Friday night’s action saw two of the best pitching prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system on the mound. Neither one disappointed. Jared Jones pitched seven shutout innings in his best start for Indianapolis, while Bubba Chandler went five shutout in his Double-A debut. Read more about the daily results below.
QUICK PIRATES RECAP
PIRATES (65-76) AT Braves
Score: Braves 8, Pirates 2
Pittsburgh Starter: Mitch Keller, RHP (4.23)
–Line: 5.0 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Player of the Game: Jack Suwinski, LF (1-for-4, HR [24], 2 RBI)
Attendance: 40,452
Notable Performers
- Jose Hernandez, LHP (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K)
- Hunter Stratton, RHP (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K)
One Sentence Recap: The Pirates dropped the first game of their weekend series against the Braves, after the Braves scored seven runs between the third and fourth innings.
AROUND THE SYSTEM
Replacing the old Prospect Watch is a more simple look at the minor league system each day.
FRIDAY’S HOME RUNS
- Nick Gonzales, 2B, Indianapolis (11)
- Connor Scott, DH, Altoona (3)
- Shawn Ross, C, Greensboro x2 (14)
- Jack Brannigan, SS, Greensboro (12)
- Josiah Sightler, 1B, Greensboro (7)
JARED JONES GOES SEVEN SHUTOUT
Indianapolis won 2-0 last night, after getting one of the better starts of the year from right-handed pitcher Jared Jones. The 2020 second rounder pitched seven shutout innings, allowing four hits, one walk, and striking out four. Jones has been inconsistent in his move to Triple-A in the second half, but has displayed the ability to shut down an opposing lineup. Two starts ago, he allowed one run in six innings, with ten strikeouts. Last night was arguably his best outing in Triple-A, and one of his best starts of the season. Nick Gonzales hit his 11th homer in the first inning to give an early lead.
BUBBA CHANDLER IMPRESSIVE IN DOUBLE-A DEBUT
The Pirates promoted Bubba Chandler to Double-A, after the right-hander shut down his old level for the better part of the second half. Chandler picked up where he left off, throwing five shutout innings with one hit, no walks, and eight strikeouts. The 2021 over-slot third round pick had a 1.85 ERA in 43.2 innings over his final eight starts in Greensboro. A few days shy of his 21st birthday, Chandler has set the stage to begin the 2024 season in Double-A, which could have Paul Skenes and Anthony Solometo in the same rotation at the start of next season. Connor Scott hit his third homer of the year last night, Nick Dombkowski pitched three shutout innings, and Tahnaj Thomas closed it out with a scoreless ninth.
MORE POWER FROM GREENSBORO
Jack Brannigan is one of the more intriguing players in Greensboro right now. The 2022 third rounder out of Notre Dame has shown the ability for plus defense around the infield, with a long-term ability at third base or shortstop. He also has power, hitting his 12th homer of the year for Greensboro last night, and his 19th overall this season. Brannigan has also added 24 stolen bases, batting .272/.389/.521 combined between two levels of A-ball. He wasn’t the only one with power in last night’s 11-2 Greensboro victory. Shawn Ross, a 23-year-old undrafted free agent catcher who has some of the best power on the team, homered twice, giving him 14 in High-A. Josiah Sightler, a 23-year-old first baseman taken in the 15th round last year, also hit his seventh homer of the year.
MARAUDERS MOVE CLOSER TO SEASON END
The Marauders have had an impressive overall season, at 74-54. They have the second best winning percentage in the Florida State League this year. However, due to the nature of the FSL playoffs, their season will end with one more loss this weekend, or one more Lakeland win. The Marauders were 35-30 in the first half, but nine games back of first place Clearwater, the best team in the league this year. They’re currently 39-24 in the second half, but 2.5 games back from Lakeland. Last night they lost 7-5, reducing their elimination number to one game.
DAILY VIDEO RUNDOWN
Jared Jones got some help last night from the center field defense of recently promoted Matt Gorski. After two doubles in his first game with Triple-A, Gorski showed off his defensive skills many times last night, including this diving catch.
Matt Gorski this afternoon: "I like to make plays for pitchers because then you become really good friends with them."
Matt Gorski tonight:
Nick Gonzales is looking much improved at the plate since going down, with better power results and reduced swing and miss. He homers here taking a 94 MPH fastball the opposite way.
Gonzo's good.
Here’s Bubba Chandler getting a few swings and misses against lefties. The first one was in the third inning, 96 MPH way on a 1-2 count.
9-up and 9-down for @Bubbachandler_ on 38 pitches, 27 strikes.
Seems good, no? pic.twitter.com/9hPuP0BnRH
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 8, 2023
The next was on a 96 MPH fastball inside, on a 1-2 count in the fifth.
.@Bubbachandler_ is rolling.
5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K on 69 pitches, 51 strikes. pic.twitter.com/KTPSp9wj87
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 8, 2023
Connor Scott destroyed this pitch, pulling a 79 MPH hanger for a long home run that went 105 MPH off the bat, going 407 feet.
Bah god, that's @connorscott24's music! pic.twitter.com/G5IJNaocPS
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) September 8, 2023
SONG OF THE DAY
