Pittsburgh Pirates Caffeine: Curve Win, Marte Goes Off; Lambo Still Hitless, Indy Winless

Another

season, another impressive left hander pitching well for the Altoona Curve. Yesterday, Aaron Thompson gave up just one hit in six innings against the Erie Sea Wolves to grab the victory in his debut. The Curve team ERA is 1.75 after three games.

Starling Marte went 4-for-5 for Altoona. Jared Hughes will pitch this afternoon for the Curve. Hughes went 12-8 with a 4.42 ERA in 2010.

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The Indianapolis Indians dropped another tough one to the Columbus Clippers. It’s been a crazy season. Already.

A recap: A day ago, the Tribe were down 3-2 in the ninth, and for the second straight day had a shot at Columbus closer Jensen Lewis.

On Thursday, the Indians had two on with just one out, but Lewis pulled a Houdini and held on for the save.

On Friday, the Indians did one better. The bases were drunk in the ninth with just one out. No problem. Gorkys Hernandez struck out and Pedro Ciriaco grounded out giving Lewis another sticky save for Columbus.

In yesterdays game, both teams had difficulty getting to the starters.  No wonder.  Justin Wilson and Alex White are two talented arms.  So most of the action came late in the game with the Clippers scored three in the eighth, got two more in the ninth and the clincher in extra. Alex Presley had tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a bomb.

Gorkys had two hits and a walk. Chase d’Arnaud had two hits and drove in two runs. Presley had a monster day with the homer and a triple, scored twice, and walked.

No surprise to us, Indians starter Justin Wilson was impressive early striking out five of the fist seven batters he faced. Wilson went six, allowed four hits and two earned runs. He did walk four and struckout six. The walks continue to hinder the talented lefty.   Last season in AA Wilson had defeated tough Clippers starter Alex White.

But yesterday White was just too tough early and the game was a bullpen battle which the Indians lost.

Like last season, Matt Hague is off to a hot start.   We would love to see him stay consistent and make things interesting.

Don’t look now, but the player we expected big things from in 2011 doesn’t have a hit yet. Andrew Lambo struckout three more times yesterday. But heh, Marte didn’t have a hit until he busted out yesterday.

It’s only a matter of time until Lambo breaks loose.   And I am going to love every minute of it.

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Bradenton got smacked by the Stone Crabs.   Quinton Miller got crushed.  He was lit up for 10 runs, all earned, on 11 hits in just 3.1 IP.   Miller walked two and hit two more batters from the Rays farm club.

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