Your daily Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Watch article for recaps of all of today’s games. Be sure to pick up your copy of the latest Prospect Guide in our store, available as an ebook or a limited edition paperback.
INDIANAPOLIS
Starting Pitcher: James Marvel 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 SO
Notable Performances:
Anthony Alford 4-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Erik Gonzalez 0-for-4, RBI, 2 BB
Tucupita Marcano 1-for-4, 2 BB
Cole Tucker 2-for-4, 2B, BB
Michael Chavis 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
Jared Oliva 1-for-4, BB
Game Recap: Anthony Alford had a huge night and he didn’t even play the entire game. He homered in the first, homered again in the third, then singled twice in the fifth, the second time driving in two runs. He finished with five RBIs and three runs scored. He has 14 homers on the season. James Marvel started and was doing well except for some walks through four shutout innings. He left after giving up three runs in the fifth. Keury Mella made his Indianapolis debut and threw a scoreless sixth. Blake Weiman took over in the seventh and gave up two runs in 1.2 innings. Hunter Stratton allowed three runs in 1.1 innings, but the offense was too strong for Indianapolis and they won 12-8.
Alford wasn’t the only player to homer twice for Indianapolis. Hunter Owen hit two homers, giving him 12 on the season. Christian Bethancourt hit his ninth homer and Michael Chavis also homered. Cole Tucker and Tucupita Marcano each reached base three times. Erik Gonzalez went 0-for-4 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI.
ALTOONA
Starting Pitcher: Jeffrey Passantino 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Notable Performances:
Ji-Hwan Bae 1-for-3, 2 SB
Diego Castillo 1-for-3, 2B, SB
Jack Suwinski 0-for-1, 2 BB, 2 SB
Mason Martin 0-for-3
Cal Mitchell 0-for-3
Matt Fraizer 0-for-3
Game Recap: Jeffrey Passantino got the start in game one of a doubleheader and allowed two runs over six innings to send the game to the seventh inning with a 2-2 score. Altoona was unable to score in the top of the inning, then Will Gardner allowed a walk and a double for the walk-off loss. The Curve had just two hits, getting a single from Ji-Hwan Bae and the 20th double of the season from Diego Castillo. Bae stole two bases, including a steal of home, giving him 14 stolen bases on the year. Castillo scored a run and stole his ninth base. Jack Suwinski had two walks and stole his first two bases since joining Altoona. The bottom six in the batting order went 0-for-15 with a walks (Josh Bissonette).
GAME TWO
Starting Pitcher: Brad Case 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 SO
Notable Performances:
Matt Fraizer 2-for-3, 2B
Diego Castillo 1-for-3
Jack Suwinski 0-for-3
Mason Martin 0-for-3
Carter Bins 1-for-3
Cal Mitchell 0-for-2
Game Recap: Brad Case got the spot start in game two and had an impressive outing, going five innings, while allowing one run on two hits and a walk, with five strikeouts. He has some of the best control in the system and it showed on this night, as he filled the strike zone, with 48 of 66 pitches going for strikes. He had a 4.95 ERA in 40 innings coming into the game, though he’s pitched better than those numbers suggest after allowing six runs in his first three innings of the season. He has a 3.64 ERA since those two early outings. Cam Alldred pitched the final two innings and allowed a run on a solo homer in the 2-0 loss. The Curve had just four hits in the game and two were by Matt Fraizer, his first two hits in Double-A. He had a single and a double, the only extra-base hits. Diego Castillo and Carter Bins had the other two hits.
GREENSBORO
Starting Pitcher: Quinn Priester 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
Notable Performances:
Liover Peguero 1-for-6, 2B
Nick Gonzales 0-for-4, 2 BB
Jared Triolo 2-for-6, HR, 2 RBI
Game Recap: Quinn Priester had a decent start on Friday night, working around nine base runners in five innings to allow two runs. He gave up five hits, three walks and hit a batter, while picking up four strikeouts. His control wasn’t on this night, with just 48 of 88 pitches going for strikes. He now has a 3.09 ERA in 67 innings, with 58 strikeouts. Oliver Garcia took over in the sixth and threw two shutout innings. Austin Roberts came on in the eighth and gave up three runs over three innings, though only one run was earned. Infielder Andres Alvarez took over in the 11th inning and gave up three runs, two of them earned. Grant Koch tied it up in the bottom of the 11th with a three run homer.
Will Matthiessen took over in relief in the 12th. He was a pitcher in college, so he wasn’t out of place on the mound. He gave up six runs in his only inning, but it was all part of his master plan. After a long inning in the bottom of the 12th, Matthiessen came up down by three runs and hit a walk-off grand slam for the 15-14 victory.
This was a 3-3 game through nine innings.
Jared Triolo hit his tenth homer. Koch’s homer was his ninth. He walked twice and scored four runs. Matthiessen hit his fifth homer. Matt Gorski left this game early after getting hurt running the bases. Lolo Sanchez got ejected in the eighth inning, so Greensboro was down two outfielders for the end of the game. Liover Peguero had just one hit in six at-bats, but it was his 12th double.
Alex Manasa has been returned to Greensboro from Indianapolis.
BRADENTON
Starting Pitcher: Miguel Yajure 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Eddy Yean 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Notable Performances:
Maikol Escotto 0-for-4, BB
Hudson Head 0-for-4, BB
Jack Herman 1-for-5
Abrahan Gutierrez 3-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Endy Rodriguez 0-for-3, 2 BB
Jase Bowen 0-for-3, BB
Alexander Mojica 0-for-4
Game Recap: Miguel Yajure was assigned to Bradenton on rehab and he was slated to throw two innings ahead of scheduled starter Eddy Yean. He was on a 35-pitch limit. Yajure ended up going 1.2 innings on two hits, no walks and one strikeout. He allowed an unearned run in the second on a double and an error. The first hit was an infield single to start the game. He threw 24 of 31 pitches for strikes. Wandi Montout closed out the second inning, then gave up a run in the third. He struck out three batters in his 1.1 innings. Eddy Yean came out in the fourth and he went four strong innings, allowing one run on four hits, one walk and three strikeouts. He now has a 5.18 ERA in 48.2 innings, with 50 strikeouts. Enmanuel Mejia kept his 0.00 ERA (in 26.1 innings) intact with a scoreless eighth. Oliver Mateo tossed a shutout ninth for the 7-3 win.
Bradenton had just three RBIs and they were all by Abrahan Gutierrez, who hit two singles and a double. Endy Rodriguez walked twice and scored two runs. Francisco Acuna hit two doubles and scored twice. The Marauders scored two runs on an error and two other runs scored on wild pitches. Maikol Escotto stole his 12th base.
Jake Snider, who returned briefly from a Spring Training injury, was placed on the 60-day IL, ending his season.
FCL PIRATES BLACK
Starting Pitcher: Luis Peralta 5 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Notable Performances:
Juan Jerez 0-for-3, BB
Luis Tejeda 1-for-4, 2B
Angel Basabe 0-for-2, RBI, BB
Deion Walker 0-for-2, RBI, BB
Franrielis Bastardo 1-for-2
Game Recap: Brennan Malone made his first appearance since May 21st in Bradenton and it did not go well. He recorded just one out, giving up three runs on three walks and a hit. He had just 3.2 innings pitched with Bradenton earlier this year, and while he didn’t give up any earned runs, he allowed four hits and five walks in that short time. Adrian Mendez took over for Malone and inherited a bases loaded jam. Two runs scored before he recorded the final out of the first. Mendez lasted 1.2 innings without giving up a run of his own. Bladimir Dotel took over in the third.
On the opposite side, Luis Peralta started for Pirates Black. He had an outstanding outing, tossing five no-hit innings, with one unearned run on one walk and five strikeouts. Jorge Ramos had a crazy sixth inning that saw him give up seven runs that were all unearned. Junior Thibo took the seventh and allowed the only earned run in a 9-3 loss (also a Pirates win!)
These games were completely opposite, with the Black team scoring three runs in the first then getting shut out the rest of the way. The Gold team had no hits until the sixth and they made this game a blowout win. Jasiah Dixon had the best game, with two singles, a walk and three runs scored. Carlos Canache reached base three times on a single and two walks. He scored one run. Doubles by Norkis Marcos and Luis Tejeda were the only extra-base hits of the game. Marcos and Deivis Nadal each drove in a pair of runs with back-to-back hits. Wyatt Hendrie, a seventh round pick, debuted behind the plate and he went 0-for-1 with a sacrifice fly before leaving (planned) after five innings.
Here’s some DSL/FCL news
Pirates have moved up Sebastian Rodriguez from the DSL to the FCL after he posted a 0.00 ERA in three starts. Here's his scouting report, which included a note that he had "plus arm speed" and lots of room to fill out https://t.co/9NEdHP5nnB
— John Dreker (@JohnDreker) August 6, 2021
FCL PIRATES GOLD
Boxscore (see above)
Starting Pitcher: Brennan Malone 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO
Notable Performances:
Jasiah Dixon 2-for-3, BB, 3 Runs
Tsung-Che Cheng 0-for-2, 2 RBI, BB
Sergio Campana 0-for-4, RBI
Rodolfo Nolasco 1-for-3, RBI
Deivis Nadal 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Game Recap: See above
DSL PIRATES BLACK
Starting Pitcher: Isaias Uribe 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Notable Performances:
Enmanuel Terrero 2-for-3, 2B, BB
Javier Rivas 0-for-3
Shalin Polanco 2-for-2, RBI, BB
Ewry Espinal 0-for-3
Omar Alfonzo 0-for-3
Ruben Vizcaya 1-for-3
Jesus Castillo 2-for-3, RBI
Game Recap: Isaias Uribe had a solid start, allowing one run over three innings on three hits, two walks and two strikeouts. He came into the day with no earned runs allowed over his first three outings. Jesus Clode took over in the fourth and he went 1.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit, three walks and two strikeouts. Darlin Diaz finished off the fifth and stayed on for the sixth, picking up the save in the game that was shortened due to rain. Pirates won 5-3. The Pirates scored all of their runs in the fourth as an error started the inning, followed by five singles and a walk. Rafael Escalante and Jesus Castillo hit RBI singles to tie the game 2-2. Shalin Polanco hit an infield single that made it 3-2, then Ronny Sanchez brought in two runs to cap the scoring. Polanco had two singles to raise his average to .170, though neither hit left the infield. Enmanuel Terrero had a single, double, walk and run scored. Jesus Castillo had two singles, a run scored and an RBI.
DSL PIRATES GOLD
Starting Pitcher: Yojeiry Osoria 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
Notable Performances:
Jeral Toledo 1-for-3, BB
Osvaldo Gavilan 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB
Esmerlyn Valdez 1-for-2
Wesley Zapata 1-for-3
Delfin Ramirez 0-for-2, BB
Robert De Paula 0-for-4
Game Recap: Yojeiry Osoria is one of the top pitching prospects for the Pirates in the DSL, but he is off to a slow start. He was a bit better on Friday morning, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks to lower him to an 8.68 ERA. He lasted just 5.2 innings over his first three starts. Weslyn Toussaint recorded the final out of the fourth, stranding an inherited runner. Lewys Guzman took over in the fifth inning and tossed three shutout innings, giving way to Kenneth Quintanilla in the eighth with a two-run lead. He allowed the runner on second to start the inning to score, but he got out of it with nothing else, as the Pirates won 4-3. The Pirates took an early 2-0 lead on a double by Osvaldo Gavilan. He would add a double, run scored and a walk later in the game. In the eighth, Gustavo Armas doubled in his lone at-bat to make it 3-2. He would scored on a Miguel Sosa sacrifice fly, which proved to be the difference.
