Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Three Altoona Curve Home Runs & More

Home runs carry Double-A Altoona to first victory of 2023

Double-A Altoona picked up win number one of the season with a 9-1 blowout victory over the Erie Seawolves, improving to 1-3. The Curve offense was led by a power surge that saw them hit three home runs while also collecting a pair of doubles.

Second baseman Domingo Leyba got the power surge started for the Curve with a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning. This was part of a 2-for-4 night for Leyba. Right fielder Matt Fraizer was 3-for-4 with a solo home run, his 1st of the season, to go with a double, an RBI, and three runs scored. The third home run of the night was a 3-run blast by Jacob Gonzalez, his 1st of the season as well as at the Double-A level.

Outside of the three home runs, Matt Gorski doubled in his lone at-bat before exited the game and being replaced by Gonzalez at first base. Liover Peguero was 0-for-4, Henry Davis was 0-for-3 with a pair of walks and a run scored, and left fielder Connor Scott was 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Aaron Shortridge started for the Curve and turned in a very strong start. In 5 innings pitched, the lone run the righty allowed came on a solo home run. He only allowed two other hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out six.

Cam Junker pitched the 6th inning, walking a batter and striking out the other three he faced. Oliver Garcia struck a batter out in a hitless, scoreless 7th inning. Braden Ogle allowed a hit, walked a batter, and struck a batter out in a scoreless 8th. Veteran Juan Minaya walked a hit a batter in the 9th, but struck out the other three batters he faced to finish off the Altoona victory.