Patrick Reilly has been one of the breakout prospects in the lower levels of the Pittsburgh Pirates system this year. Drafted in the fifth round last year out of Vanderbilt, Reilly has been impressive this year in High-A Greensboro, with a 3.80 ERA in 66.1 innings. His 82 strikeouts are the most among any Pirates minor leaguer this year.
On Saturday night, Reilly threw six innings with one run allowed, leading Greensboro to a 14-1 victory. The offense scored 11 of those runs in the eighth inning, so credit goes to Reilly for keeping the Grasshoppers in the game prior to the offensive breakout. Reilly allowed three hits, three walks, and struck out three.
Reilly made five starts in June, with a 2.37 ERA and a 22:7 K/BB in 19 innings. His walk rate was reduced this month, after walking 18 in 24.2 innings during the month of May. Reilly throws mid-90s, with a cutter/slider combo that gets swing and miss. He’s dealt with control issues in his college and early pro career, but is showing promise in that area.
I wrote on Saturday about one pitcher and one hitter from every team who deserve a second-half promotion. Reilly wasn’t my pitcher pick in Greensboro, but it was close. This start pushes him closer to finishing the year in Altoona.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS won 13-4
- DH Malcom Nunez: 3-for-5, HR, 4 RBI
- 2B-RF Ji-Hwan Bae: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI
- CF-RF-1B Matt Gorski: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI, SB
- 1B Seth Beer: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI
- RHP Domingo German: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Indianapolis scored 11 runs between the third and fourth innings, with six in the third and five in the fourth. Malcom Nunez hit his eighth homer of the year, a grand slam in the fourth inning. Matt Gorski hit his 14th double of the year, which gave Indianapolis a 5-4 lead in the third. Domingo German allowed four runs in the first inning, before throwing four more shutout frames. He allowed just three hits in his final four innings. German allowed a two-out single and a double in the fifth, before getting out of the frame with a pop out.
STATCAST HEROES
The home run from Nunez traveled 392 feet at 108.1 MPH. German had six whiffs on 12 swings against the curveball, which was his most-used pitch, tied with the fastball at 28 pitches each. His fastball averaged 90.4 MPH today.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 3-0
- RHP Po-Yu Chen: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
- LHP Tyler Samaniego: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0R, 0 BB, 6 K
- DH Yoyner Fajardo: 1-for-4
- CF Jase Bowen: 1-for-2, BB
- RF Charles McAdoo: 0-for-1, 3 BB
Altoona only had three hits in their shutout loss. Charles McAdoo reached base safely three times, all on walks. Po-Yu Chen made six starts during the month of June. He had a 2.95 ERA in 36.2 innings, with a 29:11 K/BB. Tyler Samaniego returned from injury this month and put up a 2.19 ERA in 12.1 innings across eight appearances. He struck out 14 and walked four.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO won 16-1, led by Patrick Reilly’s six innings.
- C Shawn Ross: 2-for-6, HR, 2 RBI
- 1B Nick Cimillo: 3-for-5, HR, 2B, BB
- SS Jack Brannigan: 1-for-6, HR, 4 RBI
- DH Termarr Johnson: 4-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI
- 2B Mitch Jebb: 3-for-4, BB, SB
Shawn Ross got things going with a two run homer in the first inning. It was his 16th homer of the year. Greensboro broke things open in the eighth inning, scoring 11 runs and turning a 4-1 lead into a blowout. The eighth inning was highlighted by Jack Brannigan hitting a grand slam, his ninth homer of the year. Nick Cimillo hit a solo homer in the tenth inning for his 14th of the season. Termarr Johnson hit his 11th double of the year.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON lost 4-2
- RHP Mike Burrows: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
- 2B Keiner Delgado: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- C Omar Alfonzo: 1-for-3, BB
- SS Javier Rivas: 1-for-3
- RHP Garrett McMillan: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Mike Burrows made his latest rehab start, giving up three runs, with two homers to the same batter. Leadoff batter Jordan Viars homered in the first inning, then again hit a solo homer in the third with one out. Bradenton’s offense came from a two-run homer by Keiner Delgado in the sixth inning, his sixth of the year. Garrett McMillan and Magdiel Cotto combined for 5.2 shutout innings out of the bullpen to complete the game.
STATCAST HEROES
Axiel Plaz had the two hardest exit velocities of the game for Bradenton, but neither went for hits. He had lineouts of 105.7 and 104.6 MPH. Burrows picked up nine whiffs on 18 fastballs, with his fastball averaging 95.1 MPH and touching 96.5. He also had four whiffs on nine swings against the slider, and was 2-for-2 on the changeup. Garrett McMillan had six whiffs on 15 swings against his fastball, with three each on the changeup and slider.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
FCL PIRATES won 1-0
- RHP Brennan Malone: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
- RHP Jonawel Valdez: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
- SS Yordany De Los Santos: 1-for-2, BB
- LHP Victor Cabreja: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
- LF Ewry Espinal: 0-for-3, 1 R
Brennan Malone opened the game with a scoreless inning. He was followed by recently promoted Jonawel Valdez, who pitched four shutout innings in his FCL debut. Valdez pitched in the DSL for his first three starts this year, with a 3.00 ERA and a 20:3 K/BB in 12 innings. Yordany De Los Santos had the only hit for the offense. The lone run came when Ewry Espinal scored on a wild pitch.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
DSL PIRATES BLACK lost 7-6
- 1B Jesus Lizardo: 2-for-3, BB
- 2B Michell Ojeda: 1-for-4, 2B, BB
- LF Anthony Sosa: 1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI
All three of the above hitters were part of this year’s international signing class. This was the fourth double of the year for Michell Ojeda, who hit leadoff. Jesus Lizardo and Anthony Sosa both reached base three times.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
DSL PIRATES GOLD were OFF
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 1:05 PM – TBD
- Double-A: Altoona, 6:00 PM – RHP Drake Fellows (2-0, 2.38)
- High-A: Greensboro, 1:05 PM – TBD
- Single-A: Bradenton, 12:00 PM – RHP Carlos Jimenez (2-2, 4.80)
- The rookie leagues are off on Sunday.
