Virtual Pirates miss another shot at .500


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 – Getting to .500 is proving to be a steep hill to climb for the Virtual Pirates.

Sonny Gray pitched a four-hitter Thursday to lead the Virtual Cincinnati Reds to a 7-2 victory over the Virtual Buccos at Virtual Great American Ball Park.

The Pirates dropped two of three in the series and fell to 26-28. The Virtual Corsairs have lost each of the last seven times they have had a chance to reach .500.

Blake Cederlind (0-1) was tagged for four runs in one-plus inning of relief to take the loss. He had been recalled from Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis before the game as Nick Burdi (strained abdomen) went on the injured list.

Four Pirates’ relievers are currently sidelined because of injury.

Cederlind relieved Mitch Keller with one out in the sixth inning and the score tied 2-2. The rookie then got Freddy Galvis to hit into an inning-ending double play.

However, the Reds scored four runs in the seventh to pull comfortably ahead 6-2. The tiebreaking run was forced in when Cederlind hit Eugenio Suarez with a pitch with the bases loaded.

Keller gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings while throwing 100 pitches. He also had four walks and two strikeouts.

Adam Duvall’s two-run home run in the first inning off Gray accounted for the Pirates’ scoring. It was Duvall’s second homer for the Pirates.

Mike Moustakas tied the score at 2-2 with a two-run homer off Keller in the fourth.

Adam Frazier had two of the Pirates’ four hits.

Moustakas finished with three hits and three RBIs for the Reds and Joey Votto also had three hits.

The Pirates could have conceivably been feeling the effects of a food hangover.

Not only did bench coach Craig Wilson spring for a post-game team meal of barbequed ribs from the famed Montgomery Inn following Wednesday night’s win over the Reds in 10 innings but also bought the players ice cream from the Dairy Queen.

Skyline Chili would have been on the menu if the club won Thursday. Alas, the Virtual Buccos will have to wait until their next trip to the Queen City.

The Pirates open a three-game series against the Virtual St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night at Virtual Busch Stadium. Steven Brault (1-2, 5.89) will start against Dakota Hudson (5-3, 3.42).

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