Bradenton Marauders 18, �Fort Myers Miracle 3 (box)

The Marauders began their inaugural season in the Florida State League with a hit-a-thon, as they posted 16 hits on their was to 18 runs. �Two 7-run innings took care of most of the scoring and sent the Ft. Myers' pitching staff scrambling. �Each member of the Bradenton lineup except one had at least one hit, and most had two hits. �1B Calvin Anderson did not have a hit, but he walked twice and came around to score. �LF Quincy Latimore went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI singles. �RF Robbie Grossman had a 3-run homer, and 3B Jeremy Farrell contributed 7 RBI with a 3-run homer in the 7th inning and a grand slam in the 4th. �CF Starling Marte singled and doubled, walked, and scored 4 times. �C Tony Sanchez had two RBI singles.

The scoring started with Latimore's homer in the bottom of the 2nd. �Singles by Latimore and Grossman, plus an error by the Miracle and a passed ball added two more runs in the 3rd. �The 7-run 4th inning followed, as the Marauders sent 11 batters to the plate. �Grossman's homer and Farrell's grand slam, plus a wild pitch with the bases loaded accounted for those 7 runs. �Marte's double and an RBI single from Sanchez tacked on a run in the 5th. �The 7th was the second 7-run inning, as the Marauders sank the Miracle with two walks, four singles, a wild pitch that allowed a run to score, and Farrell's 3-run shot.

Columbus Clippers 17, �Indianapolis Indians 4 � �(box)

We were hoping for a glorious AAA debut for top Pirates' prospect 3B Pedro Alvarez. Instead, it was a glorious AAA debut for a different top prospect -- Clippers' C Carlos Santana. �Santana blasted two home runs, a double, and a single to lead the Columbus Clippers in their rout of the Indianapolis Indians at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio. �And the Indians' performance was anything but glorious.

It really didn't start out too badly. �Starter Kevin Hart walked two batters after two outs in the bottom of the 1st inning, but then got Santana to fly out to end the inning. �He also walked the first batter he faced in the 2nd inning, and then gave up a home run to RF Chris Gimenez. �Hart got out of the 3rd inning with a timely double play, and he had made it through 3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, throwing 66 pitches, 35 for strikes. �It was the 66th pitch, though, that got him into trouble.

After two quick at-bats, the Indians began the 3rd inning with 2B Brian Friday getting hit by a pitch. �Friday moved to second when SS Argenis Diaz grounded back to the mound, and scored on CF Jose Tabata's (photo) single up the middle. �Tabata stole second base, then Alvarez followed with his first AAA home run -- a rocket-powered shot that hit the roof over the 328 sign in right field. �The idea of the glorious debut was looking good, as the Indians took a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the 4th, Brian Friday was hit by a pitch again. �This time it was a high and inside pitch, that skipped off the top of Friday's helmet (the new big style) as he ducked down and away from the plate. �The Indians were not pleased with Friday being hit twice, and manager Frank Kremblas had a quick chat with home plate umpire David Rackley. �Rackley did not make any motions toward the dugouts though, and did not make any show of warning both managers or benches. �So, when Kevin Hart's 66th pitch, the first one to Carlos Santana in the bottom of the frame, went sailing behind Santana, Hart and his teammates were surprised to hear Rackley immediately toss Hart from the game.

It's Opening Day!

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The Indianapolis Indians open on the road in Columbus against the Clippers, with Kevin Hart taking the mound at 7:05 pm.  Former Indian/Pirate Brian Bixler is now playing for the Clippers (Cleveland affiliate).  The Indians' home opener will be next Friday, April 16th.

The Altoona Curve open at home against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) at 6:30 pm.  Mike Crotta will get the start for the Curve.

Bryan Morris will be on the mound as the newest Pirates' affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders, play their first game at McKechnie Field.  They will face the Ft. Myer Miracle at 7 pm.

The West Virginia Power begin their season facing the Sand Gnats in Savannah.  The game begins at 7:05 pm with Hunter Strickland getting the start for the Power.

An update on roster moves made by the Pirates over the past few weeks, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The biggest releases: �lefty pitchers Kyle Bloom and Corey Hamman. Bloom started 21 games for the Altoona Curve in 2009, and earned a 6-9 record with a 4.05 ERA, and 71 strikeouts in 104.1 innings. �Hamman made 29 relief appearances for the Curve and 26 relief appearances for the Indianapolis Indians in 2009, with a combined 1-5 record and one save. �He had a 3.68 ERA for the Curve and an 8.01 ERA for the Indians.

Another surprise was reliever RJ Rodriguez, who had a 6-3 record, a league-leading 27 saves, and a 3.08 ERA for the Lynchburg Hillcats in 2009.

Other pitchers released: �Chris Aure, Gerardo Esparza, Brad Clapp, Papiro Juan, Diomedes Garcia, Edgar Gutierrez, Rafael Quintero, Ricardo Paulino, Andres Santos, Edison Barrios, Harrison Bishop, Chris Cullen, Jose R de los Santos, Wilson Ortiz, Nelson Pereira, Moises Robles

Catchers released: �Jesus Aguilera, Daniel Bomback, Billy Killian, Craig Parry,

Infielders released: Carlos Silva, Chris Garcia, Henry Henry,

Outfielders released: Jeff Corsaletti, Gemmy Gonzalez, Ciro Rosero, Edward Garcia

Killian and Chris Garcia were minor league free agents who must not have worked out. �This de los Santos is not the infielder Jose L De Los Santos -- he is still in the organization, at Altoona.

Some Latin American signings, none of whom are expected to play in the US this season:

RHPs: �Jeffrey Jaquez, Jonas Corporan, Melvin German, Yhonatan Herrand, Luis Alexis Ortiz, Carlos Ruiz, Luis Campos, Miguel Gerreras; LHP: Christopher Richarson; SS Jose Luis Solano; OF Yefaine Jerald, Malfre Ramirez

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The second part of who's who in the coaching box for the Pirates' minor league affiliates.

Also, the Curve, the Marauders, and the Power have announced their official Opening Day rosters. �The Indians still have just a tentative roster up. �Rosters can be seen here, and will be updated throughout the season. �{UPDATE: �ok, the Indians have a real roster up now too}

Bradenton Marauders (A+)

Manager PJ Forbes

• second season as manager of the Pirates' A+ level team (last year it was Lynchburg)
• 6 seasons as manager in the Phillies' organization
• 13 seasons as an infielder (mostly second base) in the Angels', Orioles', Rangers', and Phillies' organizations