Indianapolis is playing their last game before three days off for the International League All-Star break. Top pitching prospects, Jameson Taillon and Gerrit Cole will participate in the Futures Game, played tonight at 5pm. The GCL Pirates and both DSL teams are off today. All five probable pitchers for today are right-handers. A full recap of yesterday’s games can be found here.
Triple-A: Indianapolis (56-32) @ Columbus (44-45) 1:05pm
Probable starter: Rick VandenHurk (8-0 2.96)
Yesterday’s Result: Indianapolis 10 Columbus 5 (Game story)
Rick VandenHurk will make his ninth start of the year for Indianapolis. He has also made two relief appearances, as well as one rehab start for Bradenton to begin the year. For Indy, Rick has pitched a total of 54.2 innings, allowing 53 hits, four homers, 16 walks and he has 44 strikeouts. In his last start, he allowed two runs on nine hits over six innings. Rick has won nine of his ten starts this season. On the road he is 3-0 3.38 in 26.2 innings.
Double-A: Altoona (42-44) VS Binghamton (40-46) 6:00pm
Probable starter: Brandon Cumpton (8-6 3.13)
Yesterday’s Result: Altoona 2 Binghamton 8
Brandon Cumpton will make his 17th start of the year tonight. He has pitched a total of 97.2 innings, surrendering 80 hits, five homers, 27 walks and he has 59 strikeouts. He has a .230 BAA and an outstanding 2.24 GO/AO ratio. In his last start, Brandon went five innings, allowing one run on four hits and four walks. He failed to strikeout a single batter in the game. At home this year he is 6-3 2.98 in nine starts.
High-A: Bradenton (40-47 overall 11-6 2nd half) vs St Lucie (56-29 overall 7-10 2nd half) 5:00pm
Probable starter: Matt Benedict (0-2 5.87)
Yesterday’s Result: Bradenton 6 St Lucie 3
Matt Benedict will make his fourth start for Bradenton tonight. He began the year with West Virginia, making 14 starts. While with the Power, Matt pitched a total of 76.1 innings, giving up 72 hits, three homers, 23 walks and he had 44 strikeouts. He gave up ten runs over 9.1 innings in his first two starts with Bradenton before rebounding with a six inning performance in which he allowed just one unearned run. On the year, Matt has a .244 BAA and a 1.63 GO/AO ratio.
Low-A: West Virginia (32-55 overall 9-8 2nd half) VS Lakewood (35-51 overall 9-8 2nd half) 2:05pm
Probable starter: Ryan Hafner (0-6 6.80)
Yesterday’s Result: West Virginia 8 Lakewood 1
Ryan Hafner will make his 12th start of the year tonight. He has also made two relief appearances. His last start was his toughest of the season, recording just one out, while giving up two walks and three hits. Ryan faced Lakewood on 6/28, going 4.2 innings with three runs allowed on five hits and four walks. On the year, Hafner has pitched 46.1 innings, giving up 58 hits, four homers, 48 walks and he has 23 strikeouts. He has a 9.67 ERA at home in 22.1 innings.
Short Season A: State College (11-9) @ Vermont (12-8) 6:05pm
Probable Starter: Clay Holmes (2-1 1.98)
Yesterday’s Result: State College 2 Vermont 4 in ten innings
Clay Holmes will make his fourth start of the season tonight. In his first start he threw five scoreless innings, giving up three hits, one walk and he struck out five batters. Clay gave up one unearned run in his second start, a five inning outing in which he gave up just one hit, but allowed five walks. In his last start on 7/2, Holmes gave up three earned runs over 3.2 innings, allowing six hits and two walks. He was the Pirates ninth round pick in last year’s draft, signing for 1.2mil. Clay did not appear in a game last season after signing.
Rookie: GCL Pirates (8-9) VS GCL Yankees (13-5) 12:00pm 7/9
Yesterday’s Result: Pirates 3 Phillies 7
DSL: Pirates1 (18-13) VS Rangers (19-12) 10:30am 7/9
Yesterday’s Result: Pirates 8 Rangers 5
DSL: Pirates2 (14-17) VS Mets1 (18-13) 10:30am 7/9
Yesterday’s Result: Pirates 3 Mets 4
