Pirates Prospect Watch: Tsung-Che Cheng Heats Up In Altoona

Pirates minor league affiliates went 2-2 on the day with a pair of extra innings games and wins from Indianapolis and Altoona.

Here are the notable performances from Thursday.

Triple-A Indianapolis Indians (43-49)

3B Chris Owings

• Game: 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI.
• Season: .258/.368/.464 with 10 doubles, one triple and seven home runs.

CF Josh Palacios

• Game: 1-for-5 with the game-winning, two-run homer.
• Season: .344/.406/.583 with six doubles, one triple and five home runs in 23 games between Indianapolis and Altoona. 

Indy sits in a weird spot right now, with fringe MLB guys like Owings, Palacios, Miguel Andújar and Canaan Smith-Njigba making most of the big plays on a nightly basis. Thursday was no different, with Palacios providing the extra innings homer to lift Indianapolis over the Iowa Cubs 5-3. 

Double-A Altoona Curve (41-42)

2B Domingo Leyba

• Game: 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI double.
• Season: .351/.419/.511 with six doubles and three home runs in 27 games.

SS Tsung-Che Cheng 

• Game: 3-for-4 with an RBI.
• Season:.290/374/.497 with 12 doubles, ten triples and nine home runs between Greensboro and Altoona.  

The Curve took down the Reading Fightin Phils 4-3, surviving a ninth-inning comeback after an error nearly ruined Cameron Junker’s save attempt. Cheng had what could end up being his breakout game in Altoona with three hits, while outfielder Matt Gorski left the game with a hamstring strain. Leyba continues to light it up in recent games for the Curve.

High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers (42-42)

1B Ernny Ordonez

• Game: 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run single. 
• Season: .216/.291/.335 with six doubles and five home runs in 48 games.

SS Mike Jarvis

• Game: 2-for-4 with two singles. 
• Season: .228/.315/.439 with 10 doubles, five triples and 10 home runs.

Greensboro gave a comeback their best shot, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth. They still fell just flat to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, 3-2.

Single-A Bradenton Marauders (50-36)

1B Josiah Sightler

• Game: 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
• Season: .425/.511/.699 with five doubles and five home runs in 21 games between rookie ball and Bradenton.

LF Deivis Nadal

• Game: 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, a walk and five RBI.
• Season: .201/.326/.377 with ten doubles, one triple and five homers.

Bradenton overcame a 6-1 eighth-inning lead from the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels to force the game to extra innings. They fell flat in the tenth, losing 11-7. Rough day from the Marauders’ pitchers, who allowed 17 hits.