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Prospect Watch: West Virginia Clinches Playoff Spot, Paulino Hero on First Day With Indianapolis

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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. If a player is in the majors, he will be removed, everyone below him will be shifted up a spot, and a new player will be added to the bottom of the list. Rankings are from the mid-season rankings, and links on each name go to their Pirates Prospects player page.

1. Jameson Taillon, RHP, Indianapolis (1-1, 3.75) – DNP

2. Gregory Polanco, CF, Altoona (.268) –  0-for-3, BB

3. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, West Virginia (8-3, 2.29) – DNP

4. Alen Hanson, SS, Altoona (.246) –  3-for-4, 2 3B

5. Austin Meadows, CF, GCL Pirates (.290) – 0-for-3, BB

6. Josh Bell, RF, West Virginia (.279) –  0-for-4

7. Nick Kingham, RHP, Altoona (3-3, 2.98) – DNP

8. Luis Heredia, RHP, West Virginia Power (6-3, 2.85) – DNP

9. Reese McGuire, C, GCL Pirates (.330) – 1-for-4

10. Barrett Barnes, CF, West Virginia (.261) – Low-A DL

11. Kyle McPherson, RHP, Indianapolis (0-1, 19.29) – 60-Day DL

12. Stetson Allie, 1B, Bradenton (.227) – 2-for-5, 2 BB

13. Wyatt Mathisen, C, Jamestown (.269) – 0-for-2

14. Clay Holmes, RHP, West Virginia (5-6, 4.19) – DNP

15. Stolmy Pimentel, RHP, Indianapolis (2-6, 3.33) – DNP

16. Harold Ramirez, CF, Jamestown (.298) – 4-for-8, HR, RBI

17. Blake Taylor, LHP, GCL Pirates (0-2, 2.57) – DNP

18. Jin-De Jhang, C, Jamestown (.274) – 0-for-3

19. Elvis Escobar, OF, Jamestown (.275) – 2-for-7, 2B, 4 RBI

20. Phil Irwin, RHP, Indianapolis (1-0, 0.90) – 60-Day DL

 

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DAILY SUMMARY

Top Pitcher: Zack Thornton, RHP (2-1, 2.00) – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Harold Ramirez, CF (.298) – 4-for-8, HR, RBI

Home Runs: Jarek Cunningham (18), Mel Rojas (5), Harold Ramirez (1)

 

AAA: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS  

Paulino had a big first day in AAA
Paulino had a big first day in AAA

Box Score

Result: Indianapolis 3, Toledo 2 in 11 innings

Starting Pitcher: Andy Oliver, LHP (4.18) – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Carlos Paulino, C (.600) – 3-for-5, RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Travis Snider, DH (.296) – 2-for-4, RBI, BB

Matt Hague, 1B (.288) – 2-for-5, RBI

Game Notes: Andy Oliver has his usual control issues, giving up four walks today, though he was able to limit the damage through five innings. He had eight strikeouts and gave up two runs. Toledo was unable to put another run on the board or even a hit. Brooks Brown, Ryan Reid and Eric Cordier no-hit Toledo for six innings, picking up a combined ten strikeouts. Catcher Carlos Paulino have a memorable first game for Indianapolis. Not only did he catch 18 strikeouts, he also had three hits, with the last one bringing home the third run for Indianapolis in the top of the 11th inning. Matt Hague, Travis Snider and Chase d’Arnaud all had two hits apiece. Hague now has 151 hits on the year, the most in the International League.

 

AA: ALTOONA CURVE  

Box Score

Result: Altoona 4, Harrisburg 1

Starting Pitcher: Zack Thornton, RHP (2-1, 2.00) – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Alen Hanson, SS (.246) – 3-for-4, 2 3B

Other Notable Performers:

Alex Dickerson, RF (.287) – 1-for-4, 2B

Mel Rojas, CF (.270) – 1-for-4, HR, RBI

Gregory Polanco, LF (.268) – 0-for-3, BB

Game Notes: Zack Thornton wasn’t originally scheduled to start tonight, but that didn’t stop him from having a terrific outing. In five innings, he needed only 52 pitches to get through his night, throwing an impressive 41 of those pitches for strikes. Thornton allowed just a single and struck out six batters. Alen Hanson scored a run and had three hits, including two triples, giving him five with Altoona and 13 on the season. Mel Rojas and Jarek Cunningham each hit solo homers, while Alex Dickerson hit his 36th double of the season. Gregory Polanco played four straight games in right field before moving over to left field last night, where he also played today.

 

A+: BRADENTON MARAUDERS

Box Score Game One

Result: Bradenton 5, Ft Myers 2

Starting Pitcher: Adrian Sampson, RHP (5-7, 5.29) – 9.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Gift Ngoepe, SS (.316) – 3-for-4, 2B, SB, 3 Runs

Other Notable Performers:

Dan Gamache, 2B (.267) – 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Stetson Allie, 1B (.236) – 2-for-3, BB

Game Notes: Adrian Sampson got a very rare nine inning complete game thanks to Mother Nature and some good timing. This game was originally started on August 18th and Sampson was the pitcher. It just so happened that the game was suspended and the completion was rescheduled on his day to pitch, so he finished the game as well. Gift Ngoepe had three hits and scored three runs. Dan Gamache and Willy Garcia each had two RBI’s. The double by Gamache was his 32nd of the year. Garcia has 56 RBI’s.

 

Box Score Game Two

Result: Ft Myers 2, Bradenton 1

Starting Pitcher: Emmanuel De Leon, RHP (3.49) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Jose Osuna, 1B (.247) – 1-for-3, 3B, RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Willy Garcia, RF (.256) – 1-for-3, 2B

Stetson Allie, DH (.227) – 0-for-2, BB

Game Notes: Emmanuel De Leon got the spot start today in the regularly scheduled game. He ended up going five strong innings, allowing just one run, before giving way to Orlando Castro. In De Leon’s only other start, he lasted just one inning, giving up five runs, which were all unearned. Castro gave up the go ahead run in the top of the seventh and all the Bradenton offense could manage in the game was an RBI triple by Jose Osuna that scored Stetson Allie.

A: WEST VIRGINIA POWER

Box Score

Result:  Asheville 4, West Virginia 3

Starting Pitcher: Kyle Haynes, RHP (2.38) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Raul Fortunato, CF (.242) – 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Jimmy Rider, 3B (.323) – 2-for-3

Josh Bell, RF (.279) – 0-for-4

Game Notes: Kyle Haynes has been impressive since he moved to the starting rotation this year, but tonight’s outing was one he would like to forget. He gave up a four spot in the second inning, yet still managed to work through six innings without giving up another run. Haynes felt some relief once the game was over, because Hickory lost their game, putting West Virginia in the playoffs. Raul Fortunato hit his 20th double and drove home two runs, giving him 49 RBI’s on the season. He also threw out a runner at second base.

 

A-: JAMESTOWN JAMMERS

Box Score Game One

Result:  State College 9, Jamestown 8

Starting Pitcher: Cody Dickson, LHP (2.25) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Elvis Escobar, RF (.275) – 2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Harold Ramirez, CF (.298) – 4-for-5, HR, RBI

Adam Frazier, SS (.333) – 1-for-3, 2B, BB

Adam Landecker, 3B (.290) – 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

Game Notes: This was the completion of a game from over two months ago. The original lineup had four players in it that were replaced by players on the current roster. Cody Dickson started that day and is now credited with two earned runs over five innings of work. Due to the scoring of this game, the home run hit by Harold Ramirez actually counts as his first of the season, despite the fact he hit it today. Adam Frazier played in the game, giving him the odd distinction of making his pro debut eight days before he signed with the Pirates. The Jammers went into the ninth inning with the score tied at four apiece. They put up four runs in the top of the inning, but in the bottom of the inning, Brett McKinney and Kurt Yacko couldn’t hold the lead. State College hit two homers, then tied it on a two-out double before winning it on a walk-off single.

 

Box Score Game Two

Result:  State College 8, Jamestown 2

Starting Pitcher: Jackson Lodge, LHP (4-4, 4.88) – 4.0 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

Top Hitter: Edwin Espinal, 1B (.285) – 1-for-3, 2B

Other Notable Performers:

Harold Ramirez, CF (.298) – 0-for-3

Jin-De Jhang, DH (.274) – 0-for-3

Game Notes: Jamestown did a number to their playoff chances today by dropping both games to first place State College. The two teams still have four more games left this season, but the Spikes now lead by three games with a week left on the schedule. Starter Jackson Lodge gave up all eight runs tonight, though four of them were unearned. Jamestown had just three hits in the game and didn’t draw a walk. They also played poorly in the field, committing four errors, two by Adam Frazier. Elvis Escobar drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly that scored Edwin Espinal.

 

RK: GCL PIRATES

Box Score

Result: Pirates 1, Phillies 0

Starting Pitcher: Miguel Rosario, RHP (3.61) – 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0 HR

Top Hitter: Ulises Montilla, 2B (.290) – 2-for-4, RBI

Other Notable Performers:

Austin Meadows, CF (.294) – 0-for-3, BB

Reese McGuire, C (.330) – 1-for-4

Game Notes: Miguel Rosario and three relievers combined for a three hit shutout in the last game of the GCL season today. The Pirates will now go on to play the best team in the league, the Nationals, in a one game playoff to try to advance to the finals. Josh Smith pitched for the first time since he went down with an early season injury while pitching for West Virginia. He allowed a hit and walk and picked up a strikeout in one inning of work. Enyel Vallejo had his hitting streak end at 14 games today. Austin Meadows finished .006 behind the league leader in OPS and Reese McGuire finished third in the batting race.

John Dreker
John Dreker
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball. When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.

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