The Pirates have been getting a boost from their minor league system.
Henry Davis and Nick Gonzales stepped up to help the team sweep the Padres in three games in their return home this week. At this point, both are looking like they should be given regular playing time.
Osvaldo Bido takes the mound tonight for the Pirates, after stepping into a rotation depleted by injuries. This is Bido’s fourth start at the MLB level. He’s got a 3.45 ERA in 15.2 innings, with 18 strikeouts and a 1.47 WHIP.
The Brewers rank as one of the worst offenses in baseball this year. That didn’t stop them from sweeping the Pirates two weeks ago, in their first meeting of the year. The Pirates were in the midst of their worst slump of the season. The offense scored six runs in three games. The bats seem to be waking up with the sparks from Davis and Gonzales. Milwaukee is tied for first place, but the Pirates have been known to be a streaky team this year, and they seem to be heating up right now.
The Pirates got Colin Holderman back today.
Down in the minors, Bubba Chandler makes the start for Greensboro, while the DSL Pirates teams play each other in the early games.
PIRATES (38-42) VS MILWAUKEE
Game Time: 7:05 PM EST
Pirates Starter: Osvaldo Bido, RHP (0-1, 3.45)
Brewers Starter: Freddy Peralta, RHP (5-7, 4.65)
Pirates Lineups:
City Connect Fridays are the best days.
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Brewers Lineups:
2. William Contreras (R) C
3. Rowdy Tellez (L) 1B
4. Willy Adames (R) SS
5. Owen Miller (R) 3B
6. Brice Turang (L) 2B
7. Blake Perkins (S) LF
8. Joey Wiemer (R) CF
9. Raimel Tapia (L) RF
INDIANAPOLIS (34-42) AT LOUISVILLE
Game Time: 7:15 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:
6/21: Changeup Helps Jared Jones In Strong Triple-A Debut
6/7: Aaron Shackelford adjusts swing and relocates power
6/6: Carmen Mlodzinski improves all the way with aggressive approach
ALTOONA (34-36) AT HARRISBURG
Game Time: 7:00 PM EST
Projected Starter: Nick Dombkowski, LHP (2-2, 4.14)
Latest Features:
6/22: Power Continues To Come Through For Liover Peguero
6/9: Jared Jones Continues Incredible Development With Altoona
6/1: Matt Gorski Displays Athleticism And Versatility
GREENSBORO (37-33) AT HICKORY
Game Time: 7:00 PM EST
Projected Starter: Bubba Chandler, RHP (3-2, 6.33)
Latest Features:
6/29: Breaking Pitches Allowed JP Massey To Dominate Single-A
6/25: Jase Bowen Turning Into An Offensive Threat
6/15: Anthony Solometo Promotion A Win For 2021 Draft Class
BRADENTON (38-32) VS CLEARWATER
Game Time: 6:30 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:
6/26:Bradenton Rotation Leading FSL Through First Half
6/22: Young Bradenton Hitters Making Progress
6/20: Termarr Johnson: Patience Brings Career Day At The Plate
FCL PIRATES (13-5)
Game Time: 12:00 PM EST
Projected Starter: TBA
Latest Features:
6/16: Is This The Year For A Solomon Maguire Breakout?
6/12: Pirates 2023 Minor League Preview: FCL Pirates
6/11: Pitching Depth Continues To Grow With Jun-Seok Shim Debut
DSL PIRATES BLACK (7-11) vs DSL PIRATES GOLD (13-5)
Game Time: 11:00 AM EST
DSL Black Starter: TBA
DSL Gold Starter: TBA
Latest Features:
**Pirates 2023 Minor League Previews: Dominican Summer League Pirates
THE NEW PROSPECT WATCH
With all of our game reports now going into this daily article, the Prospect Watch has been repurposed as a daily look at three prospects throughout the system. Check the site each day at noon for the latest edition. We’ll keep the archives updated here.
6/28: Lonnie White Jr., Kelvin Diaz, Yojeiry Osoria
6/25: Quinn Priester, Canaan Smith-Njigba, Jhonson Pena
6/24: Nick Gonzales, Jared Triolo, Adolfo Oviedo
6/23: Michael Kennedy, Po-Yu Chen, Wyatt Hendrie
6/22: Braxton Ashcraft, Jase Bowen, Maikol Escotto
6/21: Termarr Johnson, Connor Scott, Enmanuel Terrero
6/20: Cal Mitchell, Travis MacGregor, Alessandro Ercolani
DAILY PIRATES NEWS
The Indianapolis rotation has seen their depth depleted. Anthony Murphy writes about how Cam Alldred has stepped up recently.
**Pirates Prospects Daily: Cam Alldred Continues To Answer Call For Indianapolis
John Dreker has the latest draft updates from MLB Pipeline.
**MLB Pipeline Releases New Draft Rankings and a Mock Draft
More Recent Pirates Features
6/29: Jared Triolo Has Positive Recovery From Negative Start to the Year
6/29: This May Be Exactly What This Team Needed
6/28: The Key To Success For Nick Gonzales
6/28: Williams: The Pains of Part-Time Players Getting Too Much Playing Time
6/28: Gallery: Pirates Unveil City Connect Jerseys
PIRATES RECAP
By Wilbur Miller
Check back at the end of the night for all of the daily results throughout the system, or, join the discussion in the comments if you’re following Live.
Final Score: Pirates 8, Brewers 7
Players of the Game: Andrew McCutchen 3-for-5, 2B, HR (10), 2 runs, 3 RBI; Carlos Santana 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR (9), 2 runs, 2 RBI
Recap:
Facing Milwaukee, the Pirates repeated the script from their sweep of the Padres, only in more dramatic fashion. They fell behind early, then plugged away until they made it back. This time it took them until two out in the bottom of the ninth, but they walked off an 8-7 win, their first win of the year over the despised Brewers.
Osvaldo Bido had his weakest start so far, although his defense once again let him down. He got through two innings fine, but had a rough third. He didn’t pitch well in the inning — in fact, it started with a hit batsman — but Henry Davis misplayed a liner in right and Jared Triolo went for an out at the plate that he had no chance to get.
Bido lasted into the fourth, but left after a one-out walk. Ryan Borucki finished that inning, starting a string of innings in which a new reliever would come on and strand a runner. Borucki left with a man on second and one out in the fifth, and Yerry De Los Santos got the next two batters. De Los Santos left in the sixth after a one-out walk, and Angel Perdomo came on to see Austin Hedges record a rare caught stealing, then Perdomo got a strikeout.
The Pirates meanwhile had cut the gap to 4-3 in the fourth. Andrew McCutchen led off with his tenth home run, bringing him within three of 300 for his career. After a couple walks, Nick Gonzales doubled off the Clemente Wall to drive them both in.
The 4-3 score held until the top of the seventh, when the bullpen magic stopped. Perdomo left after the first two hitters reached on a Gonzales error and a hit batsman. Dauri Moreta looked like he was going to repeat his runner-stranding routine when he got the first two hitters, but then he gave up two doubles, making it 7-3.
In contrast to most of their two-month slump, the Pirates kept at it. McCutchen drove in a run with a two-out single in the seventh. In the eighth, Carlos Santana led off with a double, then scored on a single by Jack Suwinski.
Carmen Mlodzinski, who’s starting to look like a real bullpen piece, threw two scoreless innings, but it was still 7-5 in the bottom of the ninth. Ji-Hwan Bae led off, batting for Jason Delay — Hedges had already left for a pinch hitter — and singled. After a ground out, McCutchen doubled to the gap to pull the Pirates within one. Davis grounded to third for the second out, but Santana pulled the first pitch he saw over the right field seats, just inside the foul pole, to walk it off. It was Santana’s ninth home run as a Pirate.
Mlodzinski got his first major league win. McCutchen and Santana each had three hits, including a double and homer for Cutch, and two doubles and a homer for Santana. Suwinski had two hits and a walk.
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
By John Dreker
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS
Final Score: Indianapolis 10, Louisville 8
Player of the Game: Ji-Man Choi 3-for-5, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, BB
Recap:
Indianapolis had a comeback victory on Friday, thanks to a huge game from Ji-Man Choi on rehab. He went 3-for-5 with a single, triple, homer, walk, two runs and four RBIs.
Kyle Nicolas took the ball in the second inning, after Yohan Ramirez opened with a shutout inning. Nicolas went four innings and had a lot of trouble, which put Indianapolis down early. He gave up five runs on five hits, three walks, two hit batters, a balk and a wild pitch. He has a 12.27 ERA after three outings with Indianapolis.
Colin Selby had a rough night as well, winding up with just one out to his credit, while giving up two runs. Travis MacGregor was the hero, tossing 2.2 scoreless for the win.
While Choi had the huge game, Indianapolis had a group effort. Everyone in the lineup reached base at least twice.
Endy Rodriguez had a hit, two walks, an RBI and a walk.
Cal Mitchell hit his 15th double. Miguel Andujar hit his 21st double. Alika Williams hit his third homers since joining Indianapolis.
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA
Final Score: Harrisburg 5, Altoona 1
Player of the Game: Nick Dombkowski 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO
Recap:
Starter Nick Dombkowski had a strong start, but the bullpen and offense couldn’t help him out in a 5-1 Altoona loss. He went four shutout innings on four hits, no walks and three strikeouts.
Omar Cruz followed him and couldn’t get out of the fifth inning. He allowed three earned runs, before being removed. Brad Case bailed him out by stranding two runners to end the inning, which was all that Harrisburg needed.
Mason Martin hit a solo homer for the Curve’s only run. It was his 12th homer of the season. Altoona had five hits total, with the other four being singles. They went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position
Liover Peguero had a hit, walk and his 19th stolen base.
HIGH-A: GREENSBORO
Final Score: Hickory 5, Greensboro 2
Player of the Game: Shawn Ross 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB
Recap:
Bubba Chandler had a rough start and Greensboro bats managed just one hit all game in a 5-2 loss.
Chandler allowed four runs over three innings, with nine hits, no walks and five strikeouts. He now has a 6.63 ERA, a 1.89 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 57 innings.
Three relievers held Hickory to one run over the final five innings, including three shutout innings from Mitchell Miller.
The only hit for Greensboro was a two-run homer by Shawn Ross, his fifth homer of the season.
Jase Bowen reached base twice on a walk and hit-by-pitch. He stole his 11th base and he picked up an outfield assist.
SINGLE-A: BRADENTON
Final Score: Clearwater 14, Bradenton 1
Player of the Game: Sergio Umana 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO
Recap:
It was a rough night all around for Bradenton, as they dropped a 14-1 contest, with poor pitching, poor hitting and miscues that led to five unearned runs.
Starter Luis Peralta was on the mound for Bradenton, as his brother was facing the Pirates at PNC Park. He allowed four runs over 2.2 innings, while issuing five walks. Owen Sharts was no better in relief, giving up five runs in two innings. The only bright spot of the game was Sergio Umana tossed three shutout innings.
The Marauders had just four hits, to go along with 13 strikeouts. Termarr Johnson drove in the only run with a sixth inning single that scored Enmanuel Terrero, whose seventh double was the lone extra-base hit for Bradenton.
Johnson and Terrero each went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts. Shalin Polanco batted between them, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
ROOKIE: FCL PIRATES
Final Score: Pirates 10, Orioles 3
Player of the Game: Jeral Toledo 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, SB
Recap:
The Pirates put up four runs in the sixth inning and four more in the eighth, on their way to a 10-3 win.
Michael Kennedy got the start. He lowered his ERA to 0.61 with four shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out six batters, but he was still a bit wild in this game, with four walks and two hit batters.
Roelmy Garcia allowed all three of the runs in his 1.1 innings, then Joaquin Tejada followed with 2.2 scoreless.
The Pirates got on the board first in the third inning with a double from Eddy Rodriguez. He had three hits in the game.
Kelvin Diaz singled in a run in the fourth. He had two hits in the game
An error and a balk scored the first two runs in the sixth. Javier Rivas then drove in two runs with a double.
Diaz singled in a run in the eighth, then Jeral Toledo put the game out of reach with a three-run homer. He had two hits and a stolen base.
Jauri Custodio had a walk, run scored, stolen base and two outfield assists.
Lonnie White Jr had two walks and his sixth stolen base.
ROOKIE: DSL PIRATES BLACK vs DSL PIRATES GOLD
Final Score: Gold 11, Black 0
Player of the Game: Adolfo Oviedo 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO
Recap:
This was a close game until the bottom of the sixth when the Gold put up nine runs. The seven-inning contest ended in an 11-0 rout.
Adolfo Oviedo got the start for Gold, going five shutout innings on two hits, two walks and seven strikeouts. He has now made four starts without an earned run, with three hits in 16.2 innings.
Greiber Mendez finished off the win with two shutout innings, lowering him to a 1.98 ERA.
Black starter Bladimir Pichardo allowed an unearned run in his 2.2 innings.
One major combined highlight here is that neither team made an error.
Gold was playing small ball early, scoring their first three runs on a wild pitch, ground out and a sacrifice fly. The first RBI hit was a sixth inning double by Lennyn Nunez.
Edwarii Brioso singled in a run, then Ruben Vizcaya tripled home two runs.
Juan Machado had a sacrifice fly, then Roinny Aguiar singled in two runs.
Eduardo Oviedo had two hits, two walks and two runs scored.
Brioso was the only other player with two hits. Black only managed to collect three singles.
Tim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.
Having followed the Pirates fanatically since 1965, Wilbur Miller is one of the fast-dwindling number of fans who’ve actually seen good Pirate teams. He’s even seen Hall-of-Fame Pirates who didn’t get traded mid-career, if you can imagine such a thing. His first in-person game was a 5-4, 11-inning win at Forbes Field over Milwaukee (no, not that one). He’s been writing about the Pirates at various locations online for over 20 years. It has its frustrations, but it’s certainly more cathartic than writing legal stuff. Wilbur is retired and now lives in Bradenton with his wife and three temperamental cats.
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.