Athletics top prospect Luzardo shuts down Cardinals in 3-0 loss

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Jesus Luzardo showed Springfield why he's the top prospect in the Athletics organization and the 20th ranked prospect in baseball.

Midland's 20-year-old lefty phenom carried a no-hitter into the fourth on his way to a three-hit, one-walk, 10-strikeout performance over six innings. And Luzardo did it all with just 66 pitches, propelling the RockHounds to a 4-0 win over the Cardinals Monday night in just over two hours to stave off a Springfield sweep.

The six innings for Luzardo mark the first time all season he's gone past the fifth, a restriction the Athletics organization placed on their prize due to a March 2016 Tommy John surgery while still with the Nationals.

Luzardo has allowed just one earned run over his last 31.0 innings pitched, spanning six starts.

Ramón Urías managed the Cardinals first hit of the game when he doubled to center field with one out in the fourth. Urias finished with a pair of hits but the rest of the Cardinals managed to scatter just three total in the loss, ending a three-game winning streak.

Springfield starter Mike O'Reilly pitched well, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk in five innings while striking out five.

Elniery García, rehabbing St. Louis Cardinals reliever Luke Gregerson, and Jacob Evans combined for four scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Gregerson appeared in three games during his Springfield rehab assignment, allowing just two hits and extending his decade-long Springfield scoreless innings pitched streak to 19.0.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals hit the road Tuesday, opening a four-game series in Little Rock against the Arkansas Travelers at 7:10pm.

Springfield returns home next Sunday, July 15 against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Next Sunday is our St. Louis Cardinals Carlos Martínez Mystery Hair Bobblehead Giveaway (2,000 fans), a Hiland Dairy Ice Cream Sunday & Kids Run the Bases and our Cardinals Bat Auction benefiting Cherish Kids.

Plus, anyone who donates blood on Tuesday, July 10 between 7am and 7pm at the 14th Annual Bleed Red Blood Drive receives two free tickets to next Sunday's game. Visit www.CBCO.org for the address and more information.