Thomas Harrington struck out ten on Saturday night for Altoona, giving him his second double-digit strikeout game this month.
Harrington threw six innings, allowing one run on three hits, with no walks and the ten strikeouts. This follows his last start prior to the break, where he struck out 11 batters, allowing one run in seven innings. In three starts this month, Harrington has an 0.90 ERA in 20 innings, with a 27:4 K/BB.
The Pirates have no shortage of talented pitchers who could eventually reach the big leagues. Harrington is one of the best, pitching in his second pro season after being drafted 36th overall in 2022. He’s got a 2.44 ERA in 62.2 innings, with a 69:8 K/BB in Altoona this year.
At this rate, Harrington is looking like a candidate to move up to Triple-A by the end of the year. Harrington, Bubba Chandler, and Braxton Ashcraft will provide for an exciting rookie pitcher trio for the Pirates in 2025.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 7-4
- C Henry Davis: 2-for-4, RBI
- RF Edward Olivares: 2-for-4, 2 SB
- LF Matt Fraizer: 2-for-3, SB
- RHP Jake Woodford: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
- DH Seth Beer: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
With two hits, Henry Davis now has a .300/.364/.567 line in 30 at-bats this month. He’s posting an alarming strikeout rate, with 12 strikeouts and only two walks. This was his first game without a strikeout since his return to Triple-A on July 4th. Hopefully this is the start of a better run for Davis.
STATCAST HEROES
The home run from Seth Beer had an exit velocity of 106.8 MPH. The hardest hit came from Matt Fraizer, who hit a 107.8 MPH single.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 2-1, despite the start from Thomas Harrington.
- CF Sammy Siani: 2-for-3, HR, BB, RBI, 2 SB
- LF Dustin Peterson: 1-for-4
- SS Tsung-Che Cheng: 0-for-3, BB, SB
- RHP Justin Meis: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- RHP Eddy Yean: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Sammy Siani had a big day at the plate, providing all of the offense for Altoona. Siani hit his fourth homer of the year, while stealing two bases, giving him nine on the year. Tsung-Che Cheng added his 14th stolen base.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO lost 7-3
- 2B Termarr Johnson: 1-for-3, 2 BB, RBI
- SS Mitch Jebb: 1-for-5, 3B, RBI
- DH Billy McKinney: 2-for-5, 2B, SB
- LF Luke Brown: 2-for-4, 2B
- RHP Alessandro Ercolani: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Termarr Johnson extended his hitting streak to 14 games, while reaching base two more times via walk. Billy McKinney had two hits in his latest rehab start for Greensboro. Alessandro Ercolani came in to pitch the final four innings, allowing one run on a walk and a hit, with six strikeouts. Ercolani has an 0.90 ERA in 10 innings this year, with a 12:3 K/BB.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON lost 2-1 in game one, finishing a suspended game from Friday.
- RHP Carlson Reed: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
- RHP Hunter Stratton: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- CF Shalin Polanco: 1-for-4, HR
- RF-1B Esmerlyn Valdez: 1-for-4
- RHP Garrett McMillan: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Carlson Reed pitched four shutout innings prior to the game being suspended on Friday. Reed now has a 2.60 ERA in his first pro season, in which he’s been converted to the rotation. Hunter Stratton made a rehab appearance, striking out two in a perfect inning. Shalin Polanco hit a solo homer in the ninth, tying the score, before Bradenton lost in the 10th.
STATCAST HEROES
Reed had ten whiffs, led by five on ten swings against his slider. He had two more each on his sinker and changeup. The hardest hit ball was a groundout by Omar Alfonzo at 112.5 MPH.
BRADENTON lost 7-0
- RHP Hung-Leng Chang: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
- LF Miguel Sosa: 2-for-3
- RF Enmanuel Terrero: 1-for-3
- CF Shalin Polanco: 1-for-3
- C Axiel Plaz: 1-for-3, 2B
Polanco picked up a hit in both games played on Saturday. Hung-Leng Chang allowed two runs in four innings, before the bullpen and defense allowed five more runs, three earned, in the final two innings.
STATCAST HEROES
The hardest hit ball was a 111.1 MPH double by Axiel Plaz.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
FCL PIRATES won 6-5
- LHP Anthony Solometo: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
- SS Jhonny Severino: 1-for-3, BB
- 3B Carlos Caro: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI
- RF Luke Scherrer: 2-for-2, 2B, BB
- CF Estuar Suero: 1-for-3, BB
Anthony Solometo returned to the mound for the first time since June 14th, after being on the Altoona development list. Solometo had a 6.27 ERA in 33 innings with Altoona this year, along with 21 walks. This was a step back from last year, when he had a 4.35 ERA in 51.2 innings, with 14 walks. Hopefully he can get back on track with his work on the development list and at the lower levels.
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 6:05 PM – RHP Luis Cessa (3-4, 4.61)
- Double-A: Altoona, 5:05 PM – TBD
- High-A: Greensboro, 2:00 PM – TBD
- Single-A: Bradenton, 12:00 PM – LHP Connor Oliver (0-5 5.84)
- The rookie leagues are off.
