PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

The Indianapolis Indians were rained out on Monday night.  They and the Durham Bulls will try for two on Tuesday.  Tuesday's first game is scheduled for 11:05 am, early for a Baseball In Education Day.  That game is scheduled to be shown on the MLB network.  (It's absolutley pouring down rain now.)

The Marauders played a morning game to accommodate the school kids; the Curve and Power play in the evening.

Palm Beach Cardinals  5,  Bradenton Marauders  1
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A 4-run inning was enough for Palm Beach to secure the win this morning.  Marauders' starter Kyle McPherson had allowed just one hit over the first two innings, but with one out in the 3rd, he hit two successive batters with pitches.  A fielding error by SS Benji Gonzalez allowed the next batter to reach base safely, loading them up.  An RBI single drove in the runner from third, leaving the bags still full of Cardinals.  Then a double lined into left field cleared the bases to give the Cardinals a 4-run inning.  McPherson put Palm Beach down in order in the 4th and 5th innings, then gave up another run on a pair of doubles in the 6th.  He finished with 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits, no walk, and 4 strikeouts in his 6 innings of work.

2B Jarek Cunningham led the Marauders' batters with 2 hits, a single and a double, and 1B Aaron Baker drove in the only Marauders' run.  Bradenton missed a big chance in the 2nd inning, when both 3B Elevys Gonzalez and C Travis Scott walked, then LF Adalberto Santos's infield single loaded the bases.  But a strikeout and a pop out ended the threat with all three runners still in place.  Cunningham began the 3rd inning rally with a double lined into left field.  One out later, Baker lined a single into center field, and Cunningham raced around from second base to score the Marauders' only run.  The Marauders had another chance with the bases loaded in the 7th -- DH Cole White walked, then Cunningham and CF Evan Chambers both singled, but a fly out ended that opportunity.  Scott had the only other Bradenton hit, with a single to lead off the 4th.

Duke Welker pitched a quick 7th inning for the Marauders, getting three ground outs.  Jason Erickson took the bottom of the 8th, and gave up two singles, then got a double play when the next batter lined out to Baker, who threw to SS Benji Gonzalez to double off the runner from second base.  Erickson gave up one more single, but then ended the inning without a run scoring.  
 

Alex Presley was named the Indianapolis Indians' Player of the Month for April, and he was presented a watch by Indians' GM Cal Burleson before the game.











Durham Bulls  6,  Indianapolis Indians  1
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The Indianapolis Indians struggled again this afternoon, once again giving up runs in the top of the 1st inning, as they to the Durham Bulls at Victory Field.  The Tribe batters were held to just 4 hits, and managed only one run.  Starter Justin Wilson took the loss, though his work was not the only problem in the game.  While there were no errors charged to the Indians, there were mental and physical mistakes which made the difference in the game.

The game began with a grounder to deep short by Bulls' RF Desmond Jennings.  Tribe SS Chase d'Arnaud fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to first (photo) was awkward and off-balance, and the throw bounced in the dirt and got past 1B Matt Hague.  CF Justin Ruggiano walked, moving Jennings to second base, then Wilson got a strikeout for the first out of the inning.  DH Chris Carter grounded up the middle, with the ball tipping off the glove of d'Arnaud, who had made an unsuccessful dive behind the second base bag.  Jennings scored from second base on the hit.  1B Russ Canzler followed with a fly ball into left field.  LF Corey Wimberly started coming in, then had to retrace his steps and race back toward the left field wall.  The ball sailed over his head and bounced off the wall, allowing Ruggiano to score the second run of the game.  One out later, 3B JJ Furmaniak lined a single into left field, and Canzler came in to score.  Wilson ended the inning with another strikeout, and the Bulls had a 3-0  lead.