TOP OF THE SYSTEM
A look at how the current top 20 prospects did today. Note that this list doesn’t include players currently in the majors. Rankings are from the mid-season update.
1. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Altoona (2-1, 4.63) – DNP
2. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Bradenton (5-6, 4.05) – DNP
3. Mark Appel, RHP (No Stats) – Unsigned
4. Starling Marte, CF, Indianapolis (.288) – 1-for-6, BB, 4 K
5. Alen Hanson, SS, West Virginia (.332) – DNP
6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.274) – Low-A DL
7. Luis Heredia, RHP, State College (0-1, 0.64) – DNP
8. Rudy Owens, LHP, Indianapolis (7-4, 2.89) – DNP
9. Jeff Locke, LHP, Indianapolis (7-5, 2.95) – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
10. Robbie Grossman, CF, Altoona (.253) – 2-for-3, 2B, 2 BB
11. Gregory Polanco, CF, West Virginia (.310) – DNP
12. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Altoona (1-2, 5.29) – DNP
13. Nick Kingham, RHP, West Virginia (1-7, 6.06) – DNP
14. Justin Wilson, LHP, Indianapolis (7-4, 3.44) – DNP
15. Tony Sanchez, C, Indianapolis (.231) – 1-for-4, 2 BB
16. Bryan Morris, RHP, Indianapolis (1-2, 2.58) – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
17. Mel Rojas, CF, Bradenton (.263) – 3-for-5, 3 RBI
18. Wyatt Mathisen, C, GCL Pirates (.340) – 1-for-5, 2 BB
19. Barrett Barnes, CF, State College (.282) – 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 SB
20. Alex Dickerson, 1B, Bradenton (.294) – 1-for-5, 2B, SB
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DAILY SUMMARY
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, SS (.250) – 3-for-4, HR
Home Runs: Gift Ngoepe (8)
AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Result: Columbus 4, Indianapolis 1
Starting Pitcher: Jeff Locke, LHP (7-5, 2.95) – 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Top Hitter: Brandon Boggs, LF (.277) – 1-for-3, 2B
Other Notable Performers
Starling Marte, CF (.290) – 1-for-3, 2 K
Game Notes: Locke gave up four runs, although two were unearned. He’s now gone ten starts in a row where he’s pitched five or more innings with three or fewer earned runs. He’s only given up more than three earned runs in a start twice this season out of 17 starts. Starling Marte extended his hitting streak to 15 games.
Result: Indianapolis 2, Columbus 1
Starting Pitcher: Kris Johnson, LHP (3.96) – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jose Tabata, RF (.276) – 1-for-3, BB
Other Notable Performers
Bryan Morris, RHP (2.58) – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Starling Marte went 0-for-3 with a walk, ending his 15 game hitting streak. On the day he combined to go 1-for-6 with a walk and four strikeouts. Bryan Morris now has a 2.58 ERA in 52.1 innings, with a 54:12 K/BB ratio. Tony Sanchez went 1-for-4 with two walks in the double header.
AA: ALTOONA CURVE
Result: Altoona 3, Akron 2
Starting Pitcher: Tim Alderson, RHP (3.58) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Robbie Grossman, CF (.253) – 2-for-3, 2B, 2 BB
Other Notable Performers
Mike Colla, RHP (3.43) – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Game Notes: Since his suspension in early June, Robbie Grossman is hitting for a .327/.462/.535 line in 101 at-bats, with a 21% strikeout rate and a 19% walk rate. He has now reached base safely in 24 straight games, with hits in 20 of those games. He’s drawn a walk in 18 of his last 25 games. Tim Alderson has been pitching well in his last few starts. He’s combined for three earned runs in 16.2 innings with a 16:8 K/BB ratio in his last three starts. Mike Colla continues to pitch well in relief. Prior to this outing, he had a 1.33 ERA in 27 innings this year, along with a 23:6 K/BB ratio.
A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Result: Bradenton 10, Brevard County 3
Starting Pitcher: Tyler Waldron, RHP (6-6, 5.24) – 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, SS (.250) – 3-for-4, HR
Other Notable Performers
Mel Rojas, CF (.263) – 3-for-5, 3 RBI
Dan Grovatt, LF (.254) – 3-for-5, SB
Justin Howard, DH (.296) – 2-for-4, 3B, BB
Game Notes: Tyler Waldron has allowed three earned runs in 12 innings over his last two starts, with an 8:3 K/BB ratio. Eliecer Navarro pitched two shutout innings in relief, with two strikeouts. He now has a 2.63 ERA in 41 innings in relief, with a 33:8 K/BB ratio. Gift Ngoepe hit his 8th homer of the year. Coming in to the season he had four career homers in 484 at-bats. Alex Dickerson hit his 20th double of the year and stole his seventh base of the year.
A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER
West Virginia was postponed.
A-: STATE COLLEGE SPIKES
Result: State College 5, Staten Island 3
Starting Pitcher: Jake Burnette, RHP (4.71) – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Yhonathan Barrios, 2B (.200) – 3-for-3, RBI
Other Notable Performers
Tyler Gaffney, RF (.182) – 2-for-3, SB
Game Notes: John Eshleman’s live game report.
RK: GCL PIRATES
Result: Pirates 6, Blue Jays 3
Starting Pitcher: Aaron Pribanic, RHP (9.00) – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Gavi Nivar, LF (.296) – 1-for-3, 3B, BB
Other Notable Performers
Harold Ramirez, RF (.313) – 2-for-7
Game Notes: The GCL Pirates won in 17 innings after scoring three in the top of the 17th. Gavi Nivar brought in the first run with an RBI triple, scoring Harold Ramirez. Aaron Pribanic made a rehab start, and gave up two of the three runs allowed. Jackson Lodge gave up one run over four innings. Isaac Sanchez, Alex Lukshevich, Martires Cadet, Aneudy Merejo, and Roberto Espinosa combined for 11 shutout innings in relief. Wyatt Mathisen caught all 17 innings.
DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE
For a primer on the 2012 DSL Pirates, along with information on the players to watch, check out the 2012 DSL Preview.
RK: DSL PIRATES1
Result: Pirates 9, Yankees 3
Starting Pitcher: Cesilio Pimentel, LHP (7.24) – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Ramses Pena, DH (.296) – 2-for-4, 2 2B, BB
RK: DSL PIRATES2
Result: Giants 12, Pirates 3
Starting Pitcher: Angel Sanchez, LHP (3-2, 3.00) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Anthony Claudio, LF (.276) – 2-for-4, 2B, BB