Virtual Pirates sunk by Rockies' home runs



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 – The Virtual Pirates learned that one of Earl Weaver’s adages is true. There is no defense for the three-run home run.

Charlie Blackmon and Carter Kieboom both homered with two runners on base to lead the Virtual Colorado Rockies to a 10-7 victory over the Virtual Buccos on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at Virtual PNC Park.

Kieboom’s blast off Kyle Crick in the sixth inning snapped a 7-7 tie and proved to be the margin of victory. Blackmon had tied the game with his shot off Clay Holmes an inning earlier.

The Pirates lost their second straight game to drop to 45-39.

Holmes (2-1) was charged with three runs in 1 1/3 innings and took the loss.

Trevor Williams last justed 4 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs (five earned) and four hits with eight strikeouts and one walk while throwing 74 pitches.

Gregory Polanco went 3 for 3 with a double, walk and sacrifice fly. Bryan Reynolds and Jacob Stallings had two hits each and Kevin Newman hit a two-run single in the first the Rockies scored four times in the top half of the inning.

Reynolds also connected for his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth inning.

With football season coming soon, bench coach Craig Wilson could not resist making a pigskin reference after a game with a gridiron-like score.

“I thought we cut Scott Norwood,” Wilson said.

Game-time temperature was 75 degrees with the wind blowing out to left field at 10 mph. Attendance was 34,120 and the game took three hours, 23 minutes.

The series continues Tuesday night with Chris Archer (7-2, 3.29) toeing the slab for the Virtual Corsairs against Chi Chi Gonzalez, who will be making his season debut.

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