Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Jase Bowen Hits His 18th Home Run of the Season & More

Jase Bowen continues to rake at High-A, Mitch Jebb impresses in his professional debut, and more from a 4-0 Wednesday for Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates

Entering the bottom of the 8th inning on Wednesday things were looking bleak for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates were trailing the Louisville Bats 5-1, but a 4 spot in the bottom of the 8th inning tied the game. This set up a 6-5 walk off victory for the Indians, who are now 46-51 on the season.

With two runners on base and one out in the 8th, Canaan Smith-Njigba launched a 3-run home run. The 10th home run of the season by Smith-Njigba cut the Louisville lead to 5-4. Vinny Capra then hit a two-out double to score Aaron Shackelford, tying the game.

With two out and no one on base in the bottom of the 9th, the game appeared to be on its way to extra innings. Josh Palacios, however, had other ideas. Palacios would call game by hitting a walk off solo home run, giving him 5 long balls at Triple-A this season and the Indians a win.

Kyle Nicolas started for Indy and allowed 5 runs in 4.2 innings pitched. Nicolas allowed five hits, a home run, walked four batters, and struck out four. In 23 innings pitched since being promoted to Indy Nicolas owns a 10.17 ERA. Not good!

Lefty Rob Zastryzny followed Nicolas, allowing a hit and striking a batter out in 1.1 scoreless innings of work. Yohan Ramirez, Duane Underwood Jr., and Juan Minaya all struck a batter out in a scoreless inning pitched.

Curve survive wasted scoring opportunities to secure victory

Altoona was not happy with the number of runners left on base, but this did not burn the Curve in a 3-1 victory over the Harrisburg Senators. With the win, the Pirate Double-A affiliate is now 43-45 on the season.

Pitching carried the day for Altoona led by Beau Sulser. The veteran righty allowed an unearned run on four hits, no walks, and four strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Lefty Nick Dombkowski followed with three hits allowed, a walk, and four strikeouts in 2.2 scoreless innings pitched. Dombkowski now owns a 3.09 ERA to go with just 16 walks and 40 strikeouts in 55.1 innings pitched with Altoona this season.

Cam Junker and Oliver Garcia held the Senators hitless over the final 2.1 innings pitched. Junker walked a batter and struck out three in 1.1 innings pitched, while Garcia struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 9th inning to pick up his 7th save of the season.

Getting base runners was not an issue for the Curve.

Chavez Young was 2-for-3 with a walk and a RBI. Jacob Gonzalez was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI, Mike Jarvis had three hits, Tsung-Che Cheng had a base hit, Lolo Sanchez had a hit, and Dylan Shockley drew a walk.

Altoona went just 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position, however, as they channeled their inner Pittsburgh Pirates. This included Curve batters hitting into a pair of double plays. Thankfully, this did not burn the Curve.

Late inning offense leads Bradenton to victory

Entering the 8th inning the Low-A Bradenton Marauders were trailing the St. Lucie Mets 6-2. After scoring 5 runs in the 8th inning and 2 more in the 9th, the Marauders defeated the Mets 9-7. With the win the Marauders are now 53-38 on the season.

Bradenton took advantage of wildness from the St. Lucie pitching staff in the 8th inning.

Termarr Johnson walked to start the inning, Enmanuel Terrero walked, Nick Cimillo was hit by pitch, Rodolfo Nolasco was hit by a pitch, and Yordany De Los Santos walked. The latter two of these happened with the bases loaded to bring in runs. Singles by Tanner Tredaway and Geovanny Planchart brought in 3 more runs to cap off the 5-run inning.

Then in the 9th inning, wildness benefitted the Marauders again. Johnson walked and Terrero was hit by a pitch. Following a double steal, they both scored on a Cimillo single to set the final at 9-7 Marauders.

Making his professional debut, second-round pick Mitch Jebb quickly impressed. Jebb started at shortstop, going 1-for-3 with a run scored. As you can see below the box score does not even come close to telling the full story on the day Jebb had.

Luis Peralta started for Bradenton and allowed 2 runs on two hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Elijah Birdsong hit a batter and walked a pair, allowing 2 runs in the 5th inning. Jorge Ramos struck a batter out in scoreless 6th inning, Carlos Lomeli allowed 2 runs in 2 innings pitched, and Owen Sharts struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 9th inning to close out the game.