Keller dazzles as Virtual Pirates blank Rays




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. – The Virtual Pirates entered the season with high hopes that rookie right-hander Mitch Keller would show substantial improvement over his disappointing major league debut in 2019.

 He certainly did in his first start of 2020, pitching three-hit ball over six innings as the Pirates routed the Tampa Bay Rays 11-0 on Sunday afternoon at Virtual Tropicana Field.

 Keller struck out eight and walked five in a 104-pitch outing. Kyle Crick, Richard Rodriguez and Edgar Santana completed the five-hit shutout as the Pirates took two of three in the season-opening series.

 Josh Bell hit a two-run home run off Brendan McKay in the top of the first inning to open the scoring. It was his second homer of the season.

 The Pirates chased McKay during a four-run second that pushed the lead to 6-0. Luke Maile was hit by a pitch from the rookie with the bases loaded and Jose Osuna hit a two-run double.

 McKay’s high school coach at Blackhawk, Bob Amalia, could only shake his head as he watched from his seat behind the first base dugout.

 Osuna blasted a two-run home run off Oliver Drake in a four-run seventh inning, making it 11-0. Gregory Polanco also drove in a run with a triple, his second three-bagger in as many days.

 It’s safe to assume that Rays’ fans now hate the Drake.

 Osuna finished with four RBIs and Bell drove in three runs. Both had two hits as the Pirates had a total of nine.

 Time of game was three hours, 36 minutes and attendance was 25,677. Pirates bench coach Craig Wilson proving again to be a big draw on the Gulf Coast.

 The Virtual Buccos have a quick turnaround as they play a day Monday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago. It will be the Cubs’ home opener.

 Trevor Williams will start for the Pirates against veteran southpaw Jon Lester.

 Should be a good ballgame.


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