Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Luis Ortiz Pitches 5 Strong at Triple-A & More

Luis Ortiz pitched 5 strong innings at Indy, Jase Bowen hit another home run, Josiah Sightler went deep twice, and more in today's Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

The Triple-A Indianapolis Indians hosted the Nashville Sounds on Saturday night. The top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the top farm club of the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 to improve to 51-60 on the season.

Continuing his rehab assignment, Ji Hwan Bae started at second base and bat lead off. Bae went 2-for-4 with a strikeout. Vinny Capra was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Domingo Leyba hit his 4th home run while going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Canaan Smith-Njigba was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Miguel Andújar was 1-for-4.

Luis Ortiz started for Indy and pitched 5 strong innings. Ortiz allowed a run, via a solo home run, on three hits, no walks, and three strikeouts while throwing 46 of 69 pitches for strikes. Ortiz had struggled since returning to the minors, so this strong start is one he was in need of.

Wil Crowe pitched a 1-2-3 6th inning with a strikeout. Yerry De Los Santos pitched the 7th inning. De Los Santos issued a walk, but posted a zero in the 7th inning.

Nashville attempted a 9th inning rally. After Travis MacGregor pitched a scoreless 8th inning, he returned to the mound in the 9th. He allowed two singles and a double in the inning to cut the Indy lead to 3-2, but MacGregor was able to get a pop out to end the inning and pick up the save.

Rained shorten loss for Altoona

The same string of storms that caused the Pirates to be rained out on Saturday night impacted the Double-A Altoona Curve as well. Due to inclement weather, the Curve and Erie SeaWolves had their game go official after just 6 innings. The 6 inning game ended in a 4-1 loss for the Curve, dropping them to 50-54 on the season.

Jackson Wolf made his second start for Altoona, allowing 4 runs on five hits, three walks, six strikeouts, and a home run in 3.1 innings pitched. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch. Not a strong start for Wolf who pitched well in his Curve debut last Sunday.

Geronimo Franzua pitched 1.2 innings. Franzua retired all five batters he faced while striking out three. Grant Ford walked a batter in a scoreless 6th inning.

Jackson Glenn went 1-for-2 with a walk at the top of the Altoona lineup. Jacob Gonzalez was 1-for-3 with a RBI, Lolo Sanchez was 1-for-3 with a double, Eli Wilson was 1-for-3, and Matt Fraizer went 2-for-3.

Bad 7th inning leads to Greensboro loss

Early on the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers appeared to be on their way to victory on Saturday night. However, a disaster 7th inning would prove to be their undoing in an 8-7 loss against the Greenville Drive. Following the loss, the Grasshoppers are now 56-48 on the season.

Thomas Harrington started for Greensboro. Harrington allowed 3 runs on six hits, three walks, and six strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. In 62.1 innings pitched in 13 starts with Greensboro this season Harrington now owns a 4.48 ERA, 18 walks, and 77 strikeouts.

Dante Mendoza allowed a hit and issued two walks in the 6th inning, but with the help of two strikeouts he pitched a scoreless inning. Yunior Thibo started the 7th inning, but was lifted with two runners on base and just one out.

Santiago Florez replaced Thibo and things did not go well for Florez. After allowing three singles and issuing a walk, Florez was pulled for Jack Carey who cleaned up the 7th inning, but not before Greenville took an 8-7 lead. Thibo was charged with 2 runs and Florez 3.

The 7th inning proved to be the undoing for Greensboro.

At the plate, Josiah Sighlter hit two home runs to give him 4 with Greensboro this season. Termarr Johnson was 1-for-5 with his first High-A home run, although he did also commit a pair of errors. Jase Bowen continues to push for a promotion to Double-A, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a RBI, two runs scored, and his 22nd home run.

Offense struggles in Bradenton loss

Saturday night the offense struggled for the Low-A Bradenton Marauders in a loss against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. Following the 3-1 loss, the Marauders are now 61-45 on the season which still puts them in first place in their division.

Hunter Barco was first up for Marauder pitchers. The lefty pitched 2 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on four hits and three strikeouts. Owen Sharts followed with 2 innings of his own, allowing an unearned run on a hit and three hits.

Yoldin De La Paz also pitched 2 innings. De La Paz walked two and struck out a pair without allowing a run. Jaden Woods walked a batter and struck a batter out in a scoreless 7th inning. Woods followed that up with a 1-2-3 8th inning.

The Marauders had just three hits in the loss. Rodolfo Nolasco was 1-for-3, as were Deivis Nadal and Omar Alfonzo. Nadal and Alfonzo each drew a walk as well. Justin Miknis, Sergio Campana, and Kalae Harrison all drew a walk as well. That was it for Marauder base runners as they went 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position, leaving eight runners on base.