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Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: J.P. Massey, Braxton Ashcraft Pitch Well in First Start at New Level

Strong starting pitching performances in their debuts at new levels highlight Wednesday's Pirate minor league action

By Marty Leap|
Minnesota's J.P. Massey (40) looks to the dugout during a NCAA Big Ten Conference baseball game
Minnesota's J.P. Massey (40) looks to the dugout during a NCAA Big Ten Conference baseball game | Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via
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Double-A Altoona picks up two victories

Double-A Altoona was able to go 2-for-2 on Wednesday. They won their originally scheduled game over the Bowie Baysox 3-2 and then won their postponed game from April 1-0. These victories improved the Curve to 33-31 on the season.

In the first game of the day Liover Peguero was 1-for-3 with his 18th double of the season and a run scored. Lolo Sanchez was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI, Abrahan Gutierrez was 1-for-2, Matt Gorski was 0-for-2 with a walk, and Jacob Gonzalez was 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and a RBI.

Braxton Ashcraft's terrific comeback story continued with his first start at the Double-A level. Ashcraft pitched 3 innings, allowing an unearend run on two hits, no walks, and four strikeouts. Justin Meis pitched 3 innings, striking out three while allowing a solo home run. Tyler Samaniego struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 9th inning to finish off the game.

In game two the Curve had just one base runner. This base runner was Peguero who led off the bottom of the 1st inning with his 9th home run of the season. Due to the performance of the Curve pitching staff, one base runner was all they needed.

Nick Dombkowski started for Altoona. He allowed two hits while both walking and striking out a pair in 4 scoreless innings pitched. Omar Cruz allowed a hit, walked two, and struck a batter out in 1.2 scoreless innings of work. Oliver Garcia struck a batter out while pitching 1.1 scoreless innings to finish the game.

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