Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Watch 4/26/11

DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Nathan Baker (5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR)

Top Hitter: Jarek Cunningham (3-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI)

Home Runs: Andrew Lambo (1), Jason Jaramillo (1), Jordy Mercer (4), Jarek Cunningham 2 (6), Matt Curry (4)

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (AAA)

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 8, Norfolk 5

Starting Pitcher: Justin Wilson (6.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR)

Top Hitter: Jason Jaramillo (2-for-4, HR, 4 RBI)

Notes: Indianapolis was hurt early by errors, with Justin Wilson (2-1, 2.25) allowing five runs, all unearned, in the fourth and fifth innings.  That was the only damage allowed by Wilson, who pitched six innings, allowing those five unearned runs on five hits, with three walks and four strikeouts.  Wilson threw 92 pitches, with 53 for strikes.  Indianapolis came back in the sixth, down 5-2 to start the inning.  Jason Jaramillo (.348) hit a grand slam to give the Indians a 6-5 lead.  They ended up scoring two more on top of that, adding some insurance.

Cesar Valdez (5.91) pitched a shutout inning, allowing two hits and striking out two.  Daniel Moskos (1.69) closed it out with two shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.  Josh Harrison (.364) had a big night at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and a run.  Andrew Lambo (.203) went 1-for-3 with a home run, his first of the year.

ALTOONA CURVE (AA)

Box Score

Result: Harrisburg 4, Altoona 1

Starting Pitcher: Aaron Thompson (5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR)

Top Hitter: Jordy Mercer (2-for-4, HR)

Notes: Aaron Thompson (2-2, 3.22) got off to a good start, allowing one run in his first four innings, but ran in to trouble in the fifth.  Thompson allowed three runs in the fifth inning, putting Altoona down 4-0.  Tim Alderson (1.74) pitched a shutout inning, allowing two walks and striking out two.  Anthony Claggett (4.70) pitched two shutout innings, striking out two.

The offense didn’t do much for Altoona, managing only one run.  That came in the eighth, when Jordy Mercer (.159) hit a solo home run, his fourth of the year.  Mercer went 2-for-4 in the game.  Brock Holt (.343) went 2-for-4 with his sixth stolen base of the season.  Tony Sanchez (.280) went 2-for-3 with a walk.  Starling Marte (.362) went 0-for-4, snapping a 13 game hitting streak.

BRADENTON MARAUDERS (A+)

Box Score

Result: Bradenton 12, St. Lucie 6

Starting Pitcher: Nathan Baker (5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR)

Top Hitter: Jarek Cunningham (3-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI)

Notes: The Bradenton offense got off to a great start, scoring ten runs in the first inning, led by a three run home run by Jarek Cunningham (.265).  That was just the first home run from Cunningham on the day, as the second baseman homered again in the seventh inning, for his sixth of the season.  Elevys Gonzalez (.411) also had a big game, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.  David Rubinstein (.373) went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Nathan Baker (2-0, 5.57) had a great start, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing a run on six hits, with a walk and two strikeouts.  He was followed by Duke Welker (5.87) who was roughed up, allowing two runs on one hit in 2.1 innings, with three walks and three strikeouts.  Jhonathan Ramos (4.38) pitched an inning, allowing three runs on four hits.

WEST VIRGINIA POWER (A)

Box Score

Result: West Virginia 8, Hagerstown 5

Starting Pitcher: Tyler Waldron (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 HR)

Top Hitter: Matt Curry (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB)

Notes: Tyler Waldron (3-1, 4.71) had a strong start for West Virginia, allowing two runs on six hits in five innings, with no walks and five strikeouts.  The two runs both came on solo homers, the first of which was to Bryce Harper.  Brooks Pounders (2.70) pitched two innings, allowing two runs on three hits, with a walk and four strikeouts.  Jason Townsend (1.00) allowed one run on one hit, with a walk and a strikeout in two innings.  The run and the walk were his first of each this season in nine innings.

Matt Curry (.403) led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a two run homer in the fourth, and two walks.  Rogelios Noris (.216) went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.  Gift Ngoepe (.293) went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.  Justin Howard (.345) went 2-for-4 with a run.  Mel Rojas Jr. (.246) went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI.