Virtual Pirates' six-game win streak ends in 18 innings



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.

ATLANTA – The Virtual Pirates were finally cooled off Tuesday night, but it took the Virtual Atlanta Braves a long time to do so.

Johan Camargo’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 18th inning gave the Braves a 3-2 victory at Virtual Truist Park, ending the Virtual Buccos’ six-game winning streak.

The Pirates (51-40) continue to hold the second National League wild card and trail the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers by 1 ½ games in the NL Central.

The Braves loaded the bases with one out in the 18th on Freddie Freeman’s double, a walk to Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley’s single. Camargo then lined out to center field and Freeman easily beat Jarrod Dyson’s throw home.

The winning rally came against Clay Holmes (4-2), the ninth Pirates’ pitcher.
Adam Duvall’s pinch-hit RBI double in the ninth tied the game at 1-1 and forced extra innings.

The Pirates took a 2-1 lead on Cole Tucker’s home run in the top of the 13th. However, the Braves countered in the bottom half of the inning when Ozzie Albies homered off Richard Rodriguez.

The Pirates had 15 hits but stranded 17 runners. Gregory Polanco, Jose Osuna, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Jacob Stallings each had two hits.

Mitch Keller allowed one run in seven innings, scattering seven hits. He had five strikeouts and two walks while throwing 104 pitches and lowering his ERA to 2.93.

“It’s a good thing we don’t schedule very many 18-inning games,” Pirates bench coach Craig Wilson observed.

Darren O’Day (2-1) was the winning pitcher. Riley and rookie Cristian Pache had three hits each for the Braves.

It was 76 degrees at game time with the wind blowing from right to left at 12 mph. Time of game was six hours, 13 minutes and attendance was 40,762.

Chris Archer was placed on the injured list prior to the game. He strained a hamstring Monday night in a victory over the Braves.

Edgar Santana was recalled from Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

JT Brubaker is expected to be called up from Indianapolis on Saturday and take Archer’s place in the rotation when the Pirates play the Reds at Cincinnati.

After each team has won once in the four-game series, the Virtual Corsairs and Braves meet again Wednesday night. Steven Brault (5-3, 5.79) opposes rookie left-hander Philip Pfeifer (3-0, 2.27).

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