Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Anthony Solometo Shoves for Altoona, Multi-Hit Day for Braylon Bishop, More
Who shined in the Pirate farm system on Friday night?
5 shutout innings from Anthony Solometo, a multi-hit game for Braylon Bishop, and more in today's Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup
The top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, had an offensive explosion. After scoring 18 runs on 18 hits the Indians found themselves as 18-5 victors over the Columbus Clippers. Indy is now 32-40 on the season.
Chris Owings went 1-for-4, but drew two walks, drove in a run, and scored three runs. Endy Rodriguez and Jared Triolo both continue to push for a MLB promotion. Rodriguez was 3-for-5 with his 11th double of the season, three RBI and two runs scored. Triolo went 4-for-5 with two triples, three runs scored, and two RBI.
Aaron Shackelford was 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI. Shortstop Alika Williams went 1-for-3 with two walks, three runs scored, three RBI, and his 1st home run since joining the Pirate organization.
In his second Triple-A start Kyle Nicolas got lit up again. Nicolas allowed 5 runs on five hits, two walks, and six strikeouts in 3 innings pitched. Nicolas now owns a 12.86 ERA with Triple-A Indianapolis. John O'Reilly, Colin Selby, and Chase De Jong followed Nicolas, and they each pitched 2 scoreless innings.
Anthony Solometo shoves, bullpen costs Curve
Double-A Altoona scored early and often on Friday night. They also got a terrific starting pitching performance. However, a bullpen implosion negated all of it in a 7-6 extra innings loss. Following the 7-6 loss against the Bowie Baysox, the Curve are now 33-33 on the season.
Lefty Anthony Solometo started for the Curve and continues to look like a pitcher who is developing into one of the best in the organization, and one of the best left-handed pitching prospects in all of baseball.
Making his second Double-A start the 20-year-old Solometo pitched 5 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits, walked a batter, and struck out six. Solometo threw 57 of 86 pitches for strikes and saw his fastball reach the middle 90s.
After Solometo's night ended things went south for Altoona's pitching. Noe Toribio allowed three hits, including a solo home run, while walking a batter and striking out two in 2/3 of an inning pitched. Tyler Samaniego pitched 1.1 innings allowing 2 runs on three hits and two strikeouts.
Oliver Garcia pitched the 8th inning and allowed 3 runs on five hits. Garcia also allowed a home run while striking out one. Tahnaj Thomas pitched 2 innings allowing a run on a hit, four walks, and a strikeout.
At the top of the Altoona lineup Liover Peguero was 0-for-4, but he did draw a pair of walks and scored a run. Tsung-Che Cheng was 0-for-3 with two walks and a RBI in his Double-A debut. For those who wonder about such things, Peguero was at shortstop and Cheng was at second base.
Catcher Abrahan Gutierrez was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Matt Fraizer was 2-for-4 with a walk, run scored, and a RBI. Jacob Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with his 5th home run of the season, a run scored, and three RBI.
Greensboro suffers a 1-run loss
Falling in a 4-0 hole through the first 2 innings proved to be too much for High-A Greensboro to come back from. The Grasshoppers suffered a 6-5 loss against the Greenville Drive. With the loss, Greensboro is now 36-29 on the season.
Eddy Yean started for Greensboro and struggled. In 2 innings pitched, he allowed 4 runs on five hits, a walk, and two strikeouts. Valentin Linarez pitched 2 scoreless innings allowing a hit, issuing a walk, and striking a batter out.
Yunior Thibo struggled for the Grasshoppers. In the 5th inning he allowed 2 runs on two hits, a home run, and two strikeouts. Jake Stevenson and Dante Mendoza each pitched 2 scoreless innings. Mendoza struck out four.
Tres Gonzalez hit lead off and went 1-for-4. Maikol Escotto was 4-for-4 with his 6th home run of the season and two runs scored. Jase Bowen was 1-for-4 with his 15th home run of the season and Brenden Dixon was 1-for-4 with a 3-run blast, his 4th of the season.
Bradenton blows out Lakeland
The Low-A Bradenton Marauders rolled past the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Firday night. The Maruader defeated the Flying Tigers 12-4 to improve to 36-30 on the season.
Wilber Dotel started for Bradenton and turned in a strong start. In 5 innings pitched, the righty allowed just 1 run on three hits, no walks, and four strikeouts. Dotel threw 43 of 65 pitches for strikes and induced five ground ball outs to two fly ball outs.
Elijah Birdsong followed Dotel. Birdsong allowed 3 runs on three hits, two walks, and two strikeouts in 2 innings pitched. Geronimo Franzua and Carlos Lomeli each pitched an inning. Franzua and Lomeli each pitched a scoreless inning.
Enmanuel Terrero continued to roll at the top of the lineup going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Jack Brannigan was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBI, and his 6th home run of the season.
Alexander Mojica started at first base and had a huge game. Mojica was 3-for4 with two home runs, giving him 6 on the season, three RBI, two walks, and four runs scored. Rodolfo Nolasco was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two walks. Catcher Geovanny Planchart went 2-for-4 with a run scored, RBI, and a walk.
Offense struggles for FCL Pirates
Friday afternoon the FCL Pirates lost to the FCL Orioles 6-1. With the loss, they are now 10-4 this season.
Braylon Bishop started in center field and went 3-for-3 with his 2nd stolen base of the season. In 33 FCL plate appearances this season Bishop now owns a .757 OPS. First baseman Eddy Rodriguez was 1-for-3 and Luis Tejada was 1-for-2 with a walk. The only other Pirate base runners were Lonnie White Jr. and Juan Jerez who each drew a walk.
Isaias Uribe started for the FCL Pirates. Uribe allowed 4 runs, only 2 of which were earned, on three hits, four walks, and no strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched. Jackson Grounds followed Uribe, allowing two hits and striking a batter out in 1.2 scoreless innings pitched.
Roelmy Garcia got the first two outs of the 5th inning, but allowed a hit and walked three on his way to allowing 2 runs. Andy Maldonado pitched the final 1.1 innings of the game, he did not allow a hit or a walk and struck out two.