Pirates Prospect Watch: Altoona Curve’s Loaded Lineup Breaks Out For 13 Runs

The Double-A Altoona Curve enjoyed a big night on Saturday as the offense exploded for 13 runs. Five players recorded multi-hit games.

The Low-A Bradenton Marauders played a doubleheader, and 2022 first-round draft pick Termarr Johnson put his skillset on display.

Here are the Pirates’ prospects who performed the best from Saturday night’s action.

Indianapolis Indians (69-64)

OF Jared Oliva

• Game: 2 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and a run
• Season: .261/.315/.418, 18 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 30 RBIs, 17 steals, 84 games

3B Kevin Padlo

• Game: 2 for 5 with two runs and a steal
• Season: .292/.333/.403, five doubles, one home run, 13 RBIs, three steals, 18 games

Oliva and Padlo each collected a pair of hits in the Indians’ 9-6 loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers. Blake Sabol stayed hot at the plate with two hits and walk.

Altoona Curve (67-63)

1B Aaron Shackelford

• Game: 2 for 5 with a home run, four RBIs and a run
• Season: .245/.316/.513, 22 doubles, one triple, 26 home runs, 79 RBIs, 10 steals, 105 games

DH Malcom Nunez

• Game: 3 for 4 with a double, two RBIs, two runs and a walk
• Season: .310/.384/.536, four doubles, five home runs, 18 RBIs, 23 games

It was tough to pick just two players to highlight what was a great night for the Curve as they took down the Erie SeaWolves 13-5. Shackelford belted his 26th home run of the year, and Nunez continued his impressive stretch since being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline.

Liover Peguero, Nick Gonzales and Matt Fraizer all had multi-hit games.

Greensboro Grasshoppers (58-70)

OF Sammy Siani

• Game: 3 for 5 with a double and three runs
• Season: .201/.318/.306, nine doubles, seven home runs, 28 RBIs, 25 steals, 82 games

SS Dariel Lopez

• Game: 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run
• Season: .286/.329/.476, 15 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 58 RBIs, six steals, 102 games

Siani and Lopez each had strong nights but it wasn’t enough as the Grasshoppers fell 8-5 to the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Bradenton Marauders

GAME ONE

DH Rodolfo Nolasco

• Game: 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run
• Season:

OF Tres Gonzalez

• Game: 1 for 4 with a double, two RBIs, two runs and a walk
• Season: 

The Marauders resumed their suspended game against the Clearwater Threshers from Friday and won 6-2 in the first game of a doubleheader. Nolasco and Gonzalez combined for three hits, three RBIs and three runs.

Johnson went 1 for 2, walked three times and scored a run.

GAME TWO

RHP Joelvis Del Rosario

• Game: 5.0 innings, four hits, no runs, two walks, four strikeouts
• Season: 7-4, 3.68 ERA, 93 innings, 95 hits, 25 walks, 76 strikeouts, 20 games/19 starts

SS Tsung-Che Cheng

• Game: 1 for 3 with an RBI, a run, a steal and a walk
• Season: .270/.376/.418, 25 doubles, seven triples, six home runs, 52 RBIs, 33 steals, 104 games

Backed by Del Rosario’s five strong innings, the Marauders bested the Threshers 4-3 in game two, giving them a sweep of the doubleheader.

Cheng, the reigning Florida State League Player of the Month, helped pace the offense. Johnson, after reaching base four times in game one, swiped two bags in game two.