Morning Rundown: Pirates win series against Reds, Braxton Ashcraft makes second AAA start
Pirates win a pitchers' duel in the series finale against the Reds
Hunter Greene and Mitch Keller were at the top of their game on Wednesday, both pitching scoreless outings for their respective teams.
It was yet another outing of at least five innings for Keller, who pitched seven shut out but didn’t factor into the decision. Greene struck out nine batters in 6.1 innings pitched, allowing just two hits.
In the end, it was Bryan Reynolds who not only extended his hitting streak but also scored the only run of the game with his 10th home run of the season.
The win pushes the Pirates to within two games of a .500 record. After a day off on Thursday, they will play the Tampa Bay Rays this upcoming weekend.
Braxton Ashcraft made his second Triple-A start for Indianapolis, going 4.1 innings this time around.
He struggled with his command, especially with his fastball, walking three while striking out four batters. The slider still missed plenty of bats, picking up nine whiffs on 15 swings (60%).
The change-up was a pitch that he hadn’t used too much so far, but he threw it 10 times on Wednesday, picking up two whiffs with it.
Sammy Siani had a strong night for Altoona, picking up three hits—one of which was his third home run since being promoted to Double-A.
The 23-year-old outfielder also drove in a pair of runs and stole a base.
After finally getting out of Greensboro, Siani has been solid since being promoted, but is having himself quite the stretch. He has seven hits in the last five games, four of which have gone for extra bases.
In 34 games in Altoona, Siani is hitting .248/.312/.408 with 11 extra-base hits.
3B Jackson Glenn assigned to Altoona Curve from Indianapolis Indians
Pittsburgh Pirates optioned SS Alika Williams to Indianapolis Indians
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Top Exit Velocity
Seth Beer - IND - 107.9 mph - Single
Rowdy Tellez - PIT - 107.1 mph - Double
Esmerlyn Valdez - BRD - 107 mph - Double
Yasmani Grandal - PIT - 106.7 mph - Double
Axiel Plaz - BRD - 105.7 mph - Home Run
Top Pitch Velocity
David Bednar - PIT - 98 mph
David Bednar - PIT - 97.9 mph
David Bednar - PIT - 97.6 mph
David Bednar - PIT - 97.5 mph
David Bednar - PIT - 97.5 mph
Most Whiffs
Braxton Ashcraft - IND - 15
Wilber Dotel - GBO - 13
Mitch Keller - PIT - 9
Carlson Reed - BRD - 9
Luigi Hernandez - BRD - 9
Indianapolis Indians - 2 vs Iowa Cubs - 0
Top Hitter - Liover Peguero: 2-4, 2B, R
Top Pitcher - Ben Heller: IP, 2 K
Altoona Curve - 6 vs Bowie Baysox - 4
Top Hitter - Sammy Siani: 3-5, 2 RBI, R, HR, SB
Top Pitcher - Eddy Yean: 2 IP, 2 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 8 vs Hudson Valley Renegades - 2
Top Hitter - PJ Hilson: 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, SB
Top Pitcher - Wilber Dotel: 6 IP, 3 H, BB, 7 K
Bradenton Marauders - 2 vs Lakeland Flying Tigers - 10
Top Hitter - Axiel Plaz: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
Top Pitcher - Carlson Reed: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
FCL Pirates - 5 vs FCL Orioles - 13
Top Hitter - Jhonny Severino: 1-4, 3 RBI, 3B, BB
Top Pitcher - Noah Takacs: 2.1 IP, H, K
DSL Pirates Black - 7 vs DSL NYY Bombers
Top Hitter - Andres Villafane: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B
Top Pitcher - Francis Reyes: 2.1 IP, H, ER, BB, K
Blatant misdisinfo over at Bucsdugout these days:
"Despite an improving record, albeit slowly, the Pirates leader in bWAR thus far is...
wait for it... Bailey F'n Falter!!! "
Given the poster who most likely receives remuneration from the front office didn't specify hitter or pitcher, the correct answer is:
1. Mitch Keller at 2.3 bWAR
2. Bryan Reynolds at 1.9 bWAR
3. Bailey Falter at 1.8 bWAR
4. Paul Skenes at 1.6 bWAR who'll certainly pass Falter his next start
Not that bWAR is worth much given it's penchant for overrating defense. fWAR has Keller, Jones and Skenes above Falter with Hunter Stratton tied with him, fwiw, on the pitching side with Reynolds, Cruz and Gonzo above him on the hitting side with Joey Bart tied from his small sample.
DK claims Ben has money to make significant moves but it's all on him to make them or not.
"This comes from the figurative top floor of the Pirates' structure: They're drop-dead serious about contending this summer, they've got every intention of adding to the roster where applicable, and they'll make such moves ... when Ben Cherington's ready and not a millisecond sooner.
Again, that's not from me. And that's absolutely not a prediction from me, either. Rather, it's from them. A very important one of them."
"All I've got on this. No specifics came close to being shared.
• From another part of 115 Federal: Cherington can't be rushed. Just not in his DNA. He's famous internally, in fact, for forever deliberating even the most diminutive of potential transactions."
Cherington sounds like a ditherer. Terrible quality in a GM or a leader of any sort.