Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Minute – September 14th

In this edition of the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Minute, we give you a playoff update on the teams in the playoffs. We will give you a look at how the teams have fared so far in the current series, give you a game recap and give you a look at what comes next.

West Virginia Black Bears, Short Season A Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates:

First Round – West Virginia Black Bears vs Williamsport Crosscutters – Best of Three Series

Game 1 – On Thursday, September 10th, The Black Bears picked up the win over the Crosscutters by a score of 2-1. For our complete recap, please click here.

Game 2 –  On Friday, September 11th, The Black Bears suffered a loss to the Crosscutters by a score of 3-1. Black Bears starting pitcher Bret Helton went four innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out three. Stephan Meyer went four innings in relief and allowed just one hit and struck out four. The Black Bears Offense was led by Christian Kelley with two hits and scored the lone run. Logan Hill added two hits including a double. Ty Moore, Daniel Arribas and Casey Hughston were the only others to collect a hit.

Game 3 – On Sunday, September 13th, The Black Bears picked up the win over the Crosscutters by a score of 4-0. Black Bears starting pitcher Brandon Waddell showed us why he was given the ball for the decisive final game of the series. In case you had forgotten, Brandon knows a thing or two about elimination games, Waddell picked up the win in final game of the College World Series for the Virginia Cavaliers back in June. Flash forward to tonight’s game, Brandon Waddell came out and delivered his best outing of the season while throwing six innings and allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out a season-high six batters. Reliever Cesilio Pimentel threw two innings in relief and allowed just one hit and struck out three. Julio Eusebio pitched the ninth and walked two but did not give up a run and kept the shutout intact. The Black Bears offense was led by Mitchell Tolman with three hits and scored two of the four runs. Carlos Munoz had the only other hit for the Black Bears, an RBI Single. Logan Hill also picked up an RBI when he reached on an error.

The Black Bears advance and will now face the Staten Island Yankees for the New York Penn League Championship Series.

Championship – West Virginia Black Bears vs Staten Island Yankees – Best of Three Series

Game 1 – Staten Island Yankees @ West Virginia Black Bears – 9-14-15 – 7:05 PM

Game 2 – West Virginia Black Bears @ Staten Island Yankees – 9-15-15 – 7:00 PM

Game 3 – West Virginia Black Bears @ Staten Island Yankees – 9-16-15 – 7:00 PM (if necessary)

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Indianapolis Indians, Triple A Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates:

First Round – Indianapolis Indians vs Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders – Best of Five Series

Game 1 – On Wednesday, September 9th, The Indians defeated the RailRiders by a score of 7-3. The Indians bats got things started in the bottom of the first. Alen Hanson singled and later stole second. Josh Bell then singled moving Hanson to third. Willy Garcy then singled scoring Hanson. John Bowker would then ground out scoring Bell. Keon Broxton would then walk and steal second. Tony Sanchez would walk to load the bases. Dan Gamache then cleared the bases on his double to left field. Gustavo Nunez singled scoring Gamache. The Indians led 6-0 after one inning. They would add another run in the eighth when Mel Rojas Jr. scored on a Dan Gamache sacrifice fly. The Indians offense scattered eleven hits on the night. Josh Bell, Keon Broxton and Gustavo Nunez each picked up two hits. Alen Hanson, Dan Gamache, John Bowker, Willy Garcia, and Gorkys Hernandez each collected one hit. Indians starting pitcher Wilfredo Boscan picked up the win while going seven innings and allowing just one run on seven hits, two walks and four strikeouts. A.J. Morris came on to pitch the eight but would allow two runs on two hits and be lifted for Jeremy Bleich. Bleich would go 0.2 innings and allow just one hit and struck out two. Josh Wall would pitch the final 1.1 innings and get the save.

Game 2 –  On Thursday, September 10th, The Indians defeated the RailRiders by a score of 6-1. The story of this night would be Indians starting pitcher Vance Worley. Worley went eight innings while allowing just one run on six hits, one walk and three strikeouts. Frank Herrmann pitched the final inning and struck out one. The offense was led by Gorkys Hernandez and Dan Gamache with two hits each. Steve Lombardozzi, Willy Garcia, Josh Bell, Keon Broxton and Tony Sanchez each added a hit.

Game 3 – On Friday, September 11th, The Indians defeated the RailRiders by a score of 4-2 to complete the series sweep. The Indians trailed by two going into the top of the ninth. Gorkys Hernandez got the Indians on the board when he was hit by a pitch with no outs, Dan Gamache on third, Steve Lombardozzi on second and Alen Hanson on first. Josh Bell would come to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to score Lombardozzi to tie the game at two. Willy Garcia would then single to load the bases for John Bowker. Bowker came through with a single to centerfield scoring Hanson and Hernandez to take a 4-2 lead. Blake Wood would pickup the save while pitching the bottom of the ninth. Wood would allow two hits, a walk and a strikeout. Tyler Glasnow made the start and went five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. A.J. Morris would pitch the middle three innings and allow three hits and three strikeouts on his way to the win. Alen Hanson led the way with two hits. Willy Garcia, John Bowker, Tony Sanchez and Steve Lombardozzi would each collect hits in the game.

The Indians will now face the winner of the Columbus Clippers/Norfolk Tides series. Columbus and Norfolk are tied 2-2 heading into the decisive Game 5 tonight.

This has been the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Minute for September 14th. Please make sure to keep an eye out for more Minor League Minute’s in the upcoming days as we keep you up to date on the playoffs!

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