Inspired Virtual Pirates stun Orioles in ninth



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 – Properly motivated by a pre-game team meeting, the Virtual Pirates responded with a stunning victory Friday night.


Colin Moran’s two-run double highlighted a four-run ninth inning as the Pirates rallied from a 6-3 deficit to beat the Virtual Baltimore Orioles 7-6 at Virtual Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

The Virtual Buccos snapped their three-game losing streak and improved to 6-8. That came the manager gave a motivational speech to get the team off the schneid at the urging of bench coach Craig Wilson.

The Pirates loaded the bases with none out in the top of the ninth. Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco then drew consecutive bases-loaded walks from Travis Lakins (1-1) to make it a one-run game.

Shawn Armstrong relieved and struck out Jose Osuna. However, Moran followed by lining his double to right field to put the Pirates ahead.

Keone Kela pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth, working around a two-out single, to register his fourth save in five opportunities.

Bell also hit his team-leading sixth home run, a two-run blast in the first inning off Alex Cobb that opened the scoring. Bell, Moran and Bryan Reynolds each had two hits.

Adam Frazier is just 1 for 20 in his last five games. He went 0 for 3 on Friday but did walk twice and score two runs.

Joe Musgrove pitched into the seventh inning after being reinstated to the active roster before the game. He finished serving a six-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing incident against the Cincinnati Reds in the home opener April 2.

Musgrove gave up six runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out six and walking two. He was also tagged for a pair of home runs during a 104-pitch outing.

Renato Nunez’s three-run shot in the seventh snapped a 3-3 tie and ended Musgrove’s night. Ramon Urias connected for a two-run homer in the fourth.

Cobb was forced from the game after the second inning because of a torn fingernail on his pitching hand.

The Pirates’ bullpen was shuffled with a series of roster moves before the game.

Rodriguez and Edgar Santana were recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. Meanwhile, rookies Blake Weiman and Blake Cederlind were optioned to Indy.

Weiman had been the Virtual Pirates’ lone left-hander in the bullpen. That role will be filled by Derek Holland, who has been dropped from the rotation following two starts.

Steven Brault is expected to be activated from the injured list Sunday to start against the Orioles in the finale of the three-game series.

For the first time this season, Wilson did not prove to be a big draw. A crowd of just 18,192 showed up on a 49-degree night in the Charm City in which the wind was blowing in from left field at 10 mph.

A larger crowd was expected, mainly to boo Wilson. Orioles fans are still upset over the blonde-haired slugger connecting for a two-run home run as a member of the New York Yankees off Brian Burres on Sept. 8, 2006 at Oriole Park.

The series continues Saturday with Trevor Williams (1-0, 3.55) pitching against Michael Baumann (0-2, 11.05).

Should be a good ballgame.

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