Bucs Save Best For Last, Rally Past Nats 4-1

Archie was tapped for a couple of knocks, but left Nats at second and third thanks to a pair of whiffs. Steven Strasburg spun a clean frame. Chris came out for warmups in the second, almost sailed a pitch over Stall, and shook his head. They were then joined by the trainer, shared a chat, and Arch marched off the mound to the locker room. Clay Holmes was called in, and though cold, gave up just a walk. J-Bell and Redbeard opened with raps before the almost mandatory DP, this one hit into by Joey O, and the inning petered out. The Nats worked two more walks in the third, but a gloved liner to center, pickoff and K kept it quiet. There was nada from Pittsburgh. DC got a two-out walk in the fourth and no more. The Bucs went down without a peep. A one-out single was followed by a caught stealing, then a bopped batter in the fifth. Clint waved in Michael Feliz; at 64 pitches, it was the first time this year that Clayton was north of 50 tosses. Bad move; Anthony Rendon doubled home the game’s first run. Redbeard led off with a single and was wild pitched to second where he stayed.

Feliz walked the first Nat in the sixth, but no probs arose. The Pirates action was a Fraze single. Ric Rod got the seventh and put the Nats down in order; Strasburg did the same to the Buccos. surviving a drive by J-Bell that stayed in the yard, pulled in just short of the 399′ mark. Felipe got the eighth inning beckon after Ric Rod left a runner on first with two outs and fanned Matt Adams. Wander Suero took the ball (Strasburg was at 94 pitches) and was greeted by a Jake knock; Steven Brault came in to run for him. A wild pitch moved him along ahead of Melky’s walk. Fraze’s bunt was pushed past the hill and turned into single to jam the sacks. Daniel Hudson answered the call, and B-Rey’s sac fly tied it up. Starling, bless his heart, stepped into one and whacked it into the RC seats, and it was 4-1 Pittsburgh. The Nats replied with an opening rap in the ninth against The Nightmare, but a 6-4-3 DP short circuited the rally before Starling ran down a liner to cap his clutch inning. Raise the Roger.

Give Clay Holmes much love and also the back end of the bullpen; tossing eight innings of one-run, four-hit ball against an offense that’s been lava hot is a job well done. And give Marte his due; he’s been the one constant for the Bucs this year and for our money, the team MVP.

Notes:

• Fraze and Redbeard has two hits each (Colin also drew a walk).
• The Pirates announced that Chris Archer left tonight’s game with “right shoulder discomfort.” Dario Agrazal was scheduled to pitch tomorrow, so he’s likely next up at Indy if Archie is down.
• Tonight’s announced gathering at the ballyard was 10,449.
• It was pickoff practice day at PNC, and Clay Holmes paid attention. He picked off Adam Eaton breaking early and worked at keeping Trea Turner close with three tosses over. Stalls eventually threw him out trying to swipe second.
• Josh Bell was presented with the Pirates 2019 Heart and Hustle Award during pregame ceremonies. The honor is for the player who shows “a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit and traditions of the game.” Corey Dickerson was the Bucco awardee last year.
• Octavio Dotel, who spent some time pitching for the Pirates in 2010, was busted in the Dominican Republic on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. Luis Castillo of the Marlins was also arrested in a large-scale raid of the drug ring.