Wednesday’s action in the Pittsburgh Pirates system saw the Bradenton Marauders fall to 2.5 back in their race for the playoffs, with an elimination number of three. Seven players homered in today’s games, including Termarr Johnson, whose home run actually came yesterday.
PLAYER OF THE DAY
TERMARR JOHNSON, 2B, GREENSBORO
Johnson homered in the fifth inning of yesterday’s suspended game, giving Greensboro their lone run in a 1-1 tie. Without that, Greensboro would have lost. They did lose the game in the end, but Johnson led a few comebacks. After play resumed today, with the Grasshoppers down 3-1 in the seventh, Johnson doubled in a run. He later scored to tie the game on a Brenden Dixon RBI single. Johnson reached on a single in the ninth with Greensboro down one, and later scored the tying run as Luke Brown reached on a fielder’s choice. Greensboro lost the game 5-4. Johnson went 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts in the second game, which went ten innings and saw Greensboro lose again.
WEDNESDAY’S BEST
NICK GONZALES, SS, INDIANAPOLIS
Gonzales went 1-for-4 with a home run, going back-to-back with Chris Owings in the third inning. He walked once and struck out three times, on a night when Indianapolis struck out 17 times total as a team.
ROANSY CONTRERAS, RHP, INDIANAPOLIS
Contreras pitched four innings, allowing two runs. Both runs came in the first inning on a two run homer. Contreras struck out the next two batters to close out the frame. In his next three innings of work, he allowed two more hits, didn’t walk anyone, and struck out two more.
MATT FRAIZER, CF, ALTOONA
Fraizer hit his eighth homer of the year in the first inning, a three run shot with one out to give Altoona an early lead. He picked up two hits on the day. Fraizer currently has a 12 game hitting streak, dating back to August 20th.
ANTHONY SOLOMETO, LHP, ALTOONA
Solometo pitched 4.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits. He didn’t walk anyone, and struck out three. The one run allowed was in the second inning, after a leadoff single followed by a triple. Solometo got a strikeout and two groundouts to strand the runner at third.
THOMAS HARRINGTON, RHP, GREENSBORO
Harrington’s outing came yesterday, and he left the game prior to Greensboro getting suspended with a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning. He might have returned for the sixth inning, had the game not been suspended by rain. Harrington pitched five innings yesterday, allowing one run on three hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts.
MITCH JEBB, 2B, BRADENTON
Jebb hit his first home run in pro ball on Wednesday, going 2-for-4 on the day. This was his third multi-hit game in his last four games.
RODOLFO NOLASCO, LF, BRADENTON
Nolasco homered for the second fay in a row, the third time this month, and the 19th time this season. He went 2-for-4, knocking in three runs. Over the last two games, he has eight RBIs.
LONNIE WHITE JR., CF, BRADENTON
White hit his 11th double of the year in a two hit day. In 20 at-bats this month, he has four doubles and two home runs. He’s been hitting consistently since joining the Marauders in early July.
Wednesday’s Home Runs
- Chris Owings, CF, Indianapolis (12)
- Nick Gonzales, SS, Indianapolis (10)
- Matt Fraizer, CF, Altoona (8)
- Joe Perez, RF, Altoona (7)
- Termarr Johnson, 2B, Greensboro (5)
- Rodolfo Nolasco, LF, Bradenton (19)
- Mitch Jebb, 2B, Bradenton (1)
Wednesday’s Minor League Results
INDIANAPOLIS (60-72) VS Toledo
Score: Toledo 7, Indianapolis 2
Indianapolis Starter: Roansy Contreras, RHP (3.15)
–Line: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Player of the Game: Chris Owings, CF (2-for-4, BB, HR [12], SB)
Attendance: 4,338
Notable Performers
- Nick Gonzales, SS (1-for-4, BB, HR [10])
- Domingo Leyba, 3B (1-for-2, 2 BB)
ALTOONA (59-66) VS Harrisburg
Score: Altoona 5, Harrisburg 4
Altoona Starter: Anthony Solometo, LHP (4.35)
–Line: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Matt Fraizer, CF (2-for-4, HR [8], 3 RBI)
Attendance: 3,187
Notable Performers
- Joe Perez, RF (1-for-3, BB, HR [7])
GREENSBORO (65-59) AT Bowling Green
Game One Score: Bowling Green 5, Greensboro 4
Greensboro Starter: Thomas Harrington, RHP (3.80)
–Line: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Termarr Johnson, 2B (3-for-4, 2B, HR [5], BB)
Attendance: 1,451
Notable Performers
- Hudson Head, CF (1-for-2, 2 BB)
Game Two Score: Bowling Green 5, Greensboro 4
Greensboro Starter: Joshua Loeschorn, RHP (4.44)
–Line: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Eddy Yean, RHP (2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K)
Attendance: 1,081
Notable Performers
- Luke Brown, RF (1-for-3, BB, SB)
- Termarr Johnson, 2B (0-for-2, 2 BB)
BRADENTON (73-53) AT Fort Myers
Score: Fort Myers 6, Bradenton 5
Bradenton Starter: Wilber Dotel, RHP (3.09)
–Line: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Player of the Game: Mitch Jebb, 2B (2-for-4, HR [1], 2 RBI, 2 SB)
Attendance: 910
Notable Performers
- Rodolfo Nolasco, LF (2-for-4, HR [19], 3 RBI)
- Lonnie White Jr., CF (2-for-4, 2B)
- Drake Fellows, RHP (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K)
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.
It bugs me that Nick G hasn’t come back up to play 2nd and Peguero at short. I think Peguero is the shortsop of the future, not Cruz. If he can’t get a shot now, he won’t get another shot unless he becomes the guy who backs up all three infield positions……. but I somehow think they like Triola for that role because he hit .275 in his limited role instead of .210. This Alika Williams fascination with the better than average defense and zero pop is weird. Maybe they just leave Nick in AAA till the season ends and whack Cappra- who knows.
I agree 100% with everything you wrote. I would love to see Cruz in CF also.
I would for the resign Cutch talk to go away also. 43 RBI’s from your #3 hitter DH in 112 games absolutely doesn’t cut it. I actually heard 1 of the idiots on The Fan radio station say this morning how he’s hit in the clutch this year. You don’t have 43 RBI’s after 112 games by being Clutch. You don’t sign a guy to sell actually couple of extra tickets, winning will sell a ton more.
zero RBIs in July . . . just sayin’
1) there is zero evidence Cruz can play centerfield 2) there is zero evidence Peguero can handle shortstop. 3) Cutch did his job and he should be back. who gives a crap about RBI, he had one of the best OPS on the team, stop being myopic. Who cares how much he actually plays, he is about the only player who WANTS to BE here, so that means something on a team which is perennially terrible, and that can be infectuous to the young guys as well. We need that.
I think there is evidence that Peguero can play short. Plenty of it. And Bae isn’t a center Fielder either. Nor is Davis a right Fielder.
Many of our best young positional players are infielders. 1) Cruz, 2) Peguero, 3) Nick Gonzales, 4) Termarr Johnson, 5) Jared Triolo, and 6 thru) Alika Williams and more. I would think someone will have to move. I also wish Triolo would get some reps in the outfield while in Indy. He could be that utility guy on the MLB roster that could play anywhere.
some of these young guys actually need to have SUCCESS at the MLB level to be able to move them for something of value that we need. So far, that’d be noone.
I wasn’t saying I want to trade these guys. I was saying eventually I would think someone is going to have to move positions.
Just looking at the numbers, trades will be made. So fare the Pirates don’t have any game changers. Davis, Gonzo, Skenes, Johnson will be in the big soon and those players will make the others much better.
Are you saying Cruz, Peguero and Triolo have all failed at the MLB level?
It’s time for more Ro Days. I’ve seen enough of the Bailey Falter piggybacks. Roansy has pitched well in the minors for over a month how. Let him finish the season back in Pittsburgh.
He is there for a reason, it isn’t punishment. whatever gets him ready for 2024 is what we need to be doing