Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Multi Home Run Game for Tsung-Che Cheng & More

Tsung-Che Cheng has a multi home run game, Bradenton sweeps a Sunday doubleheader, and more in Sunday's Pittsburgh Pirates minor league roundup

Sunday was an all-around poor day for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The top farm club of the Pittsburgh Pirates struggled offensively, committed an error that led to an unearned run, and did not pitch the ball well in an 8-3 loss against the Buffalo Bisons to fall to 59-71 on the season.

Designated hitter Domingo Leyba had a 3-for-4 performance, Chris Owings hit a 2-run home run (11) and Nick Gonzales hit a solo home run (9th), but that was about it for the Indy offense. The only other hit was a Dom Nuñez single, Nuñez also drew the only walk of the day for the Indians.

Lefty Cam Alldred started for the Indians and pitched 4 innings. He allowed an unearned run, due to a throwing error by Nuñez, on two hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Fellow lefty Nick Dombkowski followed Alldred and struggled mightily. Dombkowski allowed 6 runs on 10 hits in 3 innings pitched in his Triple-A debut. Kyle Nicolas pitched the 8th inning, allowing a run on a hit, a walk, and two strikeouts.

Disastrous starting pitching leads to lopsided loss for Altoona

Recently, Aaron Shortridge had been pitching much better for the Altoona Curve. Sunday afternoon, however, Shortridge turned in the worst start of his professional career as the Cruve suffered a 13-5 loss against the Erie SeaWolves to fall to 58-65 on the season.

Shortridge lasted just 2.2 innings, allowing 13 runs on 12 hits, two walks, two home runs allowed, and four strikeouts. He threw 48 of 70 pitches for a strike and recorded just one ground ball out. This outing is certainly one that he is going to want to flush.

Outside of Shortridge, the Curve pitching staff was terrific. Noe Toribio allowed a hit, walked a batter, and struck out two in 2.1 scoreless innings pitched. Grant Ford walked the bases loaded while getting the first two outs of the 6th inning, but Justin Meis helped pick him up on his way to pitching 1.1 scoreless innings. Tahnaj Thomas pitched a 1-2-3 8th inning, striking out a pair.

Tsung-Che Cheng had a huge day at the plate going 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, and a pair of home runs. This now gives him 4 home runs on the season at Double-A. Eli Wilson also went deep, leading the 7th inning off with his 2nd home run with Altoona.

Bradenton sweeps Sunday doubleheader

Sunday afternoon the Low-A Bradenton Marauders played a doubleheader against the Palm Beach Cardinals. Following the sweep, the Marauders are now 72-52 on the season and sit 2nd in the FSL West.

Dominic Perachi started game one, allowing a solo home run, two hits, walking three, and striking out five in 4 innings pitched. Antwone Kelly pitched 2 scoreless innings, Brandan Bidois walked a pair and struck out a pair in the 8th before Elijah Birdsong came in to get the final out of the game.

Jesus Castill was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in game one. Lonnie White Jr. was 0-for-2 with a walk, Charles McAdoo was 1-for-3 with a RBI, Sergio Campana was 1-for-3 with a run scored, and Omar Alfonzo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run.

Game two saw Drake Fellows work as an opener, recording the first two outs of the game. Yoldin De La Paz pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, Luis Peralta allowed 3 runs (1 earned) in 3 innings pitched, and Darvin Garcia allowed a hit while issuing a walk in just 1/3 of an inning pitched.

Patrick Reilly walked a batter and struck out three in 1.2 hitless, scoreless innings pitched. Danny Carrion pitched a scoreless 8th inning for the Marauders, setting up an opportunity for the team to walk it off.

With the game tied at 4 entering the bottom of the 8th, the first two Marauder batters were retired. With Mitch Jebb, who started the inning on second base, on third, Deivis Nadal was intentionally walked. This was followed by a walk off single for Geovanny Planchart, giving the Marauders a 5-4 victory.

It was a big game for Jebb who went 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, and a pair of RBI. White Jr. was 1-for-4 with a run scored, and McAdoo drove in a run as well.