The Mesa Solar Sox (11-12) went 3-3 in their fourth week of the of Arizona Fall League, The Solar Sox trail Salt River (15-8) by four games in the Arizona Fall League East.
Here is a break down on how the Pirates prospects have done this week:
- Left-hander Nathan Baker made two appearances from the bullpen this week. In both appearances, Baker allowed two runs on three hits over 1.0 inning of relief. On Monday, Baker picked up his first loss of the season after allowing three straight two-out hits (two of them doubles) to give Surprise a 5-3 lead in the eventual 8-3 loss. On Thursday, the two runs charged to Baker came after allowing a RBI double and RBI triple with two outs in the bottom of the 4th inning.
So far this season, Baker has is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA (9.1 innings) with four walks and nine strikeouts.
- Right-hander Gerrit Cole, the Pirates No.1 overall selection in the 2011 draft, made his third start on Wednesday. And he was even better than his previous two.
Cole tossed 3.2 hitless innings allowing one run (unearned) with one walk and four strikeouts. Cole cruised through the first two innings, retiring all six batters he faced, including striking out two swinging in the 2nd. Cole allowed his first base runner with two outs in the 3rd, a walk to Boston’s prospect Ryan Dent before picking up his fourth strikeout to end the frame. Cole took the mound in the 4th inning, the deepest he has pitched in his two prior starts. With one out, San Francisco’s Brandon Crawford reached first on a fielding error by Pirates second baseman prospect Jarek Cunningham. After retiring his next batter, Cole was pulled from the game due to his pitch count. Right-hander Marcus Hatley from the Chicago Cubs organization came on in relief and allowed a single and a three-run homer before getting out of the 4th. Dent scored but the run was unearned for Cole.
Cole threw 54 pitches, 36 strikes in his third professional start in the AFL to pick up his second win. Cole has posted a 2-0 record with a 3.00 ERA (9.0 innings).
It was announced that Cole has been selected to start the Arizona Fall League All-Star game on November 5th, which will air on MLB Network. The first overall pick in the 2011 draft will face the Seattle Mariners 2nd overall pick, Danny Hultzen.
- Right-hander Mike Colla made two scoreless appearances out of the bullpen this week for Mesa. On Monday, Colla held Surprise hitless over 1.2 inning of work with one walk and two strikeouts. With two outs on Thursday, Colla allowed back-to-back two-out singles but was able to get out of the inning unscathed.
In seven appearances (10.2 innings), Colla has a 4.22 ERA with one save.
- Right-hander Jeff Inman joined the AFL roster last week in place of righty Phil Irwin who will not return to Arizona after experiencing tightness in his right forearm. Inman made two appearances from the ‘pen for Mesa. On Tuesday, Inman fired a perfect inning of relief. On Thursday, however, Inman blew the save by allowing a three-run homer to Washington Nationals phenom Bryce Harper.
In three appearances (2.1 innings), Inman has allowed three runs on three hits with no walks and one strikeout.
- Infielder Jarek Cunningham saw his average last week go from .172 to .244 after having his best week in the Arizona Fall League. In four games this week, Cunningham went 4-for-15 (.266) with four runs, RBI and three walks.
- Infielder Brock Holt made his AFL debut last week after missing the first two weeks due to a hamstring injury he sustained during the Fall Instructional League. In two games this week, Holt went 1-for-7 with a run, RBI, walk and a stolen base. Holt is batting .154 in four games with Mesa.
- Outfielder Robbie Grossman continued to have another outstanding week in the Fall League. Grossman went 7-for-19 (.388 avg) with two runs, two doubles, one homer, one walk and four RBI. Grossman’s .381 average is fourth-best in the AFL, he ranks first in hits (32), is tied for first with six home runs, ranks third in RBI (19), first in walks (17), third in OBP (.480) and third in OPS (1.135).
Photo credit: MILB
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