Bucs Roll To 6-3 Win

Logan Webb gave up a two-out rap to Redbeard for the Bucco opening salvo. The G-Men got a leadoff single and a free base when Dario Agrazal misfired on a pickoff, but no damage was done. Joey O doubled off a 3-2 fastball to open the second and Fraze’s single chased him home, with Adam going to second on the throw (it was kinda aimless and ruled an error). An out later, a wild pitch moved him to third and Kramer’s rap made it 2-0. Dario spun a clean inning. The third frame went by quietly for both nines. Pittsburgh struck again in the fourth with another two-bagger by Osuna to start things off. A grounder and Eli sac fly plated Joey O. The Giants went down 1-2-3. Newman singled and stole a sack, scoring when Redbeard dropped a two-out ball into center to make the score 4-0 in the fifth. J-Bell walked, and Bruce Bochy waved in Burch Smith to get the last man. The Bay nine stormed back. After an out, an infield knock, a walk, a single, and an error brought in two tallies and Michael Feliz. He walked two of the first three G-Men he faced to force in another run before getting out of the frame; it’s now a 4-3 game.

Sam Selman walked Pablo with two outs in the sixth; Tuck took advantage by doubling him home, though he almost got thrown out taking third on the throw; it took a review to overturn the original out call. Tyler Rogers got the third out. Keona Kela took the ball in his first outing since September 1st (he was on paternity leave) and showed no rust. Sam Coonrod twirled a spotless seventh as did Ric Rod. Kyle Barraclough ws called on for the eighth. A Joey O walk and bunt bingle by Fraze set up another bunt by Eli; the pitcher threw it away. A run scored on the misfire and Bucs ended up on second and third, then Pablo walked to jam the sacks. Bases loaded, no outs *sigh*…instead of putting it away, three straight swinging K were rung up. Frankie Liriano shut down the G-Man to maintain the 6-3 edge. Conner Menez struck out two more Bucs in a clean ninth, and Felipe took the bump. Six pitches later, without a ball leaving the infield, it was time to raise the Roger.

It’s fun when the big-league bullpen gets in a groove – the guys went five scoreless tonight, with no hits, two walks and seven whiffs. Joey O had a nice night, too, scoring three times with a pair of two-baggers and a walk.

Notes:

• Redbeard, Joey O (two doubles, three runs scored) and Fraze each had a pair of raps.
• Per @nwilborn19 of the Post Gazette, Felipe Vazquez was fined $10,000 for his part in Monday’s brawl and Kyle Crick was banged for $2,500. Crick is appealing his fine through the MLBPA; Vazquez has remained mum about the whole episode.
• The Pirates are batting .143 w/bases loaded and no outs.
• Tomorrow’s pitcher is yet to be determined. If Joe Musgrove’s foot is OK, he’ll go; if not, it’ll be Alex McRae.
• Starling is still only cleared to pinch run. Nick Burdi had more surgery on his forearm but should be ready for camp.
• Jonathan Villar of the Orioles hit this year’s homer #6,106 tonight, setting a new single-season MLB mark.