Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects end AFL season with blowout loss

The season of eight Pittsburgh Pirates players in the Arizona Fall League ended brutally when the Scottsdale Scorpions were eliminated 13-4 by the Salt River Rafters in the Play-In semifinals.

Six Pirates prospects saw the field on Friday, with three pitchers taking the mound and left-handed outfield prospect Sammy Siani, infield prospect Kervin Pichardo and catcher Geovanny Planchart in the lineup. Between right-handed pitchers Derek Diamond, Brandan Bidois and Valentin Linarez allowed eight runs (six earned) over six innings of work. Siani, Pichardo and Planchart combined to go 1-11 with one run scored, two walks and three strikeouts.

Scottsdale finished the regular season on a seven-game winning streak and had won 11 of its last 13 games to be one of the top three teams advancing to the play-in. Salt River will face the Surprise Saguaros in the championship game on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET.

Diamond got the start and immediately ran into trouble. The Pirates right-handed pitcher walked New York Yankees infield prospect Caleb Durbin to start the game and came around to score on a single by Arizona Diamondbacks infield prospect Tommy Troy and a throwing error by Pichardo. Troy advanced to second base on the throw.

After another walk, Diamond gave up a three-run home run to Yankees outfield prospect Garrett Martin, leaving Scottsdale up 4-0 before recording a single. Diamond retired the next three batters and escaped the inning without further damage.

Bidois came away relieved and not long after his performance also found himself in trouble. With one out, he walked a batter and then allowed back-to-back doubles, although Siani and Pichardo had a successful relay to Planchart to throw out Durbin at home and allow only one run. Troy came around to score after his double on a single by Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Kala’i Rosario.

Bidois retired the side in his last two innings.

Linarez entered the game in the top of the fifth inning and gave up a leadoff double to Troy. After another error allowed Rosario to advance to any base and Troy to third base, Linarez struck out Martin and walked Colorado Rockies infield prospect Ryan Ritter to load the bases. Linarez got the ground ball he needed and Scottsdale got the force out on second, but another throwing error by Pichardo allowed two runs to score, extending Salt River’s lead to 8-0.

Linarez got his next four outs via strikeout and escaped without allowing any earned runs. Scottsdale trailed 13-0 before scoring four runs in the final two innings.

Siani was 1-5 and struckout two, with his only hit of the evening being a single to center field. Pichardo and Planchart were each 0-3, although the Pirates the catching prospect walked and came around to score in the ninth inning.

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