Virtual Pirates win in 10, Swaggerty hits HR in debut



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 – It took a long time, but the Virtual Pirates continued their winning ways Tuesday night.

Adam Duvall’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Virtual Buccos a 7-6 victory over the Virtual San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game series at Virtual PNC Park.

The time of game was four hours and 48 minutes. Add in a 58-minute rain delay in the seventh inning and the game did not finish until 12:46 a.m.

The Pirates (58-42) reached the 100-game mark of the season in first place in the National League Central, one game ahead of the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates have won four of their last five games and are 12-3 in July.

With the score tied at 6-6, Josh Bell led off the 10th with a double off Kirby Yates (3-4). Duvall then grounded a single down the left-field line with Bell beating Tommy Pham’s throw home.

Travis Swaggerty went 2 for 4 with a solo home run off Joey Lucchesi in the fourth inning in his major league debut.

The 22-year-old center fielder’s contract was selected from Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis prior to game while Kevin Newman was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained intercostal muscle.

Bell finished 4 for 5 and Duvall had three hits and four RBIs. Elias Diaz added two hits.
Michael Feliz (3-2) struck out two during a perfect 10th for the win.

JT Brubaker’s second major league start was even worse than his first as he was ripped for six runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings. He needed 71 pitches to record just eight outs while striking out two and walking two.

Brubaker was charged with six runs in 4 2/3 innings in his major league debut July 11 against the Cincinnati Reds.

Clay Holmes, Tyler Webb, Kyle Crick, Keone Kela and Feliz combined for 7 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Abraham Almonte’s three-run home run in the third inning put the Padres ahead 6-1 and chased Brubaker. Almonte went 3 for 3 with a walk.

The Pirates eventually pulled even at 6-all in the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles by Diaz and Bell.

Game time temperature was 76 degrees with the wind blowing out to center field at 12 mph. Attendance was 33,085.

Bench coach Craig Wilson and the manager smoothed over the rough edges that emerged following Sunday’s win over the Virtual Washington Nationals. Newman was injured running the bases in that game and Wilson said he felt many of the Pirates’ mishaps on the bases this season have been caused from poor teaching by the manager.

New/old strength and conditioning coach Frank Velasquez was the voice of reason, though. He suggested the players go one base at a time until they get in better physical condition.

The middle game of the three-game series is Wednesday night. Chris Archer (7-2, 3.14 is expected to be activated from the IL and pitch against left-hander Matt Strahm (2-7, 5.43).

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