Morning Rundown: Pirates avoid sweep, Alika Williams has four-hit game
Pirates take the last of four against Cardinals, Alika Williams has big day at the plate in AAA
The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a four-game sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday with a 3-2 win.
Luis Ortiz pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven. Carmen Mlodzinski pitched a scoreless seventh to pick up his fourth win of the season.
Aroldis Chapman has 10 different seasons of double-digit saves after picking up his 10th this year.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa had another multi-hit game, including a double, and stole his 10th bag of the year. Nick Gonzales had a triple and RBI.
The Pirates will now head to Cincinnati for a weekend series against the Reds. They will have their top three starters—Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, and Paul Skenes—pitch for them.
The Indianapolis Indians dropped their game on Thursday 8-3 to the St. Paul Saints. Alika Williams came through with four hits on the night, scoring once. He has eight hits since returning to Triple-A.
Endy Rodriguez hit a double, going 1-5. He now has extra-base hits in back-to-back games after hitting a home run on Wednesday. He was the designated hitter on Thursday.
After picking up three hits, one a home run, Jack Suwinski was the only player in the lineup that didn’t register a hit.
Tsung-Che Cheng walked twice, giving him three in the last two games. He also went 1-2.
Isaac Mattson was recently named the Pitcher of the Year for the Indianapolis Indians. After getting his contract selected, he will now finish the season with the Pirates.
In 37 games between Altoona and Indianapolis, Mattson has posted a 7-2 record with a 3.17 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched.
He last pitched in the majors during the 2021 season with the Baltimore Orioles. He posted a 6.23 ERA with three strikeouts (and five walks) in 4.1 innings pitched.
Indianapolis Indians activated RHP Fineas Del Bonta-Smith
Indianapolis Indians transferred RHP Thomas Harrington to the Development List
Pittsburgh Pirates selected the contract of RHP Isaac Mattson from Indianapolis Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates designated RHP Jake Woodford for assignment
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Top Exit Velocity
Nick Yorke - PIT - 107.5 mph - Groundout
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 107 mph - Groundout
Rowdy Tellez - PIT - 105.7 mph - Groundout
Connor Joe - PIT - 104.6 mph - Single
Malcom Nunez - IND - 104.4 mph - Groundout
Top Pitch Velocity
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.1 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 98.6 mph
Carmen Mlodzinski - PIT - 97.6 mph
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 97.5 mph
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 97.2 mph
Most Whiffs
Beau Sulser - IND - 11
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 10
Josh Walker - IND - 4
Dennis Santana - PIT - 3
Connor Sadzeck - IND - 3
Indianapolis Indians - 3 vs Saint Paul Saints - 8
Top Hitter - Alika Williams: 4-5, R
Top Pitcher - Josh Walker: 1.1 IP, H, 3 K
In the exit velocities, of course it was Grandal, not Joe, with the HR. Speaking of Grandal, if we didn't appear set at catcher with Bart, Rodriguez, and Davis, it would be smart to bring him back.