Manaea injured as Virtual Pirates outlast Marlins

 

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 – This is the homestand for the Virtual Pirates to make some hay while playing two last-place team. So far, the Pirates are doing a good job of filling the barn.

The Pirates improved to a 3-1 on their six-game homestand by outlasting the Virtual Miami Marlins 9-6 on Friday night at Virtual PNC Park. The Pirates have taken the first two games of the series following a two-game split with the Virtual Detroit Tigers.

The Virtual Corsairs now have a 2 ½-game lead in the National League Central over the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers.

However, there was so bad news Friday night as Sean Manaea was forced to leave his start in the fourth inning because of elbow pain. He is expected to be placed on the injured list and miss possibly three starts.

Jarrod Dyson also went back on the IL after being injured running the bases Thursday night. Dyson came away with hip soreness after yet another Virtual Buccos baserunning mishap, though strength and conditioning coach Frank Velasquez has done a good job of helping cut down on those injuries in recent weeks.

The Pirates also beat the Marlins 8-7 on Thursday night. That came after defeating the Tigers 5-1 on Tuesday night then losing 4-1 to Detroit on Wednesday night.

On Friday night, Colin Moran and Marcus Semien hit solo home runs while rookie center fielder Travis Swaggerty had three hits as he took Dyson’s spot in the lineup.

Semien and Frazier each had two hits and two RBIs. Frazier’s RBI single in the third broke a 1-1 tie and put the Pirates ahead for good.

The Pirates also got two apiece from Moran and Elias Diaz.

Manaea allowed one run and three hits in 3 2/3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks.

Clay Holmes (7-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. Keone Kela gave up two hits but held the Marlins scoreless in the ninth for his 17th save in 20 opportunities.

The Marlins’ Garrett Cooper had a home run among three hits and three RBIs. Erich Uelmen (3-7) surrendered five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Observed Pirates bench coach Craig Wilson: “Wow! What a ballgame!”

The game time temperature was 70 degrees with the wind was blowing out to left field at 9 mph. Attendance was 38,086 and time of game was three hours and 42 minutes.

On Thursday, Semien’s two-run single capped a three-run eighth as the Pirates overcome a 7-5 deficit to win 8-7. The Marlins had gone ahead with four runs in the top of the inning, including a bases-loaded walk by Oliver Perez to former Pirate Kevin Kramer.

Josh Bell had a three-run home run, three hits and four RBIs. Bryan Reynolds also finished with three hits and Dyson added two before being injured.

Richard Rodriguez (5-2) retired the only batter he faced to end the eighth and get the win. Kela allowed a hit and a walk but also struck out the side in the ninth for the save.

Activated from the IL before the game, Trevor Williams went 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs and 10 hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.

The Pirates opened the Tigers series with a 5-1 victory as Chris Archer pitched a complete-game four-hitter and struck out 13 in a 106-pitch outing. He also did not issue any walks.

Bell and Semien both homered. Bell had two hits and Dyson added two hits and two RBIs.

The Tigers gained a split of the series with a 4-1 win on Wednesday. Former Pirates pitcher Dario Agrazal (1-3) limited his old team to one run in six innings.

Mitch Keller (8-7) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked three.

Reynolds had two hits.

The third game of the four-game series with the Marlins is on Saturday night. Joe Musgrove (11-5, 3.52) will face Pablo Lopez (3-6, 4.24).

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