Henry Davis entered Sunday’s game with Indianapolis as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning. Carrying an eight game hitting streak into the game, it didn’t take long for him to keep that streak alive. Davis homered in the at-bat, as part of a nine run inning for Indianapolis.
The home run was a solo shot with two outs, giving the Indians a 2-1 lead. That wasn’t the only hit Davis had in the inning. The Pirates’ Triple-A squad batted around, with Davis coming up again with runners at first and second. A line drive single brought in another run, putting Indianapolis up 9-1.
Davis is 15-for-40 during his streak, with three home runs and three doubles. What has been more encouraging is that he’s cut down on his strikeout issues that were a problem immediately after he was sent down from the Majors. Davis has only struck out six times during this streak, including three times in the last seven games.
This is a good trend for Davis, especially with the strikeouts. He was sent down earlier this season, and hit .296/.436/.642 with a 24.8% strikeout rate in 101 plate appearances. He was hitting, getting on base, and hitting for power, but there was the swing and miss aspect. When he returned to the majors, he had a 57.9% strikeout rate across six games. He has a 9.1% strikeout rate during this nine game hitting streak.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS won 9-8, helped by the offense from Henry Davis.
- RHP Domingo German: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
- 3B Malcom Nunez: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- SS Liover Peguero: 2-for-4, 2B, BB, 2 RBI
- C Jason Delay: 2-for-5
- 2B Andres Alvarez: 1-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI
Malcom Nunez started the nine-run sixth inning with his tenth homer of the year. He also knocked in a run with a single later in the inning. Domingo German had one of his best starts of the season, allowing one run in 5.2 innings, with no walks allowed. This was the first time all season that he didn’t allow a walk. He has a 3.98 ERA in 20.1 innings during the month of July.
STATCAST HEROES
German had six whiffs on his curveball, and three on his changeup, throwing those two pitches a combined 49 times out of his 72 total pitches. His fastball velocity was down today, averaging 89.7 MPH, down from his season average of 92.3 MPH. The home run from Davis traveled 401 feet at 105.5 MPH. His single was a 102.8 MPH line drive that was deflected by the second baseman. The homer from Nunez went 101.4 MPH. He also had a forceout at 107 MPH.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 5-2
- LHP Hunter Barco: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
- RHP Eddy Yean: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
- SS Kervin Pichardo: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
- CF Tres Gonzalez: 1-for-4
- RHP Jack Carey: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Hunter Barco pitched a scoreless first inning in his second outing at the Double-A level. He allowed a leadoff single in the second, then called for a trainer and left the game. Barco has been one of the best development stories on the pitching side this year. Hopefully there is nothing serious. Kervin Pichardo hit his seventh homer of the year, a two run shot in the eighth to give Altoona their only runs. All five runs scored against the Curve came in the second inning off Emmanuel Chapman, who then pitched two scoreless. Eddy Yean has a 2.94 ERA this year, after three shutout innings.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO lost 7-0
- RHP Patrick Reilly: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
- 2B Mitch Jebb: 1-for-3, 2B, BB
- SS Termarr Johnson: 0-for-1, 3 BB, SB
- LF Luke Brown: 1-for-3, SB
- CF Hudson Head: 1-for-4
Patrick Reilly leads the Pirates’ minor league system in strikeouts with 108 in 88 innings after today’s game. The right-hander sits mid-90s with his fastball, pairing that with two sliders. Control has been his biggest issue, but he’s shown improvements, with zero walks today. He’s walked 17 batters in 46.2 innings over the last two months, after 18 walks in 24.2 innings during the month of May. Termarr Johnson walked three times and stole his 15th base. Mitch Jebb hit his seventh double of the year, and extended his hitting streak to eight games.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON won 7-5
- RHP Garrett McMillan: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
- RF Esmerlyn Valdez: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
- C Omar Alfonzo: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI
- 3B Garret Forrester: 2-for-3, 2B, BB
- CF Enmanuel Terrero: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
Bradenton won thanks to a power display from their young hitters. Esmerlyn Valdez hit two homers, giving him 14 on the season, and pushing him into the team lead for home runs. The first came as a solo shot in a three run sixth inning. Omar Alfonzo also homered in that inning, hitting a two run shot for his eighth of the year. Valdez hit a two run shut in the eighth as part of a four run inning. Enmanuel Terrero hit a solo shot for his fourth of the year. Garrett McMillan got the start today, throwing four shutout innings with one hit allowed and six strikeouts. The 23-year-old was drafted in the 14th round last year, and has pitched in relief in Bradenton most of this season. He has a 2.18 ERA in 45.1 innings, with a 47:15 K/BB.
STATCAST HEROES
Inmer Lobo came on to pitch three scoreless innings, allowing no hits, one walk, and striking out two. He had three whiffs on his fastball, which only sits 87.5 MPH from the left side. His changeup led to six whiffs on ten swings, fueling his outing. The hardest hit ball was the second homer from Valdez, which traveled 110.1 MPH off the bat. His other homer was 102.3 MPH.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
FCL PIRATES lost 4-3 in game one of the best-of-three FCL Finals.
- RHP Carlos Castillo: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
- SS Yerry De Los Santos: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
- 2B Carlos Caro: 1-for-3, BB, SB
- 3B Jhonny Severino: 1-for-5
- RF Carlos Tirado: 1-for-3, BB, RBI
Carlos Castillo has been one of the best young pitchers for the FCL Pirates this year. Signed by the Pirates in January 2023 out of Venezuela, Castillo has been a starter in the FCL during his age-18 season. He had a 2.86 ERA in 34.2 innings, with a 27:18 K/BB ratio this year. Castillo had a great start on Sunday, but the bullpen couldn’t back him up. Yerry De Los Santos picked up two hits, including an RBI double to put the Pirates up 3-1 in the fifth. The Pirates lost the game in the eighth, after control issues from RHP Jonawel Valdez allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score on wild pitches. The Pirates play the Tigers on Monday, needing to win to extend the series to the deciding third game.
MONDAY’S SCHEDULE
- The full season teams are off.
- Rookie: FCL Pirates, TBD – TBD (FCL Finals, Game 2)
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 11:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 10:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, Game Two – TBD
