Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Watch 4/27/10

Indianapolis won 7-2 against Pawtucket.  Brian Friday had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs, and an RBI.  Surprisingly, the bulk of the offense came from Argenis Diaz, who went 2-for-2 with a walk, and knocked in four RBIs.  Diaz, known for being a defensive only shortstop, is hitting for a .294/.308/.265 line on the season.  Nothing really impressive, as he’s pretty much a singles hitter who doesn’t draw many walks, but it’s nice to see that he’s at least hitting in the young season.  Pedro Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a walk, while Jose Tabata went 1-for-5 with a walk, an RBI, and two strikeouts.

Indianapolis has been short on pitchers, thanks to the revolving door at the major league level.  As a result, Jeremy Powell made the start tonight.  Powell went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits, with a walk and four strikeouts to get the win.  Justin Thomas got the save in a great relief outing, pitching the final four innings, and allowing no runs on one hit, with a walk and six strikeouts.  Thomas has a 2.70 ERA on the season in 10 innings pitched, with a 11:1 K/BB ratio.

Altoona beat Akron 5-4.  Tim Alderson picked up the win, improving to 2-0 on the season.  Alderson pitched five innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits, with a walk and two strikeouts.  Alderson also allowed two home runs.  Not exactly the dominating performance you’d like to see from him, and that’s been the story so far this season, as Alderson has a 5.49 ERA and a 7:6 K/BB ratio in 19.2 innings.  Jeff Sues had a solid relief outing, pitching three shutout innings, and allowing three hits, one walk, and striking out three.  Daniel Moskos got his fourth save of the season, allowing one hit, no runs, no walks, and striking out one.

Jordy Mercer continued his hot hitting, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.  Josh Harrison went 2-for-3 with a walk, a run, and an RBI.  Chase d’Arnaud went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run out of the leadoff spot.  Alex Presley and Miles Durham each went 1-for-3 with an RBI, with Presley hitting a triple, and also contributing with a sacrifice fly.

Bradenton was the only team in the Pirates organization that lost tonight, which is almost the exact opposite of what happens on normal nights.  Bradenton lost 8-6 to Palm Beach.  Aaron Pribanic pitched 5.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits, with a walk and four strikeouts.  Pribanic has struggled this season, with a 6.35 ERA, although his 11:6 K/BB ratio in 17 innings, an his 1.86 ground out to fly out ratio isn’t bad.  Pribanic left with the lead, but Casey Erickson recorded a blown save, allowing a run on three hits in 2.2 innings of work, with a walk and two strikeouts.  Noah Krol picked up the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits in two innings of work, with a walk and two strikeouts.

Bradenton’s offense was impressive tonight, which seems to be the trend this season.  Brock Holt went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.  Greg Picart went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.  Quincy Latimore went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.  Tony Sanchez went 2-for-4 with a walk and a double.  Calvin Anderson went 2-for-5 with his first home run of the season.  Anderson has been heating up lately, going 6-for-12 with three extra base hits in his last three games.  Rodolfo Cardona also hit his first home run of the season, going 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs on the night.

West Virginia beat Kannapolis in a day game by a score of 6-1.  Gabriel Alvarado made the start, allowing one run on three hits in four innings, with two
walks and a strikeout.  Duke Welker pitched a scoreless fifth inning, allowing three walks and striking out three to get credit for the win.  Maurice Bankston pitched two shutout innings, allowing no hits and one walk.  Zach Foster closed things out with two more shutout innings, with a walk and a hit.

Aaron Baker had another big day, going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs, and two RBIs.  Baker is now batting .286/.313/.476 on the year.  David Rubinstein went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs.  Rogelios Noris went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.  Noris is hitting for a .300/.306/.450 line on the season.  One drawback is that he’s only drawn one walk so far.