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When he was optioned to Class AAA Memphis on the final day of May following the first stretch of his professional career as a primary reliever, right-hander Gordon Graceffo wanted to show the Cardinals “what he could do� in a role new to him.

He wanted to show that any flashes of success weren’t a “one-off kind of thing.�

Returned to Memphis after making seven relief outings in the majors across May, Graceffo allowed one run over 11 1/3 innings. The righty struck out 13 batters as he posted a 0.79 ERA while giving multiple innings of relief in four of his seven outings for the Redbirds.

The timing of his strong June and the additional innings as a reliever gave the former minor league starter added experience upon his return to the majors on Sunday.

“It’s been nice to have some success before coming back up here and just having that confidence coming back. ... Just being able to have that success before coming back up is big,� Graceffo said Sunday morning from inside the Cardinals dugout.

Graceffo, 25, was recalled to the majors on Sunday as Andre Granillo was optioned to Memphis. Granillo completed 1 2/3 innings on 25 pitches during the Cardinals’ 6-5 win on Saturday vs. the Reds.

Graceffo’s returns gives the Cardinals a fresh arm as they come off a stretch of four games, two of which were extra innings affairs, in three days and head into a stretch of 11 games in 11 days.

Against the Reds, Graceffo, the Cardinals’ minor league pitcher of the year in 2022, provided two scoreless innings and struck out two batters when he entered the 4-1 loss in the eighth inning.

“There’s a comfort to all of it, and getting used to it is important,� Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Graceffo’s adjustment to a relief role. “But when you look at what’s needed at the moment, it’s a guy with multiples, and he’s able to do that. That’s what he’s done.�

The move results in Granillo’s demotion to Class AAA after he allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings during his first stint in the majors. Granillo, 25, struck out two batters, allowed three hits and notched his first save in five games following his call to the majors on June 12.

“And here’s the thing, I did not want to send Granillo out, because he’s done a nice job. He did his part. He did exactly what we needed every time. He’s not scared of the moment. I like having him up here, but you also need to protect the rest of the arms and need a fresh arm today.�

After being on a starter track through his minor league career up until his switch to the bullpen while in the majors this past May, Graceffo said adjusting his routine has been one of the layers in his development with the new role.

Being available to pitch every day and finding a routine that has him feeling his “best� going into each game has been key for him. He’s learned how to better conserve energy and have a more relaxed nature while in the bullpen after feeling he was too active during games with his preparation to be ready when called from the bullpen.

“I think I realized that I don’t need as much to get going, especially as it gets hotter,� Graceffo said.

Of his seven outings in Memphis since the start of June, Graceffo turned in outings of exactly two innings twice and had an outing of 2 2/3 scoreless innings on June 6. He notched a save in his lone save opportunity and made three outings in a stretch of five days this month as the Cardinals looked to give him work in different situations.

The varying roles helped Graceffo in “reading the game� and prepare for when he could enter based on the scenario and the “pockets� where he could be inserted during a stretch that represented his first stay in the bullpen while in the minors.

“Not that it’s nice getting sent down ever, but I think part of it was good for me to kind of go through that on a daily basis and kind of learn at a level where they’re not really as focused on results and winning. It’s kind of more focused on the development of guys,� Graceffo said. “That was good.�

Pozo celebrates walk-off with family

After coming off the bench as a defensive substitution in the top of the 11th inning and hitting a walk-off RBI single in the bottom half of the frame, catcher Yohel Pozo had a chance to share the excitement of his first career walk-off hit in the majors with family close and abroad.

Once he got to see his family after Saturday’s walk-off winner, Pozo said one his kids greeted him with a hug and told him, “Nice job, Papá.�

Pozo said his grandfather called him “right away� from Maracay, Venezuela, to congratulate him on the career-first after they saw the live game feed paired with the Spanish radio feed that included the call of the game-winning single from Cardinals Spanish-language broadcast Polo Ascensio.

Pitching plans

When they welcome the Cubs to Busch Stadium on Monday, the Cardinals plan to have Matthew Liberatore start the first game of a four-game set vs. the National League Central Division leaders. But beyond Monday, the Cardinals have “TBA� listed for each of the three games that follow.

The Cardinals could utilize a spot starter on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Right-hander Michael McGreevy would be available and eligible to return to the majors on either day for a spot start.