Your daily Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Watch article for recaps of all of today’s games. Be sure to pick up your copy of the latest Prospect Guide in our store, available as an ebook or a limited edition paperback.
INDIANAPOLIS
Starting Pitcher: Beau Sulser 2.2 IP 6 H 2 ER 0 BB 4 SO
Notable Performances:
Travis Swaggerty 1-for-4, RBI, 2 SB
Cole Tucker 0-for-3, 2 BB
Kevin Kramer 1-for-4, BB
Will Craig 0-for-3, RBI, BB
Braeden Ogle 1 IP 1 H 0 ER 1 BB 0 SO
Nick Mears 0.1 IP 2 H 5 ER 3 BB 0 SO
Game Recap: Indianapolis dropped an 8-3 decision to Iowa after reliever Nick Mears allowed five runners to reach base in the bottom of the eighth inning. All five runners scored, with the bulk of the damage being done on a grand slam. Beau Sulser started on his 27th birthday and he went 2.2 innings while allowing two runs. Blake Weiman tossed the next 2.1 innings and gave up one run while striking out five batters. Tyler Bashlor and Braeden Ogle followed with scoreless innings before Mears came on. Travis Swaggerty went 1-for-4 after collecting three hits in the season opener. He stole his first two bases of the season. Connor Kaiser had a double, two walks and a run scored. Dustin Fowler hit a solo homer in the eighth. Cole Tucker remained hitless, though he reached base twice on walks. Troy Stokes Jr had a single and a walk.
ALTOONA
Starting Pitcher: Travis MacGregor 2.1 IP 4 H 3 ER 0 BB 6 SO
Notable Performances:
Ji-Hwan Bae 1-for-5
Oneil Cruz 0-for-5, RBI
Rodolfo Castro 2-for-4, 2 2B, BB
Mason Martin 2-for-5, 2B, RBI
Cal Mitchell 1-for-2, BB, HBP
Canaan Smith-Njigba 0-for-3, BB
Game Recap: The Altoona Curve lost for the second straight night, dropping an 8-4 decision to Bowie. Travis MacGregor pitched for the first time since August 19, 2018 and he lasted 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits, with no walks and six strikeouts. He threw 55 pitches, 31 for strikes. Three relievers, Cam Alldred, Will Gardner and Hunter Stratton, each put in multiple innings and allowed at least one run. Gardner had five walks and three strikeouts in two innings. Rodolfo Castro had two doubles tonight after a hitless opener. Mason Martin had a single and a double, while driving in a run. Ji-Hwan Bae and Oneil Cruz have both started the season 2-for-9.
GREENSBORO
Starting Pitcher: Tahnaj Thomas 3 IP 1 H 1 ER 1 BB 7 SO
Notable Performances:
Liover Peguero 2-for-5, HR, RBI, SB, 3 Runs
Nick Gonzales 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Jack Herman 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
Matt Gorski 0-for-3, BB
Jared Triolo 2-for-4
Lolo Sanchez 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB
Game Recap: Tahnaj Thomas had an impressive debut in High-A on Wednesday night, striking out seven batters over three innings while allowing one hit (a homer). His last start was in Bristol, which was three levels lower before the minor league reorganization. Thomas threw 50 pitches, with 32 going for strikes. Colin Selby, who is returning from Tommy John surgery he received last March, allowed three runs in 1.1 innings, walking four batters. Bear Bellomy followed with 2.2 scoreless innings and the only runner he allowed was a hit batter. Oliver Garcia got the save with two scoreless innings on one walk and three strikeouts. Greensboro won by an 8-4 score.
The offense was led by the top of the order, with Liover Peguero and Nick Gonzales each going deep. Peguero also homered in the opener yesterday, while this was the first homer as a pro for Gonzales. Peguero scored three runs and stole his first base. Matt Fraizer had two hits, two RBIs and a stolen base. Lolo Sanchez reached base three times on a single, double and a walk. He also reached base three times in the season opener. Jack Herman added an RBI double.
BRADENTON
Starting Pitcher: Eddy Yean 0.1 IP 2 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO
Notable Performances:
Hudson Head 0-for-4
Endy Rodriguez 1-for-2, HR, RBI, BB
Dariel Lopez 2-for-5
Will Matthiessen 3-for-5, RBI
Alexander Mojica 0-for-3, BB
Jase Bowen 0-for-3
Maikol Escotto 1-for-4
Sergio Campana 1-for-3, 3B, HBP
Sammy Siani 1-for-3, 2B, BB
Logan Hofmann 3 IP 1 H 0 ER 0 BB 7 SO
Game Recap: Bradenton got roughed up on Wednesday night, dropping a 13-4 decision to Fort Myers. Eddy Yean, one of two players acquired in the Josh Bell deal, had a rough debut for the Pirates. He recorded just one out before being removed with 30 pitches (15 strikes). He gave up five runs on two hits and three walks. One of the hits was a grand slam. Estalin Ortiz followed with four runs over 1.1 innings, with one hit and three walks. Wandi Montout followed with his debut in the U.S. and he gave up two runs on three hits and two walks in 2.1 frames. Denny Roman allowed two runs in two innings and he walked three batters. Things got much better when 2020 draft pick Logan Hofmann pitched three shutout innings on one hit, no walks and seven strikeouts in his pro debut.
The notable player section included the entire lineup because everyone in the lineup has some level of interest. Endy Rodriguez hit his first homer with the Pirates. Sergio Campana, who made the jump from the DSL, hit a triple. Dariel Lopez, another DSL jumper, had two hits, including a double. Sammy Siani had a double and a walk.
