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Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Watch 5/2/11

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DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Jameson Taillon (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR)

Top Hitter: Mel Rojas Jr. (5-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI)

Home Runs: None

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (AAA)

Indianapolis was postponed today.  They play a double header tomorrow, and the first game will be on MLB Network at 11:00 AM, with Brad Lincoln on the mound.

ALTOONA CURVE (AA)

Mercer went 3-for-4 tonight.

Box Score

Result: Altoona 10, Akron 9

Starting Pitcher: Jared Hughes (4.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR)

Top Hitter: Jordy Mercer (3-for-4, 2 2B, 4 R)

Notes: Heading in to tonight’s game, Altoona had an interesting streak going, alternating between wins and losses in their last 19 games, failing to win two in a row since April 9th and 10th.  That streak ended tonight when Altoona scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, to win 10-9.  Kris Watts (.286) brought home the winning run with an RBI double, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs on the day.  Tony Sanchez (.299) tied the game up one batter earlier with an RBI single.  Sanchez went 3-for-5 and hit his first double of the season today.  Jordy Mercer (.200) went 3-for-4 with two doubles.  Jeremy Farrell (.345) went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.  Farrell left the game in the third, hurting either his ankle or hamstring rounding third base, according to Cory Giger.

Jared Hughes (4.88) allowed six runs, four earned, on six hits in four innings.  Brian Leach (5.40) allowed three runs on two hits in 2.1 innings.  Tom Boleska (2.84) pitched 1.2 shutout innings, although he allowed both inherited runners to score when he took over for Leach in the seventh.  Noah Krol (1-1, 3.65) pitched a perfect inning to get the win.

BRADENTON MARAUDERS (A+)

Cunningham went 2-for-4 with a double.

Box Score

Result: Palm Beach 5, Bradenton 1

Starting Pitcher: Kyle McPherson (6.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR)

Top Hitter: Jarek Cunningham (2-for-4, 2B)

Notes: When the Pirates went up against Shelby Miller a week ago, they hit him around, and drew seven walks in less than five innings.  Miller looked much better tonight, allowing just one run in six innings, with ten strikeouts and three walks.  Jarek Cunningham (.286) had the biggest game at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run.  Aaron Baker (.337) went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Kyle McPherson (1-1, 2.78) got the start, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits in six innings.  McPherson struck out four and didn’t allow a walk, putting him at a 30:1 K/BB ratio in 35.2 innings this year.  Duke Welker (5.19) added a perfect inning, and was followed by Jason Erickson (4.80) who pitched a shutout inning, allowing three hits.

WEST VIRGINIA POWER (A)

Taillon struck out six in four shutout innings tonight.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

Result: West Virginia 3, Greensboro 0; West Virginia 3; Greensboro 2

Starting Pitcher: Jameson Taillon (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR); Brandon Cumpton (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR)

Top Hitter: Mel Rojas Jr. (5-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI)

Notes: Jameson Taillon (1.50) made his second professional start, and had a much better result this time around.  Taillon threw four shutout innings, allowing two hits, no walks, and striking out six.  He was relieved by Casey Sadler (1-1, 2.35), who pitched three shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

West Virginia was led in game one by Justin Howard (.313), who went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a stolen base, and two RBIs.  Mel Rojas Jr. (.294) went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Brandon Cumpton (1-3, 10.61) won game two, allowing just one run on five hits in five innings, with a walk and five strikeouts.  Trent Stevenson (4.72) followed that up with two innings, allowing a run on four hits, with no walks and four strikeouts.

Rojas Jr. had another strong game, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI.  Dan Grovatt (.276) went 0-for-1 with two walks and two runs.  Andy Vasquez (.314) went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Tim Williams
Tim Williams
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.

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