Morning Rundown: Pirates win fifth straight, Hunter Stratton traded, Florentino big day at plate
Pirates win again, Stratton traded, Florentino has big day for Marauders
A Henry Davis sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning accounted for the only run scored in the entire game as the Pittsburgh Pirates won their fifth straight, 1-0, over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Three of their four hits came in the eighth, setting up Davis’ SAC Fly.
Paul Skenes pitched five shutout innings, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out five. David Bednar got in some trouble in the ninth, but he was able to finish things out to get his 12th save of the season.
Andrew McCutchen was the only Pirate to record a hit before the eighth.
The Pirates now have a chance for a second straight series sweep with Mitch Keller on the mound against Sonny Gray. The game has an expected start time of 12:35 pm ET.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Titus Dumitru and cash considerations.
Dumitru, 22, was the Braves’ 16th round pick in the 2024 draft out of New Mexico State. In 64 games this year in High-A, he has hit .231/.310/.319 with three home runs and 13 stolen bases.
He was assigned to the Greensboro Grasshoppers.
After a rough start to his time in Bradenton, Edward Florentino has quickly caught up and showing signs why so many were high on him going into the season.
In his signature performance to date, Florentino went 3-3 with a home run, double, a walk, and a stolen base.
Florentino, 18, has played in nine games with Bradenton this season and is hitting .310/.400/.552 with four doubles, a home run, and four stolen bases. His single and home run had exit velocities of 106 mph off the bat.
Altoona Curve transferred C Wyatt Hendrie to the Development List
Altoona Curve sent LHP Dominic Perachi on a rehab assignment to FCL Pirates
OF Esmerlyn Valdez assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers
OF Tres Gonzalez assigned to FCL Pirates from Altoona Curve
C Omar Alfonzo assigned to Altoona Curve from Greensboro Grasshoppers
OF Andrew Patrick assigned to Bradenton Marauders from FCL Pirates
SS Tsung-Che Cheng assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Bradenton Marauders
C Derek Berg assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers from Bradenton Marauders
Luke Scherrer assigned to Bradenton Marauders from FCL Pirates
OF Titus Dumitru assigned to Greensboro Grasshoppers
Pittsburgh Pirates sent RHP Colin Holderman on a rehab assignment to Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians released RHP Peter Strzelecki
Top Exit Velocity
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 119.4 mph - Lineout
Liover Peguero - IND - 110 mph - Lineout
Billy Cook - IND - 107.6 mph - Home Run
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 107.3 mph - Groundout
Jhonny Severino - BRD - 106.2 mph - Single
Top Pitch Velocity
Paul Skenes - PIT - 100.6 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 100.2 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 100.1 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 100.1 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 100.1 mph
Most Whiffs
Paul Skenes - PIT - 8
Blake Townsend - ALT - 7
Carlson Reed - GBO - 6
JP Massey - GBO - 6
Alexis Torres - BRD - 5
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Indianapolis Indians - 5 vs Louisville Bats
Top Hitter - Nick Yorke: 2-4, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, R
Top Pitcher - Eddy Yean: 1.1 IP, 2 BB
Altoona Curve - 6 vs Harrisburg Senators - 5
Top Hitter - Termarr Johnson: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 2 SB
Top Pitcher - Ryan Harbin: 1.1 IP, H, BB, 2 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 2 vs Aberdeen IronBirds - 5
Top Hitter - Lonnie White JR.: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
Top Pitcher - JP Massey: IP, 2 H, 2 K
Bradenton Marauders - 4 vs Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - 3
Top Hitter - Edward Florentino: 3-3, 3 R, RBI, Bb, 2B, HR, SB
Top Pitcher - Zander Mueth: 3.2 IP, H, R, 2 BB, 5 K
FCL Pirates - 9vs FCL Twins - 7
Top Hitter - Carlos Tirado: 1-4, HR, R, 4 RBI
Top Pitcher - Dominic Perachi: 1.2 IP, R, BB, 4 K
DSL Pirates Black - 7 vs DSL Cle Goryl - 6
Top Hitter - Edgar Walker: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 3B
Top Pitcher - Yeraldo Salcedo: 2.1 IP, BB, 2 K
DSL Pirates Gold - 3 vs DSL Rojos - 0
Top Hitter - Frankeli Mesta: 3-4, R
Top Pitcher - Roilan Portuondo: 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 K
The Athletic had an article where MLB execs predicted the guys most likely to be traded at the deadline. Keller, Bednar and Santana were all near the top. Heaney and Reynolds were on the list, too. One comment was that Bednar and Santana were "as good as gone."
With the team playing better, I'm skeptical Nuttin is bold enough to allow all this.
Titus’s hitting is going to be Biblical. Like…Old Testament. Book it.