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* 5.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 SO
Notable Performances:
Luis Oviedo 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
Shelby Miller 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Cole Tucker 1-for-3, RBI, BB
Will Craig 0-for-4
Game Recap: Beau Sulser was scheduled to start today, but instead he pitched an incredible game if relief, throwing 5.1 no-hit/shutout innings. Rule 5 pick Luis Oviedo joined Indianapolis on a “rehab” assignment, from his “injury” and started this contest. He allowed two earned runs over two innings, on three hits, one walk and four strikeouts. He was followed by the debut of Shelby Miller, who went 1.2 innings and gave up three runs on three hits and a walk. The performance by Sulser that followed couldn’t keep the Indians from a 5-2 loss. The opposing pitcher was former Pirates prospect Adrian Sampson, who has pitched parts of three seasons in the majors while battling around some major injuries. He gave up two runs over six innings and took the win. The offense managed two runs, with the first scoring on a solo homer by Christian Bethancourt, his fifth of the season. The other run scored on a bases loaded walk by Cole Tucker. Bethancourt had the only extra-base hit for Indianapolis. Kevin Kramer was traded just prior to the start of this game. Indianapolis has a 27-26 record.
ALTOONA
Starting Pitcher: Brad Case 4 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
Notable Performances:
Canaan Smith-Njigba 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Rodolfo Castro 1-for-4, HR, RBI, HBP
Mason Martin 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
Cal Mitchell 3-for-5, HR, RBI
Game Recap: Noe Toribio was the scheduled starter until a late change (at least on MiLB) led to a spot start by Brad Case. He had a rough first inning, giving up two home runs and three runs, but settled down to throw shutout ball over the next three innings. Will Gardner and Shea Murray each followed with three runs on five walks in one inning of work. Hunter Stratton then tossed two shutout innings, but Altoona lost 9-6 to Hartford. Altoona has a 29-23 record.
The Curve hitters used the home run to score their runs on Sunday night. Canaan Smith-Njigba hit his fourth home run, a two-run shot. Mason Martin hit his 13th homer, also a two-run shot. Cal Mitchell hit his ninth and Rodolfo Castro hit his 11th, both solo homers. Mitchell had three hits on the night. Smith-Njigba and Daniel Amaral each had two hits. Smith-Njigba also added two walks and he scored two runs.
Possible bad news for the Pirates, we will see…
Ben Cherington says that Roansy Contreras and Oneil Cruz are both coming to Pittsburgh to get checked out medically. Both of them felt something down in their forearm area.
Says he hopes and feels neither is a “big deal.”
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) July 4, 2021
GREENSBORO
Starting Pitcher: JC Flowers 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
Notable Performances:
Matt Fraizer 2-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI
Nick Gonzales 1-for-6, RBI
Liover Peguero 1-for-5, 2B
Fabricio Macias 2-for-5, RBI
Matt Gorski 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB
Jared Triolo 1-for-5, RBI
Lolo Sanchez 2-for-2, 2B, 5 Runs, 2 BB, 2 SB
Game Recap: JC Flowers pitched a strong game on Sunday and Lolo Sanchez had a special night at the plate, leading an offense where everyone contributed in a 13-5 victory. Flowers went six innings and gave up one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out seven batters. He maintained his 1.50 ERA since being promoted to Greensboro. Alex Manasa had a rough seventh by giving up three hits and a walk, but he allowed just one run. Garrett Leonard served up three runs in the eighth, before Bear Bellomy had a quiet ninth to end the night.
Sanchez reached base all five times he came to the plate and he scored every time. He had two hits, two walks and he reached on an error. He hit his tenth double and stole two bases, giving him 14 steals on the year. Everyone except Liover Peguero collected an RBI, but he hit his eighth double and scored a run. Matt Gorski hit his ninth double. Will Matthiessen hit two doubles, giving him seven on the season. Fabricio Macias had two hits and scored two runs. He’s batting .316 this year, with an .861 OPS. Matt Fraizer had two hits, including his tenth double, plus he drove in two runs. Greensboro had eight hits with runners in scoring position. Greensboro has a 31-23 record.
BRADENTON
Starting Pitcher: Jared Jones 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
Notable Performances:
Hudson Head 1-for-5, 2B
Endy Rodriguez 2-for-5, 2B
Jase Bowen 1-for-4, HR, RBI, SB, BB
Dariel Lopez 1-for-4, RBI
Maikol Escotto 2-for-5
Eli Wilson 1-for-4, RBI
Alexander Mojica 0-for-4
Sergio Campana 0-for-3
Game Recap: Jared Jones has been impressive this year, racking up strikeouts at a huge rate. He started off that way on Sunday, but ended up with a poor outing by his high standards. He struck out the side in the first, then gave up three runs on four hits and two walks over the next three innings. He finished with six strikeouts, which gives him 39 strikeouts in 22.2 innings this season, to go along with a 3.18 ERA. Domingo Gonzalez was out next and he had a great performance, with one unearned run on one hit, two walks and nine strikeouts. Oliver Mateo took over in the tenth after Bradenton took a 5-4 lead and he lost the game.
Fort Myers took a 3-0 lead in the third inning, then Bradenton came back with four runs in the fourth. Jase Bowen got one run back on his eighth home run of the season. The second run scored on an Eli Wilson ground out. Yoyner Fajardo hit a two-run homer to give the Marauders the lead. It was his first home run of the year. In the top of the tenth, Dariel Lopez gave Bradenton a temporary lead with a sacrifice fly that scored Hudson Head. The Marauders went just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. They finished week nine of the minor league season with a 35-19 record.
FCL PIRATES BLACK
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FCL PIRATES GOLD
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Game Recap: OFF DAY
