Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Jared Triolo, Matt Fraizer Home Runs & More
Triple-A Indianapolis was rained out, Jared Triolo and Matt Fraizer hit home runs at Double-A while Carmen Mlodzinski turned in a strong start and more in Sunday’s Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup
The Double-A Altoona Curve will enter the All-Star Break at 45-42 overall. This gives them the best record in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system, and comes after an 8-3 victory over the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Sunday afternoon.
Carmen Mlodzinski started for the Curve, allowing 2 runs on four hits, a home run and four walks in 5 innings pitched. This was a strong bounce back start for Mlodzinski who had struggled in his last outing.
Austin Roberts followed Mlodzinski by striking a batter out in a 1-2-3 6th inning. Cristofer Melendez then struck out the side in a 1-2-3 7th inning. Melendez now has 49 strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched this season.
Lefty J.C. Flowers struck a batter out, walked a batter and allowed an unearned run in his inning of work. Bear Bellomy then retired the Flying Squirrels in order while picking up a strikeout in the 9th inning.
Jared Triolo and Matt Frazier led the way for the Curve offense. Triolo was 1-for-5 with a two-run home run, his 4th of the season. Fraizer hit his 5th home run of the season, also a two-run blast. Blake Sabol and Aaron Shackelford were both 1-for-4 with a run scored, Shackelford also drew a walk. Center field Connor Scott was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Greensboro Grasshoppers limping into the break
The High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Greensboro Grasshoppers, were defeated by the Brooklyn Cyclones 5-1. With the loss, the Grasshoppers are now just a porous 36-49 on the season.
Nick Garcia worked as an opener for the Grasshoppers, allowing a hit and striking out the side in a scoreless inning. Righties Santiago Florez and Jack Carey each followed with a scoreless inning pitched.
While Ricky DeVito struck out the side in his inning of work he also allowed 2 runs. Dante Mendoza allowed a run in the 5th inning and Cristian Charle pitched a scoreless 6th inning. Cam Junker started the 7th inning, but allowed 2 runs on three hits and a walk before being pulled for Domingo Gonzalez who got the final out of the 8th inning.
Shortstop Dariel Lopez was 1-for-4 for the Grasshoppers and designated hitter Abrahan Gutierrez was 1-for-3 with a walk. Greensboro only had two other hits, both of which were recorded by right fielder Luke Brown. Brown went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a RBI.
Bradenton Marauders split a doubleheader on Sunday, putting them at 43-42 on the season
Following a week full of inclement weather, the Low-A Bradenton Marauders played a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. Game one saw the Marauders pick up a 1-0 victory over the Jupiter Hammerheads.
Their 1-0 victory came via a walk off sacrifice fly by Bubba Chandler. This was Chandler’s 1st RBI since being promoted to the Low-A level and came after Juan Jerez had tripled. Jase Bowen had a hit and drew a walk in the victory, a Randy Romero single was the only other Marauder hit.
Carlos Jimenez started game one, allowing three hits, walking three, and striking out five in 5 scoreless innings pitched. Jimenez now owns a 3.40 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 50.1 innings pitched this season. Sergio Umana pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and Johan Montero got the final two outs of the 7th inning.
Game two of the doubleheader saw the Marauders fall to the Hammerheads 5-3. Chandler picked up his 2nd Low-A RBI. Jase Bowen started in center field, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, his 15th double and a RBI. Sergio Campana was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Shortstop Maikol Escotto also drove in a run while going 1-for-3. This raised his OPS on the season with the Marauders to .831. After struggling with High-A to start the season and then spending time in the Florida Complex League, it is very encouraging to see Escotto bouncing back with Bradenton.
Luis Peralta started game two for the Marauders, allowing 2 runs on four hits, a walk, a home run, and five strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Carlos Campos pitched 2 innings, allowing an unearned run due to a throwing error by Campana and striking out four. Yoelvis Reyes allowed 2 runs on four hits in the 7th inning.