For a season preview of the Pittsburgh Pirates two Dominican Summer League teams, check out our article here. Throughout the year, we will provide the recaps of both teams, as well as highlight one player each day. 
PIRATES1
Result: Marlins 6, Pirates 1
Starting Pitcher: Jandy Vasquez, RHP (0-1, 11.57) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Tito Polo, LF (.393) – 2-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
Julio de la Cruz, 3B (.130) – 1-for-3
Christian Henriquez, LHP (0.93) – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Pablo Reyes, SS (.308) – 1-for-4
Dennis Hurtarte, 1B (.118) – 0-for-3
Johan De Jesus, SS (.300) – 2-for-3
Game Notes: Starter Jandy Vasquez had a much better outing than in his first career start on June 4th, when he allowed five runs without getting out of the first inning. Christian Henriquez threw three shutout innings to follow Vasquez. Henriquez has now allowed one run in 9.2 innings over his three appearances. Catcher Deybi Garcia hit a double, the only extra base hit for either Pirates team on Monday. Tito Polo scored the only run by either team. He had two hits and now has collected 11 hits in seven games. Shortstop prospect Johan De Jesus committed his fifth error of the season. The Pirates didn’t get to bat in the bottom of the ninth. The game was ended with one out in the top of the ninth inning due to rain.
PIRATES2
Result: Mets1 2, Pirates 0
Starting Pitcher: Eduardo Vera, RHP (0-0, 3.75) – 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jose Salazar, DH (.286) – 2-for-4
Other Notable Performers:
Michael de la Cruz, CF (.308) – 1-for-2, BB
Carlos Munoz, 1B (.458) – 1-for-3, BB
Jhoan Herrera, 3B (.250) – 0-for-4
Yoel Gonzalez, C (.100) – 0-for-4
Horelbin Ramos, LHP (0.00) – 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: The Pirates got good starting pitching for Eduardo Vera, but they couldn’t put any runs on the board and got shutout for the first time this season. Hector Garcia gave up both runs in the sixth inning and took the loss. The 17-year-old lefty was making just his third career appearance. Before today’s 2.2 innings, he hadn’t gone more than an inning. He was followed by another rookie southpaw, Horelbin Ramos, who put together his third straight scoreless appearance. The Pirates2 had just five hits on the day, all singles. Top prospect Michael de la Cruz pushed his average over the .300 mark and he has reached base in all eight games the team has played, drawing walks in seven of those games. On the other side, catching prospect Yoel Gonzalez has just two hits in 20 AB’s this season.
Player Of The Day
In March of 2012, the Pirates signed three players out of Mexico. The youngest of that group was right-handed pitcher Eduardo Vera, who started for the Pirates2 team on Monday. He is listed at 6’3″, 177 pounds and he is a month shy of his 19th birthday. Vera spent last year in the DSL, splitting his time between both affiliates. He started four games and pitched 12 times in relief, throwing a total of 38.2 innings. He showed some good signs, holding batters to a .247 BAA and he had 31 strikeouts. The 16 walks is a little high, but not bad for someone his age in their first season. This season he got off to a rough start, allowing five runs(four earned) over 2.1 innings in relief during his first appearance. In the starting role on Monday though, Vera threw three no-hit innings, allowing one walk and four strikeouts. It should be interesting to see if the pitcher they get next time out is more like the reliever that got hit hard, or the starter that was unhittable.
