Bell's two homers not enough for Virtual Pirates


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 – Josh Bell had yet another big game for the Virtual Pirates on Thursday. However, it came in a losing effort.

Bell hit two home runs and a double and drove in four runs but Trevor Williams failed to make it past the second inning as the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers rolled to a 12-6 victory over the Virtual Buccos at Virtual PNC Park.

Through 25 games, Bell has 12 home runs. Yet the Pirates are just 11-14 after losing two games in the three-game series.

Williams (2-2) was roughed up for six runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. He struck out two and walked none.

The Brewers scored a run in the first inning then chased Williams during a five-run second. Christian Yelich’s two-run home run capped the outburst in the second that included Brock Holt’s two-run single and Ben Gamel’s RBI double.

Bell’s home runs came in the late innings as he hit a solo shot in the seventh and a three-run drive in the ninth.

Kevin Newman added a solo homer, his first of the season. He and Jarrod Dyson each had two hits for the Pirates.

Adam Frazier went 0 for 4 and is 2 for 21 (.095) in his last five games, dropping his season batting average to .194.

Chris Stratton pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Williams.

Holt and Gamel had three hits each for the Brewers.

Brandon Woodruff (3-3) got the win, allowing two runs in six innings.

The Virtual Corsairs continue to be a big draw with Craig Wilson as bench coach. Attendance was 30,916.

Wilson was understandably bummed about the loss. He did take consolation in his Los Angeles Chargers selecting quarterback Justin Herbert in the first round of the NFL Draft.

The game took three hours, 57 minutes to play. Game time temperature was 55 degrees with the wind blowing out to center field at 11 mph.

The Virtual Los Angeles Dodgers come to town for a three-game series beginning Friday night. Chris Archer (3-0, 2.97) is scheduled to pitch for the Pirates against left-hander Clayton Kershaw (3-0, 1.00).

Archer has allowed four runs in 14 1/3 innings in his last two starts.

Should be a good ballgame.

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