Pirates Minor League Report: Billy Cook’s Grand Slam Lifts Indianapolis to Win

Billy Cook hit a grand slam lifted Triple-A Indianapolis to a win, the lone Pittsburgh Pirates minor-league affiliate with a victory on Tuesday.

Cook has already totaled seven extra-base hits in nine games since the Pirates acquired him from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline.

Additionally, 2022 first-rounder Termarr Johnson had his first multi-hit game since Aug. 1.

Here’s a full rundown on Tuesday’s minor-league action.

Indianapolis (51-59)

LF Billy Cook

• Game stats: 1 for 3, one home run, four RBIs, one run
• Season stats: .358/.441/.750, 10 for 28, five doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs, four steals, nine games

RF Billy McKinney

• Game stats: 1 for 2, one home run, one RBI, two runs, one walk
• Season stats: .280/.387/.424, five doubles, four home runs, 16 RBIs, 37 games

Cook’s grand slam lifted Indianapolis to a 5-4 win over the St. Paul Saints while Billy McKinney also homered for the Indians. Henry Davis walked twice and stole two bases.

Altoona (45-64)

CF Matt Fraizer

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one double
• Season stats: .237/.321/.351, 23 for 97, five doubles, two home runs, 10 RBIs, five steals, 29 games

C Abrahan Gutierrez

• Game stats: 2 for 4
• Season stats: .250/.285/.327, 39 for 156, 10 doubles, one triple, 20 RBIs, one steal, 40 games

Despite two-hit games from Fraizer and Gutierrez, Altoona was blanked 5-0 by the Bowie Baysox. Tres Gonzalez also finished 2 for 4 and Brad Case threw three scoreless innings of relief in the loss.

Greensboro (62-45)

SS Termarr Johnson

• Game stats: 2 for 4
• Season stats: .237/.374/.377, 86 for 363, 16 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 42 RBIs, 15 steals, 101 games

RHP Alessandro Ercolani

• Game stats: 3.2 innings, two runs (one earned), three hits, no walks, four strikeouts
• Season stats: 4-1, 3.60 ERA, 65 innings, 29 runs (26 earned), 51 hits, 23 walks, 79 strikeouts, 20 appearances/nine starts

Johnson collected a pair of hits and Ercolani provided good work out of the bullpen but Greensboro was defeated 8-1 by the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Shawn Ross drove in the Grasshoppers’ lone run with a sac fly.

Bradenton (46-63)

RF Esmerlyn Valdez

• Game stats: 2 for 3, one double, one walk
• Season stats: .234/.349/.468, 70 for 299, 17 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs, 50 RBIs, two steals, 88 games

RHP Luigi Hernandez

• Game stats: 3.0 innings, no runs, no hits, two walks, five strikeouts
• Season stats: 2-2, 6.61 ERA, 47.2 innings, 38 runs (35 earned), 43 hits, 46 walks, 62 strikeouts, 19 appearances

Valdez had another strong game and Hernandez tossed three hitless innings in a 2-0 losing effort to the Dunedin Blue Jays. Pirates prospects Axiel Plaz and Justin Mikins had two hits apiece.