Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Travis Swaggerty Home Run & More
Travis Swaggerty hits a home run at Triple-A, Carmen Mlodzinski turns in a strong start at Double-A and more in Wednesday’s Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup
Wednesday night the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians started a four-game series against the Iowa Cubs. The Indians took a 4-1 loss, falling to 38-40 on the season, in a game that saw former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steven Brault pick up a victory for Iowa.
Jerad Eickhoff started for the Indians and turned in a strong start. Eickhoff pitched 7 innings, allowing a run on 4 hits, no walks and 7 strikeouts. Lefty Aaron Fletcher followed Eickhoff. Despite allowing a hit and walking a pair, Fletcher pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Cam Alldred was next up for the Indians and let things get away. Alldred allowed a hit, walked a batter, and recorded just one out. He would all 2 runs, and Cristofer Melendez pitched after him allowing a solo home run.
Kevin Newman continued his rehab assignment, battling leadoff and playing second base for Indy. Newman went 1-for-4 on the night. Also on a rehab assignment, Jake Marisnick started in left field going 0-for-2 with a walk.
Ji-Hwan Bae went 2-for-4 as the team’s designated hitter. Travis Swaggerty was 1-for-4 with a solo home run. This gives him 7 home runs this season at Triple-A. Hopefully, the Pittsburgh Pirates will give Swaggerty a real look at the major league level soon.
Double-A Altoona doubles up Akron for a victory
Led by another strong start from Carmen Mlodzinksi, the Double-A Altoona Curve defeated the Akron RubberDucks 6-3 on Wednesday night. With the win, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates got back to .500 on the season at 38-38.
Mlodzinski started for the Curve and pitched 5 innings. The righty allowed 2 runs on 6 hits, a walk and 6 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. He now owns a 4.12 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched this season.
Bear Bellomy followed Mlodzinski and pitched 3 innings. Bellomy allowed a run on a walk, 3 hits and 3 strikeouts in his 3 innings of work. Tyler Samaniego would finish things off for the Curve. Samaniego pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning, lowering his ERA at Double-A to 3.21 while picking up his 5th save with the Curve.
High-A Greensboro doubles up Greenville in a victory
The High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, like Double-A Altoona, doubled up their opponent on Wednesday night. Following an 8-4 victory over the Greenville Drive the Grasshoppers are now 33-43 on the season.
Yoyner Fajardo started at second base for the Grasshoppers, going 2-for-4 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored. Endy Rodriguez started behind the plate, going 2-for-5 with his q6th double of the season a run scored and 2 RBI.
First baseman Jacob Gonzalez was 1-for-5 with a RBI, and third baseman Darrel Lopez was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Starting in right field, Sammy Siani was 2-for-4 with his 7th home run of the season, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Hudson Head also had a hit while drawing a walk.
Garrett Leonard served as an opener for the Grasshoppers, allowing a solo home run, walking 2 and strikeout 3 in 2 innings pitched. Sean Sullivan then went 5 innings for the Grasshoppers. Sullivan allowed 3 runs on on 4 hits, 3 walks and a home runs and 3 strikeouts.
Michell Miliano, acquired from the San Diego Padres in the Adam Frazier trade, struck out a batter in a 1-2-3 inning pitched. WAndi Montout finished the night off for Greensboro, pitching a 1-2-3 9th inning.
Low-A Bradenton picks up a 7-2 victory following a rain delay
Much like the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Low-A Bradenton Marauders dealt with a rain delay on Wednesday night. Unlike the Pittsburgh Pirates, following the rain deal the Marauders were victorious. Following a 7-2 victory over the Lakeland Flying Tigers, the Marauders are now 35-41 on the season.
Making a rehab start after a pair of spring training injuries that had him sidelined since April, Greg Allen started in left field and bat leadoff for the Marauders. Allen went 1-for-2 with a run scored for the Marauders.
Tsung-Che Cheng was 2-for-5. Jase Bowen was 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored, 3 RBI and is 9th home run on the season. Rodolfo Nolasco was 1-for-5 with a RBI, and designated hitter Wyatt Hendrie was 2-for-4 with a solo home run, his 3rd of the season, a walk, RBI and a run scored.
Joel’s Del Rosario started for Bradenton, allowing a solo home run and striking out 3 in 3 innings pitched. Kelvin Disla walked a pair in a scoreless innings pitched. After Mitchell Miller pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief, Jack Hartman pitched a 1-2-3 innings. After Yunior Thibo allowed an unearned run, Dante Mendoza struck out 2 in a 1-2-3 inning, lowering his ERA on the Eason to 1.27.