Morning Rundown: Pirates avoid sweep, Hunter Barco leaves start early, FCL falls behind 0-1
Pirates win in extra innings to avoid the sweep in Arizona.
The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a sweep and won a wild and crazy game in extra innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.
After the offense was kept quiet for the majority of the night, the Pirates scored five runs in the ninth and tenth innings, boosting them to a 6-5 win.
Oneil Cruz hit his 17th home run of the season, with Alika Williams, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Joey Bart driving in runs. Rowdy Tellez pinch-hit in the ninth and hit a clutch double.
Mitch Keller kept it close, allowing just two earned runs in seven innings pitched, striking out six.
Things got interesting in the bottom of the 10th, but the Pirates managed to put up just enough runs to hold on.
The Pirates now head to Houston to face the Astros, with Paul Skenes getting the start on Monday.
Hunter Barco left his start in the second inning on Sunday due to an undisclosed injury. After making a pitch and getting the ball back from the catcher, Barco stopped and held his arms up to signal for a trainer.
After a discussion on the mound, he was pulled from the game for Emmanuel Chapman.
The Pirates have been hit with an injury bug lately, and it’s trickling down through the minors.
Making his second start of the week, Patrick Reilly pitched four shutout innings for the Greensboro Grasshoppers, striking out six batters.
He needed just 40 pitches, 30 of which were for strikes, to make it through his day. It was a nice little bounce back after giving up four runs (on four solo home runs) in his previous start on Tuesday.
Reilly now has 108 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched this season and has lowered his ERA to 3.38.
Carlos Castillo pitched six innings of one-run baseball, striking out four and inducing 12 ground ball outs on Sunday in game one of the FCL Championship against the Tigers.
After jumping out to a 3-1 lead, the Pirates surrendered three runs in the bottom of the ninth, losing the game and falling behind in the best of three series.
Yordany De Los Santos picked up two hits, including an RBI double in the fifth inning. Carlos Tirado (single) and Juan Machado (hit by pitch) also drove in runs for the Pirates.
Game two will take place on Monday, with game three on Tuesday, should it be necessary.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are optioning struggling outfielder Jack Suwinski to Triple-A Indianapolis. In 88 games this season in the majors, Suwinski has hit .182/.264/.324 with nine home runs and nine stolen bases.
He has a 65 wRC+ and -1.0 fWAR in 275 plate appearances.
Ji Hwan Bae was up with the Pirates while Bryan Reynolds was on the Bereavement List, and it looks like he will get another shot to establish himself in the majors while Suwinski is in Triple-A.
Indianapolis Indians activated SS Mike Jarvis
SS Alika Williams roster status changed by Indianapolis Indians
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Top Exit Velocity
Esmerlyn Valdez - BRD - 110.1 mph - Home Run
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 109.2 mph - Home Run
Axiel Plaz - BRD - 108.8 mph - Groundout
Malcom Nunez - IND - 107 mph - Forceout
Henry Davis - IND - 105.5 mph - Home Run
Top Pitch Velocity
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.1 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 98.4 mph
Colin Holderman - PIT - 98.2 mph
Colin Holderman - PIT - 97.9 mph
David Bednar - PIT - 97.8 mph
Most Whiffs
Doming German - IND - 12
Patrick Reilly - GBO - 10
Mitch Keller - PIT - 10
Inmer Lobo - BRD - 9
Emmanuel Chapman - ALT - 8
Ryan Harbin - GBO - 8
Indianapolis Indians - 9 vs Iowa Cubs - 8
Top Hitter - Malcom Nunez: 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Domingo German: 5.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 5 K
Altoona Curve - 2 vs Erie SeaWolves - 5
Top Hitter - Kervin Pichardo: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Eddy Yean: 3 IP, 3 H, 4 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 0 vs Asheville Tourists - 7
Top Hitter - Mitch Jebb: 1-3, 2B, BB
Top Pitcher - Patrick Reilly: 4 IP, 2 H, 6 K
Bradenton Marauders - 7 vs Lakeland Flying Tigers - 5
Top Hitter - Esmerlyn Valdez: 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR
Top Pitcher - Garrett McMillan: 4 IP, H, 6 K
FCL Pirates - 3 vs FCL Tigers - 4
Top Hitter - Yordany De Los Santos: 2-4, RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Carlos Castillo: 6 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Zips thinks Yorke is a .240 .300 .375 ish guy ~1 fWAR guy the next few years. Sounds sorta like Nick Gonzales with bad defense. I'm fine with it given I don't think Priester is all that good.
Priester has been really unimpressive —- he’s a classic NH regime pitch to contact guy —- so I’m fine with getting a solid prospect on the verge of the majors for him. Yorke is only 22. ESPN’s David Schoenfield grades the trade as B- for the PIrates and C for the Red Sox, for what it’s worth.