Another offensive onslaught by the potent Indians offense withstood a wobbly start from Justin Wilson. Every Indianapolis starter recorded at least one hit, led by three-hit nights from Jeff Clement, Anderson Hernandez and Brandon Boggs. Chase d'Arnaud and Tony Sanchez each went 2-for-4 with a double and two walks. Sanchez's hot hitting raised his average to .230 in triple-A. Starling Marte couldn't add an extra-base hit but still went 2-for-5. The 18 hits overshadowed the recurrence of "Bad and Wild" Wilson, which had stayed hidden in recent weeks. Wilson did earn the victory by making it through five innings, but he gave up three runs and four walks. On the positive side, he did strike out six and only allowed three hits. Bryan Morris struck out three in two shutout innings, but Duke Welker and Evan Meek each gave up one run in one inning.
AA Altoona | Binghamton 8 Altoona 2
Kyle McPherson started to show flashes of the brilliance that vaulted him to the top 10 on Pirates prospect lists before missing the first two and a half months of the season to injury, but he faded down the stretch and took the loss to Binghamton. McPherson pitched 5.2 mostly solid innings, allowing two earned runs, four hits, one walk and seven strikeouts. Unfortunately, he also gave up two unearned runs, and the punchless Curve offense on this night couldn't recover. Altoona only managed six hits, including doubles by Jarek Cunningham and Quincy Latimore on the day after homering. Brock Holt singled and walked, and Matt Curry went 1-for-4 after HIS 4-for-5 night. Robbie Grossman did reach base twice on walks.
A West Virginia | West Virginia 8 Lakewood 1
While Indianapolis' hitting exploded but the pitching faltered, the Power received great performances from both. Robby Rowland echoed Zack Dodson's best start of the season with one of his own. While Dodson allowed three unearned runs last night, Rowland allowed none at all over six innings, giving up six hits and striking out three but walking none. Rowland upped his record to 5-2 with the victory. McFavorite Rinku Singh allowed one run in two innings while striking out two. Offensively, five Power players had two hits each, and they all had one extra-base hit. Jose Osuna hit his seventh home run of the season, while Alen Hanson, Chris Lashmet, Gregory Polanco and Dan Gamache doubled. Hanson's 2-for-5 night upped his average to .336 and Polanco went 2-for-4 to jump to .311.
A Bradenton | Bradenton 6 St. Lucie 3
Gift Ngoepe knocked two balls over the fence, his sixth and seventh of the season, and was the clear offensive star in the system tonight. Ngoepe's big day raised his average to a still-low .241 and his OPS to .695. The shortstop from South Africa is one of the top defensive players in the Pirates' system, and he's acquitted himself well in his first year of full-season ball. Ngoepe spent last year in West Virginia, but missed most of the year due to injury. Alex Dickerson joined Ngoepe in homering, which was his eighth in 2012. Dickerson also doubled and his average is up to .296 and OPS eclipsed .800. He's hitting .371 with a 1099 OPS and three home runs in his last ten games. Mel Rojas also knocked two hits and a double for the Marauders. Eliecer Navarro pitched his second straight effective start, going six strong innings and giving up only one run on four hits. Navarro whiffed three.
A State College | Vermont 4 State College 2
State College lost the game on a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning, but the real story of the day was another fantastic performance by 17-year-old top prospect Luis Heredia. Heredia lowered his ERA to a sparkling 0.95 through four starts by going five innings, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk while striking out four. In four starts spanning 19 innings, Heredia has walked only three while striking out 14 and allowing 17 hits. State College only had six hits, two from Chris Diaz. Jodaneli Carvajal, D.J. Crumlich, and Alex Fuselier all doubled in the losing effort.
Original Story:
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July 07, 2012
