Cannonballs coming: Not much offense anywhere in the organization

— Indianapolis played for the first time since . . . I dunno, a while ago . . . and beat Syracuse in the first game of a doubleheader, 4-2. Except for a rough second inning, when he gave up four hits, Nick Kingham largely breezed through six innings. He allowed the two runs on five total hits, walked two and fanned five. He threw 57 of 82 pitches for strikes. Kingham probably could have finished the seven-inning game; last year the Pirates lightened up on pitchers going longer distances when they were having quick innings. In the frigid weather everywhere, though — the temperature was right around freezing and the game was delayed at one point by snow — they seem to be scaling back pitch counts. Johnny Hellweg got the save, giving up one hit. Hellweg has yet to allow a run in four outings and has walked only three in six innings, which is great progress for him. The Pirates may have some relief options, just not the ones we thought. Everybody in the lineup except Kingham and Kevin Kramer had one hit, with the latter going 2-4.

Kevin Newman: 1-4
Austin Meadows: 1-3, 2B, BB
Jose Osuna: 1-3, 2B
Jordan Luplow: 1-3, 3B (hit broke an 0-for-11 stretch)
Jacob Stallings: 1-3
Chris Bostick: 1-3

Game two was postponed.

— Taylor Hearn (pictured) had a strong start, but Altoona (6-4) couldn’t get any offense going and lost to Akron, 2-0. Hearn gave up one run on four hits over six innings. He didn’t walk anybody and fanned seven. The Curve, though, managed just four hits, two of them by Elvis Escobar. Kevin Krause, whose lack of playing time remains puzzling, got his first start of the season and went 0-3.

Cole Tucker: 0-4
Stephen Alemais: 1-4, 2B
Will Craig: 1-4
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0-4
Jason Martin: 0-4

— Bradenton (8-4) also wasted a strong start, this one by Eduardo Vera, and lost to Palm Beach, 2-1. Vera gave up a run on just two hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out four. The Marauders also had only four hits, with Adrian Valerio going 2-4. He’s on a 6-for-14 stretch after starting the season slowly.

Jared Oliva: 1-4
Bligh Madris: 0-4
Hunter Owen: 0-3
Bo Schultz: 2 IP, 4 K

— West Virginia (6-6) lost to Charleston, 1-0. Starter Sergio Cubilete was hit squarely in the head by a line drive from the second batter he faced. Cubilete left on a stretcher but was awake and appeared at least somewhat alert. The liner drove in the first batter Cubilete had faced, who had doubled. Evan Piechota relieved and threw six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and fanning seven. The Power, though, couldn’t get any offense, either. At one point, Charleston pitchers retired 17 straight batters. When Lolo Sanchez finally broke the string with a single to lead off the eighth, the Power had Cal Mitchell bunt and he bunted into a double play. West Virginia had six hits, with Ryan Peurifoy getting two doubles and Rodolfo Castro going 2-4.

Sanchez: 1-4
Mitchell: 1-4
Mason Martin: 0-4, 3 K (19 Ks in 38 ABs)