Virtual Pirates drop one-run decision to Rockies



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.

DENVER – The Virtual Pirates’ momentum has started to vanish in the thin air of Virtual Coors Field.

Ryan McMahon’s tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning lifted the Colorado Rockies to an 8-7 victory over the Virtual Buccos on Saturday night. The Pirates have lost the first two games of the three-game series.

McMahon’s scoring fly ball came off Michael Feliz (0-2) and capped a big game.

McMahon had three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs while sending the Pirates (37-33) to their third loss in four games. They had won 10 of their previous 12 games before arriving in Denver.

The Pirates scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull into a 6-6 tie as Gregory Polanco and Elias Diaz hit back-to-back home runs. Polanco’s blast came with a runner on base.

McMahon’s homer in the bottom of the inning put the Rockies back ahead 7-6.

Pinch-hitter Adam Duvall’s run-scoring triple in the eighth brought the Virtual Corsairs back to even. However, the Rockies countered with McMahon’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth.

Polanco had three RBIs while Bryan Reynolds, Diaz, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Jarrod Dyson had two hits each.

The Pirates feared Dyson would need to go on the injured list after he hurt his thigh in Friday night’s loss. However, he responded well to treatment Saturday and was able to play.

Chris Archer pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed five runs (four earned) and nine hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. He threw 108 pitches.

Jairo Diaz (4-3) was the winning pitcher and Scott Oberg recorded his 13th save. Carter Kieboom went KA-BOOM again for the Rockies with his second homer in as many nights.

Nick Burdi was activated from the IL, though he did not pitch, and Edgar Santana was optioned to Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis.

 It was 68 degrees at first pitch with a stiff wind blowing in from center field at 17 mph. Attendance was 31,477 and time of game was three hours, 32 minutes.

Bench coach Craig Wilson and the manager planned to visit the Buckhorn Exchange for a post-game order of Rocky Mountain oysters and to discuss ways to pull the Pirates out of their mini funk.

The series concludes Sunday with Mitch Keller (5-3, 2.62) opposing Jeff Hoffman (6-2, 6.34).

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