Braxton Ashcraft had his best start of the year on Tuesday afternoon, tossing seven shutout innings for Altoona. The right-hander allowed four hits, one walk, and struck out ten.
Ashcraft had struggled at the start of this season, getting hit hard in his first five starts. He’s returning from Tommy John in 2022, and this is his first full season of work, so he’s expected to have some adjustment issues. He appears to be settling in, if his last two starts are any indication. Ashcraft threw five shutout in his last outing, before Tuesday’s seven shutout frames.
The start from Ashcraft led to two different career highs. His ten strikeouts are a career best, exceeding his seven strikeouts on May 20, 2021, prior to the Tommy John. He also struck out seven in 3.1 innings last June at the High-A level. His seven innings were a career high, after throwing six innings three other times in his career. The most recent six inning outing was on May 2nd this year.
Ashcraft has an upper-90s fastball and a plus slider that would make him a relief option for the Pirates by the end of this year. He has more upside as a starter, and seems to be settling back into that role.
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
INDIANAPOLIS was postponed.
ALTOONA lost 2-1 after seven shutout from Braxton Ashcraft.
- RHP Braxton Ashcraft: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K
- RF Sammy Siani: 1-for-3
- LF Tres Gonzales: 1-for-3
- 3B Kervin Pichardo: 1-for-3, HR, RBI
GREENSBORO won 4-2.
- RHP Wilber Dotel: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
- LHP Dominic Perachi: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K
- RF P.J. Hilson: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- LF Hudson Head: 1-for-3, HR, BB
- DH Termarr Johnson: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB
BRADENTON won 4-3, extending their winning streak to 11 games.
- RHP Domingo German: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
- RF Sergio Campana: 3-for-4, 2 SB
- LF Solomon Maguire: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
- C Omar Alfonzo: 1-for-4, RBI
- SS Keiner Delgado: 1-for-4
FCL PIRATES lost 7-2.
- RHP Carlos Castillo: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
- 3B Jhonny Severino: 2-for-2, 2 2B, 2 BB
- DH Tony Blanco Jr.: 2-for-3, 2B
- SS Yerry De Los Santos: 2-for-3, SB
- LF Miguel Sosa: 1-for-3, RBI
STATCAST HEROES
The single from Omar Alfonzo traveled 149 feet at 108.2 MPH. He also had a groundout at 106 MPH and a flyout at 97. STATS
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 1:35 PM – TBD
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:35 PM – RHP Po-Yu Chen (0-2, 5.19)
- High-A: Greensboro, 11:00 AM – TBD
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – TBD
- Rookie: FCL Pirates OFF
