I got to take in the Friday night game of the Altoona Curve and Richmond Flying Squirrels, directly behind home plate. I was able to get a really close look at some things.
Offensively it was a letdown, as the Curve didn’t muster a hit until the fifth inning. They collected three hits all night.
Checking out the @AltoonaCurve tonight. Seats seem pretty good pic.twitter.com/fjGohZzgka
— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) May 5, 2023
On the mound was Aaron Shortridge, who is pitching again for the Altoona Curve after spending the majority of last season with them.
He’s had some strong moments this season, but slow starts have really done him in for the majority of the season. He’s allowed six earned runs in the first and second innings (6.75 ERA) of games, and then only two though the third, fourth, and fifth frames (1.74 ERA).
Shortridge is not a hard thrower. When he was working, he commanded both sides of the strike zone well with his fastball, and came up with quite a few swing and misses with his slider and curveball.
— There wasn’t much to talk about when it comes to the offense, as Mason Martin picked up the only extra-base hit on the night – a double. What was impressive about it was he slapped it the other way against a lefty and hustled into second for to secure the extra bag.
The strikeouts are starting to creep back up there (27.1%) but he’s also walking an insane amount (25%). He showed some of that better approach Friday night, taking that pitch the other way, and working deep into counts on a couple of at-bats.
— Matt Gorski is a giant human, and boy can he fly. He picked up the team’s first hit in the fifth, driving a ball hard past the shortstop for a single. He then galloped his way to third on Martin’s double, before scoring on a wild pitch.
Prospect Notes
— I mentioned in yesterday’s daily article that we could have a good idea on who the starter will be in place of Vince Velasquez by the end of the weekend, and while it’s not confirmed, we have a pretty good idea.
Luis Ortiz was pushed up a day from his regular turn in the rotation, and then only threw three innings – 42 pitches. It’ll give him three days rest for Tuesday. The Pirates did clear a 40-man spot, which they could use to add Caleb Smith if they wanted to go that way.
–Bradenton improved to 5-0 when Thomas Harrington starts, and the righty is 4-0 on his own this year. Probably not his most ideal pitching line (four earned runs over six innings), but he’s getting the job done.
Daily Video Rundown
Strong finish to the outing for @Shortridge35 as he goes 5.2 IP with only 3 runs allowed. @CameronJunker gets the final out of the 6th to hold it at a 3-1 game.
LISTEN: https://t.co/aioWvW3Svf
WATCH: https://t.co/6GP894jPtF pic.twitter.com/ZfBaa5VMrg— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) May 6, 2023
Shortridge struck out three in 5.2 innings, this one on the last batter he faced on the night.
Fourth straight contest where we've taken an early lead in Toledo.
Newcomer to the Pirates organization Vinny Capra drives in a pair of runs for the Indianapolis Indians in the second inning.
Pirates Prospects Daily
By John Dreker
**Blue Jays Coast to Easy Win, Stretching Pirates’ Skid to Five
**The Pirates placed Vince Velasquez on the Injured List yesterday. Chase De Jong returned after a rehab stint with Indianapolis.
**Anthony Murphy looked at how the Pirates could replace Velasquez.
**New mock draft from MLB Pipeline. You can probably figure out who they have for the Pirates
**Catchers are on the move around the minors, plus Nick Gonzales returns to action.
Song of the Day
