Eric Fryer hit a pinch-hit walk-off bases-loaded RBI single in the 10th inning to top Gwinnett. Fryer has finally hit a little lately since his brief major-league stint, he's at .500 in a mere 12 July at bats to raise his average to .198, but that looks a lot better than where he was a few weeks ago. Another player who stunk up the first three months of the season continued a July renaissance by powering the Indians to victory. Chase d'Arnaud went 3-for-5 with two doubles (18 on the season) to raise his season average to .232. d'Arnaud's 2012 OPS is still only .696, but he's hit .284 in 67 July at bats for a .906 OPS. Jeff Clement also went 3-for-5 to jump up to .305, while Matt Hague had two hits and a double and Yamaico Navarro hit his fifth home run of the season. Starling Marte continued his mini-slump, going 0-for-4. Justin Wilson didn't have a particularly strong outing on the mound either, lasting only four innings and allowing four runs on four hits and four walks. His only positive on the evening was his strikeout total of six. Daniel McCutchen, Duke Welker and Evan Meek combined to pitch six innings of shutout relief, with Meek earning his third victory.
AA Altoona | Altoona Erie postponed
Gerrit Cole was scheduled to start for Altoona, but the game was cancelled due to rain.
A West Virginia | West Virginia Delmarva postponed
West Virginia's game was also cancelled for rain.
A Bradenton | Bradenton 4 Tampa 3
Top Pirates' pitching prospect Jameson Taillon had a solid if unspectacular start in a win against Tampa. Taillon pitched 5.2 innings and gave up five hits, two runs, one earned run, two walks and struck out three. The performance lowered his ERA to 4.27, and was enough to keep the Marauders in the contest. Eliecer Navarro received the win with a solid relief effort, as he struck out five in 2.2 innings and allowed one run. Alex Dickerson drove in two runs and went 1-for-4 with his 21st double of the year, and Andy Vasquez was the only Marauder with two hits. Gift Ngoepe singled, walked twice and scored two runs. Bradenton went 4-for-4 on stolen bases against highly-regarded Yankees catching prospect Gary Sanchez.
A State College | State College 7 Williamsport 4
Clay Holmes appears to be locked in a fierce competition with teammate Luis Heredia over who's the best pitching prospect in State College. After Heredia hiccuped slightly Wednesday night, Holmes one-upped him Thursday with a stellar win over Williamsport. Holmes didn't allow a run and gave up a sole hit while walking none and striking out four in five innings. Holmes earned his third victory of the season and lowered his ERA to a minute 0.94 with only three earned runs in 28.2 innings over six starts. It was Holmes' third consecutive start allowing only one hit and no runs, and the fourth time in six starts he's given up one hit and no earned runs. Holmes is certainly leapfrogging some peers in Pirates' prospect lists after this early peformance as he's only 19 years old. The Spikes were very efficient with their offense, scoring seven runs on just eight hits. Jacob Stallings paced the club and continued his surge by going 3-for-4 with a double (his 10th) while Chris Diaz went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Stallings also drove in two runs. The Spikes stole four bases just like their High-A brethren, with Tyler Gaffney swiping two bags.