Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Oneil Cruz Highlights Walk Off Sunday
By Marty Leap
![Indianapolis Triple-A short-stop Oneil Cruz (15) swings at the ball during the game agains the Omaha Storm Chasers on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at Victory Field in Indianapolis.Baseball 220405 Indianapolis Triple A Baseball Team Opener Omaha Storm Chasers At Indianapolis Triple A Baseball Team Indianapolis Triple-A short-stop Oneil Cruz (15) swings at the ball during the game agains the Omaha Storm Chasers on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at Victory Field in Indianapolis.Baseball 220405 Indianapolis Triple A Baseball Team Opener Omaha Storm Chasers At Indianapolis Triple A Baseball Team](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Frumbunter-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F18028489-850x560-fe623d18e18bc17ae5bd46b59ec16ffc.jpg)
Double-A Altoona gets a walk off hit in the 9th inning
Double-A Altoona also got in on the walk off fun with a 5-4 victory over New Hampshire Fisher Cats to improve to 7-8 on the season. Second baseman Andres Alvarez singled home Connor Scott, who was 2-for-3 with a walk, to secure the Curve victory. Alvarez is off to a strong start this season with a .926 OPS.
Jack Suwinski, who know owns a 1.107 OPS, was 1-for-4 with a double. Liover Peguero was 2-for-4 with a double, raising his OPS on the season to .906. Catcher Blake Sabol also continued his strong start to the season by going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Travis MacGregor started for the Curve, allowing 4 runs on 2 hits and 6 walks in 2.2 innings pitched. Omar Cruz walked 4, but struck out 6 in 3 hitless, scoreless innings pitched. After Enmanuel Mejia pitched 2 scoreless innings, Tahnaj Thomas continued his strong start to the season by striking out a batter in 1.1 scoreless innings.
It is encouraging to see the results from Thomas out of the bullpen this season. In 6.1 innings pitched this season he has allowed a run, on a solo home run, to go with 2 hits, a walk, and 6 strikeouts. While Thomas may no longer be the top 100 starting pitching prospect he once was, he could still have a big future with the Pirates as a relief pitcher.