Virtual Pirates waste Keller's outstanding outing




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.

 PHOENIX – The Virtual Pirates’ offense struggled on the same day two starters were placed on the injured list.

Missing Bryan Reynolds and Elias Diaz, the Virtual Buccos were blanked by the Virtual Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 on Wednesday night at Virtual Chase Field.

The loss dropped the Pirates to 8-10. It also spoiled an outstanding outing by Mitch Keller (1-2).

The rookie right-hander allowed only one run in seven innings and struck out 10 but was the tough-luck loser. He gave up four hits and one walk while throwing 101 pitches.

Keller has lost his last two starts despite allowing a combined three runs in 12 1/3 innings.

The Pirates were limited to five hits by Luke Weaver (1-3) and Archie Bradley.

Weaver had nine strikeouts in eight innings. Bradley worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save despite allowing Adam Frazier’s leadoff double.

Frazier held at second on Kevin Newman’s ground out and advanced to third on Josh Bell’s ground out. Gregory Polanco then looked at a third strike to end the game.

Polanco struck out in all four plate appearances.

Frazier and Jose Osuna, who replaced Reynolds in left field, had two hits each.

The Diamondbacks got the game’s lone run in the fourth inning when David Peralta doubled and scored on Eduardo Escobar’s sacrifice fly.

Reynolds (knee) and Elias Diaz (heel) were injured running the bases Tuesday night in a 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks and placed on the 10-day injured list.

Outfielder Jason Martin was recalled from Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis and catcher Luke Maile’s contract was purchased from the same club. Indy utility player Kevin Kramer was designated for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for Maile.

Maile began the season with the Pirates and was 1 for 7 (.143) with an RBI in three games before being DFA’d.

The game was played with the roof closed on a hot night in Phoenix and the attendance was 14,645.

Diamondbacks fans were against apathetic by the presence of Pirates bench coach Craig Wilson. In 2002, the legendary Pirates slugger blasted a home run off Curt Schilling when the stadium was known as Bank One Ballpark.

Time of game was two hours, 51 minutes.

The three-game series concludes Thursday with Joe Musgrove (0-2, 7.71) starting against Mike Leake (0-1, 10.95) as the Virtual Corsairs try to avert a sweep.

Should be a good ballgame.

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