To say Cardinals' No. 14 prospectAustin Gomber had his best stuff in his fourth start for Triple-A Memphis on Monday afternoon would be an understatement.
The Redbirds' left-hander, facing the Iowa Cubs for the first time in 2018, threw 85 strikes in 112 pitches en route to a 16-strikeout performance as Memphis cruised to a 3-0 victory.
• Cardinals top prospects stats from Monday
The 16 punchouts were easily a career best, as Gomber's previous high of 11 came last Aug. 31 for Double-A Springfield vs. Arkansas. They also tied a franchise record for strikeouts in a single game.

Gomber was already off to a solid start to the season, as he was 1-0 with a 3.57 ERA and .238 opponents batting average in 17 2/3 innings across three contests entering Monday's contest. But the 24-year-old turned in the best game of his Minor League career by holding the Cubs to six hits and no runs without walking a batter. He lowered his season ERA to 2.45 with the dominant showing.
Gomber struck out the side in the third and fifth inning while also recording a pair of K's in three others, including his eighth and final frame.

Only 19 times since 1963 has a Major League hurler thrown at least 85 strikes in 112 pitches or fewer, and no big leaguer has ever struck out more than 13 batters in doing so.
Gomber isn't in the Majors yet, but he certainly threw like a big leaguer Monday.