For a more in depth review of yesterday’s games please check out our minor league wrap-up which can be found here. Today’s starting pitchers are the best group so far according to Pirates Prospects rankings in our 2011 Prospect Guide. Rudy Owens is ranked 7th among prospects while Colton Cain came in at 10th, Aaron Pribanic ranked 28th and Nathan Baker came in at 29th making the first time all four teams were running pitchers out there ranked in our top 30. Lineups will be posted down below later tonight as soon as they are made available.
AAA: Indianapolis (0-4) VS Toledo (1-3) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Rudy Owens (12-6 2.46 last year with Altoona)
Game notes: Rudy Owens makes his first start of the year today still trying to get Indianapolis their first win of the young season. Brad Lincoln made his first start since his spring injury and pitched 4.2ip giving up 2 earned runs with no walks and 2 strikeouts. Alex Presley is hitting .500 so far.
AA: Altoona (2-2) @ Akron (2-2) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Aaron Pribanic (7-6 3.33 last year for Bradenton)
Game notes: Starling Marte, Tony Sanchez and Jeremy Farrell all homered yesterday for the Curve in their 10-7 victory. Brock Holt is 6-15 (.400) so far with 4 walks and has 3 stolen bases. Altoona has won 2 straight after losing the first two games.
High-A: Bradenton (2-2) VS Jupiter (0-4) 7:00pm
Probable starter: Nathan Baker (2-3 3.02 last year for Bradenton)
Game notes: Robbie Grossman reached base all four plate appearances,3 walks and a hit during yesterday’s 6-3 win. Calvin Anderson hit his first homer and drove in 3 runs. Baker, who is making his first start, had an 8-8 3.00 overall record in 25 starts between WV and Bradenton.
Low-A: West Virginia (2-1) VS Asheville (2-2) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Colton Cain (1-1 5.03 last year for State College)
Game notes: West Virginia swept the doubleheader yesterday after two straight rainouts. Matt Curry went 3-3, with a walk and a homerun in game one. Zack Dodson threw 5 scoreless innings to get the win in game two. Colton Cain is getting his first start of the season.
Indianapolis Lineup:
Hernandez-cf
d’Arnaud-ss
Presley-lf
Marte-dh
Hague-1b
Lambo-rf
Harrison-3b
Brown-c
Ciriaco-2b
Altoona Lineup:
Holt-2b
Marte-cf
Mercer-ss
Sanchez-c
Durham-1b
Latimore-lf
Farrell-3b
Fryer-dh
Chalk-rf
Bradenton Lineup:
Grossman-cf
Cunningham-rf
Chambers-cf
Snyder-c
Baker-1b
Anderson-dh
Rubenstein-lf
E.Gonzalez-3b
B.Gonzalez-ss
West Virginia Lineup:
Maggi-ss
Rojas-cf
Curry-1b
Avila-3b
Grovatt-rf
Diaz-c
Howard-dh
Noris-lf
Ngoepe-2b