Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Tucupita Marcano Homers, Quinn Priester Struggles

ST LOUIS, MO - JUNE 13: Tucupita Marcano #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates at bat against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on June 13, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO - JUNE 13: Tucupita Marcano #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates at bat against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on June 13, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images)
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ST LOUIS, MO – JUNE 14: Tucupita Marcano #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats against the St. Louis Cardinals during game one of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium on June 14, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – JUNE 14: Tucupita Marcano #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats against the St. Louis Cardinals during game one of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium on June 14, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Quinn Priester has his first poor start at Double-A, Tucupita Marcano goes deep at Triple-A, and more in Thursday’s Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

Thursday night saw the top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates suffer a lopsided loss. The Triple-A Indianapolis Indians were defeated by the Toledo Mud Hens 12-3 on Thursday night, falling to 70-67 on the season.

Cody Bolton started for Indianapolis, allowing two hits, walking two and striking a batter out in 2 scoreless innings pitched. Travis MacGregor followed Bolton and struggled to find the strike zone, walking three batters and hitting a batter while allowing 4 runs in 1.1 innings pitched.

Cam Alldred followed MacGregor and struggled as well. Alldred allowed 5 runs on six hits, a walk, two home runs and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched. It was then Joe Jaques turn to throw batting practice as he allowed 3 runs on seven hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Zach Matson then finished things off with 1.1 scoreless innings pitched.

The Indianapolis offense was powered by a trio of solo home runs. Tucupita Marcano hit his 2nd Triple-A home run of the season, Josh VanMeter hit his 1st, and Jared Oliva hit his 7th of the season.

This was part of a 2-for-4 performance for Marcano. Blake Sabol and Mason Martin each collected a hit as well, the only other Indian base runners of the days were walks draw by Hoy Park, VanMeter and Oliva.

BRADENTON, FLORIDA – MARCH 16: Quinn Priester #61 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a picture during the 2022 Photo Day at LECOM Park on March 16, 2022 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
BRADENTON, FLORIDA – MARCH 16: Quinn Priester #61 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a picture during the 2022 Photo Day at LECOM Park on March 16, 2022 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Double-A Altoona blown out, shutout against the Reading Fightin Phils

Thursday was not a fun time at the ballpark for the Altoona Curve. The Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates fells behind 2-0 in the 2nd inning, that deficit grew to 5-0 in the 4th inning, and the game ended in a 9-0 loss for the Curve. With the loss, Altoona is now 69-65 on the season.

Quinn Priester started for the Curve and turned in his first poor start at the Double-A level. Priester pitched just 3.2 innings, allowing 7 runs on eight hits, two walks, a home run, and five strikeouts.

Despite the poor start, Priester still owns a strong 2.87 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 75.1 innings pitched across 15 starts for the Curve. Priester still has done enough to earn making a start in the majors this month.

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The Curve offense collected just six hits and one walk in the loss. Liover Peguero was 1-for-3 with a walk. Aaron Shackelford, Malcolm Nuñez, Lolo Sanchez, Josh Bissonette and Matt Fraizer all had a base hit for the Curve as well.

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