PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – His fastball got up into the high 90s, but Luis Ortiz didn’t help himself, nor did he get much help from his teammates. Rockies even the series Tuesday night with a 10-1 win.
Ortiz hurt himself giving up seven hits and only striking out one. He was hurt by a few soft hits and an error (which Derek Shelton said was actually off the finger of Elias Diaz which caused the ball to elude Tucupita Marcano) making three of the five runs allowed unearned.
“I felt pretty good,” Ortiz said. “I think I attacked the zone pretty good with my good stuff, stayed down in the zone and got ground balls. There was some other stuff I can’t control. I think I threw the ball really good tonight.”
“I didn't think he threw the ball bad at all,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “I mean, he had what, 10 ground ball outs and another ground ball base hit that was hit to Tuc's right that we couldn't get an out on. But, maintained his velocity. He had the inning where the ball hit Diaz and that inning changes differently. Really, the only bad pitch he threw was the 0-0 slider to Profar that he hit out.”
“So, overall, I thought he threw the ball well. You get that freak play where I think Diaz was trying to get out of the way and we end up hitting the ball and it hits his hand. If not, it kind of changes the whole complexion of the inning."
Clean home plate
Pirates only run scored on a two-out RBI single by Andrew McCutchen in the third to temporarily tie the game at one. The Bucs only got a run despite Rockies pitchers walking six and hitting a batter. Pirates left 10 on base striking out 11 times, eight in the last four innings.
"I mean, we need to and this sounds really elementary, but we need a hit,” Shelton said. “We need that hit to break it open. Again, we had opportunities again tonight and just did not execute. It's something that we're focusing on, talking about, but we need a couple balls to get in the outfield grass that kind of relieves that pressure a little bit."
April 29 was the last time the Pirates scored more than two runs in a game, they’ve won one of those nine contests.
Davis deep again
2021 Pirates first-round pick Henry Davis hit a pair of home runs Tuesday night as the Curve hosted Akron. That makes eight homers in 21 games with Altoona.
“He’s swung the bat so well,” said Pirates Director of Coaching and Player Development John Baker on Tuesday. “He’s run the bases so well. And his catching has improved.”
Baker said they continue to work keep Davis a AA and Endy Rodriguez at AAA so each can catch as many games as possible. Baker noted in time they will both be playing together, preferably for the organization that won’t happen until they play for the Pirates.
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More middle infield
He is the middle infield prospect most forget about, 22-year-old Jase Bowen currently at High A Greensboro. The Bucs 2019 11th round pick hit his sixth homer and now has 23 RBI. Last season between Low and High A, the right-handed hitter had 17 home runs, 21 doubles, 25 stolen bases and 74 RBI.
Bradenton strikeouts
Low A Bradenton starting pitcher Dominic Perachi struck out nine batters while giving up one run over five innings. An 11th round pick last year, the 6’4” left-hander has 27 strikeouts, tied for seventh in the Florida State League.
Up Next
LHP Rich Hill (3-3, 4.54 ERA) against Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (0-1, 1.80 ERA). Hill is 2-4 with a 5.11 ERA in his career against Colorado. The North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show with Josh Rowntree at 11:35a Wednesday on 100.1 FM/AM 1020 KDKA and then first pitch at 12:35p.