Banged-up Virtual Pirates lose nail biter to Cubs


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.


PITTSBURGH – It was a day of bad news for the Virtual Pirates.

On the field, they lost to the Virtual Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Tuesday night at PNC Park. Anthony Rizzo’s eighth-inning home run broke a 2-2 tie.

The loss dropped the Pirates to 22-25.

Off the field, the Virtual Buccos learned that Bryan Reynolds (calf) and Michael Feliz (hamstring) are likely headed to the injured list after being removed from Monday night’s loss to the Mets in New York.

Furthermore, Colin Moran will now require surgery on a rib injury he sustained April 24. He is expected to be sidelined until at least the All-Star break.

Bench coach Craig Wilson will begin taking batting practice for the second time this season. The legendary slugger could be placed on the active roster.

Rizzo connected off Chris Stratton (0-2) for his seventh home run of the season. That sent the Pirates to their second straight loss.

Steven Brault started and allowed two runs and four hits in six innings while striking out six and walking three. He threw 104 pitches.

Guillermo Heredia drove in both Pirates’ runs with a second-inning double off Jose Quintana (4-3) that tied the score at 2-2. The Virtual Corsairs were limited to four hits, two by Jose Osuna.

Tyler O’Neill had put the Cubs ahead 2-0 with a solo homer in the top of the second.

Adam Duvall killed a Pirates’ rally in the bottom of the eighth inning by grounding into a double play against Quintana. Rowan Wick pitched the ninth for his second save.

Wilson continued to be a huge gate attraction as attendance was 31,668. Game time temperature was 58 degrees with the wind blowing from right to left at 10 mph. Time of game was three hours, 11 minutes.

The middle game of the three-game series is set for Wednesday night with Joe Musgrove (4-3, 4.73) opposing Yu Darvish (4-5, 4.34).

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