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: Cody Ponce 5 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
Notable Performances:
Anthony Alford 0-for-3, BB
Cole Tucker 1-for-4
Kevin Kramer 1-for-4
Will Craig 1-for-4
Jared Oliva 0-for-3
Game Recap: Cody Ponce had a rough first inning on Wednesday night against Louisville, allowing three runs. He managed to go another four innings with one run allowed before his night was over. He gave up eight hits, one walk and struck out four batters. Ponce has a 5.70 ERA in 36.1 innings this season at Triple-A. Blake Weiman worked two innings and allowed one run on two hits and two walks. Tyler Bashlor lowered his ERA to 1.76 with a scoreless eighth. Indianapolis lost 5-0 and they had just six hits in this game. Until TJ Rivera doubled with two outs in the ninth, they only had singles through 8.2 innings. Cole Tucker returned from an illness (non-COVID) and played for the first time in a week, going 1-for-4. Jared Oliva is 6-for-28 with six singles and three walks in his first nine games this season.
ALTOONA
Starting Pitcher: Travis MacGregor 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Notable Performances:
Oneil Cruz 0-for-3, 2 BB
Canaan Smith-Njigba 1-for-5, 2B, RBI
Rodolfo Castro 1-for-4, RBI
Mason Martin 1-for-4, 2B
Cal Mitchell 2-for-4
Game Recap: Travis MacGregor had a solid start against Harrisburg on Wednesday night, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks in five innings. He recorded three strikeouts. He was a bit wild in this contest, hitting three batters and throwing a wild pitch, in addition to the two walks. MacGregor has now thrown 30.2 innings over eight starts, with a 3.82 ERA and 35 strikeouts. Will Gardner followed and gave up one run in his two innings of work. Cam Vieaux took the eighth and gave up three runs (two earned) in his only inning of work. Cristofer Melendez handled the ninth without issue. He has a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings this season.
The Curve lost this game 6-2 and their two runs came in the fifth inning, which tied the score at the time. Jesus Valdez and Oneil Cruz walked to begin the inning. Canaan Smith-Njigba hit his eighth double to score Valdez with the first run. Cruz would score one batter later on a ground out by Rodolfo Castro. Mason Martin hit his 11th double. Jonah Davis had two singles and a walk. Cal Mitchell went 2-for-4 to give him a .295 average.
GREENSBORO
Starting Pitcher: Michael Burrows 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
Notable Performances:
Matt Fraizer 0-for-5
Matt Gorski 1-for-5, RBI
Lolo Sanchez 1-for-3, BB
Jared Triolo 1-for-4, HR, RBI
Game Recap: Greensboro won 6-5 in a game that included six homers between both sides. Michael Burrows cruised through three scoreless innings then gave up two runs in the fourth. He left with 73 pitches, allowing three hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. Garrett Leonard followed with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Will Kobos had one scoreless frame. Austin Roberts allowed three runs in the ninth to tie the score, then Oliver Garcia picked up his third win with a scoreless tenth.
Greensboro was down 2-0 through the middle of the fifth when Jared Triolo hit his fifth home to cut the deficit in half. Fabricio Macias gave them a one-run lead with a two-run single in the sixth inning. Chase Murray hit his second homer of the season in the seventh. Aaron Shackelford hit his 13th homer of the season in the eighth, a solo shot that made it 5-2 at the time. In the bottom of the tenth, Matt Gorski led off the inning with a game-winning single to score Matt Fraizer. Macias had two hits to raise him to a .331 average. Francisco Acuna had a single, hit-by-pitch and his sixth stolen base. Fraizer was the only player who failed to collect a hit, though Greensboro had just nine hits in the game.
BRADENTON
Starting Pitcher: Santiago Florez 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO
Notable Performances:
Hudson Head 1-for-3, BB
Endy Rodriguez 0-for-4
Sammy Siani 2-for-4, HR, RBI
Maikol Escotto 1-for-4, HR
Jase Bowen 0-for-3, HBP
Dariel Lopez 2-for-4, HR, RBI
Alexander Mojica 1-for-3, HR, RBI, BB
Sergio Campana 1-for-3, SB
Game Recap: Santiago Florez went six innings on Wednesday night against Jupiter, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, three walks and five strikeouts. He threw 84 pitches on the night, 52 for strikes, while posting an 8:3 GO/AO ratio. Florez now has a 1.51 ERA in 40.2 innings, with 56 strikeouts. Parker Brahms recorded the first out of the seventh inning, then Cameron Junker came on and stranded two inherited runners to get out of the inning without a run allowed. He needed help in the ninth as he loaded the bases with two outs, but Enmanuel Mejia got a fly ball to center field to end the game, giving the Marauders a 4-3 win.
Bradenton got all four of their four runs on solo homers. Maikol Escotto hit his third homer in the second inning. Sammy Siani hit his sixth homer in the fourth inning. Dariel Lopez hit his third homer in the sixth inning. Alexander Mojica hit his fifth homer three pitches after Lopez homered. Sergio Campana stole his 11th base in 12 attempts.
Injury Updates
Down on the farm: #Pirates MiLB SS Cole Tucker (non-COVID illness) should return this weekend.
Brennan Malone (right lat soreness) will be not throwing for a short period.
Nick Gonzales (broken finger) is getting ABs in Florida and should be returning to G’boro shortly.
— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) June 23, 2021
and
Miguel Yajure has resumed throwing in Bradenton.
"Not something we're going to rush back," Todd Tomczyk said. Pirates want to make sure he's totally fine before bringing him back. No setbacks to this point.
— Mike Persak (@MikeDPersak) June 23, 2021
and
Ji-Hwan Bae is "limited with agility movements at this point," but is making progress. Still on 4-6 week progress.
— Mike Persak (@MikeDPersak) June 23, 2021
