PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

The Pirates offense managed only six hits, but it was enough. They scraped five runs together with a couople of multi-run innings to support Paul Maholm.

The remainder of the Pirates' contingent for the Arizona Fall League was announced today.� Pitching for the Mesa Solar Sox this fall will be Justin Wilson, Aaron Pribanic, and Brian Leach. While all three have been starters during the regular season, it appears that Wilson will have a starting role, and Pribanic and Leach will be mostly used in relief.

The pitchers will join catcher Tony Sanchez, infielders Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer, and outfielder Andrew Lambo on the Solar Sox.

The AFL season begins in three weeks, on Tuesday October 12th, and runs through Thursday November 18th.� We'll be following our Pirates' farmhands in their Arizona adventures.

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The Carribbean winter leagues will also be starting up in October:� Mexican Pacific League on Oct 12th, Dominican League on Oct. 22nd, Venezuelan League on Oct 12th, and Puerto Rican League on Oct 22nd.� We'll also watch the Pirates' players, farmhands, and friends in those leagues.

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Pirates' John Bowker made another start for the Pirates tonight (Tuesday), this time in right field.� He went 0-for-4 with an RBI, driving in a run in the 1st inning with a grounder to short, which was misplayed for an error.� Bowker has gone 4-for-10 in his last three games, with a homer, and 3 RBI.

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According to Jennifer Langosch, the Pittsburgh Pirates will send pitchers Justin Wilson, Aaron Pribanic, and Brian Leach to the Arizona Fall League this off-season,...

The biggest issue with the upcoming roster crunch will be the players who are eligible for the 2010 Rule 5 draft, which takes place...

The Altoona Curve easily had the strongest part of the farm system this season, with over a third of the top 30 prospects going...

Last Thursday (9/16/10) I was on ESPN 1430 in Altoona with Cory Giger, talking Altoona Curve baseball, the day after Altoona tied the Eastern...

The following Pittsburgh Pirates players will be eligible for minor league free agency during the 2010/2011 off-season: Brian Bass Doug Bernier Rodolfo Cardona* Yung Chi Chen* Dana Eveland Hector Gimenez Corey Hamman Derek Hankins Mitch Jones Erik Kratz Jean Machi Kevin Melillo Dustin Molleken Brian Myrow Greg Picart Jeremy Powell Milver Reyes James Skelton* Jonathan Van Every Tyler Yates * = Player will be...

There are several Pittsburgh Pirates prospects who are eligible for the upcoming Rule 5 draft.  The following players are eligible for the Rule 5...

The Pirates rallied from two runs down to win with a three run eighth inning. Neil Walker played hero with the game winning two run dinger.

One of the biggest topics heading in to the off-season will be the roster crunch.  The big focus here is who the Pittsburgh Pirates...

The Pirates used a pair of two run bombs and a decent enough outing from James McDonald to win for the second straight night at home.

Altoona Curve� 5,� Trenton Thunder� 2 ...����� (box)

The Altoona Curve clinched the Eastern League Championship tonight, defeating the Trenton Thunder in Game 4 of the championship series in Trenton.� Starter Tony Watson, who was also the winning pitcher a week ago when the Curve won the divisional series, earned the win again tonight.� Closer Daniel Moskos (photo, while with the Indy Indians), earned his 5th save of the playoffs.� He had a save in each of the Curve's three wins in the championship series, and also in two of their three wins in the divisional series.� The offensive star of the game was DH Jim Negrych, who went 3-for-5 and led the way with 3 RBI.

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Watson pitched 6 innings and struck out 10 Thunder batters.� He gave up 2 runs on only 5 hits and 2 walks.� The Thunder began the bottom of the 1st with a single off the bat of CF Austin Krum, who also stole second base.� After two strikeouts, Watson walked C Austin Romine, but then struck out the next batter, leaving the two runners on base.

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Watson gave up two hits and a run in the 3rd.� 2B Matthew Cusick led off with a triple into right field.� Two outs later, he scored on RF Daniel Brewer's line drive single into right field, and the Thunder had a 1-0 lead.

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The Curve had put one runner on base in the 1st, when 3B Josh Harrison reached base on an error, then stole second base.� In the 2nd, Negrych hit a 2-out single up the middle, then CF Jose De Los Santos walked, but all three of them were left on base.� When the Thunder made another fielding error in the 4th, the Curve were able to capitalize.� 1B Matt Hague led off with a walk, then a fielding error by the Thunder first baseman put LF Andrew Lambo on first and Hague on third.� That brought up the offensive hero, Jim Negrych (photo, with the Indy Indians).� Negrych slapped a grounder into left field for a 2-RBI single, bringing in both Hague and Lambo to give the Curve a 2-1 lead.

The Curve rallied again, with help from Negrych, in the 5th.� Harrison led off with a line drive into center field, and he moved to second base on SS Jordy Mercer's ground out.� Hague lifted a single into right field, and Harrison raced around from second.� When the throw in from the outfield ticked off the catcher Romine's glove, Harrison scored and Hague advanced to second base.� Hague moved up to third base on Lambo's ground out.� The Thunder intentionally walked C Hector Gimenez, and Negrych again came to the plate with a runner in scoring position.� Negrych lined into left field, with the Trenton LF Damon Sublett giving chase.� Sublett went for the sliding catch -- and missed.� As the ball went on behind Sublett, Negrych was safely into second base with a double, and Hague scored, giving the Curve a 4-1 lead.