While some other Pittsburgh Pirates players are doing well early on in the Winter League season, none of them can match Gregory Polanco. Not only is he the top prospect in the system playing Winter Ball now, he has also tore up the Dominican League through five games and Wednesday night was his best game so far. Polanco is now batting .500 with three homers and eight RBI’s thanks to a 4-for-4 night in his team’s 8-0 win. He doubled, homered, scored three runs, drove in two runs and even drew a walk. Polanco has reached base 13 times in 23 plate appearances.
Matt Hague went 2-for-4 with two singles last night. He has hits in all five games and is batting .368 in 19 AB’s.
Carlos Paulino went 1-for-3 with a run scored. It was his first start of the season. He had previously batted just once when he caught the last three innings of Sunday’s game.
In Venezuela, Jhondaniel Medina got some mop-up work in out of the bullpen and he did it in the third inning. His team was down 7-0 with men on base when he came into the game. Like the two pitchers before him, Medina took one on the chin. He got two outs, but not before giving up two runs of his own while allowing two inherited runners to score. Medina gave up two hits and a walk. He settled down after that shaky first inning and threw two scoreless innings, allowing two more hits, before being taken out. Medina did not allow a run in his first four appearances.
Elias Diaz got his second start behind the plate. He went 0-for-3 with a walk. He is 1-for-7 in three games.
In Mexico, Ali Solis went 1-for-2 before being pinch hit for in the eighth inning. His team had just three hits in the game, all singles.
The Australian Baseball League starts next Thursday and the Puerto Rico Winter League starts play next Friday.
