Cardinals' MiLB Team's Mind-Blowing Decision Predictably Backfires In Loss

What on Earth were they thinking?

The sign for AutoZone Park is seen during the game between the Memphis Redbirds and Nashville Sounds in Memphis, Tenn., on June 19, 2026. Memphis defeated Nashville 4-1. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

With Triple-A Memphis holding a 4-3 lead entering the top of the ninth inning against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Thursday night, Redbirds manager Ben Johnson had a decision to make.

With an overworked bullpen, Memphis tried its luck with position player Noah Mendlinger on the mound.

The move backfired in spectacular fashion.

"Memphis took a 4-3 lead into the ninth last night, only to turn the ball over to IF Noah Mendlinger on the mound and lose 8-4," Belleville News-Democrat Cardinals reporter Jeff Jones wrote on Bluesky. "Winquest pitched Tuesday. Fernandez, Mautz and Rincón pitched Wednesday, Svanson last night. Sure feels like a shuffle coming."

Mendlinger retired the first Jacksonville batter on a groundout before things fell apart.

The Jumbo Shrimp followed with a walk, go-ahead two-run home run, back-to-back singles and three-run home run, before a pair of flyouts ended the frame.

The final inning erased what had been a solid effort by the Redbirds bullpen.

Prior to Mendlinger's blowup, three Redbirds relievers had pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings.

Why Was Infielder Brought In For A Save Situation?

Fans watch as the sun sets during the game between the Memphis Redbirds and Nashville Sounds at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn., on June 19, 2026. Memphis defeated Nashville 4-1. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

As Jones noted, Memphis' bullpen had been busy in recent days.

Right-hander Hancel Rincon leads the team in appearances this season with 38 but threw 24 pitches across two innings on Wednesday.

The Redbirds' saves leader -- Scott Blewett -- left the team in mid-July and is now with the Athletics.

24-year-old right-hander Max Rajcic has five saves for Memphis this year but is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July.

Oft-used righty Luis Gastelum has been up with St. Louis since July 8 and the list goes on and on.

Still, there had to be a better option for the Redbirds on Thursday night.

Baseball fans have grown used to seeing position players take the bump occasionally, but that almost always happens in a laugher, when the game is out of reach and all that's left is mop-up duty.

Instead, Mendlinger was brought in with the game on the line.

Thursday was the 26-year-old's second pitching appearance this season, but according to Baseball Reference, Mendlinger hadn't taken the mound since 2021 before this year.

His previous outing came exactly two months prior on June 20 and that came in a much more appropriate setting, in the ninth inning of a 17-3 blowout.

Thursday was Memphis' third loss in a row, but obviously a very winnable ballgame.