Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Home Runs for Lover Peguero, Canaan Smith-Njigba, & More

Home runs carry Double-A Altoona to extra innings victory

It took a little bit of everything from Double-A Altoona to secure a victory on Wednesday night. A 3-run 1st inning, home runs, extra innings, but, in the end, the Curve improved to 11-10 on the season with a 5-4 victry over the Richmond Flying Squirrels in 10 innings.

It did not take the Curve long to get going offensively. Liover Peguero singled to start the game and scored on a Domingo Leyba base hit. Matt Gorski then laucnhed a 2-run home run, his 3rd of the season, to cap off a 3-run 1st inning.

Altoona scored again in the 5th inning when Peguero hit a solo home run, his 1st of the season. This would be it for the Curve offense until the 10th inning. After Peguero advanced to third base on a fly out by Henry Davis, he came around to score on a single by Leyba. This gave the Curve a 5-4 lead they would not relinquish.

Local product Justin Meis started for the Curve but ptiched just 1 inning. He allowed a run on hit, three walks, two strikeouts, and 39 pitches. Travis MacGregor followed Meis, allowing 2 runs on a hit, which was a home run, a walk, and five strikeouts in 3 innings pitched.

Matt Eckelman also pitched 3 innings of relief. Eckelman did not allow a run, while allowing just one hit, issuing a walk, and striking out a pair. Tyler Samaniego walked a batter and struck out three in a hitless, scoreless 8th inning. Noe Toribio hit a batter, threw a wild pitch, walked a batter, and allowed a run on a hit with four strikeouts in 2 innings pitched.

Greensboro surrenders winning run in the 8th inning

The High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers fell to 14-9 on the season with a 7-6 loss against the Winston Salem Dash. Outfielder Sammy Siani led the way for Greensboro's offense in the loss, going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and his 1st home run of the season.

Mike Jarvis and Abrahan Gutierrez were both 0-for-5 at the top of the lineup, but Jarvis did drive in a pair of runs. Jackson Glenn was 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored, Maikol Escotto was 2-for-3 with a double while driving in three runs.

After Greensboro scored twice in both the 7th and 8th innings to tie the game at 6, they could not hold it in the bottom half of the 8th inning. Brad Case allowed a one-out single and issued a walk with two outs. Santiago Florez replaced Case and issued a walk of his own before surrendering a single to put the Dash ahead 7-6.

While Glenn drew a two-out walk in the 9th inning, the other three Greensboro batters were retired to end the game.

6th and 7th inning issues sink Low-A Bradenton

It was not a good night on Wednesday for the Pittsburgh Pirates orgnaziation and teams from Tampa as the Low-A Bradenton Marauders were defeated by the Tampa Tarpons 6-2. With the loss, the Marauders are now 14-9 on the season.

Owen Kellington started for Bradenton and ptiched well. In 4 innings pitched, Kellington allowed 2 runs on five hits, a walk, no home runs, and five strikeouts. Kelling threw 41 of his 68 pitches for strikes and induced five ground ball outs.

Darvin Garcia pitched a scoreless 5th inning and then started the 6th inning. Following a Termarr Johnson error to start the bottom of the 6th, Garcia issued back-to-back walks and was lifted for Joshua Loeschorn who promptly allowed a triple.

Loeschorn also allowed a run in the 7th inning on a solo home run. Garcia was cahrged with 3 runs, 2 earned, while issuing three walks in 1+ innings pitched. Loeschorn struck out a pair while allowing a run in 2 innings pitched. Yoldin De La Paz pitched the 8th inning, striking out all three batters he faced.

Rodolfo Nolasco went 1-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, and Shalin Polanco was 0-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Johnson was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, Alexander Mojica was 0-for-2 with two walks, and Jesus Castillo was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.