If you like offense, Greensboro certainly lived up to its reputation as a lively ballpark. The Grasshoppers and IronBirds combined for 30 runs and 35 hits in their slugfest on Wednesday.
Will Matthiessen picked up a grand slam among four hits, and Jase Bowen hit his system leading 16th home run of the season, all in the Grasshoppers loss. We got to see part of the reason why Jackson Holliday is considered by most to be the top prospect in the game, with four hits, one a double, and a walk.
Altoona won their game 7-6 in 11 innings on a Mason Martin walk-off hit. That was after Nick Dombkowski took a perfect game into the sixth inning.
Bradenton picked up another win after putting eight runs on the board with Rodolfo Nolasco hitting a pair of home runs. Yordany De los Santos picked up his first two hits at the Single-A level.
Going into Thursday’s games, three of the four full season teams have split the first two games of the series while Bradenton can guarantee a split already with a win on Thursday.
-Anthony Murphy
Anthony Murphy: Kyle Nicolas, RHP Indianapolis (AAA)
A lot of times when a player gets held back a level, especially one they’ve spent the last year and a half at, it’s not a good sign. That wasn’t exactly the case however for Kyle Nicolas, who began at Altoona again, but as a starter.
His stuff has never been in question, it’s a matter of finding a way to control it as to way he’s been spinning tired in Double-A. With injuries mounting, Nicolas got the push to Indianapolis, where the control issues have really been standing out.
In 12.2 innings in Triple-A, Nicolas has struck out 22 batters, but also walks 12. After getting the first two outs in the second inning on Wednesday, he proceeded to give up a hit and allow four walks before getting pulled from the game. That made it five walks in 1.2 innings.
With all the injuries, Nicolas is going to get every chance to remain in the rotation, but it certainly looks like he may be trending towards a reliever role as well. He did get the fastball up to 98.3 mph last time around, which would play very well out the bullpen, along with that slider.
JOHN DREKER: Nick Dombkowski, LHP, Altoona (AA)
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed 22-year-old left-handed pitcher Nick Dombkowski as an undrafted free agent after the 2021 draft. He came to them with plenty of pitching experience, starting for four season with the University of Hartford, as well as five seasons of summer collegiate ball. He did well with Low-A Bradenton after signing, posting a 3.86 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. The Pirates started him back at Bradenton in 2022, but he was up in Altoona by early June. He finished the year with a combined 3.07 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and 86 strikeouts in 67.1 innings.
Dombkowski dominated the lower two levels last year, then put up average results for Altoona. He returned to the Curve this season, where he recently moved into the starter role. He threw two straight outings with four shutout innings before his start on Wednesday night. He had a 5.68 ERA a month ago, which he turned into a 3.73 mark before last night.
Dombkowski was extremely efficient in this game. His first inning was three grounders on five pitches. His second inning took all of nine pitches, with strikeouts on his fastball and slider. Erie put three balls in play on eight pitches in the third. The fourth took 15 pitches due to five foul balls, but he still retired the side in a row. The fifth was dominating, with strikeouts on his changeup, slider and fastball. He was mostly 89-90 MPH with the fastball, which he dialed up to 92 and 93 once each. He was 80-81 MPH with the slider, and 82-84 MPH with the changeup. He threw all three pitches for strikes, mixing them well. He showed nice control, while often hitting the catcher’s target.
Dombkowski was perfect through five, before it fell apart in the sixth. He seemed unnerved after the damage, though it was his longest outing of the season. You can see how Dombkowski has success. The control/solid command, with three average pitches that can be used in any count. The changeup is probably his best pitch, which works well against right-handed batters.
WILBUR MILLER: Tyler Samaniego, LHP, Altoona (AA)
The Pirates drafted Tyler Samaniego in round 15 in 2021 out of the University of South Alabama as a lefty with good size (6’4”) and solid velocity (93-94). He also has an effective slider. His statistical record so far is a puzzle.
In 2022, after dominating early in the season at Greensboro, Samaniego moved up to Altoona and posted a 3.52 ERA. Pretty good, but the components weren’t all there. His K rate dropped by almost half (12.71 K/9 to 6.75). He got by with a lot of BABIP magic, an unsustainable .160. That was balanced out to an extent by a low strand rate of 54.1%, so his FIP of 3.74 wasn’t out of line with his ERA.
Back at Altoona for 2023, the statistical anomalies have been more extreme. Samaniego’s ERA is 5.79, but FIP thinks he’s actually been very effective, at 2.63. He’s just had no “luck.” His BABIP is .370 and his strand rate is 55.9%. His K/9 is back up to 10.29.
The Pirates reportedly still see Samaniego as a potential major leaguer and the analytical numbers bear them out. It’d be a plus if they could find some left-handed relief depth without lurking endlessly on the waiver wire.
Yesterday’s Top Performers
- Rodolfo Nolasco (A): 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR (10), 3 RBI, BB
- Shalin Polanco (A): 1-4, R, 2 RBI, BB, SB
- Jase Bowen (A+): 2-4, HR (16), 5 RBI
- Francisco Acuna (A+): 3-5, 3 R, 2B
- Will Matthiessen (A+): 4-5, 4 R, 2B, HR (8), 5 RBI
- Mason Martin (AA): 3-5, 2 RBI, BB
- Matt Gorski (AA): 1-3, 2 BB, HR (13), 2 R, 2 RBI
- Tsung-Che Cheng (AA): 2-4, 2 R, BB, 4 SB
- Nick Dombkowski (AA): 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 K
- Check out yesterday’s full minor league results here.
Daily Video Rundown
WILL MATTHIESSEN GRAND SLAM
Hoppers: 11 | IronBirds: 14 pic.twitter.com/eTE0DxO2QF
— Greensboro Grasshoppers (@GSOHoppers) July 6, 2023
Will Matthiessen had a huge day at the plate, picking up four hits, including this grand slam here. After missing the majority of last season with an injury, the tall first baseman is back in Greensboro and certainly taking advantage of the hitter friendly confines.
WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER FOR @masonmartin7 pic.twitter.com/OhNTBkhGLn
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) July 6, 2023
Mason Martin has been on a roll as of late, really seeing the ball well. He’s hit home runs multiple days in a row earlier in the week, and picks up this walk off hit on Wednesday, one of three hits on the day.
We love to see it from @abragutierr7!
Tie game in the 6th! pic.twitter.com/y5U1VF4578
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) July 5, 2023
Abrahan Gutierrez got off to a great start to his Double-A career a few weeks back, but feel into a mini-slump. He picked up a pair of hits on Wednesday, including this RBI single in the sixth inning.
Today’s Minor League Results
By Wilbur Miller
INDIANAPOLIS (38-44) VS Memphis
Game Time: 7:05 pm ET
Indianapolis Starter: Quinn Priester (7-3, 4.54 ERA)
–Line: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Final Score: Indianapolis 3, Memphis 2
Player of the Game: Endy Rodriguez 2-for-4, BB
Recap:
Indianapolis got a strong start from Quinn Priester and beat Memphis, 3-2, on a walkoff sacrifice fly by Miguel Andujar.
Priester went seven and a third, giving up two runs on five hits. He didn’t walk anybody. After allowing a run in the first, Priester threw six shutout innings until a one-out triple and double in the eighth. Colin Selby got the last two outs of the inning. Hunter Stratton threw a scoreless ninth for the win.
Much of the Indy offense came in the fourth. Endy Rodriguez led off with a single and eventually scored on a force out. An error brought in the second run.
The game went into the bottom of the ninth tied, 2-2. With one out, Chris Owings and Rodriguez singled to put runners at the corners. Andujar forgot to look at a called third strike, instead lofting a game-ending fly ball. Rodriguez, Aaron Shackelford and Alika Williams each had two hits. Rodriguez also had a walk. Indy had ten in the game, all singles, and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
ALTOONA (37-39) VS Erie
Game Time: 6 pm ET
Altoona Starter: Anthony Solometo
–Line: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Final Score: Erie 5, Altoona 3
Player of the Game: Lolo Sanchez 2-for-4, 2B, 2 runs
Recap:
Anthony Solometo had just an OK start as Altoona lost to Erie. Solometo breezed through three shutout innings, but gave up a two-run bomb in the fourth, then gave up a third run on a single, steal, balk and single. He left after that inning, although his pitch count was only 64.
The Curve had taken a 2-0 lead. Lolo Sanchez led off the bottom of the first with a double and scored on a single by Matt Gorski. In the third, Sanchez singled with two out and came around on a Jackson Glenn double. Altoona tied the game on the seventh on an RBI single by Chavez Young.
The game got untied pretty quickly, as Geronimo Franzua gave up a two-run home run. The game was his AA debut. Noe Toribio had thrown two and two-thirds scoreless frames before Franzua got in. Tahnaj Thomas threw one after.
GREENSBORO (38-37) VS Aberdeen
Game Time: 6:30 pm ET
Greensboro Starter: Bubba Chandler (3-3, 6.63 ERA)
–Line: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Final Score: Aberdeen 11, Greensboro 7
Player of the Game: Tres Gonzalez 2-for-4, HR (3), 3 RBI
Recap:
Two things stayed constant for Greensboro, as Bubba Chandler and the bullpen both got shelled in an 11-7 loss. The Hoppers have allowed 81 runs in their last ten games.
Chandler’s struggled all season and things aren’t improving. In this one, he lasted five and a third, but gave up nine hits, three walks and five runs. That included two gopher balls. He fanned six. One of Chandler’s runs scored after Eddy Yean came in. Yean gave up a run of his own in the seventh, before Cy Nielson came in to get the last three outs.
The Greensboro bats eventually came back to take a 7-6 lead after seven. The first two runs came on big flies from Will Matthiessen, his 8th, and Jase Bowen, his 17th. He leads the South Atlantic League in home runs by three and in RBIs by ten, with 61. Mike Jarvis drove in a run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly, following a Maikol Escotto triple.
The Hoppers got four in the seventh. The first scored on an error, then next three on a bomb by Tres Gonzalez. He has three since moving up to the level. That made it 7-6.
The lead didn’t last, as Ryan Harbin‘s high A debut could have gone better. He gave back all four runs in the eighth. The last three came on a home run. Santiago Florez gave up another gopher ball in the ninth to account for the final run.
Gonzalez had two hits. He was the only Hopper to get more than one.
BRADENTON (42-34) AT Daytona
Game Time: 6:35 pm ET
Bradenton Starter: Luis Peralta
–Line: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Final Score: Bradenton 4, Daytona 2
Player of the Game: Josiah Sightler 3-for-5, RBI
Recap:
Bradenton got three in the fourth, then held on to beat Daytona, 4-2.
Luis Peralta, who’s been struggling mightily, lasted four innings, giving up just one hit and one run. He walked only two. Wil Crowe threw a scoreless rehab inning, which earned him a “W,” and Jorge Ramos threw two scoreless in his debut at the level. Joshua Loeschorn threw two innings, giving up a run and getting the save.
The three-run third resulted from a couple of walks and a wild pitch, then back-to-back RBI doubles by Nick Cimillo and Deivis Nadal.
Except for the fourth, the Marauders’ offense was mostly quiet. Josiah Sightler stayed hot, going 3-for-5. He’s batting .500 since he moved up. Shalin Polanco and Jesus Castillo each had two hits, with Polanco getting a double. Bradenton got an insurance run in the ninth when Sightler singled in a run.
Lonnie White, Jr., went 0-for-3 with a walk and three strikeouts. Termarr Johnson also fanned three times, as part of a 1-for-5 day.
FCL PIRATES (16-6)
Game Time: 12 pm ET
FCL Pirates Starter: Isaias Uribe
–Line: 2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Final Score: Rays 4, Pirates 3
Player of the Game: Gilberto Alcala 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Recap:
Isaias Uribe had a shaky start and the FCL Pirates lost to the Rays, 4-3. Uribe gave up a run in the first on a couple of bleeders and a bad throw, then he gave up a three-run home run in the second. The homer was disputed, apparently as to whether it was fair or not, and Pirate manager Jim Horner got ejected. (At FCL games, you’re not left wondering why the manager got tossed.)
Uribe left after two and two-thirds, trailing 4-0. The bullpen kept it there. Andy Maldonado threw an inning and a third, and Gilberto Alcala threw four innings, allowing just one hit. Eliecer Romero stranded three in a scoreless ninth.
The offense quickly closed to within one, but couldn’t get any further. Eybert Escalona singled home a run in the second. In the third, two scored on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly.
On the day, Escalona and Axiel Plaz each reached three times, on a single and two walks. Jeral Toledo was the only Pirate with two hits.
DSL PIRATES BLACK (8-13)
Game Time: 11 am ET
DSL Pirates Black Starter: Jonawel Valdez
–Line: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Final Score: Tigers 2 6, Pirates Black 1
Player of the Game: Robert De Paula 2-for-3
Recap:
The Pirates Black were in a scoreless tie until the bottom of the fifth of their seven-inning game. They went ahead at that point when Robert De Paula singled, moved up on two wild pitches and scored on a single by Joenelly Van Der Linden. Then they got shelled for six runs in the top of the sixth and lost, 6-1.
Starter Jonawel Valdez threw four shutout innings, allowing just two hits and no walks. He fanned six. Carlos Mateo, who got the Pirates’ top international bonus this year among pitchers, followed with a scoreless fifth. He started the sixth with a hit batsman and a walk, and Eduardo Zapata replaced him. Zapata let Mateo’s two runners score and four of his own.
The offense managed just four hits and three walks. De Paula had two hits. Cristian Jauregui had a single, a walk and a steal.
DSL PIRATES GOLD (14-7)
Game Time: 11 am ET
DSL Pirates Gold Starter: Yojeiry Osoria
–Line: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Final Score: Pirates Gold 2, Cubs Red 1
Player of the Game: Eduardo Oviedo 2-for-3, HR (3)
Recap:
Yojeiry Osoria had an outstanding start as the Pirates Gold won, 2-1. He went four, allowing just three hits, a walk and an unearned run. He fanned seven.
Trailing 1-0, the Pirates tied the seven-inning game in the top of the sixth on Eduardo Oviedo‘s third home run of the season. In the seventh, Roinny Aguiar singled and scored on a double by Daje Morales.
Jose Regalado got the win with two scoreless innings in relief. Greiber Mendez pitched the seventh for the save. Oviedo was the only player with two hits.
Prospect Watch Player Archives
7/5: Matt Gorski, Liover Peguero, Wilber Dotel
7/4: Esmerlyn Valdez, Joshua Loeschorn, Andres Silvera
7/3: Jared Jones, Derek Diamond, Josiah Sightler
7/2: Endy Rodriguez, Ryan Harbin, Jonathan Rivero
6/30: Owen Kellington, Alika Williams, Jackson Grounds
6/28: Lonnie White Jr., Kelvin Diaz, Yojeiry Osoria
6/25: Quinn Priester, Canaan Smith-Njigba, Jhonson Pena
The Prospect Watch runs every day at noon, featuring three players from the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system.
