Rare Dyson homer helps Virtual Pirates avoid sweep



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.

PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE INCLUDED SOME RUDIMENTARY STATS AT THE END OF THIS REPORT

PITTSBURGH – The real Jarrod Dyson isn’t known for his power as he hit just 21 home runs in 2,618 career plate appearances.

However, the Virtual Jarrod Dyson showed some pop Sunday afternoon as his two-run home run helped carry the Virtual Pirates to a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park

Dyson’s two-run drive in the bottom of the fourth inning off Luis Castillo snapped a 1-1 tie and enabled the Pirates to avoid being swept in the three-game series. The Virtual Buccos improved to 4-5 while winning for just the second time in six games.

After the first full week of the season, the Pirates are tied for fourth place in the National League Central with the Cardinals. The Cubs and Reds are tied for the lead at 6-3 and the Brewers are third with a 5-4 record.

Dyson had a perfect day at the plate, going 2 for 2 with two walks in four plate appearances.

Trevor Williams (1-0) pitched seven strong innings for the win. He allowed two runs – on a pair of solo home runs by Mike Moustakas – and four hits with five strikeouts and two walks in a 112-pitch outing.

Keone Kela got the final two outs, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to get his third save in four opportunities. Kela struck out Tucker Barnhart then got Shogo Akiyama to line out to Dyson in center field to end it.

Josh Bell hit an RBI double in the third inning to draw the Pirates into a 1-1 tie after Moustakas connected for his first homer in the second.

Colin Moran pushed the Pirates’ lead to 5-1 with a two-run single in the fifth.

Along with Dyson, Moran and Gregory Polanco also two hits each for the Pirates.

Castillo (0-2) was tagged for five runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings.

It was a brisk 44 degrees at game time at Virtual PNC and the wind was blowing out to center field at 9 mph. The game took three hours, 18 minutes, and another surprisingly good crowd of 28,771 showed up to see beloved bench coach Craig Wilson, the legendary former Pirates slugger.

The Pirates dropped to 18th in the Virtual Baseball News Network’s power ratings. They stood ninth last Sunday after taking two of three on the road from the Tampa Bay Rays to begin the season.

Meanwhile, Yacksel Rios and Luke Maile were outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis after clearing waivers. They were designated for assignment earlier when Brad Brach and Elias Diaz were claimed off waivers

 Left-handed reliever Miguel Del Pozo and catcher Andrew Susac were released at Indianapolis.

 The Virtual Pirates also signed left-hander Marco Oquendo, an international free agent from the Dominican Republic. The 16-year-old has been assigned to the team’s Dominican academy.

 He is not to be confused with Ian Oquendo or Ian Snell or Marco Snell or Pirates team physician Dr. Edward Snell or Ed Oquendo or Jose Oquendo.

 The Virtual Corsairs open a four-game home series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. Left-hander Derek Holland (0-1, 22.50) will start for the Pirates against rookie Adbert Alzolay (1-0, 3.12).

 Should be a good ballgame.

BATTING
Elias Diaz .200-0-0 in 15 PA

Jacob Stallings .240-1-2 in 25 PA

Josh Bell .289-3-11 in 43 PA

Jose Osuna .250-1-6 in 19 PA

Adam Frazier 179-0-0 in 44 PA

Erik Gonzalez .357-0-0 in 14 PA

Colin Moran .286-0-2 in 29 PA

Kevin Newman .154-0-1 in 41 PA

JT Riddle .200-0-0 in 5 PA

Bryan Reynolds .196-1-2 in 42 PA

Jarrod Dyson .286-1-3 in 25 PA

Guillermo Heredia .188-1-2 in 18 PA

Gregory Polanco .282-3-10 in 43 PA

PITCHING
Chris Archer 2-0, 2.19 in 12.1 IP

Derek Holland 0-1, 22.50 in 2 IP

Mitch Keller 1-0, 4.00 in 9 IP

Joe Musgrove 0-2, 7.45 in 9.2 IP

Chris Stratton 0-0, 1.23 in 7.1 IP

Trevor Williams 1-0, 3.55 in 12.2 IP

Brad Brach 0-0, 14.54 in 4.1 IP

Kyle Crick 1-0, 3.60 in 5 IP

Michael Feliz 0-1, 1.93 in 4.2 IP

Geoff Hartlieb 0-0, 9.00 in 3 IP

Keone Kela 0-0, 4.91, 3 Sv in 3.2 IP

Blake Weiman 0-0, 0.00 in 3.1 IP


Nick Burdi 0-0, 2.70 in 3.1 IP

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