Musgrove gets first win, Virtual Pirates avoid sweep


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.

Please note there are stats and standings at the end of the story.


PHOENIX – There was some good news for the Virtual Pirates as they left the desert – Joe Musgrove put together his first good start of the virtual season.

The big right-hander pitched into the eighth inning and recorded his first win as the Pirates downed the Virtual Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2 on Thursday at Virtual Chase Field.

The Pirates avoided being swept in the three-game series and raised their record to 9-10.

Musgrove (1-2) gave up two runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings after coming into the game with a 7.71 ERA through three starts. He also had seven strikeouts and two walks in a 115-pitch effort.

Josh Bell continued his fine start as he went 3 for 5 with his team-leading eighth home run. Bell’s leadoff shot off Mike Leake (0-2) in the fourth put the Virtual Buccos ahead for good, 2-1.

In his last seven games, Bell is 11 for 28 (.393) with four homers and eight RBIs.

Colin Moran then hit a solo homer with two outs in the inning, his first of the season.

Luke Maile’s two-run double in a three-run sixth extended the lead to 6-1.

Jarrod Dyson had two hits and two RBIs while Moran and Jose Osuna also had two hits each.

The Pirates had 11 hits despite Adam Frazier and Kevin Newman, the two hitters in order, both going 0 for 5. Newman is just 5 for 32 (.156) in his last seven games.

Christian Walker hit a run-scoring triple for the Diamondbacks in the first inning. However, Musgrove held them basically in check after that.

Leake allowed six runs in six innings.

The roof was open on a partly cloudy afternoon in which the game-time temperature was a comfortable 75 degrees with the wind blowing out to left field at 15 mph.

Attendance was 16,007 and time of game was three hours, 16 minutes.

The Pirates open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

Virtual owner Bob Nutting had originally hoped the Virtual Corsairs’ traveling party could stay at the home of bench coach Craig Wilson, who lives in Orange County, to help keep down expenses.

While Wilson was agreeable with blowing up at least three dozen air mattresses, Nutting finally relented and allowed traveling secretary Greg Johnson to book hotel rooms. The change of heart came after union rep Jameson Taillon threatened to file a grievance with the Players Association.

Trevor Williams (2-0, 2.61) will start for the Pirates. He has won his last two starts, allowing a total of two runs in 15 innings.

The Dodgers plan to pitch left-hander Julio Urias (1-0, 3.54).

Should be a good ballgame.

HITTING
Maile .182-0-3 in 13 PA
Stallings .206-1-3 in 38 PA
Bell .312-8-21 in 89 PA
Osuna .311-2-12 in 49 PA
Frazier .218-0-4 in 86 PA
Gonzalez .385-0-0 in 26 PA
Moran .328-1-10 in 66 PA
Newman .167-0-5 in 82 PA
Riddle .111-0-0 in 9 PA
Dyson .354-1-8 in 58 PA
Heredia .192-1-2 in 30 PA
Martin .000-0-0 in 1 PA
Polanco .240-4-15 in 85 PA
Diaz .308-0-1 in 41 PA
Reynolds .261-2-9 in 79 PA

PITCHING
Archer 3-0, 3.00 in 27 IP
Holland 0-1, 9.88 in 13.2 IP
Keller 1-2, 2.95 in 21.1 IP
Musgrove 1-2, 6.00 in 24 IP
Stratton 0-0, 2.38 in 11.1 IP
Williams 2-0, 2.61 in 20.2 IP
Brach 0-1, 18.00 in 5 IP
Crick 0-0, 3.68 in 7.1 IP
Feliz 0-1, 3.38 in 8 IP
Kela 1-0, 5 SV, 2.70 in 6.2 IP
Rodriguez 1-0, 4.15 in 4.1 IP
Weiman 0-1, 3.60 in 5 IP
Burdi 0-0, 1.42 in 6.1 IP

STANDINGS
NL CENTRAL: Reds 12-6, Cubs 11-8, Brewers 9-10, Pirates 9-10, Cardinals 8-11
NL EAST: Braves 15-6, Phillies 12-7, Nationals 9-8, Mets 8-9, Marlins 4-15
NL WEST: Dodgers 13-6, Padres 10-8, Diamondbacks 10-10, Rockies 5-12, Giants 5-14
AL EAST: Yankees 14-5, Red Sox 12-8, Rays 8-11, Orioles 6-12, Blue Jays 6-13
AL CENTRAL: Indians 13-7, White Sox 10-9, Royals 9-9, Twins 8-11, Tigers 4-14
AL WEST: Astros 11-7, Angels 10-8, Athletics 11-9, Rangers 10-9, Mariners 10-10.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hall of Fame voting becoming more chore than honor

Image
The honor is never lost on me. Sometime just after Thanksgiving every year, the enveloped arrives in the mail from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. Enclosed is my annual Hall of Fame ballot as I am part of the electorate that consists of all members of the Baseball Writers Association of America with 10 years of continuous service. I have been voting for 24 years now and do not take the responsibility lightly. Being elected to the Hall of Fame changes people’s lives and demarcates the great players of the game’s history from the very good. When I get ready to cast my vote, I always pause to appreciate the significance. Voting for the Hall of Fame is something I enjoyed for many years. It was fun to look at the various candidate’s careers – study their statistics, recall personal observations, talk to peers from their playing days – before casting my ballot. However, the fun is being squeezed out of the task with each passing year. So many of the c
Read more

Bob Nutting and PirateFest

Image
A number of people have been in touch on social media or emailed wanting to know why Bob Nutting was not at Piratefest at PNC Park on Saturday morning/afternoon and but at the Pitt-West Virginia game on Saturday night. As a matter of disclosure, I wasn't at Piratefest and haven 't been there for years. I have no interest in it and, from a professional standpoint, don't find any value in attending. Nevertheless, I contacted Pirates spokesman Brian Warecki to ask about Nutting's whereabouts Saturday and he said the owner was on hand for a portion of Piratefest. This  was his response. "Bob was at Piratefest, along with his wife, for a few hours in the morning. He chatted with our players and mingled with season ticket holders." I also followed up by asking why Nutting did not take part in any of the Ask Pirates Management sessions as he has done in other years. This was his Warecki's response: "Ask Pirates management is exactly that, daily
Read more

Playing the Pirates' 2020 season anyway

Image
Hi there, As everyone knows, opening day of the Major League Baseball season was supposed to be on Thursday. However, like most of the rest of the world, the coronavirus pandemic has changed those plans. I have been asked to simulate the season using the game Out Of The Park Baseball 21. I will be the general manager/manager of the Pirates. We will play the original schedule, which means I'll make my managerial debut Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Virtual Tropicana Field. If enough people are interested, I'll post a small blurb on each game. I realize there are more important matters in the world but perhaps it can serve as a diversion for a few minutes. Stay safe, John
Read more