If you're looking for something to lift your spirits each day in the Pittsburgh Pirates system, might I suggest taking a look at the pitching.
Anywhere. Any level.
At the Major League level, the Pirates have a 3.55...
Pittsburgh Pirates flame throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman was suspended for two games, after being ejected earlier this week for arguing the strike zone with an umpire.
I wrote about the ejection earlier in the week, noting how...
The Pirates and Rays were rained out this afternoon, and the Indy Indians' game originally scheduled for today had already been cancelled. � So instead, we'll take a look at a couple more pitchers.
Danny Moskos was another first round pick for the Pirates, taken in the 2007 draft. �The southpaw pitcher had tried both starting and relief roles at Clemson University, and after he signed, Moskos began his pro career with 13 relief appearances in the lower levels of the Pirates' system. �He accumulated one save and a 3.55 ERA in 15.2 innings. �He advanced to A+ Lynchburg for the 2008 season, where he made 20 starts, which generally did not go well. �In 89.2 innings, he gave up too many hits (107) and runs (67), and did not strikeout out many. �In the last part of the season, Moskos was moved to the bullpen, where he did fare better. �In 9 relief outings, he pitched 20.2 innings, allowing 17 hits and 6 runs for a 2.61 ERA. �That all added up to a 7-7 record and a 5.95 ERA for 2008. � �The South Carolina native returned to the starting rotation for the Altoona Curve in 2009. �After a one-inning relief appearance in which he allowed one run on two hits, Moskos made 3 starts in April, and allowed 10 more runs on 20 more hits for a 5.94 ERA. �He was up and down in May. �There was a start with 6 shutout innings on May 8th, and two starts in which he allowed one run over 6 and 6.1 innings. �But then there was an ok start with 2 runs in 5 innings, and two poor starts -- 5 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 6 innings, and 4 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings. �His ERA for May wound up a 3.31. �Moskos was charged with the loss in his best start in June, on the 21st, when he gave up one run on 7 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings. �He allowed 11 runs on 29 hits and 9 walks over 24.1 innings for the rest of June, for a 3.68 ERA for the month.
The Minor League portion of the Grapefruit League began today, and the Indianapolis Indians kicked off their spring training games with a win. �Visiting in Clearwater, Florida, the Indians beat the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Philadelphia) by a score of 3-0.
CF Gorkys Hernandez opened the game with a triple, and SS Brian Friday followed with a 2-run home run to give the Indians a 2-0 lead before the Iron Pigs could even catch their breaths. �The Tribe scored again in the 4th inning, when C Tony Sanchez led off with a double, and 1B Matt Hague brought him in with an RBI single.
On the mound, five Indians' pitchers combined to shut out the Iron Pigs and hold them to 3 hits. �Starter Virgil Vasquez pitched 4 innings and allowed 2 hits, while striking out 4 batters. �Vasquez earned the win, and reliever Jeff Sues earned the save with a scoreless inning, allowing 2 walks.
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Meanwhile, back in Bradenton, the Pirates lost to the Tigers, 6 - 3. � (box)
The Pirates scored in the second inning, when 1B Bobby Crosby led off with a walk, then scored on RF Ryan Church's double. �3B Andy LaRoche lined out, but it was deep enough to let Church move up to third base. �He scored when Tigers' starter Nate Robertson committed a balk. �In the 7th, with one out, 3B Pedro Alvarez doubled into center field. �LF Jose Tabata singled, and CF John Raynor plated Alvarez with a single off the glove of the Tigers' shortstop.
Starter Kevin Hart did not help himself in his bid to join the Pirates' starting rotation. �He pitched to 12 batters over 1.2 innings, walked 6 of them, hit one of them, and gave up a hit. �He was lucky to escape allowing only one run. �Jeff Karstens got a ground out to finish the 2nd inning, then pitched a 1-2-3 third inning. �DJ Carrasco and Brendan Donnelly each gave up 2 runs in one inning of work, and Vinnie Chulk gave up another run in his inning. �Steven Jackson allowed 2 hits but no runs; Evan Meek and Anthony Claggett both retired the side in order in one inning of work.
Also getting into the game: �2B Gift Ngoepe came in to play second base and did fine; he had a foul pop out in his only trip to the plate. �PH/DH Neil Walker had a line-drive single to lead off the 8th inning, but did not score. �C Erik Kratz went 0-for-1 with a walk. �1B Steve Pearce, RF Jon Van Every, and SS Doug Bernier also got into the game.
