Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Henry Davis Hits First Triple-A Home Run & More

Double-A Altoona gets doubled up

Tuesday night the Double-A Altoona Curve did battle with one of the best teams in the Eastern League - the Somerset Patriots. To kick off their series the Curve lost to the Patriots 8-4, falling to 30-26 on the season.

Liover Peguero hit lead off and went 1-for-5. Peguero's lone hit of the game was a 2-run home run, his 7th of the season. Catcher Abrahan Gutierrez also got on the home run train going 2-for-4 with a solo blast, his 2nd since being promoted to Double-A.

Brad Case started for Altoona and allowed 2 runs on four hits and four strikeouts in 3 innings pitched. He also committed an error which led to one of his runs being unearned. Omar Cruz followed Case and struggled. In 1.2 innings pitched Cruz allowed 3 runs on two hits, two walks, two strikeouts, and a wild pitch.

Lefty Braeden Ogle allowed a hit and struck out a pair in 1.1 scoreless innings pitched. Cam Junker allowed two hits and struck a batter out in a scoreless 7th inning. Juan Minaya then allowed 3 runs on four htis and a home run in the 8th inning.

Greensboro blows out Greenville

The High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers blew out the Greenville Drive 12-2. With the win, the Grasshoppers are now 32-24 on the season. Setting the tone in the victory was starting pitcher Bubba Chandler.

Chandler turned in a strong start he needed in a big way, allowing just 1 run on six hits, a walk, and eight strikeouts in 6 innings pitched. He hit a batter and threw 54 of 86 pitches for strikes while recording both two ground ball and fly ball outs.

Entering the season Chandler was viewed as one of the most talented and fast rising pitching prospects in the Pirate farm system. Despite the strong start, his ERA on the season is 6.36 to go with 33:59 BB:K raito. Hopefully, this start can help get Chandler trending in the right direction.

Will Matthiessen hit his 7th home run of the season and drove in three runs for Greensboro while Brenden Dixon hit his 8th. This was part of a multi-hit night for Dixon who walked twice, scored twice, and drove in three runs.

Center fielder Tres Gonzalez was 1-for-4 with two walks, two RBI, a double, and a run scored. Shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng continues to do nothing but hitting going 3-for-5 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored. Sammy Siani was 2-for-5 with a double and a RBI, catcher Wyatt Hendrie also went 2-for-5 and drove in a run.

Bradenton pitching struggles in loss

In a 9-3 loss against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, pitching struggled early and often for the Low-A Bradenton Marauders. With the loss, the Marauders have fallen to 30-28 on the season.

Carlos Lomeli started for Bradenton and allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, in 2 innings pitched. Owen Kellington followed with 1.1 innings, allowing 4 runs on three hits, two walks, and two home runs allowed. Elijah Birdsong also allowed 3 runs in his 2 innings pitched.

One positive note with the pitching, however, was righty Ryan Harbin. After walking a batter and striking out a pair in a hitless, scoreless inning pitched, Harbin now owns a 1.13 ERA and a 9:31 BB:K ratio in 24 innings pitched this season. You would like to see Harbin get an opportunity at High-A soon.

Outfielder Enmanuel Terrero continues to emerge as a force in the Bradenton lineup. After going 3-for-4 with his 3rd home run of the season and a walk, he is hitting .314 with an .861 OPS this season. Rodolfo Nolasco was 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored. Jesus Castillo went 2-for-4 with two walks and a run scored, while Geovanny Planchart was 1-for-3 with a walk.