Monday's action, minus Bradenton, which was off . . . .
-P- Indianapolis dropped a 1-0 squeaker to Charlotte, but the story was Chris Leroux, who threw seven innings of one-hit, shutout ball. He walked none, fanned five and threw 51 strikes on 75 pitches. A Tony Sanchez error led to the game's only run in the 8th. The Indians had just three singles. Between Leroux and Juan Cruz (see next entry), and with the puzzling addition of Chad Qualls, it's going to be interesting to see what bullpen moves the Pirates make in the next week or two.
-P- Altoona took a 6-2 lead over Bowie in the 1st, but didn't score again until the 9th and lost, 8-7. After going all year without allowing a HR, Vic Black gave up a decisive HR for the second outing in a row. He entered with a 6-5 lead and a runner on third in the 8th, then gave up a wild pitch, a walk, another wild pitch, a sac fly and a HR. Altoona got a run in the 9th to make it a one-run loss. Juan Cruz started the game in his first rehab assignment and recorded only one out, allowing four hits and two runs, with Nate Baker bailing him out of further damage by inducing a double play grounder. Phil Irwin followed with five more strong innings in which he allowed just one run on two hits and two walks, with three Ks. Kyle Kaminska, acquired in the Gaby Sanchez deal, then allowed three runs in an inning and a third. Ramon Cabrera and Stefan Welch each went 2-4, and Matt Curry broke out of a slump by going 2-5 with a double, triple and three RBIs.
-P- West Virginia blew a 5-0 lead, losing to Lakewood, 8-5. Mike Jefferson started and allowed two runs, one earned, in five innings. Ryan Hafner then had a meltdown in the 6th, retiring only one of the six hitters he faced. The rest reached on three hits and two walks. Zac Fuesser came on with the bases loaded and let all three runners score, plus another of his own. Dan Gamache went 2-4 with his 4th HR, Chris Lashmet went 2-4 with two doubles, and Francisco Diaz (who's hitting .556 in his last nine games) went 2-3 with a double. Alen Hanson had a two-run double in the first, but was retired four times after that.
-P- State College got just two hits in losing to Aberdeen, 4-1. Clario Perez started and allowed three runs before recording an out, then followed with four scoreless innings. Jesus Vasquez and Jimmy Rider had the only hits, both doubles. Vasquez, who played right, threw two runners out on the bases. The Bowie starter, first round pick Kevin Gausman, retired all nine hitters he faced.
-P- Continuing the catalog of losses, the GCL Pirates dropped their game to the Tigers, 6-5. Tyler Glasnow went two and two-thirds, allowing an unearned run on two hits and two walks. He fanned five and now has 28 Ks in 25.2 IP. Aaron Pribanic, who's been rehabbing in the GCL for four weeks now, allowed two runs to take the loss. Another rehabber from Altoona, Andrew Lambo, went 5-5 with a double. Max Moroff went 2-3.
-P- There's no box score for the DSL Pirates1. The Pirates2 are listed as having a doubleheader scheduled against the Phillies, but one game is shown as rained out and the other is shown as being in the first inning, so who knows . . . .