Morning Rundown: Pirates shutout Cleveland, Braxton Ashcraft back on injured list, Solometo throws six shutout innings
Pirates bounce back and end losing streak, Ashcraft heads back to IL, Solometo has best start of the season
Nick Gonzales picked up three hits, including a double, Oneil Cruz added another two, and Rowdy Tellez hit a two-run pinch-hit single in the eighth as the Pirates defeated the Guardians 3-0.
Backed by Luis Ortiz throwing six shutout innings, the pitching staff combined for a two-hit shutout. It’s now back-to-back shutout starts for Ortiz, who is 6-4 on the season.
He struck five while allowing just a hit and three walks. Dennis Santana pitched 1.2 innings, striking out two, and Aroldis Chapman tossed a clean ninth to get his fifth save of the season.
The Pirates now have a chance to win the series with Mitch Keller on the mound against veteran righty Alex Cobb.
After returning from nearly two months, Braxton Ashcraft finds himself back on the injured list with more forearm issues.
He threw 11 pitches in an inning on Friday for the Indianapolis Indians but left the game afterward.
We heard that he was being put back on the injured list on Saturday.
Ashcraft, 24, was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis on June 11 but has made five appearances since then, pitching 19.1 innings.
It’s been a rough season for Anthony Solometo, but he put together his best start on Saturday against New Hampshire.
The left-handed Solometo pitched six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out six.
He induced a lot of weak contact, mixing in all his pitches throughout the night. The effort also netted him his first win of the season.
Altoona Curve transferred RHP Drake Fellows to the Development List
LHP Blake Townsend assigned to Altoona Curve from FCL Pirates
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Top Exit Velocity
Edward Olivares - IND - 111.8 mph - Single
Ji Hwan Bae - IND - 108.4 mph - Triple
Jack Suwinski - IND - 108.3 mph - Single
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 107.9 mph - Single
Bryan De La Cruz - PIT - 107.3 mph - Lineout
Top Pitch Velocity
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.8 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.3 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.1 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 101.1 mph
Aroldis Chapman - PIT - 100.7 mph
Most Whiffs
Luis Cessa - IND - 13
Peyton Stumbo - BRD - 9
Clevari Tejada - BRD - 9
Anthony Solometo - ALT - 8
Greiber Mendez - BRD - 7
Indianapolis Indians - 0 vs Louisville Bats - 6
Top Hitter - Ji Hwan Bae: 1-3, BB, 3B, SB
Top Pitcher - Luis Cessa: 5 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Altoona Curve - 1 vs New Hampshire River Cats - 0
Top Hitter - Nick Cimillo: 1-4, 2B
Top Pitcher - Anthony Solometo: 6 IP, 3 H, BB, 6 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 1 vs Rome Emperors - 3
Top Hitter - Shawn Ross: 1-4, R, RBI
Top Pitcher - Derek Diamond: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R (ER), 4 BB, 2 K
Bradenton Marauders - 3 vs Tampa Tarpons - 7
Top Hitter - Shalin Polanco: 0-1, R, 2 BB, 2 SB
Top Pitcher - Greiber Mendez: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Bradenton Marauders - 1 vs Tampa Tarpons - 5
Top Hitter - Jhonny Severino: 1-4, 2B
Top Pitcher - Clevari Tejada: 5 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 K
Good article on Solo in today's PG with the short version being that he's embraced his struggles and feels like this season has been anything but a wasted season. So, really nice reading that he had such a great outing last night.
Ashcraft wont be the arm traded for a bat this offseason based on the injury, maybe burrows becomes the most likely prospect?