Morning Rundown: Pirates drop series finale against Twins
Pirates drop Sunday game in extra-innings
The Pittsburgh Pirates came up short in their chance to sweep the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, losing in extra innings 11-5.
Jared Jones didn’t have his best stuff, but he still allowed just two earned runs (three total) across five innings while allowing six hits and three walks on three strikeouts.
It hasn’t been the ideal start to his Pirates’ career for Ben Heller, as he was tagged with the loss in extra-innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits and a walk. He also hit three batters, as the bullpen was fully depleted by the end of the weekend.
Offensively, Rowdy Tellez picked up two hits—including a double—along with a walk. Connor Joe drove in two, with Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, and Jared Triolo with RBI.
After a day off on Monday, the Pirates will travel to St. Louis for a three-game series against the Cardinals.
With another series, they took two of three; the Pirates finished the week 4-2 and have an overall record of 31-34.
The Bradenton Marauders scored 10 runs in the first two innings on Sunday and rode that lead till the end, winning 10-2.
Axiel Plaz had a big day at the plate, going 3-4 with a home run and five RBI. He has four home runs and 12 RBI in 17 games with the Marauders.
Carlos Jimenez picked up the win on the mound after pitching four shutout innings and striking out eight.
Records for each affiliate over the past week;
Indianapolis Indians: 2-4
Altoona Curve: 4-2
Greensboro Grasshoppers: 2-4
Bradenton Marauders: 4-2
FCL Pirates: 3-2
DSL Pirates Gold: 4-2 (extra game due to rain)
DSL Pirates Black: 1-3 (one less game due to rain)
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Top Exit Velocity
Liover Peguero - IND - 109.3 mph - Double
Rowdy Tellez - PIT - 108.6 mph - Double
Omar Alfonzo - BRD - 108 mph - Single
Omar Alfonzo - BRD - 107.9 mph - Single
Esmerlyn Valdez - BRD - 107.4 mph - Single
Top Pitch Velocity
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 100 mph
Jared Jones - PIT - 99.9 mph
Jared Jones - PIT - 99.8 mph
Jared Jones - PIT - 99.7 mph
Kyle Nicolas - PIT - 99.6 mph
Most Whiffs
Jared Jones - PIT - 14
Michael Plassmeyer - IND - 13
Carlos Jimenez - BRD - 13
Connor Oliver - BRD - 9
Bubba Chandler - ALT - 6
Indianapolis Indians - 3 vs Columbus Clippers - 8
Top Hitter - Canaan Smith-Njigba: 1-4, HR, R, RBI
Top Pitcher - Jose Hernandez: 1.1 IP, 2 K
Altoona Curve - 6 vs Richmond Flying Squirrels - 4
Top Hitter - Dustin Peterson: 2-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR
Top Pitcher - Bubba Chandler: 3 IP, 3 H, 2 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 5 vs Jersey Shore BlueClaws - 18
Top Hitter - Josh Palacios: 1-4, R, 2 RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Garrett McMillan: 3 IP, 6 H, K
Bradenton Marauders - 10 vs Clearwater Threshers - 2
Top Hitter - Axiel Plaz: 3-4, 2 R, HR, 5 RBI
Top Pitcher - Carlos Jimenez: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 8 K
Why MLB doesn’t allow replay review challenges on foul tips is inexplicable. Maybe it’s because they can’t fathom a MLB umpire not being able to distinguish between the sound of a ball hitting a bat or a glove?
Ben Clemens chat comment today on Nick G:
I'm forever gonna be a Gonzales truther b/c the first college baseball model I ever made thought he was the best hitter in a generation (yes, my park factors might have been off)
2:20 I think that he's on an unsustainable contact hot streak, but that his approach of elevating to maximize his contact is gonna work great
and that there's room for him to improve his chase rate a little, which makes me think a tailwind in walks and favorable counts could offset a babip slide