Archer, Bell lead Virtual Pirates to opening day win



I will be serving as general manager/manage of the Pirates in a 2020 season simulation along with 29 others using Out Of The Park Baseball. Feel free to check here for daily updates. I realize baseball is a lot less important than what is going on in the world today but perhaps it can provide a diversion for a few moments.

 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- Maybe it was pitching at Virtual Tropicana Field that caused Chris Archer to turn back the clock on opening day.

Archer pitched 7 1/3 strong innings in his first game against his old team and Josh Bell belted a three-run home run off former teammate Tyler Glasgow as the Virtual Pirates beat the Virtual Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Thursday.

After struggling with the Pirates since being acquired from the Rays in a trade for Glasnow and Austin Meadows on July 31, 2018, Archer looked like the pitcher who was selected to two All-Star Games while playing for Tampa Bay.

Archer allowed one run and five hits while striking out seven and walking four in a 117-pitch outing.

The Pirates’ defense helped Archer by turning four double plays.

Nick Burdi got the last two outs in the eighth inning and Keone Kela struck out two in a perfect ninth for the save.

Bell’s homer broke a scoreless tie with one out in the sixth inning. He was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Adam Frazier also had two hits for the Pirates and Kevin Newman drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Fittingly, Meadows’ solo home run accounted for the Rays’ scoring. It came in the eighth inning and chased Archer.

Glasnow went six-plus innings and was touched for four runs and five hits. He had two walks and three strikeouts.

Time of the game was three hours, eight minutes and attendance was 30,922.

The Pirates have a virtual day off Friday then resume the three-game series Saturday afternoon with Joe Musgrove facing old friend Charlie Morton.

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