Cole, Taillon Post Excellent Starts

The Pirates top two prospects were on the hill on Monday night and they did not disappoint.

Number one prospect Gerrit Cole pitched 5.2 innings in AA Altoona and allowed just one earned run on six hits while striking out five. He threw 87 pitches and 63 strikes. All of that was after pitching just an inning in his last outing after taking a line drive off the chin. Cole came out with no fear and pitched a very nice game.

Despite Cole's strong outing, he was outdone by number two prospect Jameson Taillon, who pitched seven stellar innings in Bradenton. He allowed just three base runners all day, two hits and one walk. The only bad part of the start was that he recorded just two strikeouts.

These are the kinds of nights you would expect from two pitchers with the talent level of these two, and there will be many more to come like it.