SURPRISE, AZ – Greg Bird (NYY) homered twice and Pirates pitching prospect Tom Harlan tossed three innings with just one hit and no earned runs (two runs), but the opposing Surprise Saguaros (5-4) rallied for five runs and a 7-3 victory over the Scottsdale Scorpions (5-4) on Thursday night at Surprise Stadium.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Pirates infielder Josh Bell doubled for his fifth hit of the last three games and Elias Diaz (PIT) singled to chip in to the 15-hit barrage, but four unearned runs spelled the difference in the Scottsdale Scorpions’ (5-3) 13-11 loss to the Surprise Saguaros (4-4) on Wednesday night at Scottsdale Stadium.
MESA, AZ – Pirates left Joely Rodriguez fired three shutout innings, Josh Bell (PIT) turned in his second straight multi-hit game and the Scottsdale Scorpions (5-2) outslugged the Mesa Solar Sox (1-5) 10-7 on Tuesday afternoon at Cubs Park.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Tyler Glasnow (PIT) tossed three scoreless innings and Josh Bell (PIT) went 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI single as the pair of reigning Pirates Minor League Players of the Year powered the Scottsdale Scorpions (4-2) to a 2-1 victory over the Mesa Solar Sox (1-4) on Monday night at Scottsdale Stadium.
SURPRISE, AZ – All nine batters hit safely during Friday’s win, Pirates farmhand Dan Gamache extended his hitting streak to 10 games on Saturday and the Scottsdale Scorpions (3-2) swept a weekend set with one-run wins over the Glendale Desert Dogs (1-3) and the Surprise Saguaros (3-2).
SURPRISE, AZ – A solo homer from Pirates infield prospect Dan Gamache couldn’t match phenom Francisco Lindor’s (CLE) near-cycle as the Peoria Javelinas (2-1) thumped the Scottsdale Scorpions (1-2) 11-2 on Thursday night at Surprise Stadium.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Josh Bell (PIT) singled and scored as one of just four total base hits from the Scottsdale Scorpions (1-1) and Adrian Sampson (PIT) served as the stopper with a scoreless ninth, but the efforts weren’t enough in a 6-3 loss to the Salt River Rafters (1-1) on Wednesday night at Scottsdale Stadium.
SALT RIVER, AZ – Top prospect Tyler Glasnow (PIT) made the Opening Day start, 2014 Tribe backstop Elias Diaz (PIT) scored a pair of runs and Greg Bird (NYY) drove in four to lead the Scottsdale Scorpions (1-0) to a 7-4 win over the Salt River Rafters (0-1) in the Arizona Fall League opener on Wednesday afternoon at Salt River Fields.
The Indianapolis Indians are seeking the franchise’s first back-to-back-to-back International League (IL) West Division championships and just the second three-peat title in team history. A tall order at first glance, but with 11 wins in their first 16 games, claiming a spot in the record books may not be such a pipe dream.
When asked to describe Opening Day in one word, legendary broadcaster and “Voice of the Tribe,” Howard Kellman, did not even pause before answering:
“Sensational.”
As Kellman so eloquently suggests, It’s a day unlike any other. It means spring has arrived and baseball season has begun in the city. “Hope springs eternal”, he said.
WEEK 6: OUTFIELDERS IN THE PIRATES ORGANIZATION The Indianapolis Indians and their Major League affiliate head into regular-season play with a group of talented outfielders, including Baseball America’s No. 1 Pirates prospect Gregory Polanco, former San Diego Padres farmhand Jaff Decker, International League veteran Chris Dickerson, former Tribe slugger Andrew Lambo and 2013 Altoona Curve standout Adalberto Santos.
WEEK 5: STARTING PITCHERS IN THE PIRATES ORGANIZATION The starting rotations in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization feature a diverse group of arms ranging from multi-year veterans to rising prospects and strikeout specialists to ground-ball inducers. This impressive mix includes five hurlers who each pitched with the Tribe last season in Brandon Cumpton, Jameson Taillon, PhilRead more
WEEK 4: BULLPEN/RELIEF PITCHERS IN THE PIRATES ORGANIZATION The Indianapolis Indians’ parent Club boasts impressive depth in the bullpen with a combination of veteran pitchers, and several who are on the cusp of reaching the Major League level. That list includes 2013 Tribe players Duke Welker and Jared Hughes, Winter League standouts Jay Jackson andRead more
WEEK 3: CORNER INFIELDERS IN THE PIRATES ORGANIZATION A flurry of offseason acquisitions, plus the return of an Indianapolis Indians staple in Matt Hague, offers a group of veteran corner infielders with the season rapidly approaching. The list includes Hague, the holder of several Victory Field Era records, World Series champions Travis Ishikawa and BrentRead more
WEEK 2: MIDDLE INFIELDERS IN THE PIRATES ORGANIZATION The Indianapolis Indians’ parent Club heads into Spring Training with a veteran group of middle infielders who have all seen time in the Majors. The list includes former Tribe shortstops Robert Andino and Chase d’Arnaud, and Lehigh Valley utility man Michael Martinez. The trio of veterans enterRead more
WEEK 1: CATCHERS IN THE PIRATES ORGANIZATION The Pittsburgh Pirates enter Spring Training with a corps of young, talented catchers at each level of the system. This list of promising farmhands features a handful of backstops with experience in the International League, including former Tribe catchers Tony Sanchez and Carols Paulino, 2013 Louisville Bats standout NevinRead more