Pirates minor league affiliates went 2-2 on the day with a pair of extra innings games and wins from Indianapolis and Altoona.
Here are the notable performances from Thursday.
3B Chris Owings
CF Josh Palacios
Indy sits in a weird spot right now, with fringe MLB guys like Owings, Palacios, Miguel Andújar and Canaan Smith-Njigba making most of the big plays on a nightly basis. Thursday was no different, with Palacios providing the extra innings homer to lift Indianapolis over the Iowa Cubs 5-3.
2B Domingo Leyba
SS Tsung-Che Cheng
The Curve took down the Reading Fightin Phils 4-3, surviving a ninth-inning comeback after an error nearly ruined Cameron Junker’s save attempt. Cheng had what could end up being his breakout game in Altoona with three hits, while outfielder Matt Gorski left the game with a hamstring strain. Leyba continues to light it up in recent games for the Curve.
1B Ernny Ordonez
SS Mike Jarvis
Greensboro gave a comeback their best shot, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth. They still fell just flat to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, 3-2.
1B Josiah Sightler
LF Deivis Nadal
Bradenton overcame a 6-1 eighth-inning lead from the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels to force the game to extra innings. They fell flat in the tenth, losing 11-7. Rough day from the Marauders’ pitchers, who allowed 17 hits.
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