Coupled with a small control problem by issuing three free passes on the night, Jeff Locke still tossed an outstanding game and now has a 2.48 ERA on the season. But oddly enough, the southpaw Locke threw 78 pitches in four and two-thirds shutout innings while only allowing three hits and striking out seven. The decision for Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor to pull the dominant Locke after only 78 pitches and four and two-thirds could mean a promotion for Locke any day now. Fellow southpaw and now Pirate fan favorite Justin Wilson came into the fifth in relief for Locke and struck out his only batter. Bryan Morris made an appearance in the six but managed to only get two outs, allowing a run on two hits while only going two-thirds on . Jose Diaz and Evan Meek helped bridge the gap to recently announced International League Postseason All-Star closer Tim Wood for his 21st save. Now don't be in awe for what happened offensively tonight as it was like the ol' broken record. Surprise surprise, Brock Holt continues to tear apart International League pitching and leaving off where he left off while with the Curve! After going 3-for-5, his THIRD STRAIGHT three-hit game, Holt is now hitting a mind boggling .425 (37-for-87) in only 22 games with Indianapolis. Jeff Larish hit a clutch three-run shot in the Indians big four-run fifth inning that ended up being just enough to notch the victory. Anderson Hernandez also added two hits while the big monster and McEffect favorite Dallas McPherson actually looked human with one hit and two strikeouts.
AA Altoona | Altoona 2 Akron 1
Don't ask us how this was even possible, but the Zips collected 14 hits as a team tonight and managed to score only one run and lose. Yes, very awkward. Their ability with runners in scoring position was a woeful 3-for-16 with ten runners left on base. But credit that to the man that has had a great year and could be in line for a promotion to Triple-A; starter Brandon Cumpton. His pitching line noticeably shows the 11 hits allowed in 7 innings, but his ability to limit Akron to only one run shows he was a warrior on the hill. Tim Alderson came in and threw a scoreless eighth and ninth to notch his fifth win of the season. Tied after 1-1 after eight and a half, the Curve walked it off in crazy fashion as my favorite, the big Aussie Stefan Welch, drew a bases loaded walk for the 2-1 win. Gustavo Nunez, Adalberto Santos, and Stefan Welch each added two hits apiece. Santos, along with teammates Brandon Cumpton, Matt Curry, and Tyler Waldron will represent the Pirates organization in the prestigious Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
A West Virginia | West Virginia 0 Charleston 3
With offensive catalyst Alen Hanson with the night off, Ashley Ponce took his spot at shortstop and the offense only managed to squeak together two hits against RiverDogs pitching in a shortened game. Those lone two hits came on the shoulders of Taylor Lewis and Gregory Polanco in the first and fourth, respectively. The story of the night for the Power was the high number of ground outs induced by Charleston starter Bryan Mitchell. In his six innings, Mitchell was able to get nine Power hitters out via the ground out. Obviously Power starter Zach Von Rosenberg was not able to enough help offensively by his teammates. The young right hander managed to give up only three runs (two earned) and kept his team in the game unlike most of his starts this season.
A Bradenton | Bradenton 8 Fort Myers 9
After being rained out twice because of Hurricane Issac coming through the Gulf Coast, it felt like the hurricane was still in full force. In an offensive barrage where 17 runs and 26 hits were generated between the two teams in a tightly contested game. The story of the night offensively for the Marauders was the toolsy Mel Rojas Jr., who probably had his best overall game as a professional and was a double away from the cycle. He finished his magnificent night going 4-for-5 with an early two-run blast in the the first; his sixth of the season. His next at-bat in the third, he added a run-scoring "trip, trip, triple"; his 12th of the season. With that, Rojas now leads the Florida State League in triples. Recently announced Florida State League Player of the Year Alex Dickerson went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two strikeouts. Andy Howard, Justin Howard, and Benji Gonzalez each had two hits. Then on the day of being announced to represent the Pirates in the prestigious Arizona Fall League with Matt Curry, Brandon Cumpton, Aldaberto Santos, and Tyler Waldon, the Pride of South Africa Gift Ngoepe went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts. Starter Elicer Navarro allowed three earned runs on six hits and four walks in four innings of work on the bump. But Emmanuel De Leon was the Bradenton arm that was touched up the most, being held responsible for the huge six-run inning for Fort Myers in top half of the six. Quinton Miller and Zach Foster both made appearances in the game and went scoreless in their outings.
A State College | State College 4 Auburn 6
In a game where the Spikes got off to an early lead after three, being the owners of a 4-1 lead with the young righty Adrian Sampson on the hill for them. Then, the wheels started to come off in the fourth as the 2012 Fifth Round pick Sampson allowed two more runs to make it a 4-3 game after his five innings. From then on out, it was all Auburn as they touched up Spikes reliever Issac Sanchez for three runs on two hits and two walks. The big blow in the inning was the two run, two-out triple by Auburn lead-off man Mike McQuillan. With the sticks, Walker Gourley went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two strikeouts. Chris Diaz also went 2-for-5 and Peters Township native Jimmy Rider got the start at second while going 2-for-3 with a walk.
For those who did not pick it up in the roundups or have not already heard, here are the players that were selected to represent the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in the Arizona Fall League:
Brandon Cumpton: 11-11, 4.07 ERA
Tyler Waldron: 1-2, 4.01 ERA in Double-A; 7-8, 5.09 ERA in Single-A
Aldaberto Santos: .344/.433/.439, 2 HR, 25 RBI
Matt Curry: .285/.351/.481, 11 HR, 75 RBI
Gift Ngoepe: .236/.333/.345, 9 HR, 36 RBI