Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Miguel Andújar HR, Multi-Hit Night for Tsung-Che Cheng, More

Poor 2nd inning puts Greensboro in a hole they never recover from

To start the season the best team in the Pirate farm system has been the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers. Well, Saturday night saw the Grasshoppers play one of their worst games of the season. After falling in a 5-0 hole in the 2nd inning, Greensboro never recovered in a loss agaisnt the Greenville Drive to fall to 10-4 on the season.

Valentin Linarez started for the Grasshoppers and took his lumps. Linarez owned a 2.35 ERA on the seasong entering the start, but after allowing 5 runs on five hits, a home run, and four strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched, his ERA has ballooned to 6.75.

Jaycob Deese replaces Linarez and got the final out of the 2nd inning. Deese pitched a scorelesss 3rd and 4th inning, before running into trouble in the 5th inning. Deese's struggles in the 5th inning was the start of Greensboro allowing 4 runs in the inning.

Deese and Dante Mendoza combined to allow the 4 runs in the 5th inning. Deese finished the night with 3 runs allowed on two hits, a walk, and a strikeout. Mendoza's struggles continued into the 6th inning, leading to him allowing 3 runs on five hits and a walk in 2 innings pitched.

Drew Irvine allowed 2 runs on two hits, two walks, and two strikeouts in 2 innings pitched. Oliver Mateo finished things off by allowing a hit, issuing a walk, and striking out a pair in his lone inning pitched.

Shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng once again led the way for the Grasshopper offense. Cheng went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Ernny Ordonez was 1-for-5 with a solo home run, Hudson Head went 1-for-3 with two walks, and Sammy Siani was 1-for-4.

Late inning woes sink Low-A Bradenton

Other than High-A Greensboro, the Pirate farm club off to the best start this season is the Low-A Bradenton Marauders. Like Greensboro, however, things did not go well for Bradenton on Saturday in a 6-4 loss against the Daytona Tortugas to fall to 9-5 on the season.

Luis Peralta went first for the Marauders on the mound on Saturday, walking a batter and striking out five in 2 hitless, scoreless innings pitched. Derek Diamond, who was off to a strong start this season, followed Peralta. Diamond pitched a scoreless 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th inning, then ran into trouble in the 7th.

To start the 7th inning Diamond allowed a double and a home run. Diamond then recorded a strikeout, but it was one that saw the batter reach first base on a wild pitch. Diamond then allowed back-to-back singles before being lifted. Ryan Harbin relieved Diamond and recorded a pair of strikeouts before allowing a run-scoring single that included an error. Harbin then got the final out of the inning.

Diamond allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, on eight hits, no walks, a home run, and six strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. Harbin pitched 2 innings allowing a hit, issuing a walk, and striking out three. Yoldin De La Paz allowed a run on two hits, a walk, and a strikeout in the 9th inning.

Right fielder Tres Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. Shortstop Javier Rivas was 2-for-5 with his 1st home run of the season and 4 RBI. Jesus Castillo was 1-for-3 with two walks, and Alexander Mojica was 1-for-3 with two walks.