If It Can Go Wrong...Royals Batter Bucs 10-5

Today’s Game: Adam Frazier continued to rake, opening with a double off Brady Singer. He was left there as Bryan Reynold’s shot to the track in left was run down. KC opened against Wil Crowe with an infield rap, and that turned into a run after a soft roller and single. Gregory Polanco threw out the back runner trying to advance to second and a fly ended it. The Pirates wasted a Wilmer Difo knock in the second while Crowe K’ed a pair in a quiet frame. Erik Gonzalez opened the third with a infield single and reached second on a throwing error ahead of a Fraze walk and Ka’ai Tom bopping (he was trying to bunt). B-Rey singled in a run before Gregory and Ben Gamel whacked deep b-2-b sac flies, chasing home two more Bucs to give Pittsburgh a 3-1 edge. KC went down without an answer. Kevin Newman started the fourth with a rap and Michael Perez doubled to send a fourth run in; Pittsburgh almost added on but Fraze’s rope was gloved in the RF corner. It tightened up quickly – an leadoff infield rap off Will Craig’s mitt was followed an out later by a Sal Perez blast to left, making it 4-3.

The Buccos made no noise in the fifth. Michael Taylor banged a leadoff triple, followed by a walk and knock to tie the score. A four-pitch walk was followed by an Andrew Benintendi grannie on the next offering, and in came Chris Stratton, a move again made a couple of batters late by Shelty. Chris plugged the dike. The Pirates got their first pair aboard in the sixth on a single followed by an error. After two K (one of which got Shelty ejected), Fraze doubled in a run. Kyle Zimmer took the ball and surrendered a walk to juice the sacks, then got B-Rey via a very weird play (S/O to @SteeloCity ) on a interference call with Newman sliding home on an apparent passed ball; it stuck a knife in the comeback. The Royals drew a walk but otherwise behaved. Jake Brentz scaled the slope in the seventh and fanned the side. Chasen Shreve was waved in and Perez banged another dinger off him. Jakob Junis worked the eighth, and Pittsburgh opened with a pair of singles. They went nowhere after two pops and a whiff. David Bednar gave up a triple and sac fly to make it 10-5. A two-out knock and walk brought on Sam Howard to close it down. Wade Davis shut the in the ninth.

Give up homers. Give up infield hits. Be the straight man for another ump show. Go 2-for-14 w/RISP. Just another long night for the Pirates; June isn’t starting off any better than May, although the imminent return of Ke’Bryan Hayes, Colin Moran and Phil Evans should brighten up the attack. And we have to wonder how much further Wil Crowe’s leash will stretch as his 7.26 ERA is the worst among the starters.

Notes:

• Fraze (plus a walk), Wilmer Difo, Kevin Newman and Michael Perez all had two hits. Unfortunately for the Bucs, eight of their 10 hits were singles.
• Another day, another injury report: Ka’ai Tom left the game after being hit in the left wrist, the same sore spot that recently landed him on the IL.

Tomorrow’s Game: The Pirates are off and will return to Pittsburgh to face the Marlins on Thursday.