Pirates Minor League Report: Another Strong Start for Braxton Ashcraft

The Pirates’ organization didn’t manage a single win on Friday night, dropping every contest from the big leagues to rookie ball. Despite the ugly final results, plenty of prospects enjoyed strong games, including a shutdown outing from Braxton Ashcraft, their fifth-highest ranked pitcher.

Triple-A Indianapolis lost 4-1 to the Omaha Storm Chasers, unable to muster any offense beyond yet another home run from the flaming hot Matt Gorski.

The Altoona Curve lost 8-6 in the tenth inning, scoring six runs in the eighth to dramatically take the lead before blowing a three run lead in the ninth. Joe Perez and Carter Bins each mashed homers, while Braxton Ashcraft allowed just one run across six innings, punching out seven batters.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers plated two runs in the ninth inning but fell just short in a 3-2 loss to the Asheville Tourists.

Bradenton couldn’t hang with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, losing 8-2 with both runs coming off a double from catcher Omar Alfonzo.

Here are some noteworthy performances from the Pirates’ minor leaguers on Friday night.

Triple-A Indianapolis (24-29)

CF Matt Gorski

• Day: 2-for-3 with a double, a homer and a walk.
• Season: .268/.308/.599 with 7 doubles, 5 triples and 10 homers in 42 games.

RHP Domingo Germán

• Game: 5 IP, 3 ER, 8 K’s.
• Season: 19.1 IP, 5.59 ERA, 20 K’s in 4 starts between Bradenton and Indianapolis.

Double-A Altoona (16-33)

RHP Braxton Ashcraft

• Game: 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 K’s.
• Season: 46.2 IP, 3.47 ERA, 51 K’s in 10 appearances (9 starts).

C Carter Bins

• Game: 1-for-3 with a homer and a walk.
• Season: .238/.358/.475 with 7 doubles and 4 homers in 28 games between Altoona and Indianapolis.

High-A Greensboro (29-20)

RHP Patrick Reilly

• Game: 5 IP, 2 ER, 6 K’s.
• Season: 41.1 IP, 4.79 ERA, 57 K’s in 10 starts.

3B Charles McAdoo

• Game: 2-for-4 with a double.
• Season: .335/.407/.543 with 12 doubles, 2 triples and 6 homers in 43 games.

Single-A Bradenton (21-27)

RF Eddy Rodriguez

• Game: 2-for-3 with a walk.
• Season: .258/.380/.337 with 4 doubles and a homer in 25 games.

C Omar Alfonzo

• Game: 1-for-4 with a double.
• Season: .258/.380/.337 with 10 doubles and 2 homers in 40 games