Bubba Chandler had his best start in a month on Tuesday for the Altoona Curve. The top prospect in the Pirates’ minor league system pitched five innings, allowing one unearned run on five hits, with no walks and five strikeouts.
The lack of walks was the most significant thing about this start. This was the first start of the season where Chandler didn’t issue a walk. He walked one in four innings his last time out, but that followed eight walks in 4.1 innings across his previous two starts.
It could be argued that this was the best start of the season for the 2021 third round pick. His four no-hit innings on April 13th, with two walks and six strikeouts, would be the biggest challenger. This is hopefully an indication that Chandler is settling in at the Double-A level, after a brief hiccup in the month of May.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 15-4
- C Jason Delay: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
- 2B Mike Jarvis: 2-for-3, 3B, RBI
- 1B Jake Lamb: 1-for-4
- RF Matt Fraizer: 1-for-4
- SS Andres Alvarez: 1-for-4
The Pirates made a lot of roster moves involving the Triple-A team, with the biggest impacts being the callups of Jack Suwinski and Henry Davis. Suwinski homered and Davis doubled in the 1-0 win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Triple-A team was held to four runs on seven hits, with Jason Delay and Mike Jarvis getting the only extra base hits.
STATCAST HEROES
Matt Gorski went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, but had a 396 foot flyout that traveled 102.7 MPH. Isaac Mattson allowed four runs in three innings of relief. He had six whiffs on 16 swings against his fastball, and his curveball went 3-for-6.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 1-0, despite the start from Bubba Chandler
- C Carter Bins: 2-for-3, 2B, BB
- CF Jase Bowen: 1-for-4
- 3B Joe Perez: 1-for-4
- RF Sammy Siani: 1-for-4
- RHP J.C. Flowers: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
The only extra base hit of the game came from Carter Bins, whose power has made him one of the best hitters at the level over the last month. J.C. Flowers and Tyler Samaniego pitched the final three innings of scoreless relief, with Samaniego returning from the injured list.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 5-4
- RHP Derek Diamond: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
- LHP Luis Peralta: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- 1B Nick Cimillo: 2-for-5, HR
- SS Jack Brannigan: 2-for-4, 2B, BB
- CF Lonnie White Jr.: 2-for-4, 2B, BB
Nick Cimillo hit his eighth home run of the season for Greensboro. The 24-year-old power hitter had six homers during the month of May, with five of those coming since May 19th. On the season, he is batting .333/.418/.643 in 99 plate appearances. Cimillo struggled with a .550 OPS last year in his first brief run through the High-A level, after having success in 163 plate appearances in Single-A. He could reach Double-A by the end of the season if he continues hitting like he did during the month of May.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON won 6-4
- LF Braylon Bishop: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- 1B Axiel Plaz: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- RF Esmerlyn Valdez: 3-for-3, 2B, 3B
- CF Shalin Polanco: 1-for-4, HR
- 3B Javier Rivas: 1-for-3, RBI
Braylon Bishop hit his third homer of the year for Bradenton, with all three coming since May 21st. Axiel Plaz hit an inside the park home run for his third of the year. Shalin Polanco hit his sixth homer of the season. Esmerlyn Valdez had a big day at the plate, with three hits, including a double and a triple.
STATCAST HEROES
The double from Valdez was the hardest hit ball of the game, at 107.9 MPH. His triple was 102.6 MPH. The home run from Bishop traveled 344 feet at 105.5 MPH. Plaz hit his 422 feet, and still remained inside the park. Landon Tomkins pitched a scoreless inning of relief, striking out the side. He had three whiffs on three swings against his sinker, two whiffs on four swings against his fastball, and one whiff on two swings against his slider.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
FCL PIRATES lost 12-4
- C Richard Ramirez: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI
- SS Yerry De Los Santos: 1-for-4, SB
- DH Tony Blanco Jr.: 1-for-3, BB
- LF Juan Machado: 0-for-1, 3 BB, SB
- CF Jhonson Pena: 1-for-3, 2B
Richard Ramirez hit his second homer of the season. The 18-year-old catcher/first baseman is now batting .333/.449/.509 in 69 plate appearances. Yerry De Los Santos stole his 14th base of the year, while Juan Machado added his seventh.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
DSL PIRATES GOLD won 4-0
- LHP Keuri Almonte: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K
- RHP Adrian Aray: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
- SS Adbiel Feliz: 1-for-4
- OF Cristian Jauregui: 1-for-4
- C Samuel Escudero: 2-for-3, BB
The pitching combined for two hits in the shutout effort. Adbiel Feliz, the second biggest international signing this year, picked up his first hit. Cristian Jauregui was a notable signing out of Cuba in last year’s international class, and is returning to the DSL this year.
The DSL Pirates Black were postponed due to rain.
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 1:35 PM – RHP Daulton Jefferies (0-1, 7.20)
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:35 PM – LHP Anthony Solometo (0-3, 6.23)
- High-A: Greensboro, 6:30 PM – LHP Hunter Barco (2-1, 2.55)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – RHP Antwone Kelly (1-3, 4.86)
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 11:00 AM – TBD
