July 21st Round-Up

MLB: Brewers beat Bucs 2-0.

• LaRoche actually got a hit
• Vasquez went 6.2 with 2 earned and the Loss.

AAA: Indy wins a thriller in the 9th , 2-1.

• With 2 outs, Bixler, Milledge, and Myrow get 3 straight in the 9th to win the game.
• Ian Snell threw another great game, 6 innings with 1 earned and 9 K's.
  
• Brian Myrow: 3-4 with 2 Rbi's and 2 Doubles.

AA: Altoona come back to win in OT, 6-5.

• Jose Tabata: 4-5 with an Rbi, a Run, and 2 Doubles
• Miles Durham: 2-5 with a HR, an Rbi, and a Run.
• Jean Machi has thrown 11 consecutive scoreless innings, and got the W last night.

A: Lynchburg gets edged out by the Potomac Nationals.

• Jose De Los Santos: 3-4 with an Rbi, a Run, and stole his 38th, and 39th base of the season!

Class A Short Season: State College shuts-out Lowell, 1-0.

DSL: Pirates lose a close one to the Braves, 6-5.

• Greg Polanco went 2-3 with 2 Rbi's, 1 Run, and a Double
  

GCL: Pirates shut-out the Braves, 3-0.

• Phil Dumatrait throws 4 scoreless innings in his Rehab start

VSL: Pirates dominate the Rays, 13-3.

• Exicardo Cayonez: 4-5 with a Hr, 4 Rbi's, 3 Runs, and a Double.
  

The Streak Is Finally Over

It only took 17 straight losses and more than a years time to finally win a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Buccos broke the streak on July 20th by a score of 8-5. It wasn't even close though, we were up 8-2 before Jesse Chavez let up 3 runs in the 9th. Before this win the last time the Bucs beat the Brew crew was on May 22, 2008. The worst loss of that streak has to be on April 29th of this year, when the Brewers won 1-0. Yovani Gallardo pitched 8 shut-out innings, and hit a solo home run. He basically won the game by himself. On to last night, after a 2 hour rain delay the Pirates started off hot. The Bucs started with a nice 4-run inning, mostly because Delwyn Young knocked a 3-run jack. Speaking of home runs, Garrett FREAKIN Jones hit his 8th home run in his 15th game. He might be my favorite player as he kills the ball. His vision is ridiculous he knows just how to kill it. I only wish someone would get on base for him, he only has 10 Rbi's. Any way this game was great as it also included a bench clearing play. Chris Smith, of the Brewers, drilled Jeff Karstens in the elbow with a pitch. Karstens was obviously mad as Jason Kendall and him started yelling at each other. The benches cleared as it looked like one of them was about to throw a hay-maker. Kendall, Karstens, and even Pitching Coach, Joe Kerrigan, had to be restrained. Let's hope we can win this series....Let's Go Bucs!

July 19th Roundup

MLB: The Bucs took a tough 4-3 loss to the San Fransisco Giants. Zach Duke was solid through his first 5 innings, but in the 6th he let up back-to-back-to-back-to-back doubles and let up 4 runs. The Bucs tryed to make a comback as they put on 2 runs in the 8th make it a 1 run game. Adam LaRoche killed the momentum of the 8th as he grounded into a inning ending double play.

• Winning Pitcher: Matt Cain- 7 innings, 1 ER, and 8 K's
• Losing Pitcher: Zach Duke- 7 innings, 4 ER, and 5 K's
• Giants hit 6 Doubles
  
• Donnie Veal faced 1 batter and retired the batter
• Brandon Moss hit his 4th home run
• Ryan Doumit 2-4 with 2 RBI's
• Garrett Jones 0-4 with 2 strikeouts

AAA: Indy lost a close 2-3 game to Pawtucket. Indy scored 2 runs in the 9th as they tried to mount a comeback.

• Eric Hacker lost his 4th game as he went a solid 7 innings with only 1 ER, and 6 K's
• Tagg Bozied hit a 2-run HR in the 9th
• Lastings Milledge went 0-4

AA: The Curve crushed the Senators 7-0

• Daniel Mokos threw 6 shut-out innings
• Jonel Pacheco went 2-4 with a HR, an RBI, and 2 runs
• Jose Tabata went 2-3 with 2 RBI's
  

A: Lynchburg dominated Salem as they won 10-3

• Justin Wilson picked up his 4th W as he went 6 innings with 1 ER
• Erik Huber went 1-4 with 4 RBI's
  

Low-A: The Power took a tough 12-6 loss to the Rome Braves.

• Quinton Miller lost his 2nd game as he went 4 innings and allowed 7 runs

A Short-Season: The Spikes were shut-out by the Staten Island Yankees, 3-0.

• Maurice Bankston lost his 3rd straight start as he went a solid 6 innings and 2 ER

VSL: The VSL Pirates lost to the VSL Phllies 9-7.

• Humberto Iriarte lost his 1st game and got a blown-save
• Michaelangel Trinidad went 2-5 with a HR and a 3 RBI's
• Kelly Aponte went 3-3 with 2 doubles, 1 run, and 2 RBI's
  

Triple-A All-Star Game

The International League held on to beat the Pacific Coast League, 6-5 in this 2009 Triple-A All-Star game. The game was close mostly throughout, till the IL jumped out to a 6-3 lead. In the bottom of the 9th, the PCL started a rally. Chad Huffman started the inning with a double off of Jim Miller. Fernando Cabrera entered the game with 1 out and a man on third, and started with an out that wouldn't allow the runner home. Then it got threatening as Esteban German sweet stroked a home run to make it a 1 run game. Cabrera responded and struck out Eric Young to save the game and give the IL the win. The Pirate news from this is, Erik Kratz from our own Triple-A Indianapolis, won the Top Star Award. He had an outstanding game, he went 2-2 with a double and a 2-run home run. He scored 2 runs and knocked in 3, including himself.

My Pirates Minor League All-Stars

I have decided to take the best of the Pirate's minors, and make an All-Star team from all minor teams in the system.

C: Kris Watts he catches in single A, Lynchburg, and is hitting .320 with 4 HR, 32 RBI, and 41Runs.

1B: Steve Pearce of AAA, it was a toss up between him and Calvin Anderson from Low A, West Virgina, Pearce hit .287 with 12 HR, 52 RBI, and 36 Runs.

2B: Ray Chang is currently in AA, but has been mostly in A this year. He has hit .302 with 32 RBI, 25 Runs, but has not hit a home run.

3B: Pedro Alvarez, I know he's a rookie and he doesn't hit for a good average, but he can kill the ball. He has played in both AA and A, with a combined average of .252. He has crushed 19 HR, 65 RBI, 52 Runs, and an On Base Percentage of .333.

SS: Chase d'Arnaud, started off in Low-A West Virginia, but has been up in A for 19 games. He has a combined average of .288 with 5 HR, 46 RBI, 45 Runs, and is a speed demon. He has hit 20 doubles, 5 triples, and has stolen 20 bases.

LF: Quincy Latimore from Low-A West Virginia has been hitting very well. He is hitting a decent .264 with 7 HR, 42 RBI, 43 Runs, and a exceptional 7 triples.

CF: Robbie Grossman, he is one that i am keeping my eye on. He is 19 and is currently on Low-A, where he is hitting .269 with 4 HR, 33 RBI, 56 Runs, and an outstanding 24 stolen bases.

RF: Miles Durham, currently in AA he was in A for most of this season. He is hitting a combined average of .291 with 8 HR, 49 RBI, 46 Runs, and 25 doubles.

SP: Rudy Owens, this 21 year old is pitching incredibly in Low-A. He is 10-1 through 18 starts, with a 1.75 ERA! That is outstanding numbers, not to mention batters are only hitting .201 against him. He has struck out 87 batters through 97.2 innings, and he has only walked 13 batters. Those are impressing numbers, and he deserves a call up to Lynchburg.

RP: Mike Koplove, he was aquired from the Iron Pigs and has been an outstanding reliever. He has a combined 9 holds and 7 saves. He has a combined record of 3-4 with 1.37 ERA, plus batters are only hitting .188 against him.

CP: R.J. Rodriguez, another toss up as Chris Bootcheck has pitched well in AAA. Rodriguez is in A, Lynchburg, and has 17 saves and only 1 blown save. He has a record of 6-2, with an ERA of 2.62, and 32 K's through 34.1 innings.

Interesting Trade

On July 10th there was an interesting trade. It is a bit of a head scratcher, the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves swapped outfielders. Jeff Francoeur, 24, swapped teams with the Mets outfielder Ryan Church, 30. Jeff Francoeur was a highly named prospect, who hasn't been as spectacular as predicted. Francoeur had two solid years in 2006, and 2007. He really struggled in 2008 and 2009 hasn't been much better. Ryan Church is just an average player, this is his 6th year in the majors and most likely won't get better. In my mind the Mets got the better part of the deal, Francoeur has had better seasons than Church, and he is still young. I believe Francoeur will progress into a good hitter, he's been off, but I think he'll turn it around.

July 9th Update

MLB: Pirates did not have a game.

AAA: Indianapolis was crushed 9-0 by the Columbus Clippers.

Ryan Doumit got his first hit of his rehab start as he went 2-4.

Jeremy Powell got lit up as he went 4 innings and let up 12 hits and 7 earned runs.

AA: Altoona dominated Erie by winning 10-4.
Yoslan Herrera picked up his 5th win with a decent start of 5 innings pitched and 3 earned.
Gorkys Hernandez went 2-4 with a solo shot.
Pedro Alvarez went 2-3 with a walk and 3 runs.
Miles Durham went 1-4 with 3 RBI and 1 Run

A: Lynchburg lost a close game, 3-1, to the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
Justin Wilson lost on a decent start as he went 5 innings with 2 earned.
Kris Watts had an excellent day as he went 3-3 with a double and a run.
Chase d'Arnaud went 1-2 with a walk and the only Hillcat.

Low A: West Virginia won 5-3 against Delmarva
Casey Erickson won his 2nd game as he threw a solid 6 innings with 1 earned
Tony Sanchez had a great game as he went 2-3 with 2 doubles, a run, and an Rbi