Kervin Pichardo had a big game for Altoona on Sunday afternoon.
The infielder went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, and a stolen base, while knocking in five runs. The homer was his ninth of the season, a two run shot in the third inning. His double was the 12th of the season, and the stolen base was his sixth. Pichardo is batting .269 with a .722 OPS in Altoona this year.
Pichardo was acquired in a minor trade earlier this season for LHP Jackson Wolf. The Pirates acquired Wolf in last year’s Rich Hill/Ji Man Choi trade with the Padres. They flipped the lefty back to the Padres, adding Pichardo to their Double-A roster.
After a slow first two months, Pichardo has gotten better as the season has progressed. The 22-year-old hit .314/.344/.407 in June, followed by a .286/.338/.429 in July. He’s been on fire this month, batting .313/.405/.594, hitting two homers in his last three games.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 3-0
- RHP Aaron Shortridge: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
- CF Nick Yorke: 1-for-3
- 3B Malcom Nunez: 1-for-3
- C Henry Davis: 1-for-4
- LHP Michael Plassmeyer: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Nick Yorke extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single. It was one of three hits for the Indianapolis offense on the night. Aaron Shortridge gave up runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Michael Plassmeyer stranded two runners in the fifth, then pitched a scoreless sixth inning.
STATCAST HEROES
The hardest hit ball was by Seth Beer, who had a 105.4 MPH lineout. Shortridge worked heavily off his cutter and slider, throwing those two pitches a combined 47 times out of 80 pitches. His four-seam fastball was the biggest swing and miss pitch on the night, with four whiffs on 11 swings. His curveball had five called strikes on eight pitches.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 9-8, despite the big game from Kervin Pichardo.
- LF Jase Bowen: 2-for-5, HR, SB
- CF Matt Fraizer: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI, SB
- 1B Nick Cimillo: 1-for-4, BB
- 2B Mike Jarvis: 1-for-4, SB
- C Abrahan Gutierrez: 1-for-5
Jase Bowen hit his fifth homer of the year. He also stole his 14th base of the season for Altoona. Dominic Perachi got the start, allowing three runs on four hits in 3.1 innings. Matt Fraizer hit his fourth double and stole his fifth base in Altoona this year.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
GREENSBORO lost 5-1
- 2B Mitch Jebb: 1-for-4
- 3B Shawn Ross: 1-for-2, 2 BB, SB
- C Omar Alfonzo: 1-for-4
- RF Hudson Head: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
- DH Geovanny Planchart: 1-for-3
Shawn Ross reached base three times and stole his tenth base of the season. Hudson Head hit his 12th double of the season. Omar Alfonzo went 1-for-4, and is batting .294 with an .871 OPS since being promoted to High-A.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
BRADENTON lost 6-3
- 3B Jhonny Severino: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- SS Keiner Delgado: 1-for-3, BB
- CF Shalin Polanco: 1-for-3, BB
- DH Enmanuel Terrero: 1-for-2, BB
- RF Solomon Maguire: 1-for-3
Jhonny Severino hit his first homer in Single-A, launching a two-run shot in the fifth inning. He hit ten homers this year in the FCL. Bradenton had a lot of swing and miss on the night, combining for 13 strikeouts.
STATCAST HEROES
The homer from Severino traveled 346 feet at 95.5 MPH. RHP Carlos Castillo got the start, allowing three earned runs in two innings, with one walk and four strikeouts. Castillo sat 91.8 MPH with his sinker, touching 93.8. He also threw 18 curveballs, leading to four whiffs on 12 swings, along with four called strikes. The 18-year-old also threw a changeup, four-seam, and slider.
MONDAY’S SCHEDULE
- The full-season teams are off.
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Black, 11:00 AM – TBD
- Rookie: DSL Pirates Gold, 11:00 AM – TBD
