Morning Rundown: Bubba Chandler pitches four no-hit innings, Pirates lose in walk-off fashion
Bubba Chandler finally makes his second start of the season, and the Pirates lose on Saturday on a walk-off hit.
Originally scheduled to make his second start of the season on Thursday, rain pushed it back to Saturday, and Bubba Chandler made it worth the wait.
He walked a pair of runners early, but by the end of the day, he had completed four no-hit innings and struck out six batters.
Chandler picked up nine swinging strikes in the game and has 10 strikeouts on 7.1 innings pitched in two starts this season.
Going back to his one start at the end of the year, Chandler has held Harrisburg to just one hit while walking two and striking out 14 batters in nine innings pitched across two starts.
Jared Jones and Paul Skenes have stolen the headlines so far, for a good reason, but it was a reminder of how deep the Pirates are in high-upside arms.
The bullpen, namely Aroldis Chapman, has been incredibly solid for the Pirates so far this season.
On Saturday, Chapman struggled to find the strike zone, walking two and allowing a hit before being lifted after one-third of an inning.
Roansy Contreras came in with runners on second and third and intentionally walked Alec Bohm before giving up a walk-off hit to Nick Castellanos.
The Pirates carried the lead into the seventh after Marco Gonzales allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six in six innings.
Oneil Cruz hit a two-run home run, his third of the season.
Mitch Keller will face Zack Wheeler in the series finale as the Pirates will look for a series split. The game has an expected start time of 1:35 pm ET.
Top Exit Velocity
Juan Jerez - BRD - 112.1 MPH - Single
Edward Olivares - PIT - 109.8 MPH - Groundout
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 108.1 MPH - Home Run
Javier Rivas - BRD - 107.2 MPH - Field Error
Grant Koch - IND - 107.2 MPH - Double
Top Pitch Velocity
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 98.8 MPH
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 98.6 MPH
Colin Holderman - PIT - 98.6 MPH
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 98.3 MPH
Colin Holderman - PIT - 98.3 MPH
Most Whiffs
Quinn Priester - IND - 17
JP Massey - GBO - 11
Marco Gonzales - PIT - 11
Kyle Nicolas - IND - 9
Bubba Chandler - ALT - 9
Chris Gau - ALT - 9
Michael Kennedy - BRD - 9
Game 1: Indianapolis Indians - 2 vs Toledo Mud Hens - 3
Top Hitter - Liover Peguero: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Kyle Nicolas: 2 IP, H, BB, 5 K
Game 2: Indianapolis Indians - 4 vs Toledo Mud Hens - 13
Top Hitter - Grant Koch: 2-3, R, RBI, 2B, HR
Top Pitcher -JC Flowers: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K
Game 1: Altoona Curve - 5 vs Harrisburg Senators - 3
Top Hitter - Abrahan Gutierrez: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 4 IP, 2 BB, 6 K
Game 2: Altoona Curve - 3 vs Harrisburg Senators - 7
Top Hitter: Tres Gonzalez: 1-2, R, 2 BB
Top Pitchers: Chris Gau: 2.1 IP, 4 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 4 vs Winston Salem Dash - 1
Top Hitter - Rodolfo Nolasco: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Top Pitcher - Dominic Perachi: 3 IP, H, BB, 2 K
Bradenton Marauders - 3 vs Lakeland Flying Tigers - 4
Top Hitter - Juan Jerez: 2-4, R, 2B
Top Pitcher - Yoldin De La Paz: 1.2 IP, 2 BB, 4 K
Probable Pitchers
Pittsburgh Pirates - Mitch Keller
Indianapolis Indians - Michael Plassmeyer
Altoona Curve - Anthony Solometo
Greensboro Grasshoppers - Wilber Dotel
Bradenton Marauders - Khristian Curtis
My only comment on the list of Top Performers would be in A+ where Perachi had a VG 3 innings, after the SP Massey went 5 IP to get the Win - possibly Co-Top Pitching Performers?
Glad to see Bubba Chandler just going strong - I know the Pirates would like to see him continue to succeed, but they would probably also want to space out bringing up their dominant young SP's. Skenes is a sure thing for moving up to MLB this year, and it is very likely that if Chandler continues at this pace, he will fill that open slot at AAA.
Pirates just going about their business of building the bullpen for now and in the future. Hunter Stratton, a Round 16 pick of the Pirates in 2017 has been excellent so far this season with a Save, 7 IP in 7 games, 0BB/10K 1.29 ERA. Another positive at the MLB level is LL Ortiz, 25, 5 G, 7.2 IP, 3 H, 5BB/5K, 2.35 ERA. Also continuing at the MLB level is LHRP Jose Hernandez, 26, 5 G, 4.1 IP, a Save, 3 H, 1BB/4K, 2.08 ERA. Two others I think we will see this year are Kyle Nicolas, 25, who is at AAA, and Cam Junker, 26, a 10th Round draft pick of the Pirates in 2019, and having a good season going at AA right now.
Monday morning QBing, but surprise that Contreras came in, in that situation, you either want a grounder or K and Stratton or Flemmings especially in the middle of an inning are better suited…..like I wrote Monday morning quarterbacking….