Pirates Minor League Report: Termarr Johnson Starts Slugging

Pirates’ affiliates picked up three wins in three attempts on Friday night, powered by excellent pitching and savvy hitting from former first round picks Termarr Johnson and Nick Yorke (formerly of Boston).

Triple-A Indianapolis took down the Columbus Clippers 6-2, with Pirates’ fifth-ranked prospect Thomas Harrington turning in six innings of one-run ball. Deadline acquisition Nick Yorke enjoyed his third multi-hit game in the past four days, and Nick Gonzales’ rehab assignment continued to go off without a hitch: playing at designated hitter, he made his way on base four times.

 Strong pitching continued in Altoona, where left-hander Dominic Perachi made his best Double-A start of the season, allowing one run in six innings. Kervin Pichardo homered, Sammy Siani managed three hits, and the Curve breezed past Richmond 6-1.

Termarr Johnson doubled and homered for Greensboro, showing yet again that his slump to start August is behind him, but the real star of the night was right-hander Carlson Reed, who struck out ten batters in 6 innings. The WVU product, who recently made his way onto the Pirates’ top prospects list, now possesses a 2.06 ERA on the season.

Bradenton, meanwhile, saw their game postponed due to inclement weather.

Triple-A Indianapolis (59-61)

RHP Thomas Harrington

• Game: 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 K’s.
• Season: 94.2 IP, 2.38 ERA, 94 K’s in 18 appearances (17 starts) throughout the Pirates’ organization.

2B Nick Yorke

• Game: 2-for-3 with a double and 2 walks.
• Season: .295/.375/.434 with 25 doubles and 10 homers in 104 games between the Pirates and Red Sox organizations.

Double-A Altoona (48-69)

RF Sammy Siani

• Game: 3-for-4 with a double.
• Season: .271/.342/.418 with 17 doubles, 6 triples and 8 homers in 99 games between Greensboro and Altoona.

LHP Dominic Perachi

• Game: 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 K’s.
• Season: 100 IP, 3.06 ERA, 102 K’s in 23 appearances (15 starts) between Greensboro and Altoona.

High-A Greensboro (65-51)

RHP Carlson Reed

• Day: 6 IP, 1 ER, 10 K’s.
• Season: 96.1 IP, 2.06 ERA, 119 K’s in 21 starts between Bradenton and Greensboro.

INF Termarr Johnson

• Game: 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and a steal.
• Season: .238/.373/.388 with 17 doubles, a triple and 13 homers in 108 games.