Virtual Pirates sweep Phillies


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 -- Inspired by an idea from bench coach Craig Wilson, the Virtual Pittsburgh Pirates pulled off a Mother’s Day sweep.

 Slumping Josh Bell blasted a three-run home run and Bryan Reynolds hit the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Pirates to a 5-4 victory over the Virtual Philadelphia Phillies at Virtual PNC Park.

 The Pirates swept the three-game series to move within a game of .500 at 19-20.

 The Virtual Buccos were excited to win in front of their mothers and wives. It was Wilson’s idea to fly them in from various points throughout North America.

 With the score tied 4-4 in the ninth, Jarrod Dyson led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on Elias Diaz’s ground out.

 Reynolds then hit a fly ball to left fielder Andrew McCutchen. Dyson easily beat McCutchen’s throw to score the winning run.

 That capped a comeback from an early deficit as the Phillies scored all four runs in the first inning off Trevor Williams.

 Bell countered with a three-run home run in the bottom or the inning off Zack Wheeler to draw the Pirates within a run.

 Bell entered the game in a 2-for-41 slump. It was his 15th homer of the season.

 Adam Frazier’s RBI single in the fourth inning drew the Pirates into a 4-4 tie.

 Williams was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the second inning. He gave up four runs and four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

 Nick Burdi (2-0) pitched the ninth and was one of five relievers to combined on seven scoreless innings. Clay Holmes went 3 1/3 innings in following Williams in his first appearance of the season after recovering from a broken foot.

 Derek Holland helped keep the score tied in the seventh when he got Bryce Harper to hit into an inning-ending double play with runners on first and second.

 Frazier and Dyson each had two of the Pirates’ 10 hits.

 It was a breezy day as the temperature was 62 degrees at game time with the wind blowing 20 mph from right to left. Attendance was 31,511 and time of game was three hours, 12 minutes.

 Chris Archer (3-1, 3.06) will pitch for the Virtual Corsairs on Monday night when they host the Virtual St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a three-game series. Miles Mikolas (0-0, 1.13) will toe the slab for the Redbirds.

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