This weekend’s action in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system was capped off by two home runs from Tsung-Che Cheng. Check out the recap of the best performers below, along with the game recaps for Sunday.
Player of the Day
TSUNG-CHE CHENG, 2B, ALTOONA
Cheng homered twice for Altoona on Sunday. In the third inning, he hit a three run shot to put Altoona on the board. He added a solo homer in the ninth inning. Both home runs went to the pull side right field. One was on a high hanging breaking pitch, with the second coming on a 2-2 fastball down the middle.
The third home run in Altoona for Tsung-Che Cheng puts us on the board! pic.twitter.com/kHABe30KHq
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 3, 2023
Two home runs today for Tsung-Che Cheng! pic.twitter.com/FuusXI1cb3
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 3, 2023
WEEKEND PERFORMERS
NICK GONZALES, SS, INDIANAPOLIS
Gonzales went 1-for-4 with a homer on Sunday, his third since being sent down to the minors at the start of last month. In one month at the level, he’s hitting .273/.369/.455. More impressive is his 23.3% strikeout rate and 10.7% walk rate. Those numbers are similar to his first three months at the level (.257/.370/.450), though he’s improved on his swing and miss issues.
BUBBA CHANDLER, RHP, GREENSBORO
Chandler pitched five innings on Saturday night, allowing a run on four hits, with two walks and four strikeouts. The right-hander shut down for ten days in July, and returned hoping to give people something to talk about with his game. In eight starts back, he has a 1.85 ERA in 43.2 innings.
HUDSON HEAD, RF, GREENSBORO
Head followed a three hit day on Friday with two hits and a double on Saturday. He went 0-for-3 with a walk on Sunday. Head is returning from an injury that kept him out of action for three months.
LUKE BROWN, CF, GREENSBORO
Brown went 1-for-7 at the plate with a triple and two walks this weekend. His biggest impact was on the field, with this home run stealing catch.
OH MY GOODNESS
LONNIE WHITE JR., CF, BRADENTON
White had a big weekend at the plate. On Saturday, he went 2-for-3 with his seventh homer of the year, his ninth double, and two walks. He went 1-for-6 with a double and a walk in a double-header on Sunday. White is batting .262/.403/.496 in 141 at-bats in his first extended playing time in pro ball.
MITCH JEBB, SS, BRADENTON
Jebb picked up three hits on Saturday, followed by two more on Sunday. The hits on Sunday were both doubles. The second round pick is 6-for-13 this month, after posting a .238/.337/.310 line in August.
OMAR ALFONZO, C, BRADENTON
Alfonzo picked up four hits, with two doubles and a triple, on Saturday night. He added a home run on Sunday, his fourth of the season. Alfonzo is now batting .260/.384/.405 with four homers in 131 at-bats.
Sunday’s Home Runs
- Chris Owings, CF, Indianapolis (11)
- Nick Gonzales, SS, Indianapolis (9)
- Tsung-Che Cheng, 2B, Altoona x2 (4)
- Eli Wilson, C, Altoona (2)
- Omar Alfonzo, C, Bradenton (4)
Sunday’s Minor League Results
INDIANAPOLIS (59-71) AT Buffalo
Score: Buffalo 8, Indianapolis 3
Indianapolis Starter: Cam Alldred, LHP (4.93)
–Line: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Nick Gonzales, SS (1-for-4, HR [9])
Attendance: 7,099Notable Performers
- Domingo Leyba, DH (3-for-4)
- Chris Owings, CF (1-for-4, HR [11], 2 RBI)
ALTOONA (58-65) AT Erie
Score: Erie 13, Altoona 5
Altoona Starter: Aaron Shortridge, RHP (5.19)
–Line: 2.2 IP, 12 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Player of the Game: Tsung-Che Cheng, 2B (2-for-3, 2 BB, 2 HR [4], 4 RBI)
Attendance: 2,051Notable Performers
- Noe Toribio, RHP (2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K)
- Tahnaj Thomas, RHP (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K)
- Eli Wilson, C (2-for-4, HR [2])
GREENSBORO (65-58) VS Hickory
Score: Hickory 9, Greensboro 0
Greensboro Starter: Derek Diamond, RHP (4.91)
–Line: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
Player of the Game: Brendan Dixon, 3B (2-for-3, BB)
Attendance: 7,020Notable Performers
- Termarr Johnson, 2B (1-for-4)
BRADENTON (72-52) VS Palm Beach
Game One Score: Bradenton 3, Palm Beach 1
Bradenton Starter: Dominic Perachi, LHP (4.67)
–Line: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Player of the Game: Omar Alfonzo, C (1-for-3, HR [4])
Attendance: 520Notable Performers
- Antwone Kelly, RHP (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
- Jesus Castillo, 2B (1-for-2, BB, SB [36])
Game Two Score: Bradenton 5, Palm Beach 4
Bradenton Starter: Drake Fellows, RHP (12.38)
–Line: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Player of the Game: Mitch Jebb, 2B (2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI, SB)
Attendance: 520Notable Performers
- Lonnie White Jr., CF (1-for-4, 2B)
