Matt Morris Report: Clayton Richard debuts in AAA

West Virginia was off and everybody else played early.

-- Clayton Richard (pictured) made his first AAA appearance for the Pirates, throwing the first five innings of Indianapolis' 6-0 shutout of Pawtucket.  Richard allowed four hits, walked two and fanned four.  He wasn't especially efficient, taking 93 pitches to get through the outing, but after struggling for two years to come back from two shoulder surgeries, that's not surprising.  Chris Volstad, who evidently lost his rotation spot to Richard, followed with three innings and Blake Wood pitched the 9th.  The resurgent Alen Hanson was 2-5 with a double and a triple.  Deibinson Romero and Andy Vasquez each had two hits.  Elias Diaz was 0-4.  Tony Sanchez caught and went 1-4.  Pawtucket stole four bases without getting caught, leaving opponents 20-for-22 on steal attempts against Sanchez.  They're 10-for-16 against Diaz.

-- Altoona beat Bowie, 5-2. Tom Harlan got a start after pitching in relief all year and gave up two runs in six innings. He allowed five hits, walked two and struck out one. Willy Garcia went 2-2 with a double and two walks(?!?). Dan Gamache and Eric Wood each went 2-4 and Josh Bell 1-3.

-- Frank Duncan had a strong start as Bradenton shut out Brevard County, 5-0. Duncan gave up just four hits, walked none and fanned eight over seven innings. Clario Perez finished with two hitless innings. Austin Meadows and the still-uninjured Barrett Barnes each went 1-4. Reese McGuire didn't play.