Better start for Cole, big days for Allie and Mathisen

Lots of good pitching for the farm system on Tuesday:

-- Gerrit Cole had easily his best start of the season as Indianapolis topped Toledo, 4-2. Cole once again struggled with his pitch count early, as he walked four in the first three innings and threw 54 pitches. He got through the next three, though, with no walks and 32 pitches. He allowed only one hit through six, but got chased in the 7th with one out by a bunt single, bloop double and an RBI single. He allowed just the one run on four hits and four walks, and fanned five. Erik Cordier, the latest minor league veteran to emerge from extended spring training, gave up the other run. Tony Sanchez went 2-4 with a three-run HR, his first. Josh Harrison went 2-3 with a walk, and got picked off base for the second game in a row. Jordy Mercer went 2-4. Brandon Inge continued to "get good results," in Clint Hurdle's words, going 0-3, leaving his average at .128.

-- Altoona's game with Richmond was delayed by rain at the start of the 10th inning with the score 1-1. The Curve have had trouble scoring since they lost Adalberto Santos, who was placed on the disabled list today. They managed to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th on a two-out double by Charlie Cutler. Casey Sadler started and went seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks, while fanning five. Mel Rojas, Jr., and Andy Vasquez each had two hits and a walk. Jarek Cunningham had four strikeouts and a walk. Altoona had plenty of baserunners, thanks to seven walks, but stranded ten through regulation. I'll post an update if the game is concluded, but given the conditions in Pittsburgh, resuming the game in Altoona seems like a long shot.

UPDATE: The Altoona game was suspended.

-- Bradenton picked up its second win behind a stellar effort from Robby Rowland, beating Jupiter, 3-1. Rowland threw six shutout innings, allowing two hits and no walks, and striking out six. Zach Thornton gave up the only run in the 9th. Willy Garcia went 2-4 with a two-run double. Gregory Polanco went 1-4 and Alen Hanson got another day off. The Marauders made no errors.

-- West Virginia also got an outstanding start, this one from Orlando Castro, as the Power beat Greenville, 8-3. Castro allowed no runs on five hits and no walks over five innings, fanning six. Kyle Haynes gave up the three runs in the 9th. Stetson Allie kept on hitting, going 4-5 with his 6th HR. He's now hitting .411. Wyatt Mathisen broke out of a slump, going 3-5 with a double and three RBIs. Junior Sosa went 3-4 and Eric Wood 2-5, each with a double. Josh Bell went 1-4 with a walk and scored three runs.