PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

Justin Wilson got the start tonight and had a rough outing as the Mesa Solar Sox lost 11-2: -Josh Harrison (.328) started at third base,...

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a series of roster moves today to re-instate players from the 60-day disabled list, and to clear up some sports...

In my review last week of the 2011 off-season needs for the Pittsburgh Pirates, I noted that the team could add external upgrades at...

Peoria Saguaros� 13,� Mesa Solar Sox� 8

Errors abounded as the Solar Sox experienced the effects of "what goes around comes around".� The two teams combined for 21 runs on 33 hits and 10 errors, but it was the Saguaros' 11-run 7th inning that did the Solar Sox in.

The Solar Sox posted 13 hits, led by 3B Brandon Wood (Angels) and his 2 singles and a double.� C Tony Sanchez and 2B Josh Harrison were both hitless, though Harrison walked and scored in one at-bat.� RF Andrew Lambo had one hit, a double, and he scored once.

Mesa started off well, when DH Jordany Valdespin (Mets) walked, moved to second on a balk, and scored on Wood's single.� Peoria replied with a run on a double, a single, and a throwing error by Lambo in the 2nd.

Two throwing errors, two singles, and a double by Wood gave Mesa the lead again, with 2 runs in the top of the 3rd.� Lambo doubled in the 4th inning, but was left on base.� Three singles, by SS Andrew Romine (Angels), Valdespin, and 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies), plus a wild pitch brought in two more runs in the 5th, and the Solar Sox lead 5-1.

Reliever Aaron Pribanic took a turn on the mound for the Solar Sox in the bottom of the 5th.� He gave up a run on three singles, then worked around a single by striking out three batters in the 6th.

The Sox kept going, with 2 runs in the 6th.� Lambo opened the inning by reaching first base on a fielding error, then advanced to second on a balk.� Harrison walked, then two singles, by LF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) and Romine, drove in Lambo.� Harrison scored on a wild pitch.� In the 7th, Wood singled again and scored on Rizzotti's double.� That gave the Solar Sox an 8 - 2 lead going into the bottom of the 7th.

That's when the wheels fell off.� Robert Fish (Angels) relieved Pribanic, and started the inning with a walk, a single, a ground-rule double, and a single, accounting for 2 runs.� After a fly out, Fish continued with a double and a triple, as 3 more runs came in.� Eddie McKiernan (Angels) relieved Fish, and he gave up a double and a run, complicated by a fielding error by Lambo.� Two singles and a missed catch error by Harrison, and another 2 runs scored.� A double steal resulted in two throwing errors (by Sanchez and by CF Jeremy Moore --� Angels) and 2 more runs, clearing the bases.� But it kept going, with a triple, a sacrifice fly, and an extra single -- totalling 11 runs and 15 batters.� A pop-out finally ended the horror.

The Solar Sox had no hope of coming back, though they did put two runners on base in the 8th, on a single by Nieuwenhuis and another error, but a double play ended the inning.

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in the winter leagues on Tuesday...

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Criollos de Caguas� 8,� Senadores de San Juan� 2� -- Former Indy Indian SS Luis Figueroa was just a homer away from hitting for the cycle, with 3 of Los Criollos' 15 hits.� 3B Ramon Vazquez also had a hit for Caguas.� Figueroa doubled in the 1st inning but was left on base.� He singled in the 3rd and scored on an RBI double in the 4-run 3rd inning, then he tripled a run in and scored in the 2-run 4th inning.� Caguas also scored one run in the 2nd and the 8th innings.

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DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Toros del Este� 6,� Tigres del Licey� 4� -- Los Toros posted a pair of 3-run innings to take the win.� They scored on three walks and two doubles in the 4th inning, and on two walks and three singles in the 5th, complicated by a throwing error by Los Tigres' C Robinzon Diaz.� Diaz had one hit for Licey, a single in the 8th inning, after a solo home run.� 1B Jake Fox also had one single for Los Tigres, but did not score.

Aguilas Cibaenas� 8,� Leones del Escogido�� 7� -- Another hit-fest, with Los Aguilas recording 12 hits and Los Leones piling up 17.� LF Starling Marte had one hit for Los Aguilas, a single to load the bases in the 5th.� A strikeout ended that inning without a run scoring.� He also reached base on fielding error in the 2nd inning, which allowed a run to score.� Los Aguilas' biggest inning was the 3rd, when DH Eric Patterson hit a grand slam.� Luke Carlin came into the game to catch for Los Aguilas in the 9th inning, but did not get a plate appearance.� Los Aguilas scored again in the 4th and 6th innings, and had an 8-2 lead going into the bottom of the 7th.� Los Leones scored 3 runs in the 7th, plus one more in each of the 8th and 9th innings, but still came up short.

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VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Cardenales de Lara� 5,� Navegantes del Magallanes� 4� -- Three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning gave Lara the win.� A walk and two singles brought in the first two runs, to tie the game.� Jean Machi came on in relief for Los Navegantes, and he was able to prevent a run from scoring by fielding a come-backer and firing it back to the plate, to make the out at the plate. But a passed ball allowed the next runner on third base to score the go-ahead run.� Magallanes had scored 3 runs in the top of the 1st on a walk and three doubles, including a double by 1B Mike Ryan.� A home run added another run in the 6th.�� SS Argenis Diaz singled in the 2nd inning and walked to lead off the 7th inning for Magallanes, but did not score.� Former Pirate Romulo Sanchez pitched 1.2 innings for Lara.� He entered the game in the top of the 6th after the home run, with one runner on base and no outs.� He got a double play, then gave up a single before ending the inning with a ground out.� He walked Diaz and gave up a single in the 7th inning.

Bo Porter, who is one of the remaining manager candidates who has interviewed with the Pittsburgh Pirates, accepted a job as the third base...

Four Pirates prospects played today, but the Mesa Solar Sox lost 13-8: -Andrew Lambo (.304) started in right field, batting sixth.  He went 1-for-4 with...

A few quick, unrelated notes regarding the Arizona Fall League, 2011 World Series odds and the Pirates' managerial search.

It's been almost three weeks since the Pittsburgh Pirates have interviewed anyone for their vacant manager position, leading to speculation that they could be...

With the World Series coming to an end tonight, the 2010/2011 off-season officially begins tomorrow.  You can check out all of the important off-season...

In August, I considered whether the Pirates starting lineup could be significantly improved through free agency this upcoming offseason. I completed that post by promising a part two. Well, that was more than two months ago, but a promise is a promise.

Mesa Solar Sox� 15,� Peoria Saguaros� 1

The Solar Sox scored in all but two innings, and each member of the starting lineup had at least one hit and scored at least one run, as they withered the Saguaros this afternoon in the Arizona Fall League.�� RF Andrew Lambo contributed 3 of Mesa's 20 hits, including a home run.

It was all Solar Sox, all the time, right from the start.� In the bottom of the 1st, CF Jeremy Moore and SS Brandon Wood (both of the Angels) walked, and both moved up a base on a passed ball.� 1B Matt Rizzotti (Phillies) brought them in with a single up the middle.

The Sox added 4 runs in the 2nd inning, as the first four batters reached base safely:� a lead-off single by Lambo, a single by DH Ryan Flaherty (Cubs), a double by LF Kirk Nieuwenhuis (Mets) for 2 runs, and C Tim Kennelly (Phillies) was hit by a pitch.� A grounder and an error brought in another run, and two more singles (RBI by Wood) plated the fourth run.

By the 4th inning, things were getting out of hand.� Rizzotti doubled, then 3B Josh Vitters (Cubs) and Lambo hit back-to-back homers.� Solar Sox 9, Saguaros 0.� Two more runs scored in the 5th, when Lambo singled again.� Vitters and Flaherty had the RBI singles in that inning.� Another two runs came across in the 6th, one on a passed ball and one on a double play grounder.

The Solar Sox did not score in the 7th inning, but Jordy Mercer got a pinch-hitting appearance, though he grounded out.� The final two runs came in the bottom of the 8th.� Kennelly doubled, 2B Jordany Valdespin (Mets) tripled, and Wood hit a sacrifice fly, to make the score 15 - 0.

The Saguaros scored their only runs in the 9th inning.� With Ryan Brasier (Angels) on the mound, Peoria started with a single, and two ground outs moved the runner to third base.�� An RBI double drove in the lone run.

Josh Zeid (Phillies) earned his third win for the Solar Sox (3-0 record) with 4 shutout innings in the start.� Zeid allowed only 2 hits.�� Three more Phillies' pitchers, Tyson Brummett, BJ Rosenberg, and Justin De Fratus, each pitched a perfect inning for Mesa.� Chris Kissock (Phillies, of course), pitched a scoreless 8th inning, allowing 2 hits.