Morning Rundown: Martin Perez pitched eight strong innings, Pirates lose late, Ryder Ryan optioned to Triple-A
The Pirates manage series split against Detroit Tigers after losing late lead.
After blowing a ninth-inning league, the Pittsburgh Pirates managed just a split of their two-game series against the Detroit Tigers.
In his first start at PNC Park, Martin Perez pitched eight fantastic innings, allowing just one run and six hits while striking out seven.
Edward Olivares had his first multi-home run game of his Pirates’ career, and Bryan Reynolds also hit a double.
It’s been a rough start to the season at the plate for Henry Davis, but he was able to draw a pair of walks and pick up a hit.
The Pirates had other opportunities to potentially score runs, but the Tigers made some great defensive plays to keep the game close.
David Bednar pitched the ninth but only got one out before being lifted from the game after blowing his third save of the season. After allowing four earned runs, his ERA is up to 12.46 ERA.
After pitching just once in Spring, Bednar has had trouble locating his pitches for most of the season.
The Pirates will have an off-day on Wednesday before starting a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The team announced on Tuesday that right-handed pitcher Ryder Ryan was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. No corresponding move was officially announced, but it was reported that Colin Holderman was back in the locker room, so that would make the most sense.
Ryan made the team out of camp as a non-roster player and pitched well for the most part in his four appearances. He picked up his first major league win and was credited with two holds.
Ji-Hwan Bae and Carmen Mlodzinski's rehab assignments were transferred to Indianapolis on Tuesday as well. They had both played in a game over the weekend with Bradenton.
Wesley Zapata was assigned to the Bradenton Marauders. He played primarily in the FCL last year but also saw action in two games for Greensboro.
Owen Kellington and Isaias Uribe on the 60-day Injured List. According to Alex Stumpf, Kellington is receiving a second opinion on his elbow.
Also from Alex, Ryan Borucki is already feeling better (triceps/elbow inflammation). He could be back to playing catch in the next few days.
Yasmani Grandal should start base running soon.
Endy Rodriguez will start a swing progression from the left side next week.
Jason Delay is shut down from all baseball activities.
Thomas Harrington is playing light catch from 75-90 feet.
Jun-Seok Shim is dealing with a right pec/arm issue. He’s throwing from 75-90 feet. He’s making progress but ‘slower than the team would like.’
Top Exit Velocity
Javier Rivas - BRD - 113 MPH - Lineout
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 110.7 MPH - Forceout
Jack Suwinski - PIT - 110.5 MPH - Groundout
Edward Olivares - PIT - 108.6 MPH - Home Run
Edward Olivares - PIT - 105.5 MPH - Flyout
Top Pitch Velocity
David Bednar - 97.9 MPH
David Bednar - 97.7 MPH
David Bednar - 97.4 MPH
Carlos Jimenez - 97.3 MPH
Carlos Jimenez - 97.2 MPH
Most Whiffs (Whiff%)
Michael Plassmeyer - IND - 11 (29%)
Martin Perez - PIT - 10 (23%)
Brent Honeywell Jr. - IND - 4 (44%)
Chris Gau - IND - 4 (40%)
Carlos Jimenez - BRD - 4 (29%)
Indianapolis Indians - 5 vs Toledo Mud Hens - 6
Top Hitter - Liover Peguero: 4-5, 2B
Top Pitcher - Carmen Mlodzinski: IP, H, K
Altoona Curve - 8 vs Harrisburg Senators - 7
Top Hitter - Aaron Shackelford: 2-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI
Top Pitcher - Grant Ford: 2.1 IP, H, 3 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 0 vs Winston Salem Dash - 1
Top Hitter - Lonnie White Jr.: 1-3, BB, 3B
Top Pitcher - Wilber Dotel: 4 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K
Bradenton Marauders - 1 vs Lakeland Flying Tigers - 8
Top Hitter - Omar Alfonzo: 1-3
Top Pitcher - Mike Walsh: IP, K
One thing perhaps that got lost in the drama and perhaps, just perhaps, overreaction to a blown save by our closer is that Contrearas did a nice job getting the last two outs and stopping the proverbial bleeding. Nice work by Contrearas👏👏
Weeeelllll, I've got my new favorite T-shirt on: Pesces Dorados Beisbol!
Went to the Curve game last night and got a good eyeful.
It looked early like Luckham was gonna struggle for the Senators, but he wound up out-pitching Ashcraft. The comparative lines looked like this:
Ashcraft went 3 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs, 0bb, 3k
Luckham went 4, 2hits, 2 runs (none earned), 2 bb, 5k
Ashcraft was sitting mid 90s and had good separation on his pitches for speed. I was not RIGHT behind home plate, but over beside the visitor's dugout, so I couldn't see the pitches coming in... could not see the run or fade from the side. I guess I could have moved over there.
Luckham was done in early by infield defense, but he recovered nicely.
The marquee matchup did not go well, though the Curve won in 10 innings eventually. But it looked bad between Ashcraft and Meis getting whacked around for 7 runs in 4 innings. Dylan Crews hit the stink off the ball going 4 for 5 with a run and 4 rbi, taking Ashcraft deep and without a doubt. Hassell III and Senzel also hit solid doubles off Braxton.
Nobody got Crews out until Brad Case in the top of the 9th managed a fly-out. Of course, the first pitch Crews saw from side-armer in the 7th, he laced for a single. But otherwise, Case looked good. Big dude.
The Curve overcame the Senators on the strength of that bullpen, I'd say overall, giving Aaron Shakelford (I always think of that ship, The Endurance, when I hear his name.) time to bang two no doubters to even the game at 7.
Grant Ford relieved Meis in the 4th and pitched through the 6th. He only allowed one hit and notched 3 Ks. My impression of him was "decent." He seemed confident sitting low 90s with trust in his secondary pitches.
Case is interesting with that Kent Tekulve kind of whip he uses. He does not look like he's throwing hard. It's almost as if he's massaging the ball in there, but it seemed to give a decent hitting Senators side difficulty. He pitched the 7th, 8th and 9th scoreless, allowing 0 runs on 2 hits, a walk and 3 ks.
I think he did hit a guy right in the middle of the back though. It was funny, because the guy seemed not to know where to go to get out of the way. It looked to me like the right hander tried to turn away by crossing over the plate. Heh heh. Case was comin' right for 'im.
Secret - Not So Secret Weapon (not withstanding Shack's heroics) was Tsung-Tse Cheng (check spelling). Dude is good. He only went 1 for 2, but he walked three times, stole two bases and scored twice. Add to it that he's very good at short, having a hand in two stellar double plays. The one in the first he layed out to his left and flipped to Glenn from the ground to turn two. In the tenth, he saved the game. With the Sens catcher, Israel Pineda, batting, he hit the ball that I thought was a sure game winner to Cheng's right, but somehow Cheng layed out to his right and snuffed it. From his knees and going away from first, he threw out Pineada(who, admittedly isn't a burner). It was an "Oh, MY!" type of play that reminded me a little of the Curve days of Gift Ngoepe. And he's FAAAAAsssst. On those two steals he had.... There was no doubt.
Felt bad for Pineda, though, because his significant and his toddler son were there rooting for him. It was lovely to see him come over to the netting and put his hand up for the kid to put his hand up to his. I wish I'd gotten the picture. Pineda went 0 for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts, though he did make a fine catch jumping right up into the netting for a foul ball that most would not have caught.
And OH YEAH, I ALMOST FORGOT: The Toons won in the tenth. Francisco Acuna was the free runner at second base and Dylan Shockley executed a nice bunt down the third base line to get Acuna to third.
Tres Gonzales, who wore the collar on the night, grounded sharply out to second and was robbed by a very good play by 2nd baseman Hassell.
But Kervin Pichardo (something about guys from the Bronx) hit a two out single to left to walk it off and the standard team mugging of the man happened somewhere in shallow center field.
It was a fun day at The Altoona Curve, my friends. A very good ballpark and, for my lowly means, far more bang for my buck than a trip to the Burgh. Again, the invitation remains if any of you guys wanna trip up, I'd be happy to host you and show you the fun side of Toon-Town!
Best to all!