4/14 Baseball Round-Up

The Pirates and two of their affiliates lost by a run each.  The West Virginia Power were able to earn a victory.  Inside find write-ups for Pirates vs. Giants, Altoona Curve vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels, Bradenton Marauders vs. Fort Myers Miracle, and West Virginia Power vs. Greenville Drive.

Pittsburgh Pirates (2-6) lost 4-3 to the San Francisco Giants (3-4)
WP: Javier Lopez (1-0)   LP: Chris Resop (0-1)

The Pirates held the lead in this game for a total of 2 innings.  That brings their season total to 2 1/2 innings with the lead.  2B Neil Walker singled in CF Andrew McCutchen and 1B Casey McGehee in the top of the first.  San Francisco answered with two runs in the bottom of the second.  A couple of errors allowed the Pirates to get the lead back in the top of the fifth.  A throwing error by SP Charlie Morton allowed Angel Pagan to score in the bottom of the inning.  The game was tied in the bottom of the ninth.  RP Chris Resop allowed the bases to be loaded on back to back singles and an intentional walk.  He got LF Melky Cabrera to ground to SS Clint Barmes.  This should have been the start of the rare SS-C-1B (6-2-3) double play, but the ball was dropped at the plate.  The error went to Barmes, but C Rod Barajas should have made the play.  On a good note, 2B Neil Walker worked his way out of an early slump going 2 for 4 with two RBI.

AAA: Indianapolis Indians (4-4) vs. the Toledo Mud Hens (4-4) - Game postponed

AA: Altoona Curve (4-4) lost 1-0 the Richmond Flying Squirrels (5-5)
WP: Michael Kickham (1-0)  LP: Brandon Cumpton (0-2)

The Curve pitchers held Richmond to only 5 hits.  Unfortunately, one of the was a solo HR from catcher Johnny Monell.  The Curve had 7 hits but left 8 runners on base.  Altoona received two hits each from SS Brock Holt, C Tony Sanchez, and 3B Kelson Brown.  The other hit came from RF Adalberto Santos.  SP Brandon Cumpton last seven innings, giving up one run, but his excellent start was spoiled by a lack of offense. 

A+: Bradenton Marauders (3-5) lost 8-7 to the Fort Myers Miracle (5-5)
WP: Tony Davis (2-0)  LP: Zachary Foster (0-1)

This was a tough game for the Marauders who came from behind to tie it in the top of the ninth only to lose it in the bottom of the inning.  SP Gerrit Cole lasted three innings, giving up four runs (3 earned).  RF Mel Rojas went 3 for 5 with an RBI.  CF Evan Chambers went 2 for 3 .  The only starters to not record a hit were LF Dan Grovatt and C Francisco Diaz.  A four run top of the ninth tied the game at seven.  However, in the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Daniel Santana hit a two out RBI single to give the Miracle the victory.

A: West Virginia Power (4-6) won 6-3 over the Greenville Drive (4-6)

WP: Josh Poytress (1-0)  S: Jordan Cooper (1)  LP: Madison Younginer (0-1)

The Power's offense came through for the second game in a row, led by 2B Jodanelli Carvajal and CF Gregory Polanco.  Each went 2 for 4 with a HR.  RF Josh Bell also had two hits and drove in an RBI.  1B and clean-up hitter Jose Osuna was the only Power starter that was held hitless.  After struggling offensively to open the season, the Power seem to have found their groove.  They turned in another 12 hit performance in this game.