Joshua Palacios had three hits, including a key home run, helping Indianapolis to a victory on Friday night.
The Pirates' Triple-A squad was down 2-0...
Alika Williams had four hits on Thursday night for Indianapolis.
Since being sent down for Nick Yorke, Williams is 8-for-14 at the Triple-A level. He's...
The DSL Pirates teams ended their seasons this week, which brings the rookie-level affiliates to an end.
I've been reviewing the best performing hitting and...
The Pittsburgh Pirates non-tendered Lastings Milledge yesterday, following a season which he hit for a .277/.332/.380 line in 379 at-bats. Milledge also struggled on...
An Australian double header early on Friday morning:
Game One: Canberra Cavalry 3, Adelaide Bite 1 Pirate farmhand Rinku Singh earned his first win for the Cavalry, in a pitching-dominated game. Former Altoona Curve pitcher Paul Mildren pitched the entire (7 inning) game for the Bite. He allowed only one hit over the first three innings, and another single in the 4th. Mildren got out of a jam in the 5th -- a walk and a double put two runners into scoring position with one out. The next batter tapped one back to the mound, and Mildren returned the ball to his catcher, who tagged the lead runner out at the plate. A pop out ended the inning. But in the bottom of the 6th, Mildren gave up a double, an intentional walk, and another double, which brought in 2 runs. Two more singles added a third run for the Cavalry. The Bite were also scoreless in all but their last at-bat. They put runners on base in every inning, but could not bring them around to score. LF Quincy Latimore led off the 4th inning with a single, then moved to second base on a wild pitch. He got to third on an error, but was left there when the inning ended. The Bite also left two runners on base in the 5th inning. In the 6th, back-to-back singles put two Bite runners on base with one out. The Cavalry made a pitching change, bringing in Rinku Singh. Singh ended the inning with a strikeout and a ground out, stranding the two runners. Singh came out to begin the 7th inning with a 3-run lead (and so was the pitcher of record, to get the win). He gave up a walk, then got a strikeout. A fielding error and a single by Latimore loaded the bases, and Singh was replaced. The new pitcher, Chris Morgan, walked the first batter he faced, forcing in the Bite's only run of the game, but then got a double play to end it.
Game Two: Cavalry 11, Bite 6 Latimore also had two hits in this game, but the Bite's 5-run 7th inning couldn't stand up to their total meltdown in the bottom of the 5th, when the Cavalry scored all 11 of their runs. The night-cap began like the first game, with pitchers in control. The Bite had only two hits and a walk scattered over their first 5 innings, though one of the hits was a solo homer by DH Brandon Bantz in the 4th. The Bite pitching allowed only 2 hits to Canberra over their first four innings. Then came the bottom of the 5th: walk, single, throwing error (2 runs), triple (run #3), double (#4), walk, missed catch error to load the bases, single (#5,6), single, single (#7), double (#8), wild pitch (#9), walk, triple (#10, 11), then finally, a ground out and a pop out to end the inning. Oh, and both of those triples were by pinch-hitter Donald Lutz, who came out of the game after that inning. Latimore doubled with two outs in the 6th, but got no further. The Bite rallied in the 7th, but weren't even close to catching up. With one out, three consecutive singles brought in one run, then a walk loaded the bases. A double drove in two runs, then Latimore brought in the fourth run by beating out an infield hit to short. Another single added run #5, but that was all they could get. The same two teams play another double header on Saturday.
Cheering for the Pirates' players and friends in Thursday's winter league action:
DOMINICAN LEAGUE Toros del Este 6, Tigres del Licey 0 -- Los Tigres were shut-out on 6 hits. They had 2 runners on base in a few innings, but were never able to bring them around to score. New Pirate 1B Andy Marte did not start, but came in to play at first in the 5th inning. He bounced into a double play in the 6th, and was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the 9th. DH Ronny Paulino and LF Jake Fox were both hitless, though Fox walked in the 1st inning. Denny Bautista pitched the final inning for Los Tigres, and gave up 2 runs on a single, a walk, and a double. SS Pedro Ciriaco went 0-for-3 for Los Toros.
Gigantes del Cibao 3, Estrellas de Oriente 2 -- Mike Dubee earned his second Dominican League win for los Gigantes with 1.1 scoreless innings of work. Each team started with a run in the 1st inning -- on a homer for Los Estrellas and on a double, a bunt, and a sacrifice fly for Los Gigantes. After the homer, Los Gigantes' starter Roman Colon retired the next 10 batters in order. Dubee relieved Colon to begin the 5th inning. He gave up a double and a walk, but got out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground out. Dubee started the 6th inning with a fly out and a walk, then he was replaced by Juan Perez. Perez finished that inning, but gave up a run on a double and an error in the 7th. Los Gigantes' C JR House singled to lead off the 5th, then scored on a sacrifice bunt and a single. A solo homer gave Los Gigantes' one more run in the 6th. House also singled in the 2nd inning.
PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE Criollos de Caguas 15, Indios de Mayaguez 2 -- Los Criollos posted 21 hits and scored in all but one of the first 7 innings, including 4 in the 2nd and 5 in the 6th. SS Luis Figueroa singled and doubled and scored twice. 3B Ramon Vazquez singled twice and drove in 2 runs.
Leones de Ponce 3, Senadores de San Juan 0 -- Another shut-out, as Los Senadores were held to just 2 hits. Starter Ben Snyder (Rangers, and Ball State University) gave up a walk in the 3rd inning, and lone singles in the 4th and 6th innings, as he pitched 7 innings for the win. RJ Rodriguez earned his 7th Save with a perfect 9th inning.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Cardenales de Lara 6, Tigres de Aragua 5 -- A single, two walks, and a sacrifice fly gave Los Cardenales the go-ahead run in the top of the 8th, then held on for the win. Lara put up 13 hits, while Los Tigres had 7 hits, including 2 singles by SS Ronny Cedeno, and 2 doubles by LF Lastings Milledge. Lara scored 4 runs in the 3rd and one more in the 5th. Cedeno singled, stole second, and scored in the 1st inning. He singled again in the 6th to begin a rally. Two walks (one by C Hector Gimenez), a single, and Milledge's first double, brought in 3 runs for Los Tigres in that inning. Aragua tied the score in the 7th, on an error, a bunt by Cedeno, and an RBI single. That rally was cut short when Romulo Sanchez came on in relief for Lara and ended the inning with two strikeouts. Milledge doubled again in the 8th inning and stole third base, but was out at home on a fielder's choice.
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Venados de Mazatlan 4, Tomateros de Culiacan 2 -- LF Rogelios Noris led off the top of the 6th with his 5th double of the season for Los Venados. That sparked a 4-run rally, with three singles driving in three runs, and three walks forcing in a fourth run. Former Pirate SS Luis Cruz drove in Culiacan's runs with a 2-run homer in the 4th.
The Pittsburgh Pirates non-tendered four players and re-signed two arbitration eligible players prior to the non-tender deadline. The Pirates re-signed Ronny Cedeno to a...
The Pittsburgh Pirates have non-tendered four players prior to the non-tender deadline, letting go of Lastings Milledge, Argenis Diaz, Donald Veal, and Brian Burres....
The Minnesota Twins tendered shortstop J.J. Hardy a contract, which wasn't totally unexpected. There was talk earlier in the week that the Twins would...
According to Rob Biertempfel, the Pittsburgh Pirates are close to a deal with Ronny Cedeno, which would avoid arbitration. The non-tender deadline is a...
