Pirates Can't Climb Out Of Early Hole; Swept By Cards 8-5

Today’s Game: Jack Flaherty tossed a clean first. The Cards banged a pair of doubles off Trevor Cahill to draw first blood. Gregory Polanco and Ben Gamel drew walks between two hard outs in the second. An intentional walk (Michael Perez, of all people) loaded the bases, and Trevor fanned. A couple of walks and a bopped batter started of the Redbird half before Duane Underwood got the call as Cahill was escorted off the field by the trainer with a sore calf. Underwood was cold as ice (sac fly, walk, three knocks), and it was 6-0 before the smoke cleared, even with an inning-ending DP. The Pirates left mateys on the corners in the third while the Cards stranded their fifth walk. Pittsburgh wasted their sixth baserunner in the fourth, and Underwood escaped a boot and a rap to put up a second zero. The Buccos made some noise in the fifth when Adam Frazier singled and Gregory went boom with two outs; Will Craig almost followed suit with an oppo shot that fell short in the RF corner. Luis Oviedo stepped atop the hill and loaded the bases with an out; a sac fly and rap made it 8-2.

Gregory is on a tear – photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Not a Pirates peep was heard in the sixth while Oviedo stranded a pair of Gateway Archers. Kodi Whitley got the seventh inning call. A walk and pair of singles jammed the bases and brought on Tyler Webb. A Bryan Reynolds bouncer plated a run, as did Gregory’s single. So did Ildemaro Vargas’ rap before Genesis Cabrera took the ball and calmed the waters with the score 8-5. Sam Howard climbed the bump and after an opening walk, fanned the side. Ryan Helsley toed the slab in the eighth, and gave up three well-stroked balls, none which made it past the infield. Kyle Keller answered the phone and worked a clean frame. Alex Reyes came on to deliver the final nail in the ninth. Kevin Newman hustled out a leg single, then Reyes struck out the next trio swinging.

Notes:

• Gregory (homer, three RBI) and Fraze had two knocks with a walk each; K-Man had two hits. 
• Nothing like starting in the hole: The Pirates two worst innings for surrendering runs are the first (43 runs) and second (29). All but four tallies scored in the two frames were earned.
• Duane Underwood has allowed 10-of-11 inherited runners to score.
• Chad Kuhl went three scoreless innings in his Indy rehab start, giving up a hit and walk while fanning five after 42 pitches (his target PC was 45). 

Tomorrow’s Game: The Bucs visit the Atlanta Braves at Truist Stadium (renamed in 2020), with game time at 7:20. The match will be carried by AT&T SportsNet PITT-2 and 93.7 The Fan. Wil Crowe goes for the Pirates & Drew Smyly for the Bravos.