Bucs Bumble & Battle Their Way To 8-6 Win Over G-Men On Jake's Walkoff

Today’s Game: Not much of a start for Tyler Anderson. Darin Ruf banged a 3-1 heater into the bullpen, then with two outs, a short pop was dropped among a flock of infielders around the mound (Jake Stallings was charged with the error, but it was a team muff) and Brandon Crawford sent a ball over the Clemente Wall three pitches later for two gift runs and a 3-0 lead. Kevin Newman singled with an out and Jake with two down against Johnny Cueto, but Gregory Polanco’s bid to tie it died just short of the wall. The Giants mustered a walk in the second with nada doing for the Bucs in their turn. Anderson couldn’t get that third out again; with two gone and G-Men on the corners in the third, a single made it 4-0. Tyler opened with a single; a liner to third was turned into a DP and a bouncer ended the frame after five pitches. The Giants stranded a walk in the fourth. Another Bucco leadoff knock was erased on a 6-4-3 DP followed by a pop; Cueto used eight pitches this inning. San Fran went quietly in the fifth. 

The Pirates started with a Will Craig single, Ben Gamel double off the Clemente Wall and grounder (first called safe but overturned, rightly) to plate their first run. Ka’ai Tom’s rap made it 4-2, then Fraze doubled him to third. Zack Littell got the ball and ended it with another DP as Tom was out at home trying to score on K-Man’s short fly to right. Kyle Keller was called on for the sixth and was quickly lit up for a walk and Mike Tauchman homer. B-Rey opened with a double, but was ruled out at second on a challenge although the TV replays were inconclusive and should have gone Reynold’s way; the Pirates have lost two hits to challenges tonight. Of course it hurt when Gregory doubled an out later and was left on. After two walks around an out in the seventh, Chasen Shreve came on. He walked the bases loaded, but a 5-2-3 DP kept the board clean. Sam Selman hit the hill and walked, then bopped a guy with one away. An out later, Camilo Doval came on; K-Man singled in a run followed by another HBP and a wild pitch to make it 6-4. Jake slapped a full count double, and the score was knotted. An intentional walk followed, but no more two-out lightning struck.

Chris Stratton climbed the bump in the eighth. After a pair of K, a knock and walk, badly squeezed by plate ump Mark Ripperger, with both Jake and Shelty (he was ejected) beefing, set up San Fran but Chris completed the trinity with another whiff. Jarlin Garcia stepped on the rubber and spun a 1-2-3 frame. Rick Rodriguez gave up a two-out single and nothing else in the ninth. Jake McGee was waved on and what a ninth. Fraze singled, and an out later B-Rey doubled, but Fraze was nailed trying to score. But it was Jake’s turn for the iced Gator Ade shower; he launched the second pitch into the LF stands for the series’ second straight Pirates walkoff; Pittsburgh wins 8-6, raise it.

Give up three homers. Hit into three DPs. Have two guys thrown out at home. Let a pop drop that costs you a pair of runs. Lose two hits to challenges. Not your everyday recipe for victory but hey, whatever works. Very nice win tonight by the Bucs, who may not be that good but are certainly battlin’.

Notes:

• B-Rey and Jake had three hits, with Stalls adding four RBI. Fraze and K-Man also had a pair of raps while Gregory had a knock and a walk.
• Yesterday’s victory was the first time the Pirates won when trailing after eight innings and their first walkoff win this season; tonight made it two in a row.
• Albert Pujols has reportedly joined the Dodgers. 
• The attendance was 7,833.

Tomorrow’s Game: The series finale is at 1:05 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan, with Mitch Keller and Alex Wood closing it out.