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 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Notable Performances:
Cole Tucker 0-for-4
Kevin Kramer 0-for-4
Will Craig 0-for-3, BB
Jared Oliva 0-for-2
Game Recap: Beau Sulser put up a strong start, which was needed because the Indianapolis offense was quiet in this game. He went five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, with two strikeouts. Unfortunately for the Indians, Louisville was able to score the walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth, as Nick Mears allowed two runs for the 2-1 loss. Indianapolis got scoreless work from Braeden Ogle (1.2 IP) and Kyle Keller (1.1 IP).
The only run for Indianapolis came on Hunter Owen’s sixth homer of the season in the sixth inning. The team had just three other hits in the game, all singles by three different players. Will Craig had the team’s only walk and Indianapolis had just one at-bat all game with runners in scoring position. They now have a 25-22 record through week eight of the season.
ALTOONA
Starting Pitcher: Noe Toribio 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Notable Performances:
Oneil Cruz 1-for-4, SB
Canaan Smith-Njigba 0-for-4
Cal Mitchell 1-for-3, HBP
Mason Martin 1-for-4, RBI
Game Recap: Noe Toribio allowed one run through the first three innings on Sunday before the floodgates opened and ended his day with five earned runs over 3.2 innings. He now has a 5.35 ERA in 35.1 innings. Brad Case followed and stranded a runner for Toribio in the fourth, but he allowed four runs (three earned) over his 1.2 innings before Will Gardner took over in the sixth. Gardner allowed two runs in his 1.2 innings. Shea Murray had a crazy eighth inning with three walks, two strikeouts and no runs/hits. Hunter Stratton lowered his ERA to 1.86 with a scoreless ninth.
Altoona had five hits (and no walks) in the game and Jason Delay’s double was the only extra-base hit. Mason Martin drove in his 32nd run. Delay picked up the other RBI, his first since joining Altoona. Oneil Cruz stole his 10th base. The Curve lost the game 11-2. They have a 27-20 record through the first eight weeks.
GREENSBORO
Starting Pitcher: JC Flowers 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Notable Performances:
Matt Fraizer 1-for-5, RBI, SB
Nick Gonzales 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Liover Peguero 1-for-5
Game Recap: JC Flowers has pitched well all season, which earned him a quick promotion to Greensboro, where he hasn’t let up. He had another solid performance on Sunday, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks, while striking out two batters. He has a 1.50 ERA with Greensboro now. Grant Ford followed and gave up two homers/three runs in his two innings of work. Austin Roberts had five strikeouts in two innings to finish out the 9-5 win.
Nick Gonzales homered for the second day in a row after missing five weeks due to a fractured finger. He also walked, scored twice and drove in two runs. Chase Murray went 3-for-4 with three singles and stole second base each time he reached base. He scored twice and drove in a run. Francisco Acuna went 2-for-3 with a double, walk, two runs and two RBIs. Aaron Shackelford stole home. Matt Fraizer stole his seventh base. Fabricio Macias went 1-for-3 to keep his average at .333, and his lone hit was a solo homer, his sixth of the season. He also drew a walk. Greensboro won despite striking out 15 times in the game.
BRADENTON
Starting Pitcher: Jared Jones 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 SO
Notable Performances:
Sammy Siani 2-for-4, BB
Maikol Escotto 2-for-4, BB
Alexander Mojica 2-for-4, 3 RBI
Jase Bowen 0-for-3, BB
Eli Wilson 1-for-3, HBP
Sergio Campana 0-for-4
Game Recap: Jared Jones only went four innings on Sunday, but he made quite an impression. He came into the day with 22 strikeouts in 14.2 innings and improved that rate by striking out 11 batters. He tossed scoreless baseball on two hits and one walk, lowering his ERA to 2.41 in 18.2 innings. Domingo Gonzalez was extremely impressive in relief, finishing off the game with one hit (a homer) in five innings for the win in the 8-1 Marauders victory. Gonzalez walked three and struck out seven batters, giving the duo 18 strikeouts on the day.
Jupiter had extra-base hits on all three of their hits today, while the Marauders managed just one extra-base hit all game, a double from Ernny Ordonez. They didn’t even do well with runners in scoring position, going 3-for-14, but eight runs still crossed the plate. Their first run scored in the second inning on an RBI single by Norkis Marcos. A fielder’s choice made it 2-0, then a sacrifice fly by Alexander Mojica made it 3-0 in the third. The double by Ordonez made it 4-0. Mojica made it 6-0 with a two-run single in the fifth. A ground out and an error brought home the final two runs. Maikol Escotto and Sammy Siani each reached base three times.
