Your daily Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Watch article for recaps of all of today’s games. Be sure to pick up your copy of the latest Prospect Guide in our store, available as an ebook or a limited edition paperback.
INDIANAPOLIS
Starting Pitcher: James Marvel 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 SO
Notable Performances:
Tucupita Marcano 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, SB
Jared Oliva 2-for-4, RBI
John Nogowski 3-for-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, BB, SB
Game Recap: James Marvel has been a workhorse like usual this season, but the results haven’t been there this year. However, he had a big game on Friday night, going six innings, with one run on four hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. He has a 5.24 ERA in 111.1 innings. Indianapolis won this game 12-3, with two of those opposing runs coming in the ninth, so it was never close.
Indianapolis scored two runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Hunter Owen and an RBI double by John Nogowski. They added two more runs in the second on a double by Tucupita Marcano and a single by Jared Oliva. In the third inning, Chris Sharpe’s 25th double brought in two runs and made it 6-1. Nogowski added a run in the fourth on a single. Phillip Evans made it 8-1 in the sixth with a single that scored Oliva. Owen picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the eighth, then Nogowski capped off the scoring with a three-run homer. Despite the success at the plate, Indianapolis struck out 15 times in this game.
ALTOONA
Starting Pitcher: Travis MacGregor 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO
Notable Performances:
Oneil Cruz 0-for-5
Ji-Hwan Bae 2-for-5
Canaan Smith-Njigba 0-for-2
Mason Martin 0-for-4, BB
Cal Mitchell 3-for-4, 2 RBI, BB
Jack Suwinski 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Game Recap: Travis MacGregor got the start on Friday night and he allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, three walks and two strikeouts. He now has a 6.62 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 84.1 innings over 20 starts and one relief outing. Brad Case took over in the sixth and tried to finish out the game, but Erie broke out the bats in the ninth inning and put up seven runs, with Will Gardner allowing the final three runs, along with two inherited runners. Altoona lost 12-5.
Altoona had 12 hits in this game and all of them were singles. There were a couple of big days though, with Cal Mitchell collecting three hits and a walk, while driving in two runs. Jack Suwinski had two hits, two walks and two RBIs. Ji-hwan Bae had two hits and scored two runs. Connor Kaiser had three hits and a run scored. Canaan Smith-Njigba returned from a leg injury and had a rough shortened day (limited on purpose), going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and an error.
GREENSBORO
Starting Pitcher: Valentin Linarez 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
Notable Performances:
Liover Peguero 1-for-3, BB, SB
Nick Gonzales 1-for-4
Jared Triolo 0-for-4
Lolo Sanchez 0-for-4
Matt Gorski 0-for-2, HBP
Game Recap: Valentin Linarez got promoted from the FCL (see notes below) on short notice for this start and did an outstanding job considering the circumstances. He went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk, with four strikeouts. He threw 79 pitches, with 49 going for strikes. Jack Carey, who was also up from the FCL, took over in the sixth and allowed three runs in 1.1 innings. Colin Selby finished off with 1.2 scoreless, but Greensboro forgot to bring their bats in the 6-0 loss.
Greensboro had four pitchers go on the injured list today, including JC Flowers (today’s scheduled starter), Carmen Mlodzinski and Tahnaj Thomas, plus reliever Garrett Leonard. You can speculate the reason that four pitchers are all “injured” at the same time, but I have no knowledge of the reasoning. Valentin Linarez and Jack Carey both joined the Grasshoppers from the FCL and Steven Jennings was demoted from Altoona to help with the workload. Liover Peguero had a nice little game compared to the rest, with a single, walk and his 24th stolen base. The rest of the lineup went 2-for-26 with two singles and a walk.
BRADENTON
Starting Pitcher: Jared Jones 1.2 IP, 2 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO
Notable Performances:
Eddy Yean 1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO
Endy Rodriguez 0-for-4, BB
Dariel Lopez 2-for-5
Jack Herman 1-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Hudson Head 0-for-4, BB
Jase Bowen 2-for-5, 2 2B, RBI
Game Recap: Friday night’s game will not be a memorable one for Jared Jones. He lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on two hits, three walks, two hit batters and no strikeouts. He threw 54 pitches in his abbreviated outing, with 26 going for strikes. Sergio Umana followed and he didn’t have any luck either trying to get out Clearwater hitters. He allowed five runs (three earned) in one inning of work. Eddy Yean took over in the third inning and he had no success either. He went one inning, allowing four runs, though just two were earned. Oliver Mateo gave up one run in his 1.1 innings. He has a 4.91 ERA in 36.2 innings, but it comes with 80 strikeouts. Catcher Kyle Wilkie ended up throwing the final two innings and he allowed three runs in the 18-4 loss. Jack Herman gave Bradenton a first inning lead with a three-run homer, then it was all downhill after that point. Dariel Lopez had two hits and scored a run. Jase Bowen collected two doubles and an RBI. He has 12 doubles on the season.
FCL PIRATES BLACK
Boxscore
Starting Pitcher:
Notable Performances:
Game Recap: Canceled. Pirates vs Pirates scheduled games for today and tomorrow have been canceled.
FCL PIRATES GOLD
Boxscore
Starting Pitcher:
Notable Performances:
Game Recap: See above
DSL PIRATES BLACK
Starting Pitcher: Kevison Hernandez 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 SO
Notable Performances:
Jesus Castillo 1-for-4, RBI
Shalin Polanco 2-for-4, SB
Ewry Espinal 1-for-4, RBI
Omar Alfonzo 0-for-3, HBP
Ruben Vizcaya 3-for-4, 2B, RBI
Osvaldo Gavilan 2-for-3, RBI, SB
Game Recap: Kevison Hernandez got the start today and he tossed three shutout innings on two hits, two walks and four strikeouts. He now has a 2.16 ERA in 16.2 innings. He was followed by Diego Chiquillo, who faced one over the minimum in three scoreless innings. Jonathan Salazar took over in the seven and had a 7-0 lead, but he ended up allowing four runs, while recording just one out. Reyson Santos came out for the final two outs and the victory for the Pirates. Ruben Vizcaya had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run. His fifth double of the season was the lone extra-base hit for the Pirates. This was just the third multi-hit game in 34 contests for Shalin Polanco, who also added his sixth stolen base. His second hit in this game was on a bunt. Osvaldo Gavilan had two hits, an RBI and a stolen base. Everyone in the Pirates lineup reached base safely at least once.
DSL PIRATES GOLD
Starting Pitcher: Jose Garces 3.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Notable Performances:
Jeral Toledo 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Jauri Custodio 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2 RBI
Eddy Rodriguez 0-for-2, BB
Dioris Valdez 1-for-3, RBI
Delfin Ramirez 2-for-2, HBP, SB
Game Recap: Jose Garces made the start and lasted 3.2 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits, one walk and five strikeouts. He now has a 5.16 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. Luis Brito recorded the final out of the fourth while stranding an inherited runner. Keneth Quintanilla tossed a scoreless fifth and Juan Fuentes took over in the sixth and finished off the 4-3 win with two scoreless innings. The Pirates scored first in this game on an RBI single by Dioris Valdez in the first. After the score was tied in the second, Pedro Figuereo made it 2-1 with a single. Then Jauri Custodio knocked in a run with an RBI double. The Pirates capped the scoring in the fourth when Custodio broke a 3-3 tie with another RBI double. Delfin Ramirez reached base three times and scored two runs. He also stole his second base.
