Frazier finds hitting shoes, Virtual Pirates roll


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.

BALTIMORE – The Virtual Pirates had their virtual hittin’ shoes on Saturday.

The Pirates rolled to a 17-2 walloping of the Virtual Baltimore Orioles at Virtual Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The rout was punctuated by a 10-run ninth inning.

Adam Frazier broke out of a 1-for-20 slump by going 4 for 5 with a double and three runs scored. Josh Bell, Jose Osuna, Kevin Newman and Jarrod Dyson added two hits each for the Pirates, who had a total of 15.

Osuna and Gregory Polanco had three RBIs apiece as the Virtual Buccos improved to 7-8.

Polanco drove in all his runs without the benefit of a hit. He was the only player in the Pirates’ lineup to go hitless. Dyson stole two bases.

The Pirates rolled despite not hitting a home run.

Trevor Williams (2-0) pitched eight strong innings for the win, allowing one run and four hits in eight innings. Williams struck out six, walked two and threw 105 pitches.

Williams carried a shutout into the eighth. It was broken up with two outs by Pedro Severino, who hit an RBI single.

The Pirates took an early 2-0 lead against Michael Baumann (0-3) on Polanco’s run-producing ground out in the first inning and Osuna’s RBI single in the third.

Frazier made a big defensive play in the bottom of the third. He snared Hanser Alberto’s one-out line drive then threw to Newman covering second base to double up Ramon Urias for an inning-ending double play.

The Pirates then began to break things open with a three-run fourth that raised their lead to 5-0. An RBI single by Bryan Reynolds and Frazier’s RBI double were the big blows.

The Virtual Corsairs sent 16 batters to the plate in the big ninth inning.
Baumann was tagged for five runs in 3 2/3 innings.

It was a beautiful spring day. The temperature was 63 degrees at game time with a breeze blowing in from center field at 8 mph.

Despite a rare visit to the Charm City by Pirates bench coach Craig Wilson, just 18,647 bought tickets on a holiday week. Time of the game was three hours, 53 minutes.

The Pirates are 2-0 since the manager’s stirring pep talk Friday night and will try to sweep the three-game series Sunday.

Steven Brault will be activated from the virtual disabled list to make his season debut. Starting for the Orioles will be left-hander John Means (0-3, 7.20).

Edgar Santana was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after Saturday’s game in a corresponding roster move.

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