Hayes' four hits lead banged-up Virtual Pirates over Reds




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.

CINCINNATI – The Virtual Pirates won again but lost yet another player.

Ke’Bryan Hayes went 4 for 5 with three doubles and two RBIs to lead the Virtual Buccos to a 9-6 victory over the Virtual Cincinnati Reds on Friday night at Virtual Great American Ball Park in the opener of a three-game series.

The Pirates (54-40) won for the ninth time in 10 games and remained a half-game behind the first-place Virtual Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. The Virtual Corsairs hold a two-game lead on the Virtual Philadelphia Phillies for the second NL wild card.

However, the Pirates learned that Jarrod Dyson will miss at least two weeks with a strained abdominal muscle after being injured Thursday while running the bases in a win over the Virtual Braves at Atlanta. He is expected to be placed on the injured list Saturday.

The Pirates have also lost Chris Archer, Josh Bell, and Nick Burdi this week. Burdi will miss the remainder of the season after having shoulder surgery.

The Pirates scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to erase a 6-5 deficit and go ahead for good. Adam Frazier hit a tying single before Bryan Reynolds put the Pirates in front with a two-run single.

While Hayes led the Pirates’ 15-hit outburst, Cole Tucker and Gregory Polanco hit solo home runs.

Frazier, Guillermo Heredia, Reynolds, and Tucker each added two hits, Reynolds and Polanco had two RBIs apiece.

Trevor Williams was rocked for five runs and eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out one, needing 49 pitches to record four outs.

Tyler Webb (3-0) got the win with 2/3 of a scoreless inning. Edgar Santana worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save.

Santana was recalled from Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis before the game as Burdi was placed on the IL.

Joey Votto had a home run among his three hits for the Reds and Eugenio Suarez also collected a trio of hits. Michael Lorenzen (5-4) took the loss.

Bench coach Craig Wilson treated the Pirates to lunch at Skyline Chili, which might account for all the runs.

The series continues Saturday night. JT Brubaker is expected to be recalled from Indianapolis to make his major league debut after going 6-7 with a 3.33 ERA in 19 starts for the Indians. Sonny Gray (7-6, 4.76).is the Reds’ probable starter.


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