Jack Suwinski had a big day for Altoona. Canaan Smith-Njigba and Jack Herman both had walkoff hits.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
Game Time: 6:35pm
Starting Pitcher: Cam Alldred
- Final Line: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Notable Performances:
- Oneil Cruz 1-4
- Rodolfo Castro 1-3, 2B, BB
- Mason Martin 1-4, HR (3)
- Canaan Smith-Njigba 1-4
- Cal Mitchell 1-3
- Yerry De Los Santos 1 IP, 1 K
Game Recap:
The Indy (8-8) game today against Columbus was the obligatory one where the Pirates switch up the starter. Instead of Beau Sulser they went with Cam Alldred, who made his first pro start. It went very well, as he threw four shutout innings and allowed only two hits. Indy got a 2-0 lead in the fourth on Mason Martin’s third home run, but a two-run shot off Hunter Stratton tied it. Rehabbing Sam Howard, Eric Hanhold and Yerry De Los Santos held the score to 2-2. In the bottom of the ninth, Hunter Owen led off with a deep but routine fly to center that the center fielder never saw. Owen ran it out and got a triple, then Canaan Smith-Njigba lined a walkoff single down the left field line, giving Indy a 3-2 win. Nobody with the Indians had more than one hit. Rodolfo Castro had a double and now has a .911 OPS, but with Kevin Newman and Cole Tucker barely exceeding that added together, there’s just no room in the majors.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
Game Time: 4:00pm
Starting Pitcher: Kyle Nicolas
- Final Line: 2 IP, 9 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Notable Performances:
- Jared Triolo 2-4, BB, SB
- Nick Gonzales 0-4, BB
- Jack Suwinski 3-5, 2 2B, HR (3), 5 RBI
- Liover Peguero 1-5
- Matt Fraizer 0-3, BB
Game Recap:
Kyle Nicolas hadn’t allowed any runs coming in to the game, but that changed quickly in Altoona’s (6-8) 9-7 loss to New Hampshire. He gave up six in the second, then two more in the third and departed without retiring anybody in the inning. Four of the nine hits he allowed left the park. Bear Bellomy gave up the last run over four innings, then Colin Selby threw two scoreless innings and Austin Roberts one. Jack Suwinski had a big day, belting two doubles and hit third home run, while driving in five. He’s now batting 362/434/702. If the Pirates were interested in playing outfielders in the outfield, he might have a chance of reaching Pittsburgh this season. Jared Triolo continued emerging from his early slump, getting two hits and a walk, and scoring three times. Nick Gonzales continued slumping, going hitless in four at-bats, dropping his average to .184. Matt Fraizer also went hitless and is batting .157. Aaron Shackelford had a double and Carter Bins a triple.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
Game Time: 6:30pm
Starting Pitcher: Jared Jones
- Final Line: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Notable Performances:
- Yoyner Fajardo 2-5, HR (1)
- Endy Rodriguez 1-4, HBP
- Henry Davis 2-5, HR (2), SB
- Hudson Head 2-4, HBP
- Jack Herman 2-4, BB
- Sammy Siani 2-4, HR (3)
- Eli Wilson 1-4, HR (1)
- Tyler Samaniego 2 IP, 2 K
Game Recap:
Greensboro (5-9) finally won one of their volatile games, 8-7, over Aberdeen. Their home park was in fine form, as each team launched four longballs. Jared Jones had a completely different start from his first two. He allowed two runs in each of the first two innings, and left after three having thrown 64 pitches and hitting two batters. (Five batters total got bonked in this game. Not sure what’s going on, but the Hoppers lead the league in both hitting guys and being hit, and they’re hitting more than they’re getting hit.) Michell Miliano, acquired in the Adam Frazier trade, made his first 2022 appearance and it didn’t go well. He retired the first batter, then walked the next three on 12 pitches. Garrett Leonard induced a double play to bail Miliano out, but Leonard later allowed a game-tying, two-run home run. The Hoppers took a 7-6 lead, but Cam Junker gave up a game-tying homer.
Tyler Samaniego finally shut things down in the ninth and tenth, stranding the free runner. In the bottom of the tenth, Jack Herman brought in the free runner with a one-out single. He’s quietly raised his average to .333. Henry Davis had a single and his second home run of the year, and scored three times. Davis now sports a 1.038 OPS, although it’d be a relief if less of it was composed of HBPs. Sammy Siani had a three-run shot, his third homer of the year. Eli Wilson and Yoyner Fajardo each contributed home run #1 on the year. Fajardo and Herman each had two hits. Hudson Head had a single and double, raising his average to .308, so he’s starting to look like the player the Pirates thought they were getting.
LOW-A: BRADENTON MARAUDERS
Game Time: 7:05pm
Starting Pitcher: Po-Yu Chen
- Final Line: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Notable Performances:
- Jacob Gonzalez 1-5, HR (4)
- Jase Bowen 1-5, HR (4)
- Alexander Mojica 1-5
- Brenden Dixon 2-5, 2 2B
- Luke Brown 1-3, 2B, BB
Game Recap:
Bradenton (8-6) took an early 3-0 lead, but couldn’t make it stand up and lost to Daytona, 7-5. Starter Po-Yu Chen breezed along for four innings, but retired only one batter in the fifth. He was charged with three runs, although two scored after Dante Mendoza entered the game. Mendoza gave up an unearned run in an inning and two-thirds. Jake Sweeney recorded only two outs, allowing a solo home run, three walks and two runs. Darvin Garcia gave up the last run. Jacob Gonzalez hit a solo home run, his fourth longball, in the first, but eventually stranded seven runners. Brenden Dixon had a single and two doubles and Jase Bowen hit a two-run homer in the ninth. That was his fourth longball. Luke Brown had a double and a walk, and is now batting .333. Rodolfo Nolasco went 0-for-4 and left for a pinch hitter in the ninth. He’s mired in a 2-for-25 skid.
