After giving up 12 runs across his past three starts, Cardinals prospect Gordon Graceffo rebounded with one of his most complete outings for Class AAA Memphis on Tuesday at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia.
Graceffo picked apart Norfolk's offense across six shutout innings, striking out seven and giving up just three hits in Memphis' 5-3 win. The right-hander retired seven of the first eight batters he faced and capped his day with a perfect sixth inning, during which he struck out two.
Graceffo threw 58 of his 91 pitches for strikes.Â
The six shutout innings were a season-best for Graceffo, who had given up at least one run in 11 of his 12 starts this season. Graceffo's only other scoreless start came in a five-inning effort against Nashville on April 12.
A key to success for the former fifth round pick in the 2021 MLB draft was his utilization of off-speed pitches. Of the three hits Graceffo gave up, only one came against an off-speed pitch — a single by Norfolk's Connor Norby on a slider in the third inning.Â
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Graceffo deceived opposing hitters with his curveball (44% whiff rate) and changeup (43%), using those pitches to complement his fastball and slider combination. Overall, Graceffo generated a 24% whiff rate on 45 swings.Â
With the performance, the Cardinals' eighth-rated prospect improved to 7-5 and picked up his third win in as many games. Graceffo also lowered his season ERA to 4.11, the lowest mark he has held since May 21.
Infielder Thomas Saggese, Class AAA Memphis: The 2023 Texas League MVP extended his hitting streak to six games with a two-run single in the fourth inning of the Redbirds' victory over Norfolk. Saggese's single pushed Memphis' first two runs of the game across the plate. Although Saggese has hit safely in eight of 10 games in June, he has yet to record a multi-hit game since May 29. Following his 1-for-4 day, Saggese's season average dipped to .229 alongside a .296 on-base percentage and .695 on-base plus slugging mark. Saggese is specifically struggling when falling behind in counts (.214 average), looking like a much different hitter than when he is ahead (.313).Â
Catcher Leonardo Bernal, Class High-A Peoria:Â In a game suspended in the fourth inning due to inclement weather, the Cardinals' seventh-rated prospect had a two-run double in his lone at-bat against South Bend at Dozer Park. Following a one-out walk and a single, Bernal stepped to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and lined a double into left field to give the Chiefs a 2-0 lead. A throwing error on the play allowed Bernal to advance to third base, and he then scored on an RBI single by Alex Iadisernia. Bernal, who has shown offensive improvement in each of his first four seasons, also pushed his RBI total this season to 31, which is only 13 RBIs away from his single-season high set last year. The double, his ninth of the season, came against a right-handed pitcher. Bernal has struggled against righties this season, hitting to a .242 average, whereas he owns a .366 average against southpaws.
Left-handed pitcher Pete Hansen, Class High-A Peoria:Â The third-round selection in the 2022 MLB draft had a bounce-back performance against South Bend, tossing 3â…“ shutout innings with two strikeouts, before his start was cut short due to inclement weather. Hansen, who walked four batters in his previous start, did not issue a walk in his rain-shortened effort. The left-hander set down the first eight South Bend hitters he faced before giving up a two-out single in the third inning. Hansen allowed just two hits and threw 37 of his 58 pitches for strikes.Â
Outfielder Bryan Torres, Class AA Springfield: The reliable leadoff hitter continued his efficient season with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate against Northwest Arkansas at Hammons Field. Torres reached on a pair of singles and also scored a run in Springfield's 14-3 loss. The Texas League's second-best hitter for average (.326) recorded his 19th multi-hit game of the season, including his third in June. Both of Torres' hits came against right-hander Mason Barnett, who held the rest of Springfield's lineup to three total hits. Torres reached base a third time on a walk in the seventh inning.Â
Left-handed pitcher Ixan Henderson, Class A Palm Beach:Â The Cardinals' eighth-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft hurled one of his most dominant performances of the season against Daytona. Henderson tossed six one-hit innings, striking out seven and walking one. It was Henderson's first start of more than five innings and marked the fifth time this season he has eclipsed five strikeouts. Henderson did not factor in the decision, but he lowered his season ERA to 2.72.
Without Ryan Helsley to close and almost five innings to cover, young relievers shined, and Chris Roycroft snagged his first MLB win in 4-3 victory vs. Pirates.
To cap a productive homestand, Brendan Donovan belted a solo home run off Pirates starter Mitch Keller to help the Cardinals to a 4-3, series-clinching win.