For a season preview of the Pittsburgh Pirates two Dominican Summer League teams, check out our article here. Throughout the year, we will provide the recaps of both teams, as well as highlight one player each day. 
PIRATES1
Result: Pirates 3, Mets2 2 in 11 innings
Starting Pitcher: Christian Henriquez, LHP (1-1, 2.45) – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Luis Benitez, CF (.228) – 2-for-4, BB
Other Notable Performers:
Julio de la Cruz, DH (.211) – 2-for-4
Tito Polo, CF (.297) – 1-for-5, SB
Arquimedes Lorenzo, RHP (2-0, 4.43) – 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 HR
Johan De Jesus, SS (.135) – 0-for-3
Game Notes: The Pirates needed 11 innings to defeat the Mets2 and extended their winning streak to eight games. They now have a 25-16 record as the two affiliates take the weekend off for their All-Star break. Arquimedes Lorenzo picked up the win with three scoreless innings to close out the game. Julio de la Cruz has been on a hot streak recently, collecting two hits on Friday and hitting four homers over a recent 11 game stretch. He had the top bonus in last year’s July 2nd class. Sandy Santos pinch ran for de la Cruz and scored the tying run in the ninth, then Santos hit his first homer of the season in the top of the 11th for the winning run.
PIRATES2
Result: Pirates 7, Rojos 1
Starting Pitcher: Omar Basulto, LHP (2.23) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR
Top Hitter: Jhoan Herrera, 3B (.254) – 2-for-4, RBI
Other Notable Performers:
Michael de la Cruz, DH (.336) – 1-for-2, BB, RBI
Richard Mitchell, RHP (4.43) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 HR
Yoel Gonzalez, C (.136) – 0-for-2, BB, HBP
Game Notes: The Pirates2 got strong starting pitching from Omar Basulto, who had his third straight appearance in which he went five innings without allowing an earned run. Delvin Hiciano followed Basulto, throwing two scoreless innings to pick up the win. Gustavo Barrios scored two runs, giving him 17 runs scored this year. Barrios has 17 hits and a .202 average this season. Jhoan Herrera has a five game hitting streak. Michael de la Cruz has 42 hits and 37 walks in 35 games. He has reached base 25 times in his last nine games.
Player Of The Day
Today’s player of the day is Sandy Santos, who scored the tying run in the Pirates1 win on Friday, then hit his first home run of the season to put them ahead in the 11th inning. Santos is a 19-year-old outfielder in his first season of pro ball. He has good size at 6’3″, 185 pounds and he hits/throws from the right side. Prior to his home run on Friday, he had just one extra base hit in 26 games, a double. The overall numbers haven’t been good. He is hitting .228 in 79 AB’s, with just three walks and 25 strikeouts. Santos is getting a decent amount of playing time in an outfield that has Luis Benitez and Tito Polo playing almost everyday. Someone that doesn’t start their pro career until age 19 in the DSL is either a late bloomer or a roster filler. The numbers point to the latter, but it is just too soon in his career to tell. For him to be a player to watch, he needs to display more plate patience and show some more power like he did on Friday.
