The Pirates look to bounce back from their series loss against the Oakland Athletics this weekend, as they take on the New York Mets. Despite having more money to work with than God, the Mets have a 30-33 record, and sit fourth in the NL East. The Pirates are currently 32-29, and in second place in the NL Central.
Highlights from the minor league schedule include starts from Sean Sullivan in Altoona and Braxton Ashcraft in Greensboro. We’ve covered each pitcher’s success recently, which you can find in the links below.
PIRATES GAME PREVIEWS
PIRATES (32-29) VS METS
Game Time: 7:05 PM EST
Pirates Starter: Rich Hill, LHP (5-5, 4.41)
Mets Starter: Tylor Megill, RHP (5-3, 4.40)
Pirates Lineups:
Game 1 vs the Mets.
Mets Lineups:
Game one in the Steel City. #LGM
INDIANAPOLIS (28-31) VS OMAHA
Game Time: 7:05 PM EST
Projected Starter: Kent Emanuel, LHP (4-1, 6.08)
Latest Features:6/7: Aaron Shackelford adjusts swing and relocates power
6/6: Carmen Mlodzinski improves all the way with aggressive approach
5/26: Potential Plan For Jared Triolo Becoming More ClearALTOONA (28-24) AT RICHMOND
Game Time: 6:35 PM EST
Projected Starter: Cameron Junker, RHP
Latest Features:6/9: Jared Jones Continues Incredible Development With Altoona
6/1: Matt Gorski Displays Athleticism And Versatility
5/25: Sean Sullivan Continues To Thrive In AltoonaGREENSBORO (29-23) VS WILMINGTON
Game Time: 6:30 PM EST
Projected Starter: Braxton Ashcraft, RHP (0-2, 3.79)
Latest Features:6/4: Braxton Ashcraft Showing Velocity and Control in Return From Tommy John
6/2: Abrahan Gutierrez Hitting Ground Running Returning From Injury
5/26: Anthony Solometo Faces Two Top 100 Prospects In GreensboroBRADENTON (28-26) VS DUNEDIN
Game Time: 6:30 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:6/9: Ryan Harbin: Sinker/Slider Mix Dominating Single-A Hitters
6/3: Thomas Harrington Displayed Swing and Miss Secondary in Bradenton
5/30: With May Ending, Shalin Polanco Heading In Right DirectionFCL PIRATES (1-2)
Game Time: 12:00 PM EST
Projected Starter: Isaias Uribe, LHP (2023 Debut)DSL PIRATES BLACK (0-3)
Game Time: 10:30 AM EST
Projected Starter: Carlos Mateo, RHP (Pro Debut)**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
DSL PIRATES GOLD (2-1)
Game Time: 10:30 AM EST
Projected Starter: Yojeiry Osoria, LHP (2023 Debut)**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
DAILY PIRATES NEWS
There was a roster move prior to today’s game. Vince Velasquez also got bad news. A minor league starting pitcher lands on the IL.
Pirates Notebook: Pirates DFA Chase De Jong; Recall Canaan Smith-Njigba
Anthony Murphy looked at the sinker/slider mix from Single-A pitcher Ryan Harbin.
**Ryan Harbin: Sinker/Slider Mix Dominating Single-A Hitters
MLB Pipeline released their latest mock draft.
**New Mock Draft from MLB Pipeline
Anthony Murphy saw Jared Jones in action last night, and wrote about his development with Altoona.
**Pirates Prospects Daily: Jared Jones Continues Incredible Development With Altoona
More Recent Pirates Features
6/8: What’s Next For The Pirates Rotation?
6/4: Williams: Endy Rodriguez, Henry Davis, and the Pirates’ Catcher of the Future
6/2: Pirates Business: Examining the Super Two “Deadline”PIRATES RECAP
Final Score: Pirates 14, Mets 7
Player of the Game: Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B (5-for-5, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R, SB)
Recap: The Steelers beat the Jets by a score of…Wait, that’s the wrong sport.
Ke’Bryan Hayes had a big night at the plate, going 5-for-5, knocking in four runs, and scoring three. With the Pirates down 1-0 in the second, Hayes got things going with a one-out single. With two outs, he stole third base as part of a double steal, with Ji-Hwan Bae taking second after an earlier walk. Both scored after an Austin Hedges double, giving the Pirates the lead.
The Mets tied the score in the top of the third, but Hayes came up big again in the bottom half of that frame. With one out and the bases loaded, Hayes hit a two run single to left. The line drive over a leaping shortstop was a continuation of a recent trend where Hayes has been lifting the ball to the pull side more often with his usual hard contact. This hit was followed by a wild play where two runs scored and Ji-Hwan Bae reached third after a bunt. Bae scored one play later on a Josh Palacios single, capping off the five run inning.
The Pirates wouldn’t relinquish their lead, and Hayes wouldn’t quit. After a Jack Suwinski double brought in another run in the fourth inning, Hayes followed with a double of his own, bringing in two. Again, it was a hard hit to the pull side, on a low and inside pitch, which seems to be happening a lot with him lately.
Hayes doubled in the sixth inning, and scored on another Josh Palacios single as the Pirates added two more runs. They added two more again in the eighth inning on back-to-back solo homers from Carlos Santana and Jack Suwinski. Hayes added a single on a line drive to right, picking up hits to all fields. The Mets scored five in the top of the ninth, but the Pirates entered the inning with a 12 run lead, so some damage was allowed.
The win tonight was an all-around team effort, led by Hayes on offense and Rich Hill on the mound. The veteran starter went seven innings for the first time this season, and didn’t give up a run after the third inning. He threw 119 pitches, while mostly working with a very comfortable lead. Rob Zastryzny got five of the final six outs, before David Bednar came on for some easy work after having last pitched on Sunday. Bednar gave up two runs, but got the final out in a non-save situation.
-Tim Williams
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
By John Dreker
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS
Final Score: Omaha 6, Indianapolis 2
Player of the Game: Nick Gonzales 2-for-5, HR, RBI
Recap:Indianapolis dropped Friday night’s game by a 6-2 score. Starter Kent Emanuel lasted six innings, though he allowed five runs on nine hits. Yerry De Los Santos allowed one run over two frames, with four hits and four strikeouts. Duane Underwood Jr threw a shutout inning. The three Indianapolis pitchers combined for zero walks.
Nick Gonzales had two hits, including his sixth homer of the season. Henry Davis played right field, going 1-for-5 with a single. Endy Rodriguez went 1-for-4 with a single.
Miguel Andujar collected his 14th double. He has a 1.007 OPS.
Cal Mitchell went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Jared Triolo went 0-for-4.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA
Final Score: Altoona 4, Richmond 3
Player of the Game: Matt Gorski 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Recap:Matt Gorski connected on his eighth home run of the year, as Altoona won 4-3 over Richmond. Gorski’s homer was a two-run shot in the third inning. He also picked up an outfield assist.
Liover Peguero had two hits, a walk and a run scored. He hit his 14th double and stole his 14th base.
Mason Martin and Drew Maggi each had an RBI.
Altoona struck out 14 times in the game.
Cameron Junker got the start in place of Sean Sullivan, who was placed on the Injured List. Junker allowed two runs over two innings, with one of those runs being earned.
Justin Meis returned from the Development List to allow one run over three innings. Juan Minaya lowered his ERA to 1.48 with two scoreless.
Oliver Garcia picked up his fifth win by retiring all five batters he faced, while stranding the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO
Final Score: Greensboro 6, Wilmington 0
Player of the Game: Tsung-Che Cheng 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Recap:Greensboro won 6-0 over Wilmington, with six pitchers taking part in the shutout. Starter Braxton Ashcraft had seven strikeouts over 3.1 innings, though he allowed seven base runners, which limited his night. Jaycob Deese was the best among the large group of relievers, tossing two shutout frames.
Tsung-Che Cheng had himself a night, connecting on his eighth homer. He had two runs and two RBIs, in addition to two singles and a walk. He now has a .999 OPS for the season.
Will Matthiessen reached base all four times up, with two hits and two walks. He hit his fifth homer.
Jase Bowen slugged his 11th home run of the season, which drove in a pair of runs.
Ernny Ordonez, Sammy Siani and Tres Gonzalez each had two hits.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON
Final Score: Bradenton 6, Dunedin 4
Player of the Game: Jack Brannigan 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, SB
Recap:Bradenton won 6-4 over Dunedin. Starter Alessandro Ercolani went 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, while recording nine strikeouts. He now has a 5.35 ERA in 35.1 innings, with 35 strikeouts.
Carlos Lomeli followed with 1.2 scoreless, recording all five outs on strikeouts. Brandan Bidois got the win with a shutout frame in the seventh. Elijah Birdsong gave up two runs over the final two innings, yet he still picked up the save. The four pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts.
Jack Brannigan continued to stay hot since returning recently from an early season injury. He connected on his fifth homer, a three-run shot in the seventh. He also stole his tenth base.
The rest of the Bradenton lineup was fairly quiet. Brannigan’s homer was the only extra-base hit. Enmanuel Terrero and Geovanny Planchart each had a hit and a walk.
Deivis Nadal came in as a pinch-runner in the eighth, stole two bases and scored a run. He has 15 steals.
Termarr Johnson and Rodolfo Nolasco each went 0-for-4. Johnson put the ball in play each time, but Nolasco had three strikeouts.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
Final Score: Pirates 12, Orioles 3
Player of the Game: Josh Sightler 2-for-3, 2 RBI, BB, HBP, 4 Runs
Recap:Starter Isaias Uribe benefited from plenty of support, but he helped out too with one run over 4.1 innings in the 12-3 win over the Orioles. Four relievers combined to allowed two runs over the final 4.2 innings.
The Pirates scored three runs in the third inning on a Jhonson Pena homer and a two-run single by Rafael Escalante.
Jauri Custodi doubled in a run in the fifth, then tripled in a run in the seventh. Josh Sightler and Eybert Escalona each singled in runs in the seventh. Escalona and Sightler picked up RBIs on a ground out (Escalona) and hit-by-pitch. Wild pitches brought home two more runs.
Kelvin Diaz double in an insurance run late.
Sightler reached base four times and came around to score each time.
The Pirates had many of their top hitting prospects on the bench.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK
Final Score: Pirates 8, Rangers 5
Player of the Game: Carlos Caro 1-for-4, 3 RBI
Recap:The Pirates won a battle of winless teams on Friday, taking an 8-5 win over the Rangers. This looked like the game to follow on paper because top pitcher prospect Carlos Mateo was making his pro debut. He had a start to his career that can only get better.
Mateo allowed five earned runs on two hits and three walks, while recording just two outs before being removed. The Pirates then scored the only other runs of the game after the first inning.
Jarlen De La Paz, Nicolas Carreno, Janderson Linares andYoerys Hernandez tossed 8.1 shutout innings.
The Pirates got two runs in the second on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch, followed by a walk. They added runs in the fourth on a Joenelly Van Der Linden double, followed by a Carlos Caro ground out.
They scored a pair of runs in the sixth on singles by Caro and Miguel Rodriguez. Joseph Sequera doubled in a run to make it 7-5. The final run scored on a wild pitch.
Sequera had three hits. Caro had three RBIs.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES GOLD
Final Score: Pirates 5, Tigers 4
Player of the Game: Yojeiry Osoria 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO
Recap:Starter Yojeiry Osoria debuted with four shutout innings on one hit, one walk and three strikeouts. This is his third season in the DSL, though he did well last year in limited action, posting a 2.84 ERA in 12.2 innings.
Jose Regalado allowed one run over two innings. Rafael Mendez and Greiber Mendez (no relation) combined for three runs over the final four innings, but all of the runs were unearned.
The Pirates trailed at four different points in this game, but they pulled out a 5-4 win. Eduardo Oviedo homered for their first run. A Ruben Vizcaya single tied the score in the eighth.
Juan Machado singled to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. Samuel Escudero tied the score with a double in the tenth, then Fabian Urbina won the game with a sacrifice fly.
Vizcaya, Escudero and Edwarli Brioso each had two hits.
