Virtual Pirates blanked by Giants' Anderson




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.

SAN FRANCISCO – The surging Virtual Pirates finally cooled off.

Tyler Anderson pitched an eight-hit shutout as the Virtual San Francisco Giants blanked the Virtual Buccos 2-0 on Wednesday Night at Virtual Oracle Park.

The left-hander struck out 10 without a walk while throwing 119 pitches.

The Pirates’ four-game winning streak ended, and they lost for just the second time in their last 11 games in falling to 36-31.

Steven Brault (2-3) took the loss despite giving up only one run in 5 1/3 innings. He was touched for six hits while striking out eight, walking three and throwing 103 pitches.

One of the walks proved costly as it came to Maurico Dubon with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, forcing in the game’s first run.

Each of the top three hitters in the Pirates’ lineup had two hits – Adam Frazier, Elias Diaz and Josh Bell.

Diaz and Bell hit consecutive singles to open the ninth. However, Anderson got Adam Duvall to bounce into a double play then struck out Jose Osuna to end the game.

“It happens sometimes,” bench coach Craig Wilson succinctly said in summing up the Virtual Corsairs getting goose egged.

Game-time temperature was 69 degrees with the wind blowing in from center field at 10 mph. Attendance was 24,774 and time of game was two hours, 58 minutes.

The three-game series concludes Thursday with Joe Musgrove (7-3, 3.56) toeing the slab against left-hander Drew Smyly (4-4, 5.67).

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