Double Dip Kickoff: Bucs Take Opener 7-0

Game 1: JT Brubaker shut down a first-inning, two-out rally by the Rox, and the bottom of the Buc order used a Wilmer Difo walk and consecutive knocks by Cole Tucker and Michael Perez off Jon Gray to draw first blood in the second. A Bru walk (he wanted to bunt but Gray wouldn’t cooperate) loaded the bases with no outs, and productive outs manufactured two more runs. Tyler Kinley replaced Gray in the fourth and fanned a pair. JT kept cruisin’ in the fifth and Jhoulys Chacin spun for the Rox. A Ben Gamel rap and Bryan Reynolds blast spread the margin to 5-0. Gregory Polanco’s triple and a Difo walk left Bucs on the corners with an out, where a bouncer brought a hard-sliding El Coffee home. A Rockies single/double combo dunked Bru in his first real hot water with an out in the sixth, then he plunked a guy to jam the sacks. JT hung in: a short pop and fly were both corralled by Polanco, preserving the zero. Lucas Gilbreath gave up a double to Adam Frazier; a grounder and Gregory sac fly to the track in dead center added another tally. Chasen Shreve was called in the seventh to put it to bed, and he shook off an opening boot with a pair of whiffs to preserve the shutout. Raise it.

The Bucs mitigated a 1-for-10 RISP day with a two-run homer, two run-producing grounders and a pair of sac flies. It’s good to see small-ball guys moving guys along instead of wasting runners. The Rox don’t have much of an attack, and so it was equally good to see Bru back in charge, tossing a four-hitter.

Game 1 Notes:

• Gregory Polanco had two hits; every Pirates starter had one knock except for Wilmer Difo, who walked twice, and Bru, who also drew a free pass. The seven runs were scored by seven different Buccos; six Corsairs had RBI.
• First game damp, drizzly but entertained attendance was 5,279, more or less (we’re betting the under).

Next Game: The game is scheduled to start at 4:05 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Mitch Keller takes on Austin Gomber.