Cannonballs coming: Mitch Keller dominates

Indianapolis was off.

-- Cody Dickson couldn't find the plate in his AA debut, as Altoona got thrashed by Akron, 9-1.  Dickson walked seven in three and a third innings.  He allowed three hits, two of them gopher balls, and five runs, three of them earned.  John Kuchno gave up two more HRs in relief.  The Curve had only three hits, including doubles by Eric Wood and Erich Weiss.  Others:

Harold Ramirez:  0-4
Reese McGuire:  0-1, 2 BB
Barrett Barnes:  0-3, BB

-- Bradenton dropped a 5-2 decision to Tampa.  Austin Coley gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks in four and two-thirds innings.  He struck out four.  The Marauders could do little with 2015 first rounder James Kaprielian, who fanned nine in five innings.  On the game, Bradenton managed only four hits and struck out 15 times.  Taylor Gushue had half the hits, picking up a double and a HR in four at-bats.  Others:

Kevin Newman:  0-4
Kevin Kramer:  1-4
Connor Joe:  1-3, 3B, BB, 2 K
Jordan Luplow:  0-3, BB, 3 K

-- Mitch Keller (pictured) had by far his best day as a pro, fanning ten in five innings while allowing just a bunt single.  Keller was hampered by arm trouble last year and didn't pitch much, but the Pirates evidently had good reason for moving him up to full season ball anyway.  The West Virginia hitters had less success, managing only three hits in a 2-0 loss to Greenville.  Others:

Mitchell Tolman, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Casey Hughston, Carlos Munoz:  combined 0-16, 6 K
Seth McGarry:  2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K