Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Multi-Hit Night for Braylon Bishop & More

Double-A Altoona loses in wild extra innings affair

Twice on Thursday night the Double-A Altoona Curve snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The Curve bullpen blew a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the 9th inning to put the game in extra innings. After the Altoona offense scored 4 runs in the top of the 10th, they allowed 7 in the bottom half in a 13-10 walk off loss to fall to 2-4 on the season.

Justin Meis started for Altoona. The local product pitched 4 innings, allowing 4 runs on five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. After the day ended for Meis, the bullpen initially had some strong work. Noe Toribio allowed a hit and struck out five in 2 scoreless innings pitched. More importantly, he did not walk a batter. Tyler Samaniego followed Toribio with four strikeouts in 2 scoreless innings of his own.

Cam Junker started the 9th inning. After allowing a hit and issuing a walk, Junker was charged with 2 runs and his night ended after recording just one out. Braden Ogle got the final two outs of the 9th inning and started the 10th inning.

After issuing a pair of walks and allowing a double, Ogle was lifted for Juan Minaya. The door was then opened further by a Liover Peguero throwing error. Mason Martin then commited a fielding error with two outs, tying the game. This was followed by a walk off 3-run home run from the SeaWolves.

Offensively, there was plenty of damage done by the Curve lineup. Designated hitter Lolo Sanchez was 3-for-5 with a run scored, walk, and an RBI. Peguero was 2-for-6 with a double and two RBI, Martin was 1-for-4 with two RBI and a walk, Matt Fraizer was 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored, and catcher Dylan Shockely was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI

High-A Greensboro picks up Anthony Solometo following a poor start

Lefty Anthony Solometo is quickly becoming one of the best pitching prospects in the Pirate farm system. Thursday night, however, he turned in a rare poor start. Despite his poor start, the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers were able to to pick up a 10-6 victory over Jersey Shore BlueClaws to improve to 4-2 on the season.

Solometo lasted just 3.2 innings, allowing 4 runs on four hits, a career high four walks, and three strikeouts. This start was likely nothing more than a blip on the radar for Solometo who will be looking to bounce back in his next start.

Jaycob Deese relieved Solometo, allowing a run on four hits and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched. Cy Nielson pitched 2 perfect innings of relief, striking out three. Jack Carey allowed a base hit and walked a batter before exiting the game. Santiago Florez walked a batter and hit a batter while pitching a scoreless inning.

Through the first 5 innings the Grasshopper offense was struggling. However, they would explode for 9 runs in innings 6 through 8, powering the team to their come from behind victory over Jersey Shore.

At the top of the lineup Tsung-Che Cheng was 1-for-5 with two RBI. Jase Bowen went 1-for-5 with his 2nd home run of the season, a 3-run shot, and Luke Brown was 0-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Third baseman Brenden Dixon was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, and Hudson Head was 3-for-3 with a walk.

Excellent bullpen work not enoguh for Low-A Bradenton

At the Low-A level the Bradenton Marauders are off to a slow start. Following a 6-3 loss against the Lakeland Flying Tigers, the Marauders are now 2-4 on the season. The loss came after Alessandro Ercolani allowed 6 runs on five hits, three walks, a home run, and a strikeout in 2.2 innings pitched, putting the Marauders in an early hole.

While Ercolani struggled, the Marauder bullpen was excellent. Carlos Lomeli was first up out of the Bradenton bullpen, stirking out two batters and allow just one hit in 2.1 scoreless innings pitched out of the bullpen.

2022 draft pick Julian Bosnic followed Lomeli. The lefty walked a pair and struck out three in 2 scoreless, hitless innings of relief. Yunior Thibo finished things up on the mound for the Marauders. Thibo walked a batter, but did not allow a hit in a scoreless 8th inning.

Wyatt Hendrie, who started at first base, and outfielder Braylon Bishop led the way for the Marauder offense. Both batters were 2-for-4, and Bishop drove in a run. The highly touted Bishop received a big signing bonus as part of the organization's 2021 draft class and will be an intriguing player to watch throughout this season.