It was not a good night in the minors. Bad pitching, bad hitting, bad fielding. All bad.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Game Time: 7:04pm
Starting Pitcher: Miguel Yajure
- Final Line: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
Notable Performances:
- Oneil Cruz 0-4, 3 K
- Cal Mitchell 1-4
- Mason Martin 1-3, 2B, BB
- Canaan Smith-Njigba 0-3, BB, 3 K
- Travis Swaggerty 0-3, BB, 3 K
Game Recap:
Miguel Yajure failed to last an inning as Indianapolis (16-17) got thrashed by Charlotte, 12-2. Yajure gave up a home run to the second batter he faced, then later walked four more to force in a run. He got only two outs. The rest of the onslaught came mostly against Matt Eckelman and Shea Murray, both of whom have had a terrible time this year. Eckelman gave up six runs in an inning and two-thirds and Murray three in two-thirds of an inning. The offense wasn’t any better. Indy managed only two hits, a double by Mason Martin and a single by Cal Mitchell. Oneil Cruz, Canaan Smith-Njigba and Travis Swaggerty all fanned three times. Swaggerty is batting .174 with a 37% strikeout rate.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
Game Time: 4:00pm
Starting Pitcher: Michael Burrows
- Final Line: 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Notable Performances:
- Tucupita Marcano 3-5, 2B, 3B
- Nick Gonzales 1-2, 2 BB
- Matt Fraizer 2-5, 2 SB
- Liover Peguero 2-5, 3B
- Connor Scott 1-4, 3 K
- Aaron Shackelford 1-3, HR (4), BB
Game Recap:
Michael Burrows had his weakest start of the season, but Tahnaj Thomas blew the game in the ninth as Altoona (14-18) lost to Somerset, 8-7. Burrows gave up four runs over four innings, equaling the number of runs he allowed in his first six starts combined. The Curve came back from a 3-0 deficit, though, and took a 6-3 lead. It was 6-5 going into the top of the ninth, but Thomas got shelled for three runs. The Curve came back with one in the bottom half. Tucupita Marcano had a good day, with a single, double and triple. Matt Fraizer and Liover Peguero each had two hits, with Peguero getting a triple and Fraizer stealing two bases. Nick Gonzales reached base three times and Aaron Shackelford hit a two-run home run, his fourth homer on the year. Henry Davis again didn’t play.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
Game Time: 5:00pm
Starting Pitcher: Adrian Florencio
- Final Line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
Notable Performances:
- Maikol Escotto 0-5
- Endy Rodriguez 3-4, 2 2B
- Abrahan Gutierrez 1-1, 2B
- Jacob Gonzalez 2-4, 3B, BB
- Hudson Head 0-3, BB, 3 K
- Dariel Lopez 2-4, 2B, BB, SB
Game Recap:
Greensboro (13-18) lost to Hickory, 7-5. Adrian Florencio gave up three runs in the first, then pitched scoreless ball for three innings before allowing a run in the fifth. Eddy Yean followed and allowed three runs while recording just one out. His ERA is now 9.00, as he doesn’t seem to be anything like the guy the Pirates were supposedly getting in the Josh Bell deal. Endy Rodriguez had two doubles and a single, but apparently was injured running the bases. He stayed in and scored a run, then left when the Hoppers took the field, so hopefully it’s minor. Abrahan Gutierrez replaced Rodriguez and had a double. Jacob Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with a triple, lowering his average to .600. Dariel Lopez had a single and a double, and has quietly gotten his OPS up to .713 after a terrible start.
LOW-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Game Time: 3:30pm
Starting Pitchers: Po-Yu Chen and Justin Meis
- Final Line: Chen 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K — Meis 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Notable Performances:
- Rodolfo Nolasco 1-5, 2B, 2 BB
- Wyatt Hendrie 2-3
- Alexander Mojica 1-3, HR (3)
- Luke Brown 2-4, BB, SB
- Sergio Campana 1-2, 2B, BB
Game Recap:
Bradenton (15-17) lost the first game of its doubleheader to Jupiter, 3-1. Po-Yu Chen had trouble in the first two innings, giving up five hits and three runs. The last run scored due to an error but for some reason is listed as earned. Anyway, Chen followed with three shutout innings with just one hit allowed. It didn’t matter, because the Marauders’ hitting woes continued. They had only four hits, leaving them with just eight total in their last three games. Their only run scored without a hit and was set up by a sacrifice bunt when they were three runs down. Wyatt Hendrie had two of the hits and Rodolfo Nolasco had a double.
The Marauders also lost the second game, 4-3, on a walk-off error by Mike Jarvis. They’ve now lost five straight. Alexander Mojica gave Bradenton a 3-0 lead with a three-run bomb in the first, his third homer of the year. After that, the struggling offense took a nap. The Marauders had only five hits, two by Luke Brown. Justin Meis went six, allowing three runs. Yunior Thibo got two outs before the unearned run ended it.
