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Taillon earns first Triple-A victory

Pirates' top prospect works in, out of trouble in Indians win
August 22, 2013

The next time Jameson Taillon gets his first win at a new level, he'll be a Major Leaguer.

MLB.com's No. 11 prospect allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out three batters over six innings in the Indianapolis Indians' 6-1 win over the Rochester Red Wings on Thursday night. It was his first victory at the Minors' top level.

The outing lowered Taillon's ERA to 3.75.

The first-rounder took the loss in his International League debut on Aug. 5, when he allowed three runs over five innings at home to Louisville. Pittsburgh's top prospect didn't factor into the decision in his next two outings. He gave up four runs over seven innings on the road in Toledo on Aug. 10 and then two runs over six frames against Columbus six days ago.

Selected by the Pirates second overall in the 2010 Draft, Taillon set down the first six batters he faced Thursday before the Red Wings scratched across a run in the third inning. Antoan Richardson led off the inning with a walk, stole second base, advanced to third on catcher Kelly Shoppach's throwing error and scored on Eric Fryer's sacrifice fly.

The Florida native stranded the bases loaded in the fourth, he left a runner on first base in the fifth and left two more in scoring position in the sixth.

Taillon, who faced 26 batters and threw 65 of 105 pitches for strikes, is a combined 5-8 across two levels this year. He went 4-7 with a 3.67 ERA in 20 Eastern League games with Double-A Altoona, striking out 106 batters over 110 1/3 innings.

On Thursday, infielder Matt Hague was 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI, designated hitter Andrew Lambo homered and plated two runs and leadoff hitter Alex Presley collected two hits and scored twice. Lambo ranks third in the Minors in homers with 32 and sixth with 99 RBIs.

Rochester's Pat Dean (1-2) took the loss, allowing three unearned runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Ashley Marshall is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AshMarshallMLB.