Ric Rod Rocked; Bucs Give Up Late Lead & Go Down 3-2

The Bucs went quietly against Anibal Sanchez in the first. A single and walk put Archie in an early hot water, but a 6-4-3 DP and whiff put out the flames. There was no action in the second other than Melky’s two-out single. Gonzo opened the third with a double, but a popped up bunt and two at ‘em balls to second closed the frame. DC managed a two-out rap that went nowhere. The Bucs drew first blood in the fourth when J-Bell tripled and scored on Colin Moran’s two-bagger. Alas, the Nats got it back. Anthony Rendon doubled, and with two away, Kurt Suzuki singled him home to knot the score after JB Shuck tested the wall to haul in Matt Adam’s drive. Archie reached on an error to open the fifth. The Bucs couldn’t take advantage, tho it almost cost Sanchez when Starling took one to the wall in straightaway center. Washington went down 1-2-3. With two gone in the sixth, Melky drilled a solo shot into the bullpen to put the Pirates back on top. JB singled afterward, but Gonzo’s try for a bunt hit fell short. Archie walked the first Nat, but it didn’t hurt – Archie cruised out with another 6-4-3 DP and whiff.

The Nats paid back in the seventh. Arch led off with a knock and was erased as part of a 4-6-3 DP; another bouncer ended the frame. The Nationals went down without a peep. Wander Suero worked a clean eighth. Archie left after giving up four hits with two walks and nine K, tossing 94 pitches. But Ric Rod couldn’t finish the job. After two outs, dam Eaton homered to end a nine pitch at bat after the ump missed strike three earlier. The next delivery to Howie Kendricks also sailed into the seats, and just like that, the Pirates were behind. Like Kela, the long ball has been RR’s bane – he’s given up four in 6-2/3 IP after surrendering just five in 69+ frames last year. Sean Doolittle took the bump for the ninth. Melky opened with a rap; J-Mart ran for him and was bunted up. Gonzo walked and JHK, just benched, came up to hit and predictly K’ed, on four fastballs yet. Fraze flew out, and the Bucs were done.

Well, we knew the offense was going to struggle with the injuries, and they were 1-for-8 w/RISP today when an insurance run or two would have been big. Rodriguez and Keone have to keep the ball in the park. They’ve given up seven bombs already, and there’s no place to hide them with Kyle Crick and Edgar Santana out. Every game is a dogfight and the bullpen has already been called 40 times; everyone has to shoulder the load.

Notes:

• Melky had three of the Pirates eight hits and is batting .432.
• The Pirates are 6-3 in 2019 when leading after seven innings; they were 69-3 in the same situation last year. (s/o to Adam Berry of MLB.com)
• Anthony Rendon isn’t just wearing out the Pirates; he has a 12-game hitting streak going on.
• The Nats batted the pitcher eighth today.
• Per the beat gang, the Pirates are giving Jung Ho Kang, batting .108 with a 17 OPS+, a three-day break. He’s not in the lineup today, won’t start tomorrow, and the Pirates are off on Monday. 
• Jamo passed his concussion protocol after being clocked by a liner last outing, and is good to go tomorrow.
• Dunno if you’ve been keeping track of it, but the Orioles Chris Davis snapped a record-setting 0-for-54 streak at the plate today with a two-run single. Chris had a sense of humor about it; he waved at the bench, gave the crowd a modest hat tip and kept the ball.