Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Anthony Solometo Shoves Again, Shalin Polanco Stays Hot, More

Anthony Solometo keeps dominating at Double-A, Ryan Harbin keeps flying under the radar at Low-A, and more in today's Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

The top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates had to deal with rain just as their parent club did on Saturday. Despite a rain delay, the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians rallied with a big 9th inning to defeat the Louisville Bats.

Going to the top of the 9th inning the game was tied at 8. Ryan Vilade walked to start the inning and scored on a 2-run home run by Cal Mitchell, his 8th of the season. Alika Williams singled and scored on a Chris Owings double. Vinny Capra doubled, Miguel Andújar and Canaan Smith-Njigba singled, then Vilade doubled. When the dust settled, Indy led 14-8.

Quinn Priester started for Indy and pitched poorly. In 5 innings pitched, Priester allowed 4 runs on five hits, three walks, a home run, and five strikeouts. Priester threw 49 of 85 pitches for strikes while recording seven ground ball outs.

Continuing his rehab assignment, Rob Zastryzny followed Priester. Zastryzny recorded just two outs while allowing 3 runs on two hits and he hit a batter. When Zastryzny is healthy, he should be designated for assignment instead of returning to the majors. John O'Reilly pitched 1.1 innings, allowing a solo home run, walking a batter, and striking a batter out.

After the 7th inning the game went into a rain delay. After the delay, Daniel Zamora and Hunter Stratton combined to pitch a scoreless 8th inning. This sent the game to the 9th inning tied at 8 runs each. Stratton would also pitch a scoreless 9th inning for Indy.

Endy Rodriguez finished the game 1-for-5 with a walk and a run scored. Continuing his rehab assignment, Ji Man Choi was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Andújar was 2-for-6 with a run scored and two RBI. Williams went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI, and a run scored.

Smith-Njigba was 2-for-5 with a double, walk, two runs scored, and three RBI. Mitchell finished 2-for-3 with a home run, double, a run scored, and four RBI.

Anthony Solometo continues to impress at Double-A

Led by a lights out starting pitching performance, the Double-A Altoona Curve defeated the Harrisburg Senators 4-2. With the win, the Curve are now 35-37 on the season as they attempt to claw their way back to .500.

Lefty Anthony Solometo started for the Curve. Despite being one of the youngest players in the Eastern League, Solometo continues to dominate on the mound. Solometo allowed just one hit, walked a batter, and struck out five in 5 scoreless innings pitched.

Solometo has now pitched 15 innings in three starts for Altoona. In these 15 innings pitched he's walked just three batters, struck out 18, has allowed just nine base hits, and owns a 1.20 ERA. He continues to rocket up prospect boards.

Bear Bellomy pitched a 1-2-3 6th inning and Oliver Garcia allowed a hit while striking out a pair in a scoreless 7th inning. Tahnaj Thomas got the ball in the 8th inning and walked all four batters he faced, leading to him being charged with 2 runs. Lefty Tyler Samaniego replaced Thomas, allowing a hit, issuing a walk, and striking out three in 2 scoreless innings pitched to pick up his 5th save of the season.

Offensively, it was a rare poor night for Liover Peguero who went 0-for-5. Matt Fraizer was 1-for-3 with a walk and Andres Alvarez was 1-for-3 with a double, scoring a pair of runs. Matt Gorski was 2-for-4 with a solo home run, his 10th of the season. Mason Martin hit his 13th home run of the season and Tsung-Che Cheng was 1-for-4.

6-3 victory for Low-A Bradenton

Low-A Bradenton defeated the Clearwater Threshers 6-3. With the win, the Marauders are now 39-33 on the season. Bradenton scored at least one run in four straight innings and did not allow a run until the 9th inning on their way to their victory.

Derek Diamond started for Bradenton and pitched 6 scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out four batters. Diamond now owns a 3.94 ERA in 61.2 innings pitched at the Low-A level this season.

All season long Ryan Harbin has pitched well and flown under the radar. That continued on Saturday as he pitched 2 perfect innings of relief, stirking out five of the six batters he faced. Harbin now owns a 0.85 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 31.2 innings pitched. Harbin needs to be promoted to High-A soon.

Julian Bosnic started the 9th inning but struggled. He recorded two outs while allowing 3 runs on three hits, two walks, and no strikeouts. Elijah Birdsong was then summonded. Birdsong got the final out of the game to pick up his 3rd save of the season.

Jesus Castillo went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Shalin Polanco was 2-for-3 with a walk, his 14th double of the season, two RBI, and a run scored. Termarr Johnson was 0-for-4 with a RBI, Alexander Mojica was 1-for-4, and Geovanny Planchart went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

FCL Pirates suffer lopsided loss

Saturday afternoon was a poor one for the pitching staff and defense of the FCL Pirates. They allowed 11 runs, but on just nine hits, while committing three errors in an 11-6 loss against the FCL Orioles. With the loss, the Pirates are now 14-6 on the season.

Cristopher Cruz started in the FCL and struggled. The righty pitched just 1.1 innings, allowing 3 runs on three hits, a walk, a home run, three strikeouts, and he hit a batter. Gilberto Alcala followed, allowing a solo home run while walking and striking out two in 3.2 innings pitched.

Andres Silvera struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 6th inning. Eliecer Romero struggled and was let down by his defense, allowing 6 runs, 3 earned, on three hits, a walk, and a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning pitched. Keneth Quintanilla finished things off allowing a run on two hits and two strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched.

Shortstop Javier Rivas went 3-for-5 with a triple and a run scored. Lonnie White Jr. was 1-for-2 to raise his batting average to .317 and OPS to .856. First baseman Esmerlyn Valdez was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored. Center fielder Braylon Bishop was 1-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI, and Axiel Plaz served as the DH going 1-for-4 with a run scored.