Bell homers again but Virtual Pirates lose in 10



I will be serving as general manager/manager 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.


PITTSBURGH – The Virtual Pirates rallied to force extra innings. Yet they wound up taking another loss.

Corey Seager’s run-scoring single in the top of the 10th inning gave the Virtual Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over the Virtual Buccos 5-4 in the opener of a three-game series at Virtual PNC Park.

The Pirates lost for the fourth time in five games as their record fell to 11-15.

After Keone Kela pitched a scoreless ninth inning to keep the game tied at 4-4, he walked Joc Pederson to start the 10th. Max Muncy followed with a single then Will Smith hit into a fielder’s choice, leaving the Dodgers with runners on first and third with one out.

Kyle Crick took over for Kela (1-1) and Seager grounded his game-winning hit into left field.

The Pirates loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 10th but Gregory Polanco struck out against Joe Kelly, who recorded his first save.

In the eighth inning, the Pirates rallied with back-to-back home runs by Guillermo Heredia and Josh Bell off winner Caleb Ferguson (2-0) to tie the game at 4-4. Bell now has 13 home runs in 25 games while Heredia hit his second of the season.

Bell has also homered five times in his last six games.

Chris Archer allowed a two-run home run to Cody Bellinger in the top of the first inning but then shut down the Dodgers. In addition to the two runs, Archer gave up just three hits in seven innings while striking out seven and walking three.

Archer has given up just four runs in 21 1/3 innings in his last three starts but is only 1-0 in that span.

The Pirates managed just two runs off Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw in 7 2/3 innings.

Heredia, Jose Osuna and Erik Gonzalez each had two hits for the Pirates. Polanco struck out three times while going 0 for 5.

Colin Moran was injured in a collision at third base in the 10th inning but stayed in the game.

It was another long night at PNC Park as time of game was three hours, 50 minutes. Thankfully, Pirates bench coach Craig Wilson was there -- as always -- to keep the ailing manager alert during the long slog.

Attendance was 30,926 on a 51-degree night with the wind blowing out at 11 mph to left field.

The series continues Saturday as Derek Holland (0-2, 7.84) will pitch for the Pirates against Walker Buehler (3-1, 2.87). Buehler pitched a four-hit shutout against the Virtual Corsair 

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