Pirates Prospect Watch: Braxton Ashcraft and Khristian Curtis Shove

Pirates’ affiliates picked up just one win on Saturday, but that didn’t stop a number of young contributors from posting excellent games.

Triple-A Indianapolis fell 6-5 to the Iowa Cubs, but that didn’t stop Matt Gorski from slugging his sixth home run in the past seven games.

The Altoona Curve put together a 4-3 win in the eleventh over the Erie Sea Wolves. Braxton Ashcraft continued to return to form, striking out eight batters and allowing just one run over 5.1 innings, while a Sammy Siani double plated the decisive run.

The Grasshoppers nearly came back from a three-run deficit in the ninth, but they couldn’t come up with the game-tying run in a 3-2 loss.

The Bradenton Marauders fell 6-3 to the Dunedin Blue Jays, with their bullpen struggling late after an excellent start from Khristian Curtis.

Here’s a look at the top performing Pirates’ prospects on Saturday.

Triple-A Indianapolis (22-25)

1B Jake Lamb

• Game: 2-for-4 with 2 singles and a sacrifice fly.
• Season: .346/.427/.500 with 12 doubles and 3 homers in 38 games.

CF Matt Gorski

• Game: 1-for-4 with a homer.
• Season: .274/.306/.597 with 6 doubles, 5 triples and 8 homers in 36 games.

Double-A Altoona (14-30)

1B Seth Beer

• Game: 2-for-5 with a double.
• Season: .313/.386/.445 with 6 doubles, a triple and 3 homers in 36 games.

LF Sammy Siani

• Game: 3-for-5 with a double.
• Season: .276/.345/.488 with 9 doubles,a triple and 5 homers in 34 games between Greensboro and Altoona.

High-A Greensboro (25-19)

RF Charles McAdoo

• Game: 3-for-5 with a double.
• Season: .317/.394/.535 with 9 doubles, 2 triples and 6 homers in 39 games.

CF P.J. Hilson

• Game: 2-for-3 with 2 singles.
• Season: .219/.279/.469 with a double, a triple and 7 homers in 30 games between Bradenton and Greensboro.

Single-A Bradenton (20-24)

RHP Khristian Curtis

• Game: 5 IP, 1 ER, 9 K’s.
• Season: 32.1 IP, 5.29 ERA, 35 K’s in 8 starts.

1B Esmerlyn Valdez

• Game: 2-for-3 with 2 singles and a walk.
• Season: .238/.353./.400 with 6 doubles and 5 homers in 38 games.