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
Getting Joey Bart from the Giants in April has been one of the best moves made by BC in 2024. Missed most of June with a thumb injury but has come on strong in the last 10 games - .286 BA, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI's, 4 BB/5 K with big clutch hits in the last two games against the D-Backs. Struggled with the Giants after being the second player drafted in the 2018 draft out of Georgia Tech, and the price paid by the Pirates to get him was our 8th Round Draft Pick in 2023 (Austin Strickland).
Chisholm would have cost Termarr. We have NO 45+
Or higher hitters other than Termarr and the Yankees gave a 45+ and a 45. Marlins did not want pitching. Cherington was right to not make that move. The paredes trade? We don’t have a Morel to headline with. Winker is the only bat traded so far that I would have been happy to match the price and we do t really want a lefty bat so waiting is ok with me there too. I think people are being too impatient. Wait and see. But Jazz was not worth Termarr and you’re fooling yourself if you think we could get him for less.
Relievers and starters? I’m not going to get into those. I would have liked Puk with Jazz but not for termarr. Any way you cut it, it’s premature to say Ben refuses to deal. Also, Bart was a way early move that he should get immense credit for.
Not apologizing for BC shortfalls but he has NOT failed the e trade deadline. Yet.