MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Once Luken Baker’s swing during his pinch-hit at-bat in the seventh inning of a 1-1 game went for a go-ahead two-run home run Thursday at AutoZone Park, Cardinals prospect Adam Kloffenstein’s mind instantly shifted into thinking what he and the Triple-A Memphis pitching staff could do to make Baker’s blast against Nashville count.
“I think in that particular game, it's a pitcher's duel and we were really going back and forth,†Kloffenstein said while standing outside of Memphis’s clubhouse after a Redbirds 3-1 win. “I just was more worried about giving my team a chance. And then when Luken (Baker) did what Luken does, I came out of thinking now we just got to go out there. We got six more outs to get. I don't even care who gets them. I’m just going to go out there until they tell me to stop.â€
Having provided seven innings and allowed one run before Baker’s 405-foot homer, Kloffenstein returned to the mound for the eighth. The 23-year-old right-hander induced two groundouts and collected his seventh strikeout in the final inning of work on his career night. Kloffenstein’s eight innings against Nashville marked the longest start of his professional career. He had completed at least seven innings four times before Thursday night’s start with two of those starts being ones he’s made this season.
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Kloffenstein matched a season-high with seven strikeouts and did not walk a batter to help Memphis to a win and earn himself his second win of 2024.Â
Thursday’s start bookended a month for Kloffenstein during which he posted a 3.03 ERA, struck out 26 batters, and walked seven in 32 2/3 innings across May. He kept hitters to a .191 average and posted a 0.89 WHIP in that stretch.
“It feels awesome going deeper into games, “ said Kloffenstein, who owns a 4.43 ERA in 10 starts. “I've been walking less guys. Throwing more strikes. That's usually a good recipe to get you deeper into games.â€
Here are other notable performances from around the Cardinals farm system:
Right-handed pitcher Tink Hence, Class AA Springfield: The Cardinals' top pitching prospect allowed four runs over nine innings and collected nine strikeouts in Springfield’s 7-5 win over Wichita. Hence’s start was his third consecutive outing with at least six inning innings pitched and nine or more strikeouts. He’s allowed six runs and walked four in that stretch. The 21-year-old will end May with a 1-2 record and a 4.15 ERA in five starts. He allowed 28 hits and 21 runs (12 earned) while striking out 37 batters and walking nine. He’s totaled 68 strikeouts and 15 walks over 51 2/3 innings so far this season.
Left-handed pitcher Quinn Mathews, Class High-A Peoria: After allowing five runs in six innings in his second start in High-A, the former fourth-round pick threw six scoreless innings and struck out six batters during Peoria’s 3-2 loss to Lansing. He allowed two hits, hit a batter with a pitch, and did not issue any walks. Through three stars in his introduction to High-A, Mathews has a 2.84 ERA and has struck out 24 batters while walking three.
Infielder Cesar Prieto, Class AAA Memphis: Prieto moved one swing closer to matching his single-season high on Thursday when he sent a 1-1 changeup from Nashville’s Carlos Rodriguez over the right field wall at AutoZone Park for a solo home run that opened the scoring between the Redbirds and Sounds. Prieto’s homer was his ninth of the season in 47 games. He is two homers shy of matching a career-best 11 he hit in 115 games while in Low-A and High-A within the Orioles system in 2022. Along with his home run surge, Prieto is batting .303 with a .335 on-base percentage, and a .516 slugging percentage.
First baseman Luken Baker, Class AAA Memphis: Baker needed to see just one pitch to make a difference on Thursday night. The 27-year-old came off the bench to pinch hit for catcher Gavin Collins with two outs and a runner on second base in the bottom of the seventh inning and, on the first pitch he saw from lefty Rob Zastryzny, launched a 405-foot home run that cleared the left field wall and landed on the berm beyond the outfield concourse of AutoZone Park. Baker’s two-run homer broke a 1-1 tie between the Redbirds and Sounds and gave the first baseman his International League-leading 14th home run of the year. He is batting .224 with a .522 slugging percentage and 28 RBIs in 46 games.Â