Bucs Run Out Rallies, Fall To KC 9-6

Today’s Game: Mitch Keller almost put up a zero in the first; instead a walk scored with two down when Jorge Soler, hitting .186, fought an 11-pitch battle and then doubled for the early lead. That was followed by another free pass and a triple before Keller ended a 47-pitch opener, down 3-0. The Pirates didn’t get a ball past the infield off Mike Minor. Kell returned to the hill in the second and after two outs, walked another guy. He escaped this time around. Todd Frazier worked an 11-pitch walk to start, but a force out and 4-6-3 DP squelched any further action. KC started off the third with a leadoff two-bagger and a pair of free passes with an out. Sean Poppen, who hasn’t tossed since the 17th, took over. He, of course, walked the first Royal he saw to make it 4-0, but then served a 4-6-3 DP to stop the bleeding. Kevin Newman singled with one gone, and Adam Frazier singled him up 90′ an out later. Phil Evans walked to juice the sacks, but Bryan Reynolds let the opportunity pass by when he looked at strike three.

Four consecutive singles (one on a Wilmer Difo misread) and a walk in the fourth made the count 6-0 before a bases-loaded, around-the-horn DP stopped the music. The Toddfather walked and scored ahead of Erik Gonzalez’s dinger off a 1-2 heater. Jake Stallings followed with another long tater (Michael Taylor almost pulled it in, but it ticked off his glove and over as he kissed the wall), and it was 6-3. Minor then bore down and fanned the bottom of the order. Chris Stratton worked a clean, nine-pitch fifth. With one out, an error and B-Rey rap came home on Todd Frazier’s two-bagger. Kyle Zimmer was waved in, and two walks juiced the sacks but a fly put it to bed. A single and Fraze’s misplay on a potential DP ball got KC back in business in the sixth. After an out, back-to-back doubles, the second almost robbed by Evans, pumped the lead to 9-5. Jake Brentz toed the slab and walked two of the first three Pirates. He K’ed B-Rey and was yanked; Tyler Zuber got Toddfather to pop up.

Clay Holmes worked the seventh and surrendered just an infield single while Pittsburgh went down 1-2-3. Clayton chilled a leadoff knock in the eighth by following with three punch outs. With two down, Fraze’s double and Evan’s rap brought home a run, bringing on Josh Staumont to end the action. Kyle Crick sat KC down in order in the ninth. Staumont closed the gate impressively, not allowing a ball past the catcher with two whiffs and a foul pop behind the dish.

The Keller roller coaster continues, and give the Bucs credit for making a game of it. Tomorrow will be a “lick the wounds” day with the Cards on the horizon.

Notes:

• Adam Frazier had two hits; Phil Evans & Todd Frazier had a knock and drew two walks. Frazier snapped an 0-for-14 start with his fifth-inning double while Ka’ai Tom walked in his first Pirates appearance.
• Mitch Keller threw 83 pitches in 2-1/3 IP, walked five and went to three balls on nine of 15 batters. 
• 4,226, fans sat through nearly four hours of baseball; that’ll happen with both sides walk seven guys apiece and combine to fan 19 (Pirates – 10, Royals – 9).
• How good has the bridge/back end bullpen been? Ric Rod has gone 10 straight appearances w/o a run, Kyle Crick & Sam Howard nine and David Bednar seven.

Tomorrow’s Game: The Pirates are off tomorrow. St. Louis comes to town Friday for a three-game weekend set to end the wham bam homestand.