Pirates MiLB recap: Indianapolis beats Columbus, looks sloppy

Since I saw Indianapolis play tonight, I'm taking over the minor-league recap, and Wilbur will write about the big-league game.

-P- Indianapolis beat Columbus 4-0 and 5-4 in a doubleheader. I was on MLBTR duty during the first game, but I walked to Huntington Park for the second one, and didn't come away particularly impressed -- Indianapolis was very sloppy defensively (although the twilight conditions may have had something to do with that). Gregory Polanco and Andrew Lambo (the two players in Indianapolis' lineup who are clearly prospects) both had defensive troubles, with Polanco struggling with a line drive to right field, and Lambo missing Blake Davis' throw across the infield. They weren't the only ones -- Matt Hague made an error, Chris Dickerson completely lost a fly ball in the seventh, and Indianapolis hurlers had four wild pitches.

Jake Brigham pitched very well, striking out nine batters and walking none in six innings, focusing on his 91 MPH fastball. Jay Jackson relieved him and allowed three runs, although that was due in part to the Dickerson play. Polanco went 2-for-4 but didn't hit a ball out of the infield, reaching on a bunt single and then a grounder to second. (Dude's fast; I'm not sure if you've heard.) Lambo went 0-for-4 and struck out three times in his season debut, looking lost, as advertised. Still, Indianapolis scored five runs, three of them coming when Columbus sent our old friend Mike Zagurski to the hill and let him throw 50 pitches even though he had no idea where the ball was going -- he threw only 21 strikes, and he walked five batters in 1.1 innings.

In the first game, Chris McGuiness hit a two-run homer, and Brandon Cumpton pitched six scoreless innings, striking out one.

-P- Altoona also played a doubleheader, getting swept by Erie. In the first game, the Curve lost 2-0, although Adrian Sampson struck out six and walked none in six innings. They then struck out 11 times in a 5-2 loss. Drew Maggi went 2-for-2 with a walk.

-P- Bradenton beat Charlotte, 4-2. John Kuchno pitched five hitless innings, although he struck out just two and walked three. Josh Bell and Jose Osuna both homered, and Osuna, Jonathan Schwind and Jordan Steranka all had two hits apiece. Steranka is now 8-for-11 in his first three games, not that that means anything.

-P- West Virginia beat Lexington, 2-0, allowing just four hits. Cody Dickson, making his 2014 debut after a strong 2013 season with Jamestown, pitched five innings and struck out seven, walking none. Justin Topa pitched four scoreless innings of relief. Wyatt Mathisen went 2-for-3.