After a big day yesterday by the Pirates prospects, Josh Harrison returned to the lineup today for another big performance, leading the Mesa Solar...

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Jason Townsend in the 31st round of the 2010 MLB draft, selecting him as a junior from the University of...

Mesa Solar Sox� 18,� Peoria Saguaros� 9

If you heard a lot of booming this afternoon, it might have come from the Solar Sox.� They posted a total of 22 hits on their way to 18 runs.� While the Saguaros recorded 15 hits, they managed only 9 runs.� Both teams also contributed to an error-fest:� 3 for the Solar Sox and 6 for the Saguaros.� 2B Josh Harrison and CF Jeremy Moore (Angels) led the way with 4 hits and 3 RBI each.� RF Andrew Lambo and SS Jordy Mercer each contributed 3 hits, and Lambo also had 4 RBI.

Harrison started the game off with a double into left field.� He advanced to third on a grounder, and scored on Lambo's single -- Lambo's first RBI.� Peoria responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the 1st, with a two singles, a double, and two of Mesa's errors:� a throwing error by Harrison and a throwing error on starter Josh Zeid (Phillies) on a pick-off attempt.� The Saguaros added two more in the 2nd inning, on a single, a triple, and an RBI ground out.� Saguaros� 4,� Solar Sox� 1.

The Solar Sox came back to take the lead in the top of the 3rd.� Harrison led off with a walk, and made it to second base on a passed ball.� Moore blasted a 2-run homer, to bring Mesa closer:� 4-3.� 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) tripled, and scored on Mercer's single to tie the game.� LF/1B Ryan Flaherty (Cubs) also singled, then a double by 1B/3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) drove in Mercer with the go-ahead run.� Solar Sox 5,� Saguaros 4.

Then the Solar Sox went crazy.� They sent 13 batters to the plate in the top of the 4th, scoring 8 runs.� Moore singled, and moved to second base on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt.� Lambo singled, driving in Moore for his second RBI in the game (1 run).� Lambo advanced to second base on the throw to the plate, then on to third on Mercer's ground out for the second out of the inning.� Flahery walked.� A fielding error let Lambo score (2), and put Vitters on base.� C Kai Gronauer (Mets) doubled, driving in both Flaherty and Vitters (3, 4).� The Saguaros changed pitchers, but it didn't help.� Valdespin singled, plating Gronauer (5).� Harrison doubled, and Valdespin came in (6).� Moore walked, and Wood singled to load the bases.� Lambo grounded to short, where a fielding error let Harrison and Moore both score (7,8).� The inning ended when Mercer grounded into a force out.� Solar Sox 13,� Saguaros 4.

And they weren't done.� The 5th inning began with back-to-back fielding errors, putting Flaherty and Vitters on base.� Gronauer walked to load the bases with no outs.� Harrison's sacrifice fly brought in Flaherty, and Moore's single brought in Vitters.� Solar Sox 15,� Saguaros 4.

Back-to-back singles by Valdespin and Harrison opened the 7th, and a passed ball put both of them into scoring position.� After two strikeouts, Lambo and Mercer hit another pair of back-to-back singles, with both runners scoring on Lambo's hit -- his 3rd and 4th RBI of the game.� Harrison capped off the game with a solo home run to lead off the top of the 9th inning.

Zeid pitched 4 innings and gave up those early 4 runs to Peoria.� He was relieved by Tyson Brummett (Phillies), who gave up a 2-run homer in the 5th inning.� Nicholas Carr (Mets) pitched a perfect bottom of the 6th.� Eric Niesen began the 7th, and gave up three consecutive singles, driving in one run.� After a pop out, a fielding error by Mercer loaded the bases.� Two more singles drove in two more runs.� Eddie McKiernan (Angels) finished the 7th inning for Niesen, then went on to pitch a scoreless 8th.� Steven Geltz (Angels) gave up a single and a double in the bottom of the 9th, but he got out of the jam without a run scoring.

Everyone's batting average was boosted today.� Harrison, who needed a lift, now has a .293 average and 5 RBI.� Lambo is up to .319 with 13 RBI.� Mercer is hitting .286 with 7 RBI.

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in the winter leagues:

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Gigantes de Carolina� 10,� Indios de Mayaguez� 8 -- SS Benji Gonzalez got into this game as a late-inning defensive replacement in the 7th inning.� He got one at-bat, but popped out to second base.� Los Gigantes scored 2 runs in the 1st, and 3 in the 4th, but their biggest inning was the 2nd, when they plated 5 runs on 4 singles and 2 doubles.

Senadores de San Juan� 4,� Leones de Ponce� 3� -- San Juan had a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the 8th.� Ponce used 3 consecutive singles and a double to score 3 runs in that inning, but could not catch up.� Former Pirate farmhand RJ Rodriguez pitched a scoreless top of the 9th for Ponce, though he allowed 2 singles.

�

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Tiburones de La Guaira� 9,� Navegantes del Magallanes� 7 -- Los Tiburones scored 6 runs in the 1st inning, but Los Navegantes kept chipping away, until they had a 7-6 lead going into the bottom of the 8th.� Los Tiburones would not stand for that, though -- they scored 3 more runs in the bottom of the 8th to retake the lead and get the win.� SS Argenis Diaz did not have a hit in the game, for Magallanes, but he reached on a fielding error in the 6th inning, giving him an RBI.� DH Mike Ryan had an RBI ground out for Magallanes in the 1st inning, and drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the 8th with a double.

�

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE

Venados de Mazatlan� 7,� Yaquis de Obregon� 5 -- Los Venados scored one run in each of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th innings, and had a 3-1 lead over Obregon.� Los Yaquis' run came in the 3rd, on an RBI single by CF Jeff Salazar.� Obregon burst out with 4 runs in the 5th, starting the inning with 4 straight singles, then a wild pitch, two more singles, and a walk by Salazar.� Mazatlan answered with 4 runs in the top of the 9th, on two doubled and four singles, to take the win.� RF Rogelios Noris had a single in the 6th inning, but did not score.

          NOTES: All salaries in bold are official. All ages are as of the start of the 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates season. Players in the minor leagues make $32,500...

The Pirates prospects had a big day on offense, leading the Mesa Solar Sox to an 18-9 win: -Josh Harrison (.293) started at second, batting...

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Phoenix Desert Dogs� 8,� Mesa Solar Sox� 6

A 5-run inning by Phoenix overcame an early Solar Sox lead this afternoon in the Arizona Fall League.� Each member of the Solar Sox' lineup except one had at least one hit in the game, including a single by C Tony Sanchez.

Mesa jumped out to a 3-run lead in the top of the 1st.� 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) opened the game by beating out an infield single.� CF Brett Jackson (Cubs) walked, and LF Jeremy Moore (Angels) drove them both in with a triple lined into right field.� A single by 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) brought in Moore.� Sanchez also singled in the inning, but he was left on base.

The Solar Sox added another run in the 2nd, on a single by SS Andrew Romine (Angels), who then stole second base.� Jackson singled, and Romine scored from second base.� They picked up an unearned run in the 3rd, when RF kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) singled, moved to second when DH Josh Vitters (Cubs) reached on a fielding error at short (it should have been the third out), and scored on 1B Ryan Flaherty's(Cubs) RBI single.

Cubs' Jake Muyco made the start for Mesa.� He zipped through the first inning, but gave up a double and a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning.� Muyco and the Solar Sox were still leading 5-2 going into the bottom of the 3rd. That's when the trouble started.� A double, a walk, and a 3-run homer tied the score at 5-5.� Muyco got a ground out, then gave up another double.� A second grounder gave him the second out of the inning, but an RBI single followed.� That was all for Muyco.� He was relieved by Ryan Brasier (Angels), who was greeted by the third double of the inning, which brought in the 5th run for the Desert Dogs.� Dogs 7, Sox 5.

Andrew Romine started another Solar Sox rally in the 6th with a single up the middle.� Valdespin added a single into right, moving Romine to third base.� Jackson's sacrifice fly brought him home, and Valdespin stole second base, but couldn't come around to score.

After Brasier finished the 3rd inning, he retired the side in order in the 4th.� BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) worked around a walk and a single to keep Phoenix from scoring in the 5th.� Aaron Pribanic took care of the 6th, allowing a walk, but erasing the runner with a double play.

The Desert Dogs scored one more time in the 7th.� With Robert Fish (Angels) on the mound in relief of Pribanic, Andrew Romine's brother Austin (Yankees) doubled, then moved to third base on a passed ball by Sanchez.�� A single scored the run from third base.� Chris Kissock (Phillies) pitched the final inning for the Solar Sox and retired the side in order.

�

***

The only winter league game tonight was in the Puerto Rican League, where Los Gigantes de Carolina beat Los Indios de Mayaguez 6-2.� Carolina made use of a 4-run 3rd inning, which was started by former Indy Indian RF Luis Matos, who hit the first of four consecutive singles.� A walk and a fifth single finished the inning.

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