Surprising Virtual Pirates in first place at All-Star break

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 – Expectations were low for the real Pirates this season as USA TODAY predicted them to finish with 60-102 record prior to the start of spring training.

The Virtual Pirates, though, have been one of the biggest surprises in the virtual major leagues. Shockingly, they lead the National League Central at the All-Star break.

Adam Duvall’s two-run home run in the eighth inning broke a tie and propelled the Virtual Buccos to an 8-3 victory over the Virtual Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at Virtual Great American Ballpark.

The Pirates (55-41) moved into first place in the division, ½ game ahead of the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers after taking two of three games in the final series before the All-Star break.

Duvall’s home run off Michael Lorenzen (5-5) put the Pirates ahead 5-3. They added another run in the eighth and two more in the ninth to pull away.

Guillermo Heredia went 3 for 3 with a double, home run and sacrifice fly.

Adam Frazier also connected while Elias Diaz had three hits and Bryan Reynolds, Duvall and Gregory Polanco had two each. Duvall finished with three RBIs.

Kyle Crick (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings for the win.

Mitch Keller went 6 2/3 innings and gave up three runs and four hits while striking seven and walking three. He threw 102 pitches.

Ke’Bryan Hayes was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to the game, a day after straining his shoulder while making a throw. Utility player Jake Elmore’s contract was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis.

It was 76 degree at game time with the wind blowing out to right field at 10 mph. Attendance was 36,203 and time of game was three hours and 17 minutes.

Following the game, bench coach Craig Wilson hustled across the border to the airport in Covington, Ky., to catch a private jet home to Irvine, Calif., for the All-Star break. The Wilsons will add a third dog to their family during the four-day respite.

The Virtual All-Star Game will be played Tuesday night at Virtual Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Joe Musgrove will be the Pirates’ lone representative despite being in first place.

The Virtual Corsairs return to action Friday night at Virtual PNC Park when they face the Virtual Washington Nationals to open a three-game series.

STANDINGS

NL EAST: Braves 65-32, Nationals 58-39, Phillies 52-44, Mets 39-57, Marlins 36-60

NL CENTRAL: Pirates 55-41, Brewers 54-41, Reds 46-50, Cubs 45-51, Cardinals 40-57

NL WEST: Dodgers 59-37, Padres 50-46, Diamondbacks 44-52, Rockies 41-54, Giants 39-56

AL EAST: Yankees 59-36, Rays 54-43, Red Sox 43-53, Blue Jays 42-55, Orioles 23-74

AL CENTRAL: Indians 63-34, White Sox 59-36, Twins 59-39, Royals 37-60, Tigers 36-61

AL WEST: Angels 54-41, Astros 53-42, Athletics 53-44, Mariners 47-51, Rangers 39-58

PIRATES STATISTICS

BATTING

*Bell .254-18-52

Diaz .325-2-26

Duvall .205-5-21

*Dyson .290-2-31, 13 SB

Frazier .298-7-46

Gonzalez .290-4-17

*Hayes .210-1-23

Heredia .274-4-16

Martin .179-1-2

*Moran .320-1-11

Newman .260-3-38, 15 SB

Osuna .304-12-33

Polanco .263-19-70, 7 SB

Reynolds .311-7-41, 9 SB

Stallings .299-4-23

Tucker .467-2-4

PITCHING

*Archer 7-2, 3.14

Brault 6-3, 5.34

Brubaker 0-1, 11.57

*Burdi 2-3, 1.55, 10 Sv

Crick 2-2, 3.93, 6 Sv

Feliz 1-2, 2.80 2 Sv

Holmes 4-2, 4.26

Kela 2-2, 3.38, 7 Sv

Keller 6-3, 2.95

Kuhl 0-2, 5.93

Musgrove 10-4, 3.06

Rodriguez 4-1, 4.58, 1 Sv

Santana 0-1, 4.66, 1 Sv

Webb 3-0, 1.86

Williams 8-4, 5.08

*Injured List

ALL-STAR TEAMS

NATIONAL LEAGUE

SP-Max Fried, Braves*

SP-Dakota Hudson, Cardinals

SP-Joey Lucchesi, Padres

SP-Joe Musgrove, Pirates

SP-Robbie Ray, Diamondbacks

SP-Mike Soroka, Braves

SP-Bryse Wilson, Braves

RP-James Bourque, Nationals

RP-Seth Lugo, Mets

RP-Reggie McClain, Phillies

RP-Sam Selman, Giants

RP-Edwin Diaz, Mets

RP-Kirby Yates, Padres

C-Francisco Mejia, Padres

C-Omar Narvaez, Brewers

C-J.T. Realmuto, Phillies*

1B-Freddie Freeman, Braves*

2B-Gavin Lux, Dodgers

2B-Mike Moustakas, Reds*

3B-Nolan Arenado, Nationals

3B-Kris Bryant, Cubs*

3B-Eduardo Escobar, Diamondbacks

3B-Manny Machado, Padres

3B-Max Muncy, Dodgers

SS-Javier Baez, Cubs

SS-Didi Gregorius, Phillies

SS-Corey Seager, Dodgers*

OF-Marcell Ozuna, Braves

OF-Juan Soto, Nationals*

OF-Raimel Tapia, Rockies

OF-Cody Bellinger, Dodgers*

OF-Jon Berti, Marlins

OF-Avasail Garcia, Brewers

OF-Bryce Harper, Phillies*

AMERICAN LEAGUE

SP-Shane Bieber, Indians

SP-Gerrit Cole, Yankees

SP-Lucas Giolito, White Sox*

SP-Luiz Gohara, Angels

SP-Lance Lynn, Rangers

SP-Brendan McKay, Rays

SP-Justus Sheffield, Mariners

SP-Brady Singer, Royals

RP-Randy Dobnak, Twins

RP-Jesse Hahn, Royals

RP-Nick Anderson, Rays

RP-Aroldis Chapman, Yankees

RP-Alex Colome, White Sox

RP-Brad Hand, Indians

RP-Liam Hendriks, Athletics

C-Mitch Garver, Twins

C-Yasmani Grandal, White Sox*

C-Gary Sanchez, Yankees

1B-Yordan Alvarez, Astros*

1B-Matt Olson, Athletics

2B-Jose Altuve, Astros

2B-DJ LeMahieu, Yankees*

3B-Alex Bregman, Astros

3B-Josh Donaldson, Braves

3B-Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays

3B-Jose Ramirez, Indians*

SS-Tim Anderson, White Sox

SS-Bo Bichette, Blue Jays

SS-Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox

SS-Niko Goodrum, Tigers

SS-Francisco Lindor, Indians*

SS-Gleyber Torres, Yankees

OF-Eloy Jimenez, White Sox

OF-J.D. Martinez, Red Sox

OF-Dwight Smith Jr., Orioles

OF-Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees*

OF-Mike Trout, Angels*

OF-Kevin Pillar, Red Sox*

*Starter