Game Two: Bucs Sweep Twin Bill Behind Keller, Fraze & Tom Solo Shots, 4-0

Game #2: Good start for Mitch Keller – a walk, two whiffs and a goose egg. Adam Frazier gave the Bucs the early lead when he knocked Austin Gomer’s first pitch over the Clemente fence. The second was quiet again for the Rox, who managed a two-out dink single. Pittsburgh also wasted a two-out  Erik Gonzalez rap. Colorado went down in order in the third. Kells opened for the Bucs with an infield knock deflected off the pitcher, followed by a Fraze rap. An out later, Bryan Reynolds walked; the runners were going and old Bucco backstop Elias Diaz inexplicably whipped the ball to third and into left to allow a gift run. The help was appreciated as the next pair of Pirates fanned. Mitch cruised through the fourth; Ka’ai Tom celebrated his 27th trip around the sun with a two-out, first-pitch homer to make it 3-0.

A walk and two-down two-bagger in the fifth put Keller in his first pickle of the day, but a bouncer got him safely back into the dugout with the zippo intact. Mychal Givens toed the slab and flipped a clean frame. Sam Howard got the call in the sixth, and gave up a harmless walk with two away. Robert Stephenson took the ball and was greeted by a Jake Stallings triple (his first in the show, a liner that got past a lunging CF’er) and Will Craig flare to make the count 4-0. Dave Bednar worked the seventh and walked the first two Rox, then got to work and routinely sat down the next trio. Raise it – again!

Back-to-back shutouts, a functional offense, adding on at the end…it was a good day to be a Bucco. As for Kells, we’re waiting for him to get off the roller coaster and into a groove where he follows a good start with another. ‘Til then – Happy Memorial Day weekend and spend a moment or two to remember those who gave their lives to protect this nation.

Game #2 Notes:

• Adam Frazier’s two hits give him 67 knocks, tops in MLB. He also has swatted 10 lifetime leadoff homers, tied with Al Martin for second in Pirates’ history. Barry Bonds leads the pack with 20.
• Fraze and Ka’ai were the first lefties to homer off Gomber this year in nine games; he entered this afternoon with a .140 BA against posted by LH hitters, yielding just two doubles.
• 7,183 was the announced attendance for the second game.

Tomorrow’s Game: It’s a 1:05 start with AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan carrying the game. The Pirates haven’t announced tomorrow’s starter yet; the Rockies will send out Kyle Freeland.