinker, coupling that with a changeup (83.1 mph) and curveball (75.3), per Statcast.Â
Gallegos, who began a rehab assignment with Memphis on May 31, allowed three runs on two hits in his lone inning of work. He threw 11 of his 16 pitches for strikes but gave up a three-run home run with two outs in the third inning.
The right-hander primarily used his fastball and slider combination, generating three whiffs on the pitches. Gallegos is slated to have another rehab appearance on Sunday.Â
Sem Robberse rocked in relief
Acquired from Toronto in the Jordan Hicks trade last season, Triple-A right-handed pitcher Sem Robberse labored in relief of Matz and Gallegos.
Robberse needed 37 pitches to record a single out, allowing eight runs (seven earned) and six hits in that span. He gave up a pair of home runs in the tumultuous showing, which snapped a streak of nine successive appearances of at least five innings. Â
After allowing just six earned runs in 29â…” innings to start the season, Robberse has given up 27 earned runs in his 37 innings since.Â
Joshua Baez, Alfonso Rivas III among prospects to post multi-hit performances
High-A left fielder Joshua Baez and Triple-A right fielder Alfonso Rivas III showcased their potential with multi-hit games, headlining the offensive showing in the Cardinals' system.
Baez went 2 for 3 with three RBIs against Fort Wayne, drilling a two-run double in the second inning and adding a run-scoring single in the fifth. He also stole his 12th base of the season and walked once.Â
Rivas had a three-hit, three-RBI day against Omaha, swatting a three-run home run in the third inning. Fellow Redbird Max Koperniak had a three-hit day as well. All of his hits were singles for his sixth three-hit game this season.
Elsewhere, Double-A designated hitter Aaron McKeithan had a three-hit, five-RBI performance against Arkansas, and Kade Kretzschmar had a walk-off double as part of a two-hit effort for Single-A Palm Beach against Dunedin. The PB-Cardinals scored in the 10th, 11th, and 12th inning of the game to outlast the Blue Jays' Class A affiliate. Palm Beach has won 14 of its past 21.
Gray turned in his shorting outing of the season so far as the Cardinals dropped the series opener vs. the struggling Rockies.
Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman entered the series having hit six home runs and batted .286 in his previous nine games.