Morning Rundown: Pirates surrender lead, drop opening game of weekend series
Pirates blow lead, lose 4-3
After the Pirates jumped out on Zac Gallen, the Diamondbacks rallied and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first of a three-game set this weekend.
They scored two in the first and another in the second, jumping out to a 3-0 lead Arizona slowly chipped away at. Ketel Marte drove in Corbin Carroll on a sacrifice fly in the third inning, and then they scored three more in the sixth inning.
Luis Ortiz was solid once again but struggled in the sixth, giving up a lead-off home run to Joc Pederson before walking Christian Walker, which ended his night. Carmen Mlodzinski gave up hits to the first two batters he faced before a wild pitch allowed the go-ahead run to score.
The Pirates will have Marco Gonzales on the mound Saturday and will face Brandon Pfaadt. The first pitch is expected at 8:10 pm ET.
Anthony Solometo started for the Bradenton Marauders on Friday, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three.
He threw the fastball between 88-92 and was 91-92 in the first inning before dropping off to 88-90 in the fourth. He mixed his slider and change-up, picking up six whiffs on 29 swings.
Making his first appearance for Bradenton since 2022, Solometo sometimes struggled with his control and gave up a two-run home run. The other run came after getting called for a balk with a runner on third.
The 3.2 innings he threw on Friday was the most he’s pitched since April 7, his first start of the season.
Thomas Harrington faced Jackson Jobe, perhaps the best pitching prospect in baseball right now, and ultimately won.
Despite not having his sharpest stuff, Harrington still pitched 5.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out five.
Jobe also pitched 5.2 innings but gave up a solo home run to Carter Bins while walking five batters.
Jaden Woods came out of the bullpen and pitched the final 1.2 innings, earning the win after striking out four. He got his fastball up to 96 mph while mixing the slider and change-up.
Termarr Johnson was just able to keep his on-base streak going, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth in a game the Grasshoppers lost 6-4.
Greensboro made their best attempt at a comeback, scoring three runs in the final two innings, with Mitch Jebb picking up three hits while scoring a run and swiping his 26th base of the season.
Derek Diamond had a rough outing, allowing six earned runs across four innings pitched, but still managed to pick up 16 whiffs. Alessandro Ercolani struck out four in three shutout innings out of the bullpen.
Jake Woodford pitched five one-run innings for the Indians while picking up seven strikeouts in a win for Indianapolis.
Henry Davis picked up three hits on the night, two of which went for doubles. Alika Williams has been red hot this week, picking up four more hits. Overall, against Iowa this week, Williams is 10-15 with six walks.
The Pirates agreed with five draft picks, including fifth-rounder Will Taylor, an outfielder out of Clemson.
12th - C Camden Janik
13th - RHP Matt McShane
18th - RHP Jake Shirk
19th - RHP Joe Vogatsky
Taylor got slightly over on the slot value for the 145th pick ($471,400), getting a $500K bonus. The Pirates still have six players to sign, with less than a week left before the deadline.
That includes their first-round pick, Konnor Griffin, and fellow prep player Wyatt Sanford.
Bradenton Marauders activated RHP Danny Carrion from the 7-day injured list.
SS Joenelly Van Der Linden assigned to DSL Pirates Gold from DSL Pirates Black
C July Vittini assigned to DSL Pirates Black from DSL Pirates Gold
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled SS Ji Hwan Bae from Indianapolis Indians
DSL Pirates Gold placed RHP Brandison Polanco on the 7-day injured list
Greensboro Grasshoppers placed LHP Yoldin De La Paz
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Top Exit Velocity
Omar Alfonzo - BRD - 110.2 mph - GIDP
Michael A. Taylor - PIT - 107.8 mph - Double
Keiner Delgado - BRD - 107.5 mph - Groundout
Matt Gorski - IND - 107.5 mph - Single
Henry Davis - IND - 105.5 mph - Double
Top Pitch Velocity
Ben Heller - IND - 99.2 mph
Ben Heller - IND - 98.6 mph
Carmen Mlodzinski - PIT - 98 mph
Kyle Nicolas - PIT - 97.7 mph
Luis Ortiz - PIT - 97.6 mph
Most Whiffs
Derek Diamond - GBO - 16
Jaden Woods - ALT - 9
Alessandro Ercolani - GBO - 9
Jake Woodford - IND - 8
Thomas Harrington - ALT - 7
Geronimo Franzua - IND - 7
Indianapolis Indians - 7 vs Iowa Cubs
Top Hitter - Alika Williams: 4-6, 2 R, 2B
Top Pitcher - Jake Woodford: 5 IP, 7 H, ER, 7 K
Altoona Curve - 3 vs Erie SeaWolves - 1
Top Hitter - Carter Bins: 2-4, R, RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Thomas Harrington: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 4 vs Asheville Tourists - 6
Top Hitter - Mitch Jebb: 3-5, R, SB
Top Pitcher - Alessandro Ercolani: 3 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 K
Bradenton Marauders - 1 vs Lakeland Flying Tigers - 8
Top Hitter - Omar Alfonzo: 1-4, R
Top Pitcher - Mike Walsh: 2 IP, K
DSL Pirates Black - 4 vs DSL Rojos - 6
Top Hitter - Andres Villafane: 2-4
Top Pitcher - Irwin Ramirez: 3 IP, H, 3 K
DSL Pirates Gold - 2 vs DSL Cubs Blue - 3
Top Hitter - Joseph Sequera: 2-2, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Top Pitcher - Nicolas Carrero: 4.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K
I wonder how much Bradenton is going to change after the FCL Pirates win the league title on Monday. You'll have a combo of those players, then draft picks, ready to play. Things are about to get interesting for transactions...
Is it just me, or does Omar Alfonzo show up on the top exit velocity chart every day? A 20-year-old catcher with a .751 OPS in the FSL is a strong showing. Average league age is 21. Average league OPS is .679. That being said, I expected him to be higher because he's always hitting the ball well