Pirates Minor League Report: Hunter Barco Sparks No-Hit Bid

Pirates’ affiliates managed one win on Friday, with Hunter Barco striking out nine batters in five hitless innings for the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Triple-A Indianapolis got crushed 14-7 by the Rochester Red Wings, giving up nine runs in the first inning and never recovering. Despite the lopsided result, Joshua Palacios enjoyed a four-hit day.

The Altoona Curve lost 4-2 to the Akron Rubber Ducks, only able to muster four hits in support of a solid start from Thomas Harrington.

High-A Greensboro was the lone club to pick up a win, thrashing the Jersey Shore BlueClaws 14-1. Nick Cimillo hit a grand slam, while the Grasshoppers didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning, by which time Barco had already left the game.

The Bradenton Marauders lost 5-2 to the Clearwater Threshers, making it through six innings before the game got called due to rain. Left fielder Solomon Maguire hit a two-run homer, accounting for all the offense.

Here are some of the top performances amongst the Pirates’ farm teams on Friday night.

Triple-A Indianapolis (33-44)

DH Joshua Palacios

• Game: 4-for-5 with a double.
• Season: .286/.352/.449 with 7 doubles and 3 homers in 28 minor league games.

RF Ji-hwan Bae

• Day: 3-for-5 with 3 singles.
• Season: .368 .459/.520 with 5 doubles, a triple and 4 homers in 34 games between Bradenton and Indianapolis.

Double-A Altoona (30-43)

RHP Thomas Harrington

• Game: 5 IP, 2 ER (1 unearned), 6 K’s.
• Season: 45.2 IP, 2.96 ERA, 45 K’s in 10 appearances (9 starts) between Bradenton and Altoona.

SS Tsung-Che Cheng

• Game: 2-for-3 with a double.
• Season: .230/.333/.367 with 10 doubles and 7 homers in 65 games.

High-A Greensboro (44-28)

LHP Hunter Barco

• Game: 5 IP, 0 ER, 9 K’s.
• Season: 57 IP, 3.16 ERA, 72 K’s in 15 appearances (13 starts).

1B Nick Cimillo

• Game: 1-for-2 with a grand slam and 2 walks.
• Season: .281/.399/.593 with 3 doubles and 13 homers in 39 games.

Single-A Bradenton (34-39)

LF Solomon Maguire

• Game: 1-for-2 with a homer.
• Season: .175/.271/.386 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 6 homers in 40 games.