Daniel Poncedeleon. Image: Minda Haas Kuhlmann / CC Image
PRESS RELEASE | The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s game with Cincinnati that they have recalled rookie left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber from Memphis (AAA) and optioned right-handed pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon to Memphis.
Gomber, 24, will be making his first Major League start tonight after having made 15 relief appearances (0-0, 3.77 ERA) for the Cardinals in June and July following his debut on June 2. Gomber has appeared in a total of 12 games (11 starts) for Memphis, going 7-3 with a 3.42 ERA. His last appearance with the triple-A Redbirds came in a start on July 17 when he held Iowa to just one hit over 5.0 scoreless innings.
Poncedeleon debuted last night, becoming one of just five pitchers since 1961 to throw at least 7.0 no-hit innings in their Major League debut, and the first since the Dodgers Ross Stripling in 2016. Poncedeleon’s 7.0 scoreless innings last night were the most by a Cardinals pitcher in their Major League debut since Danny Cox blanked the Phillies for 10 innings on August 6, 1983.
The Cardinals, this week, are starting three rookies in a series (Poncedeleon, Gomber & Jack Flaherty) for the first time since their final series of 1997 when they started Mike Busby, Matt Morris and Manny Aybar.
With his start tonight, Gomber, who wears uniform no. 68, will become the 10th pitcher to make a start for the Cardinals in 2018.
