Morning Rundown: Shalin Polanco hits walk-off grand slam, Patrick Reilly throws six shutout innings
Morning Rundown: Shalin Polanco hits walk-off grand slam, Patrick Reilly throws six shutout innings
Plenty of action in the lower levels of the minors
The Bradenton Marauders have been no strangers to late-game heroics, winning several games by walk-offs.
Tuesday may have been the biggest of the season so far.
After Lakeland scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning, the Marauders had three outs to try and either extend or win the game. After Enmanuel Terrero and Esmerlyn Valdez walked to load the bases, Shalin Polanco came to the plate for the fourth time.
He took the second pitch of the at-bat 353 feet at 109.5 mph over the right field fence for a walk-off grand slam to give the Marauders the come-from-behind victory in extra-innings.
Esmerlyn Valdez hit his ninth home run of the season, and Antwone Kelly threw 5.2 shutout innings, walking just one and striking out another five. Omar Alfonzo (who struck out to lead off the 10th) also picked up three hits, bringing his average up to .267.
Backed by Patrick Reilly, the Greensboro Grasshoppers shut out the Hudson Valley Renegades in the first game of their series.
Reilly posted career highs in both innings pitched (six) and strikeouts (10) while allowing just three hits and three walks. Fineas Del Bonta-Smith and Luis Peralta closed out the shutout for the Grasshoppers.
Hudson Head provided the only offense Greensboro would need, hitting his eighth home run of the season.
With their win and Jersey Shore also finishing victories, the Grasshoppers keep their narrow lead in the South Atlantic North, with just a few games left until the end of the first half.
If they can hold this lead, it will guarantee them a playoff spot at the end of the season.
A Ke’Bryan Hayes home run was the only offense the Pirates could put together, losing to the Cincinnati Reds 2-1.
Bailey Falter pitched seven innings, allowing just two earned runs—both coming on a Santiago Espinal home run—striking out three while walking two.
The Pirates managed just four hits—two from Bryan Reynolds. Hayes and Andrew McCutchen were the only two hitters to come away with a hit.
Mitch Keller will be on the mound, facing Hunter Greene, in a day game that will decide the series.
Altoona Curve C Eli Wilson on a rehab assignment to Bradenton Marauders
Altoona Curve transferred LHP Anthony Solometo to the development list
OF Seth Beer assigned to Indianapolis Indians from Altoona Curve
Greensboro Grasshoppers activated 3B Jack Brannigan from the 7-day injured list
Indianapolis Indians released 3B Jake Lamb
Indianapolis Indians sent RHP Aaron Shortridge on a rehab assignment to FCL Pirates
FCL Pirates activated OF Tony Blanco Jr. from the 7-day injured list
Indianapolis Indians sent RHP Mike Burrows on a rehab assignment to FCL Pirates
1B Niko Goodrum elected free agency
Bradenton Marauders placed LHP Michael Kennedy on the 7-day injured list
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Top Exit Velocity
Bryan Reynolds - PIT - 111.6 mph - Double
Shalin Polanco - BRD - 109.5 mph - Home Run
Omar Alfonzo - BRD - 109.1 mph - Single
Esmerlyn Valdez - BRD - 107.3 mph - Home Run
Andrew McCutchen - PIT - 106.6 mph - Single
Top Pitch Velocity
Antwone Kelly - BRD - 97.5 mph
Carmen Mlodzinski - PIT - 97.4 mph
Dennis Santana - PIT - 97.1 mph
Dennis Santana - PIT - 96.9 mph
Antwone Kelly - BRD - 96.9 mph
Most Whiffs
Patrick Reilly - GBO - 18
Domingo German - IND - 12
Antwone Kelly - BRD - 11
Po-Yu Chen - ALT - 8
Bailey Falter - 6
Fineas Del-Bonta Smith - 6
Indianapolis Indians - 4 vs Iowa Cubs - 2
Top Hitter - Liover Peguero: 4-4
Top Pitcher - Domingo German: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Altoona Curve - 2 vs Bowie Baysox - 3
Top Hitter - Tres Gonzalez: 1-4, 2B
Top Pitcher - Po-Yu Chen: 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 2 vs Hudson Valley Renegades - 0
Top Hitter - Hudson Head: 1-3, HR, R, 2 RBI
Top Pitcher - Patrick Reilly: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 10 K
Bradenton Marauders - 6 vs Lakeland Flying Tigers - 5
Top Hitter - Shalin Polanco: 2-4, R, HR, 4 RBI, BB
Top Pitcher - Antwone Kelly: 5.2 IP, 4 H, BB, 5 K
FCL Pirates - 4 vs FCL Braves - 3
Top Hitter - Jhonny Severino: 1-3, R, RBI, BB, 3B
Top Pitcher - Greiber Mendez: 2 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K
DSL Pirates Black - 10 vs DSL Padres Gold
Top Hitter - Andres Villafane: 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI
Top Pitcher - Luis Joseph: 2.1 IP, BB, 4 K, W
DSL Pirates Gold - 3 vs DSL Giants Black - 4
Top Hitter - Jayden Kim: 2-2, RBI, BB, 3B
Top Pitcher - Angel Camacho: 2.2 IP, 5 K
From my brief exposure to watching Reilly, he's our next Jared Jones. Fingers crossed.
Monday, June 17
35 down. 46 to go.
Pirates win 4-1 over the Reds. Baby Skenes
@>B Rey with a 2 for 4 day with two doubles, a run scored and one driven in.
@>@>The Bullpen for doing what it is supposed to do. Accepting for said Bullpen will be two of the three pitchers tied with 5 carrots. HodorMan and ChapMan were the last two to get to five, so they each get one. Even as Bednar closed the game for save #15, it is best to think of The Bullpen as a unit, and when one gets some carrot juice, the others get a little drunk!
@>@>@> Baby Skenes for six innings of one run ball and his fourth win.
After yesterday’s 2-1 loss to the Reds, the Bucs continue to confound in the NL Central Logjam and as long as four teams keep this act up the longer the Brewers can coast.
Some mixed blessings. Jones’s fastball flew pretty far in Colorado. As June gets into full swing, apparently a number of Bucco Bats are doing likewise. On Rowdy, On Cutch, On B Rey! And it also seems the warmer weather has brought a new swagger to The Bullpen, which is doing what it is supposed to do more often than not. Team needs just a little something to turn the trick here, but the first team in the Logjam that finds it could spring free of the pack in pursuit of the Brewers. Let us hope it is us.
______________________________
“Hey Mac. Lemme take a whack at it.”
-Wabbit
Sunday, June 16
34 down. 47 to go.
The Pirates win a bullpen game… (get used to it, Wabbit)… and the cavemen were back at the bat rack. We welcome Jason… Delay to the carrot leaderboard as he’s already caught up to MAT with 1 carrot. It was an 8-2 win over the Rockies, and ya gotta get that Rocky Mountain fresh Coors Beer to go with yer
CARROTS ON THE HOUSE!!!!
@>Jason Delay for his clutch 2-out bases clearing double.
@>@>Flemming for four scoreless innings when the chips were down.
@>@>@>Rowdy Tellez who is heating up! 3 for 5 with 2 rbi. So good to see Rowdy get on track!
______________________________
“Please, Jaques! Not THIS ONE!!!!”
-Wabbit