Pittsburgh Pirates: Big Day for Catching Prospects & More

(Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 22: Jerad Eickhoff #43 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on June 22, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 22: Jerad Eickhoff #43 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on June 22, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

It was a big day for Pittsburgh Pirates catching prospects, Bubba Chandler’s Low-A pitching debut rained out and more in Thursday’s minor league recap

Thursday was a rough day for the Pittsburgh Pirates after suffering a second gut punch extra innings loss in as many days against the Miami Marlins. It was also a rough day for their Triple-A affiliate the Indianapolis Indians.

Triple-A Indy was shutout by the Columbus Clippers on Thursday. Following a 7-0 loss against the Clippers, the Indians are now three games under .500 on the season at 41-44. They now trail their seven-game series in Columbus two to one.

Jerad Eickhoff started for the Indians. Eickhoff pitched 6 innings, allowing 2 runs on three hits, a walk, two home runs and two strikeouts. John O’Reilly followed and struggled mightily. O’Reilly allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, on four hits, two walks and no strikeouts in the 7th inning. Zach Matson then walked a batter in a scoreless 8th inning pitched.

As one would expect in a shutout loss it was a rough day for the Indianapolis lineup. Ji-Hwan Bae started at second base and went 1-for-4. Bligh Madris was in left field and went 1-for-3, third baseman Hoy Park and right fielder Jared Oliva were both 1-for-3 as well. That was it for Indian base runners.

(Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliates roll to a 8-3 victory

The Double-A Altoona Curve defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels 8-3 on Thursday. With the win, the Curve got back to .500 on the season improving to 42-42.

Designated hitter Andres Alvarez bat leadoff for the Curve, going 1-for-4 with a walk, a RBI and two runs scored. Alvarez also hit a solo home run, his 13th blast of the season. Alvarez could be close to a promotion to Triple-A.

Blake Sabol also hit a home run in the victory. Sabol’s 10th home run of the season was a 2-run home run. Second baseman Aaron Shackelford was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, giving him 15 on the season, a run scored and a RBI. Matt Fraizer and a hit, a walk and two runs scored, and Liover Peguero was 1-for-3 with a RBI.

Aaron Shortridge started for the Curve, allowing 2 runs on five hits, two walks, a home run, and four strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Jeffrey Passantino pithed 2 innings, allowing a solo home run and striking out three.

Cristofer Melendez followed with 2 innings of his own. Melendez did not allow a run, surrendering a hit, walking a batter and striking out three. Tahnaj Thomas continued his hot stretched by striking out a pair in a scoreless 9th inning.

North Oconee’s Bubba Chandler throws a pitch during Game 1 of a GHSA Class 4A semifinal doubleheader in Bogart on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Benedictine won Game 1, 6-5.News Joshua L Jones
North Oconee’s Bubba Chandler throws a pitch during Game 1 of a GHSA Class 4A semifinal doubleheader in Bogart on Saturday, May 15, 2021. Benedictine won Game 1, 6-5.News Joshua L Jones /

A 1-run victory for High-A, while Low-A is rained out

The High-A Greensboro Grasshopper improved to 35-47 on the season with a 6-5 victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones on Thursday. Adrian Florencio started for the Grasshoppers, allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, on five hits, two walks and a home run in 3 innings pitched.

Jack Carey followed Florencio, walking three and striking a batter out in 1.1 scoreless innings pithed. Making his High-A debut, right Cristian Charle walked a batter and struck a batter out in 1.1 scoreless, hitless innings pitched. Eddy Yean and Dante Mendoza each pitched a scoreless inning, Oliver Mateo allowed a run while striking a batter out in the 9th inning.

Leadoff hitter Yoyner Fajardo was 2-for-5 with a RBI. First baseman Jacob Gonzalez was also 2-for-5, hitting his 9th High-A double and scoring a run. Hudson Head was 1-for-3 and Dariel Lopez had a hit as well.

It was also a big game for Grasshopper catchers. Abrahan Gutierrez served as the team’s designated hitter, going 1-for-3 with his 6th home run of the season and three RBI. Endy Rodriguez started at catcher, going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored raising his OPS on the season on the season to .839.

Next. Rodolfo Nolasco Heating Up. dark

Thursday night was supposed to be an exciting night for the Low-A Bradenton Marauders. Highly touted two-way prospect Bubba Chandler, who made an impact with his bat in his Low-A debut on Tuesday night, was supposed to make his first start on the mound for the Marauders. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other ideas and the game was rained out. The Marauders will now plat a doubleheader on Friday,

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