Pirates Prospect Watch: Endy Rodriguez, Nick Gonzales, Termarr Johnson Shine

Thursday’s minor league slate consisted of strong performances from some of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospects.

At Double-A Altoona, Endy Rodriguez and Nick Gonzales led the charge in a big night for the Curve’s lineup.

Termarr Johnson, the Pirates’ first-round draft pick this year, recorded a multi-hit game for the second straight night for Low-A Bradenton.

Indianapolis Indians (64-60)

OF Bligh Madris

• Game:  2 for 5 with two doubles
• Season: .286/.359/.477, 18 doubles, three triples, six home runs 25 RBIs, three steals, 62 games

OF Travis Swaggerty

• Game: 1 for 3 with an RBI and two walks
• Season: .256/.353/.408, 13 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs, 48 RBIs, 15 steals, 91 games

The Indians edged the Louisville Bats 3-2 for their fifth win in their last seven games. Two-thirds of the Indians’ outfield mix helped Indianapolis earn the win.

Cam Alldred, Nick Mears, Cam Vieaux and Eric Hanhold combined for 7.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Altoona Curve (61-61)

C/DH Endy Rodriguez

• Game: 2 for 3 with two home runs, three RBIs, three runs and two walks
• Season: .362/.457/.783, eight doubles, seven home runs, 20 RBIs, 18 games

2B Nick Gonzales

• Game: 3 for 5 with a double, an RBI and two runs
• Season: .261/..379/.403, 15 doubles, five home runs, 25 RBIs, five steals, 58 games

A pair of the Pirates’ more highly regarded prospects in Rodriguez and Gonzales helped Altoona cruise to a 13-7 victory over the Akron RubberDucks. Rodriguez has been on fire in his first taste of Double-A.

First baseman Aaron Shackelford picked up a pair of hits and doubled in three runs in the win.

Greensboro Grasshoppers (54-66)

RHP Ricky DeVito

• Game: 4.0 innings, three hits, two runs, one walk, eight strikeouts
• Season: 3-5, 4.70 ERA, 67 innings, 59 hits, 41 walks, 87 strikeouts, 34 games/five starts

C Abrahan Gutierrez

• Game: 1 for 3 with a walk
• Season: .256/.353/.409, 19 doubles, 12 home runs, 55 RBIs, four steals, 102 games

DeVito picked up a career-high eight strikeouts, but still took the lass as Greensboro fell to the Winston-Salem Dash 8-0. Gutierrez was the only player in the Grasshoppers’ lineup to reach base twice.

Bradenton Marauders (64-58)

2B Termarr Johnson

• Game: 2 for 3 with a double, two runs and a walk
• Season: .368/.435/.526, three doubles, two RBIs, seven games

OF Sergio Campana

• Game: 2 for 3 with a home run, an RBI, two runs and a walk
• Season: .206/.328/.318, 12 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 27 RBIs, 28 steals, 94 games

Johnson stayed hot for Bradenton in its 8-7 victory over the Fort Myers Mighty Muscles. He drew a walk in the ninth inning, setting the stage for a Wyatt Hendrie walk-off home run.

Juan Jerez hit his seventh homer of the season in the win, and Tsung-Che Cheng collected two more hits.