Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Strong Pitching in the Lower Levels & More

Altoona offense struggles in loss

Friday night was not a good one for the Altoona offense. In a 4-1 loss against the Reading Fightin Phils, the Curve recorded just five hits while drawing three walks. With the loss, the Double-A affiliate of the Pirates is now 41-43 on the season.

Matt Fraizer, Jackson Glenn, Domingo Leyba, and Mason Martin were the top four hitters for Altoona. They combined to go 1-for-16 with nine strikeouts. Those kind of struggles at the top of a lineup is never a recipe for success.

Catcher Abrahan Guiterrez had the lone multi-hit game for the Curve going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Lolo Sanchez was 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI, while Chavez Young was 1-for-2 with a walk.

Lefty Anthony Solometo started for Altoona and did not pitch as well as he had been of late. Solometo allowed 3 runs on six hits, a walk, and a home run in 4.2 innings pitched. However, he still struck out seven and still owns a strong 2.51 ERA to go with 96 strikeouts in 82.1 minor league innings pitched this season.

Noe Toribio followed Solometo, striking out three and allowing a hit in 1.1 scoreless innings pitched. Geronimo Franzua did not allow a hit in 1.2 innings pitched but walked three on his way to allowing a run. Grant Ford allowed a hit and walked a batter in 1.1 scoreless innings of work to finish off the game for Altoona.

High-A Greensboro takes down Wilmington

The High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers improved to 43-42 on the season with a 7-3 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Friday night. J.P. Massey started for Wilmington, allowing a run on a hit, three walks, and three strikeouts in 3 innings pitched.

Yunior Thibo followed with 2 hitless, scoreless innings of relief. Cy Nielson struggled, allowing 2 runs on four hits, a walk, home run, and three strikeouts in 1.1 innings pitched. Dante Mendoza struck out a pair while retiring the final five batters of the game.

Tres Gonzalez was 1-for-4 with a walk at the top of the Grasshopper lineup. Sammy Siani was 2-for-5 with a double, walk, and a run scored. Ernny Ordoez (6) and Shawn Ross (7) each hit home runs for Greensboro.

Jase Bowen continues to swing a hot bat for the Grasshoppers going 1-for-4 with a walk, RBI, and a run scored. Wyatt Hendrie was 2-for-4 with a walk, Luke Brown was 1-for-5.

Bradenton keeps rolling

The Low-A Bradenton Marauders continue to roll. Following an 11-3 victory over the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Marauders are now 51-36 on the season, which is the best record in the Pirate organization.

In the victory the Marauders flirted with a no hitter. Owen Kellington started, firing 4 no hit innings. Kellington walked a batter and struck out five. Joshua Leoschorn followed with 3 no hit inning, retiring all nine batters he faced while striking out six.

Brandon Bidois walked a batter and struck out two while Elijah Birdsong then got the final out of the 8th to continue the no hitter. However, Birdsong would run into trouble in the 9th. He finished with 2/3 of an inning pitched, allowing 3 runs on a hit, two walks, and he hit a batter. Carlos Lomeli got the final two outs of the game for Bradenton.