DAILY SUMMARY
Top Pitcher: Brandon Cumpton (6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR)
Top Hitter: Matt Curry (2-for-3, 2 B, HR, BB, RBI)
Home Runs: Andrew Lambo (3), Jordy Mercer (7), Jarek Cunningham (9), Elevys Gonzalez (1), Andy Vasquez (2), Matt Curry (6)
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (AAA)
Result: Indianapolis 4, Columbus 2
Starting Pitcher: Garrett Olson (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR)
Top Hitter: Andrew Lambo (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI)
Notes: Indianapolis moved Sean Gallagher (1-5, 7.67) out of the rotation this week, putting Garrett Olson (2.63) in his place. The move worked out tonight, as Olson started with two shutout innings, allowing just one walk and striking out two. Gallagher followed up with four shutout innings, allowing three hits, one walk, and striking out five. Cesar Valdez (2.91) added a shutout inning. Tony Watson (3.10) allowed two runs on two hits in 1.2 innings, before Tim Wood (4.40) got the final out in the ninth.
Andrew Lambo (.241) went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs. Chase d’Arnaud (.260) continued his hot streak, going 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Pedro Ciriaco (.185) went 3-for-4. Andy Marte (.154) returned to the lineup, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
ALTOONA CURVE (AA)
Result: Altoona 6, Erie 5
Starting Pitcher: Michael Colla (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR)
Top Hitter: Tony Sanchez (2-for-4, 2B, 3 B, 2 RBI)
Notes: Michael Colla (3.21) made his fourth start in the Altoona rotation, allowing one run on five hits in five innings, with one walk and five strikeouts. Since entering the rotation, Colla has a 2.84 ERA in 19 innings, with an 18:5 K/BB ratio. Brian Leach (4.97) pitched a perfect inning. Anthony Claggett (4.42) blew the lead, allowing four runs in 1.1 innings. Michael Dubee (2-1, 3.54) allowed two of those runs to score. However, Altoona was able to come back and win, with Noah Krol (3.94) closing it out.
Tony Sanchez (.277) had a big night at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and two RBIs. Jordy Mercer (.230) went 1-for-4 with his seventh homer of the year. Miles Durham (.221) went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI. Eric Fryer (.321) went 2-for-4.
BRADENTON MARAUDERS (A+)
Result: Bradenton 6, Clearwater 2
Starting Pitcher: Kyle McPherson (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 0 HR)
Top Hitter: Jarek Cunningham (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI)
Notes: Kyle McPherson (3-1, 2.77) had a rare night tonight. His two runs allowed on five hits in six innings was normal. He struck out four, which is also normal. What was rare was that he allowed one walk. The walk was just the second walk allowed by McPherson this season, spanning 48.2 innings. That’s a very impressive streak. Brett Lorin (3.14) followed up with three shutout innings, allowing one hit, no walks, and striking out three.
Jarek Cunningham (.295) went 2-for-3 with a homer, his ninth of the year. Elevys Gonzalez (.350) went 1-for-3 with a solo homer, his first of the year. Benji Gonzalez (.260) went 2-for-2 with a walk and a double, along with a stolen base.
WEST VIRGINIA POWER (A)
Result: West Virginia 6, Kannapolis 3
Starting Pitcher: Brandon Cumpton (6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR)
Top Hitter: Matt Curry (2-for-3, 2 B, HR, BB, RBI)
Notes: Brandon Cumpton (3-3, 7.12) had his third straight start in a row, allowing one run on two hits in six innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Cumpton has now allowed three runs in 16.2 innings over his last three starts, with a 14:3 K/BB ratio. That’s a drastic turnaround from his 21 runs allowed in 10.2 innings in his first three starts, with a 6:6 K/BB ratio. Kevin Decker (2.61) allowed two runs on three hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Jason Townsend (2.77) pitched a perfect inning.
Matt Curry (.370) went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and his sixth homer of the year. Andy Vasquez (.299) went 1-for-2 with a homer and two RBIs. Drew Maggi (.208) went 2-for-4 with a double. Mel Rojas Jr. (.287) went 1-for-4 with his tenth stolen base of the year.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
If this D’Arnaud hot streak continues, I’m saying call him up and give him a chance at short. What do they got to lose? He can’t be any worse then Cedeno. And its nice to see Lambo starting to heat up, kids only 22 and has a ton of potential looking forward to seeing him in Pittsburgh if not September this year, then next year.
Why are the Pirates waiting so long to promote Matt Curry?
I too would like to see Matt Curry promoted, but I’m guessing it won’t happen until after the draft and some of the signed draftees are assigned to their respective teams. Kyle McPherson should be due for a promotion at that time as well.
Good to see Rojas doing well. He has the potential to be a star.