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

Henry Davis hitting his first Triple-A home run and a much needed strong start from Bubba Chandler highlight Tuesday's Pittsburgh Pirates minor league action

Tuesday night saw the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians defeat the Iowa Cubs 7-4. With the win, the top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates improved to 29-33 on the season.

Starting in right field, Henry Davis hit his first home run at the Triple-A level. A 2-run shot, that made the score 5-0 Indy.

The Davis home run came after Jared Triolo hit a solo home run in the 2nd inning. This was part of a three hit performance for Triolo. At the top of the lineup Nick Gonzales was 2-for-3 with two walks and a RBI, Aaron Shackelford was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.

Quinn Priester, who struggled in his last outing, turned in a strong bounce back start for the Indians. Priester allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on four hits, four walks, five strikeouts, and a home run in 6.2 innings pitched.

It wasn't the prettiest start from Priester, but he held the opposing lineup to just 1 earned run in 6.2 innings pitched. With the Pirates in dire need of starting pitching help, it can not hurt to give Priester an opportunity in the majors.

Lefty Cam Alldred followed Priester recording a strikeout to end the 7th inning. After Yerry De Los Santos allowed 2 runs in the 8th inning, Carmen Mlodzinski struck a batter out in a scoreless 9th to lower his ERA on the season to 3.16. Hopefully, Mlodzinski will join the Pirate bullpen soon.

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.