Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Oneil Cruz Highlights Walk Off Sunday
It was a walk off Sunday for the minor league affiliates of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Sunday afternoon saw multiple walk off hits across the farm system of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The four minor league affiliates of the Pittsburgh Pirates went 3-1 on Sunday afternoon with each of the victories coming in walk off fashion.
After a slow start to the season Oneil Cruz is starting to heat up at Triple-A. His latest escapade including a 2-run home run that was a walk off missile on Sunday afternoon in an 8-7 victory for Indianapolis to get them back over .500 on the season at 9-8.
In his return to the Triple-A level Hoy Park played both second base and shortstop, going 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run and 3 RBI. First baseman Mason Martin and infielder Rodolfo Castro both continued their strong starts to the season. Martin was 2-for-5 with 2 RBI and his 7th double of the season while Castro went 1-for-3. Right fielder Bligh Madris and cacher Michael Pérez each had a hit as well. Pérez also drew a pair of walks.
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.
Greensboro walks it off in extra innings
Following a walk off victory of their own the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers are now 6-9 (nice) on the season. The Grasshoppers walked it off against the Aberdeen IronBirds 4-3 in 10 innings played.
Yoyner Fajardo singled in Maikol Escotto to end the game in Grasshopper victory. Batting at the top of the lineup and playing second base, Fajardo went 2-for-5 on the day to raise his OPS to .866.
Center fielder Sammy Siani was 1-for-3 with a walk, while designated hitter Abrahan Gutierrez went 1-for-4 with his 6th double of the season. Endy Rodriguez started at catcher and a rare poor game going 0-for-4, outfielder Hudson Head was also held hitless as he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. Left fielder Jack Herman went 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI.
Even though it was Fajardo who had the walk off hit, arguably the top offensive performer of the day for the Grasshoppers was first baseman Ernny Ordonez. Ordonez was 2-for-4 with a solo home run, his 2nd home run of the season, and a pair of RBI.
Starting pitcher Nick Garcia allowed an unearned run on a hit, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts in 3 innings pitched. Sean Sullivan allowed a run on 2 hits, a walk and 5 strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched. Eddy Yean continued his transition to the starting rotation by walking a batter and striking out a pair in 1.1 hitless, scoreless innings of relief.
Ricky DeVito finished the day off for the Grasshoppers. In 2 innings pitched DeVito allowed a run on 3 hits and 2 walks. However, he also struck out a pair and picked up the win for the Grasshoppers.
4-run 8th inning rally not enough for the Bradenton Marauders
The only Pirate minor league affiliate to come up short on Sunday afternoon was the Low-A Bradenton Marauders. Following a 7-4 loss against the Dayton Tortugas, the Marauders are now 8-7 on the season.
Joelvis Del Rosario started for Bradenton. Del Rosario allowed 2 runs, just 1 earned, on 5 hits, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in 3.2 innings pitched. Cristian Charle and Junior Thibo allowed 5 runs on 2 hits, 5 walks, and no strikeouts in a combined 1.0 inning pitched.
For as much as Charle and Thibo struggled, it was the complete opposite for Denny Roman and Carlos Lomeli. Roman and Lomeli pitched a combined 3.1 innings, neither batter allowed a hit or walked a batter. They struck out a combined 5 batters.
The struggles of Charle and Thibo put the Marauders in a big hole. Entering the 8th inning they were trialing 7-0, but they scratched out 4 runs in the 8th inning. Catcher Jakob Goldfarb, left fielder Luke Brown and designated hitter Jacob Gonzalez drew three consecutive walks to start the inning.
Shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng then hit a bases clearing triple. Cheng’s 1st triple of the season cut Dayton’s lead to 7-3. Right fielder Jase Bowen then singled home Cheng, making the score 7-4. After Alexander Mojica walked, Brenden Dixon hit into a double play to kill the rally.