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Prospect Watch: J.P. Massey Continues Scoreless Month, Liover Peguero Belts a Pair, and Vince Velasquez Rehabs

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Altoona got some power from its two main prospects and J.P. Massey continued a strong run.  Indianapolis scored only one run in dropping a doubleheader, getting one-hit in the second game.

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS

Prospect Watch: Altoona Gets No-Hit; Harrington, Chandler and Nicolas All Get Starts

TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Indianapolis Indians

INDIANAPOLIS VS IOWA

First Game Final Score:  Iowa 2, Indianapolis 1
Indianapolis Starter
:  Vince Velasquez
Pitching Line
:  4.2 IP, 4 H, BB, 2 K
Box Score

Top Performers:

  • Cal Mitchell 2-3, SB
  • Jared Triolo 1-2, 2B

Game Recap:

Vince Velasquez buzzed through a rehab start without much trouble in the first game of Indianapolis’ doubleheader with Iowa.  He went four and two-thirds, throwing 63 pitches, 42 strikes, allowing four hits and a walk.  Considering the length of the outing, it’s possible this could be him only rehab game.

Indy couldn’t get much offense going.  They had only six hits.  Cal Mitchell had two and Jared Triolo, who played short, had the only extra base hit, a double, along with a walk.  Endy Rodriguez went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.  Mark Mathias singled in Mitchell with the only run in the fourth.

Indy took a 1-0 lead into the sixth, but Daniel Zamora gave up the tying run in the top of the inning.  Cody Bolton then allowed the winning run in the top of the seventh.

Second Game Final Score:  Iowa 1, Indianapolis (20-23) 0
Indianapolis Starter
:  J.C. Flowers
Pitching Line
:  IP, H, BB
Box Score

Top Performers:

  • Canaan Smith-Njigba 1-2, 2B, BB, SB
  • Caleb Smith 6 IP, 6 H, ER, 4 K

Game Recap:

In game two, Indianapolis got only one hit and lost, 1-0.

Iowa starter Hayden Wesneski walked four over five innings, but Indy couldn’t get a hit.  Canaan Smith-Njigba finally picked up a double in the sixth against a reliever.  Indy went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

J.C. Flowers served as opener and threw a scoreless first.  Caleb Smith threw the last six innings, allowing a run on six hits.  He walked nobody and struck out four.

DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE

Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Altoona Curve

ALTOONA @ BOWIE

Final Score:  Altoona 6 (18-18), Bowie 4
Altoona Starter
:  Braeden Ogle
Pitching Line
:  IP, H, BB
Box Score

Top Performers:

  • Liover Peguero 3-3, 2 HR (4), 3 RBI

Game Recap:

Altoona played longball and got back to .500 by beating Bowie, 6-4.  The game was shortened by rain to five and a half innings.

Liover Peguero had a big day.  He started the game with his third home run of the season, then later hit his fourth with a man aboard.  He finished 3-for-3.  He’s now batting 310/380/592 in May, with all of his home runs.  Henry Davis stayed hot, belting his tenth.  He played right field again, because he needs more time behind the plate before he can move up to AAA.  Drew Maggi had the only other RBI.

Braeden Ogle served as the opener, getting through a scoreless first.  Justin Meis followed with four shaky innings, allowing four runs on eight hits.  The weather put an end to things after that.

HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS

Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Greensboro Grasshoppers

GREENSBORO @ ASHEVILLE

Final Score:  Asheville 9, Greensboro 7
Greensboro Starter
:  Valentin Linarez
Pitching Line
:  2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Box Score

Top Performers:

  • Jackson Glenn 3-4, 2 HR (6), 3 RBI
  • Jase Bowen 1-5 (6)

Game Recap:

Greensboro lost its seventh straight, 9-7, to Asheville.  The Hoppers have allowed 46 runs in those games.

Valentin Linarez had another rough start, lasting only 3.2 IP.  He gave up three runs, two earned, and did at least strike out six.  Jaycob Deese came next and allowed another four runs in an inning and a third.  Michell Miliano and Cy Nielson each allowed a run over two innings.

Jackson Glenn led the offense for the Hoppers.  He had three hits, including his sixth home run of the year, and three RBIs.  Jase Bowen hit his eighth home run of the year, a three-run shot.  Eli Wilson reached base three times on a single and two walks.

LOW-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS

Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Bradenton Marauders

BRADENTON @ CLEARWATER

Final Score:  Bradenton (21-17) 3, Clearwater 1
Bradenton Starter
:  J.P. Massey
Pitching Line
:  6 IP, H, BB, 5 K
Box Score

Top Performers:

  • Jesus Castillo 2-4, BB, SB
  • Termarr Johnson 0-2, 3 BB, SB
  • Javier Rivas 1-4, 2B, 3 K
  • Luis Peralta 2 IP, 2 H, 4 K

Game Recap:

Bradenton got six shutout innings from J.P. Massey and went on to beat Clearwater, 3-1.  Since beating Clearwater on opening day, the Marauders had lost six straight to the Threshers.

Massey has thrown shutout ball in all three May starts, totaling 16 innings.  In fact, he threw five shutout innings in his last April start, but had a meltdown in a relief appearance to close out the month.  In this one, he allowed just a hit and a walk, and fanned five.  In his last 16 innings, he’s allowed four hits, walked seven and fanned 21.

Massey left with the game scoreless.  Blake Cederlind pitched the seventh and gave up a run to make it 1-0, Clearwater.  As it turned out, that got him the win when Javier Rivas hit a three-run double in the eighth inning.  Luis Peralta worked the last two innings for the save.  He managed not to walk anybody and fanned four.

The Marauders had only four hits.  Jesus Castillo had half of them, plus a walk and a steal.  Termarr Johnson drew three walks and stole a base, his first of the year.

Wilbur Miller
Wilbur Miller
Having followed the Pirates fanatically since 1965, Wilbur Miller is one of the fast-dwindling number of fans who’ve actually seen good Pirate teams. He’s even seen Hall-of-Fame Pirates who didn’t get traded mid-career, if you can imagine such a thing. His first in-person game was a 5-4, 11-inning win at Forbes Field over Milwaukee (no, not that one). He’s been writing about the Pirates at various locations online for over 20 years. It has its frustrations, but it’s certainly more cathartic than writing legal stuff. Wilbur is retired and now lives in Bradenton with his wife and three temperamental cats.

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