Polanco gives Virtual Pirates wild win


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.


CINCINNATI – The Virtual Pirates won a wild game and a stack of barbequed ribs Wednesday night but lost yet another relief pitcher.

Gregory Polanco’s two-run double in the 10th inning lifted the Pirates to a 7-4 victory over the Virtual Cincinnati Reds at Virtual Great American Ball Park.

The Virtual Pirates again got within a game of .500 at 27-28.

After the Reds pulled into a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning on Shogo Akiyama’s solo home run off Blake Weiman, the Pirates scored twice in the ninth to move in front 4-2. Adam Duvall’s solo home run, his first of the season, off Robert Stephenson snapped the tie.

However, Nicholas Castellanos’ two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning, given up by Chris Stratton, forced extra innings.

Polanco won it in the 10th with his hit off Raisel Iglesias (1-4) that put the Pirates ahead for good.

The victory was so stirring that bench coach Craig Wilson treated the entire team to a post-game meal from the famed Montgomery Inn.

“It’s even better than taking the boys to Dairy Queen,” Wilson said.

Stratton (1-2) got credit for the win despite blowing the save. He finished with a 1-2-3 inning in the 10th.

Stratton was forced to enter the game with one out in the ninth when Nick Burdi was removed with an abdominal strain. The Pirates are already missing Keone Kela, Michael Feliz and Derek Holland from their bullpen.

Chris Archer allowed only one run on six hits in six innings but did not factor in the decision. He had four strikeouts and four walks while throwing 109 pitches.

Elias Diaz and Cole Tucker each had three hits for the Pirates, who had a total of 12. Duvall and Ke’Bryan Hayes added two hits apiece and Diaz and Polanco both finished with two RBIs.

Reds starter Trevor Bauer gave up two runs in five innings and Nick Senzel had three hits.

The game-time temperature was 69 degrees with the wind blowing out to right field at 9 mph. Attendance was 25,891 and time of game was a lengthy four hours, 33 minutes.

The Pirates will try to win the series Thursday when the teams meet in the finale of the three-game set. Mitch Keller (3-3, 2.82) will start for the Virtual Corsairs against Sonny Gray (5-3, 4.87).

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