Unbeaten Archer saves day, Virtual Pirates sweep O's



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 there are some player stats and league standings at the end of this story

BALTIMORE – Chris Archer saved Easter for the Virtual Pirates with a big hand from a red-hot Josh Bell.

Pressed into emergency duty, Archer stayed unbeaten by pitching five-hit ball over eight innings Sunday to lead the Pirates to a 4-2 victory over the Virtual Baltimore Orioles at Virtual Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

The Virtual Buccos swept the three-game that started a nine-game road trip, evening their record at 8-8. They are in third place in the National League Central, three games behind the division-leading Virtual Chicago Cubs.

Bell’s two-run home run in the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie. It was his team-leading seventh and he is 10 for 23 (.435) in his last six games with four homers and nine RBIs.

Left-hander Steven Brault had been activated from the injured list and was set to make his season debut. However, he felt pain in his shoulder when he began warming up and Archer stepped in as the emergency starter.

Archer (3-0) had six strikeouts and a walk in a 100-pitch outing. He gave up a solo home run to Austin Hays in the fourth inning that knotted the game at 2.

The score stayed that way until Bell’s blast off John Means (0-4), who pitched a complete game and surrendered nine hits.

Jose Osuna’s two-run homer in the first, his second of the season, opened the scoring. Both Osuna and Bell had two hits.

Keone Kela pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fifth save in six opportunities.
Dwight Smith Jr. doubled with one out to put runners on the second and third against Kela. However, the closer then struck out Hays and got Ramon Urias to hit a game-ending fly out.

Bench coach Craig Wilson got into the holiday spirit following the game. The legendary Pirates slugger walked through the joyous clubhouse handing out Reese’s Easter eggs to each player and staff member.

The game was played under clear skies with the temperature 51 degrees at first pitch and the wind blowing out to center field at 10 mph. It took two hours, 53 minutes to play and attendance was 17,020.

The Virtual Pirates have a day off Monday then return to action Tuesday night by visiting the Virtual Arizona Diamondbacks at Virtual Chase Field in the opener of a three-game series.

Left-hander Derek Holland (0-1, 10.00), dropped from the rotation to the bullpen over the weekend, is the likely starter now that Brault is hurt. Zac Gallen (0-1, 5.09) will pitch for the Diamondbacks.

Edgar Santana was recalled from Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis and will join the club in Phoenix.

Should be a good ballgame.

HITTING
Elias Diaz .286-0-1 in 37 PA
Jacob Stalling .233-1-3 in 34 PA
Josh Bell .328-7-20 in 75 PA
Jose Osuna .243-3-11 in 41 PA
Adam Frazier .188-0-2 in 72 PA
Erik Gonzalez .385-0-0 in 26 PA
Colin Moran .292-0-7 in 54 PA
JT Riddle .125-0-0 in 8 PA
Bryan Reynolds .258-2-8 in 76 PA
Jarrod Dyson .368-1-6 in 47 PA
Guillermo Heredia .208-1-2 in 28 PA
Gregory Polanco .250-3-13 in 72 PA

PITCHING
Chris Archer 3-0, 3.00 in 27 IP
Derek Holland 0-1, 10.00 in 9 IP
Mitch Keller 1-1, 3.77 in 14.1 IP
Joe Musgrove 0-2, 7.71 in 16.1 IP
Chris Stratton 0-0, 2.79 in 9.2 IP
Trevor Williams 2-0, 2.61 in 20.2 IP
Brad Brach 0-1, 19.29 in 4.2 IP
Kyle Crick 0-0, 3.68 in 7.1 IP
Michael Feliz 0-1, 1.42 in 6.2 IP
Keone Kela, 1-0, 5 Sv, 2.70 in 6.2 IP
Richard Rodriguez 1-0, 4.15 in 4.1 IP
Edgar Santana 0-1, 2.45 in 3.2 IP
Nick Burdi 0-0, 2.08 in in 4.1 IP

STANDINGS
NL Central: Cubs (11-5), Reds (9-6), Pirates (8-8), Brewers (7-8), Cardinals (6-10)
NL East: Braves (12-5), Phillies (10-5), Mets (7-6), Nationals (7-7), Marlins (3-14)
NL West: Dodgers (12-4), Padres (8-8), Diamondbacks (8-9), Rockies (5-10), Giants (5-11)
AL East: Yankees (12-4), Red Sox (11-6), Rays (6-10), Blue Jays (6-10), Orioles (4-12)
AL Central: Royals (9-6), Indians (10-7), White Sox (6-9), Twins (5-11), Tigers (4-11)
AL West: Astros (10-5), Rangers (9-6), Angels (9-7), Athletics (9-7), Mariners (8-9)

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