Virtual Pirates make big deal then lose third straight



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 regular 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 DIEGO – The Virtual Pirates made a blockbuster trade Tuesday as they try to win their first division title since 1992 then promptly lost ground in the National League Central standings.

Zach Davis pitched two-hit ball over eight innings as the Virtual San Diego Padres defeated the Virtual Buccos 6-1 at Virtual Petco Park.

The loss came after the Pirates made a five-player trade with the Virtual Oakland Athletics in which they acquired left-hander Sean Manaea, shortstop Marcus Semien and cash considerations.

Going to the Athletics were Steven Brault, Triple-A closer Brett Cederlind and Low-Class A second baseman Nick Gonzales, who was the Pirates’ first-round draft pick this year.

Semien batted leadoff and went 0 for 4. Manaea will make his Pirates’ debut Friday night against the Virtual St. Louis Cardinals at Virtual PNC Park in the opener of a three-game series.

“This is the type of bold move that teams trying to win it all make,” bench coach Craig Wilson said. “It is a testament to our general manager that he was able to pull off this kind of deal, especially considering ownership has given absolutely no money to work with.”

The Pirates, though, dropped their third straight game and had their lead in the NL Central cut to ½ game over the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers. It is the Virtual Corsairs’ longest losing streak since a three-game skid from May 18-20.

Davies took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Adam Duvall hit a leadoff double. Duvall scored on Elias Diaz’s two-out single, the Pirates’ only other hit.

Mitch Keller (7-4) got through just 2 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Trent Grisham homered off the rookie.

Craig Stammen pitched a scoreless relief inning in his Pirates’ debut. The veteran right-hander was acquired a day earlier from the Padres in a trade.

It was a gorgeous evening in San Diego with the temperature 70 degrees at game time and a 6-mph blowing out to center field. Attendance was 33,592 and time of game was three hours and 11 minutes.

The Pirates will try to avoid being swept in the three-game series Wednesday with Trevor Williams (10-4, 4.77) pitching against Dinelson Lamet (6-6, 4.59).

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