Pirates Minor League Report: Shawn Ross Has Three-Homer Game

High-A Greensboro was the only Pittsburgh Pirates’ affiliate to win on Wednesday and there were a couple big performances to highlight.

Of everything that happened down on the farm on Wednesday, Shawn Ross’ three-homer game with Greensboro was the most notable. Though the catching prospect is under the Mendoza Line, he’s shown excellent power this season.

Here is everything that happened in the latest Pirates’ minor-league action.

Triple-A Indianapolis (26-37)

LF Matt Gorski

• Game stats: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one run, one strikeout
• Season stats: ..261/.306/.574, nine doubles, five triples, 12 home runs, 42 RBIs, four steals, 51 games

2B Andrés Alvarez

• Game stats: 2 for 3, one walk
• Season stats: .246/.298/.386, two doubles, one triple, four home runs, 12 RBIs, two steals, 32 games

Gorski and Alvarez accounted for all three of the Indians’ hits in their 3-1 loss to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.

Domingo Germán pitched reasonably well in his fifth start in Triple-A. His final line read 4.1 innings, three runs (one earned), five hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

Double-A Altoona (20-39)

RHP J.C. Flowers

• Game stats: 2.1 innings, no runs, no hits, one walk, two strikeouts
• Season stats: 0-1, 2.31 ERA, 11.2 innings, four runs (three earned), eight hits, four walks, 10 strikeouts, seven appearances

CF Jase Bowen

• Game stats: 1 for 3, one run, one HBP, one steal
• Season stats: .232/285/.318, nine doubles, one triple, two home runs, 17 RBIs, nine steals, 52 games

Flowers had a strong appearance out of the bullpen and Bowen reached base twice, stole a base and scored a run in the Curve’s 5-2 loss to the Erie SeaWolves.

Joe Perez went 1 for 4 with an RBI.

High-A Greensboro (33-25)

C Shawn Ross

• Game stats: 3 for 4, three home runs, four RBIs, three runs
• Season stats: .179/.366/.509, four doubles, 11 home runs, 23 RBIs, four steals, 37 games

DH Charles McAdoo

• Game stats: 2 for 4, one triple, two RBIs, one walk, one steal
• Season stats: .340/.414/.569, 12 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 46 RBIs, 12 steals, 53 games

Ross’ three homers and another big game from an emerging Pirates’ prospect in McAdoo lifted the Grasshoppers to a 7-1 win over the Winston-Salem Dash.

Top prospect Termarr Johnson reached base twice, scored a pair of runs and stole a base. Patrick Reilly allowed one run in 4.1 innings pitched.

Low-A Bradenton (25-34)

RHP Antwone Kelly

• Game stats: 6.0 innings, three hits, two runs (one earned), one walk, eight strikeouts
• Season stats: 1-5, 4.25 ERA, 48.2 innings, 27 runs (23 earned), 39 hits, 21 walks, 49 strikeouts, 11 appearances/nine starts

SS Javier Rivas

• Game stats: 1 for 3, one home run, one RBI, one run
• Season stats: .209/.280/.360, nine doubles, one triple, five home runs, 21 RBIs, four steals, 51 games

Kelly had an excellent start and Rivas connected on his fifth homer of the season but it wasn’t enough for the Marauders in their 2-1 loss to the Dunedin Blue Jays.