Brubaker gets first win, Virtual Pirates rout Snakes

 

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.

PITTSBURGH – A rookie turning in an outstanding all-around performance and a manager goaded into acting out proved the perfect recipe to provide the Virtual Pirates with a spark.

Rookie JT Brubaker pitched seven strong innings for his first career victory and contributed a two-run double during a 12-run sixth inning in the Virtual Buccos’ 15-2 rout of the Virtual Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday at Virtual PNC Park.

The Virtual Pirates (68-50) split the four-game series and remained 3 ½ games ahead of the second-place Virtual Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.

The Pirates had looked a little sleepy after losing two games in a row to the Diamondbacks but Brubaker (1-1) provided a wakeup call by notching his first virtual career victory.

The right-hander allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out six and did not issue any walks while throwing 100 pitches as he fills the rotation spot of Trevor Williams, who is on the injured list with an undisclosed illness.

Brubaker also went 2 for 2 at the plate with four RBIs. His two-run double off Jon Duplantier (5-6) was one of many big blows for the Pirates in the sixth.

Marcus Semien hit a two-run home run off Yoan Lopez in the big inning. Two more runs scored when third baseman Eduardo Escobar misplayed Adam Frazier’s ground ball for an error.

Bryan Reynolds also homered for the Pirates. Rookie center fielder Travis Swaggerty had three hits while subbing for slumping Guillermo Heredia. Frazier and Jose Osuna had two hits each and Josh Bell drew three walks and scored three times.

Daulton Varsho, son of former Pirates outfielder and coach Gary Varsho, had three hits for the Diamondbacks.

Varsho had just tied the score at 1-1 with his fifth-inning homer when the Pirates’ manager began arguing with the home plate umpire over balls and strikes. The skipper was ejected for the first time in his career and threw a five-minute tantrum before being pulled off the field by bench coach Craig Wilson.

The Pirates scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to move back in front then put up their 12 spot any inning later to blow the game open.

Wilson admitted he planted the ejection seed Saturday night after the Pirates’ second straight loss.

“We were flat two days in a row,” Wilson said. “I really felt we needed a spark, especially being in the middle of a pennant race, and I thought the manager getting run could provide that spark. He put on quite a show. I’m going to break out the checkbook and pay his fine.”

The Pirates also made a roster move prior to the game by claiming left-handed reliever Oliver Perez off waivers from the Virtual Cleveland Indians. Perez is 38, so old that he was once teammates with Wilson on the Real Pirates.

Tyler Webb was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot.

Meanwhile, veteran right-hander Hector Noesi was lost to the Virtual Cincinnati Reds on a waiver claim. The Pirates outrighted him to Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis last week after he made a spot start when Williams fell ill.

Attendance was 38,115 and time of game was three hours and 34 minutes. Game time temperature was 76 degrees with an 8-mph wind blowing out to left field.

The Pirates open a three-game series against the Cardinals on Monday night at St. Louis with Sean Manaea (12-7, 3.75) pitching against Dakota Hudson (10-6, 4.27).

 

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