Patrick Reilly threw five no-hit innings for the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Friday, leading the High-A team to a 5-0 victory.
Reilly was drafted in the...
The Pirates have Gold Glove third basemen in Ke'Bryan Hayes and Jared Triolo. They've got another candidate in the system in power hitter Jack Brannigan.
Back in action.... cheering for some Pirates' players and friends in Sunday's winter league action:
DOMINICAN LEAGUE Gigantes del Cibao 11, Toros del Este 7 -- The Dominican League's round robin playoff series began this evening, and Los Gigantes took their first game with a 6-run 8th inning. Los Toros scored 4 runs in the 1st and 3 runs in the 6th, but it wasn't enough. SS Pedro Ciriaco went 0-for-4 for Los Toros, and he also reached base on a fielding error in the 6th, which allowed a run to score. Former Pirate Juan Perez pitched to one batter for Los Gigantes, finishing the 6th inning after Los Toros' runs had scored.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE Senadores de San Juan 3, Gigantes de Carolina 1 -- 2B Benji Gonzalez and CF Luis Matos were both hitless for Los Gigantes, who scored their only run in the 8th inning, on a single and a double. Former Pirate farmhand Eric Krebs came on to pitch the bottom of the 5th for Los Gigantes, which he began with a ground out. But a walk, a single, and Krebs' own throwing error on a pick-off attempt brought in one run for San Juan. A wild pitch and another fielding error added a second run, and Krebs was relieved. Los Senadores scored again in the 6th on a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI single.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Venados de Mazatlan 9, Caneros de los Mochis 6 -- Los Venados scored 5 runs in the first two innings,a nd did not give up their lead, as they posted a total of 15 hits. Rogelios Noris entered the game as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the 6th, to play right field. He had one plate appearance, in which he struck out. Then in the bottom of the 9th, Noris moved to the infield to play second base -- something he hasn't done for at least 2 season, if he played there at all in the VSL. He's not a natural there -- he made a throwing error which extended the game, though no runs scored because of it.
The Dominican League has finished regular season play. The four top teams -- Estrellas de Oriente, Leones del Escogido, Toros del Este, and Gigantes del Cibao -- will begin a round robin playoff tournament on Sunday. Los Estrellas, Los Leones, and Los Toros all finished the regular season with identical 27-22 records, in a 3-way tie for first place. In the Dominican League, the four top teams are allowed to "draft" players from the other two teams to help them out during the playoffs. Los Estrellas drafted C Ronny Paulino from Los Tigres del Licey. Los Leones drafted Indy area native 1B/OF Jake Fox from Los Tigres. Los Gigantes drafted OF Kevin Melillo from Los Aguilas Cibaenas.
The Venezuelan and Puerto Rican Leagues have both Friday and Saturday off, and resume play on Sunday. The Mexican Pacific League has Friday off, but has a full slate of games scheduled for Christmas evening.
And, a few other minor league contracts signed by former Pirate farmhands: C Michel Hernandez re-signed with the Orioles, INF Ray Chang signed with the Twins, and P Derek Hankins signed with the Rangers.
OK, on to Thursday night's action for the Pirates' players and friends:
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE Gigantes del Carolina 5, Indios de Mayaguez 4 -- Los Gigantes scored 2 runs in the 1st and 4th innings, and a single run in the 3rd, then held off late-inning pushes by Los Indios to get the win. 2B Benji Gonzalez signled in the 2nd inning, but was picked off first base.
Criollos de Caguas 6, Senadores de San Juan 3 -- Two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly, and a 2-run triple gave San Juan a 3-run lead in the bottom of the 1st inning, but that was all the scoring they would do. Los Criollos started their come-back in the 3rd inning, with a walk, a single, and a 2-RBI double by 3B Ramon Vazquez. A hit batter and a double plated a single run in the 4th, then two errors and an RBI single by Vazquez brought in another run in the 5th. A 2-run homer added their final runs in the 8th.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired Oakland Athletics prospect Corey Wimberly, according to Wimberly himself on Twitter. The Pirates sent Ryan Kelly to the Athletics,...
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed Garrett Atkins to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. Atkins played for Colorado for seven...
The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed left handed pitcher Aaron Thompson off of waivers from the Washington Nationals, according to the team's official Twitter feed....
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced their 2011 minor league coaching assignments today. The changes and some notes below:
AAA - Indianapolis Indians
Manager - Dean Treanor
Treanor was...
