Pirates farm report for Sept. 16, 2025: Esmerlyn Valdez homers as Altoona wins playoff opener

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 83-61) clobbered Gwinnett (Braves), 8-1. RF Nelson Velazquez (.222) went 2 for 5 with his ninth homer, two runs scored and three RBIs. LF Sammy Siani (.273) went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. CF Jase Bowen (.266) went 2 for 5 with a run scored and RBI. C Brett Sullivan (.191) went 1 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. 2B Mike Jarvis (.194) went 2 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base. RHP Drake Fellows (9-6, 4.36) started and went six innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts. RHP Valentin Linarez (0.00) pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. RHP Chase Shugart (2.04) finished it off with a scoreless ninth.

Next: Wednesday at Gwinnett (Braves), 12:05 p.m.

ALTOONA (Double-A, 69-68) defeated Erie (Tigers), 11-4, in Game 1 of the Eastern League Division Series. RF Esmerlyn Valdez (.750) went 3 for 4 with a solo home run, a two-run double and a two-run single. SS Konnor Griffin (.750) also went 3 for 4 with two singles, a double and an RBI. DH Nick Cimillo (.500) went 2 for 4 with a two-run double, added an RBI single and scored a run. LF Tres Gonzalez (.500) slapped a pair of singles and had an RBI. 2B Termarr Johnson (.500) hit two doubles and scored two runs. RHP Wilber Dotel (12.00) started and went three innings, allowing four runs on three hits, including a two-run homer, walked two and struck out two. RHP Landon Tomkins (0.00) and Tyler Samaniego (0.00) each tossed two shutout innings and RHP Michael Walsh (1-0, 4.50) gave up one run on one hit and fanned three in two innings to get the win.

Next: Thursday at Erie (Tigers), Game 2, 6:35 p.m.