Musgrove hit hard as Virtual Pirates routed by Reds


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.

CINCINNATI – Sunday was not the Virtual Pirates’ day.

Aristides Aquino hit a grand slam and Tyler Mahle pitched into the ninth inning as the Virtual Cincinnati Reds walloped the Virtual Buccos 14-1 at Virtual Great American Ball Park.

The Pirates (71-54) split the four-game series and had its lead in the National League Central cut to two games over the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers.

Joe Musgrove (11-5) was tagged for eight runs in 1 2/3 innings. He surrendered six hit, walked three, struck out one and threw 53 pitches.

Jesse Winker led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to open the scoring and it got worse from there for Musgrove and the Pirates. Nick Senzel hit a two-run homer off Musgrove in the second to snap a 1-1 tie.

Aquino’s slam came off Clay Holmes and capped an eight-run second that put the Reds on top 9-1.

Mahle (8-8) allowed the lone run and six hits in 8 1/3 innings while Winker and Nicholas Castellanos each had three hits for the Reds.

The Pirates made many roster moves before the game, including placing JT Brubaker on the injured list with a strained elbow. The rookie is expected to miss at least two weeks.

Chad Kuhl was recalled from Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis and pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Trevor Williams, who has been on the IL with an undisclosed illness, is expected to return Thursday night and start against the Miami Marlins at Virtual PNC Park. He would reclaim his spot in the rotation, which had been filled by Brubaker.

The Pirates also activated Elias Diaz, Jarrod Dyson and Cole Tucker from the IL. Tucker was optioned to Indianapolis along with Luke Maile and Guillermo Heredia.

Diaz was 1 for 4 and Dyson went hitless in two at-bats.

The wind was blowing out to right field at 9 mph on an 81-degree day. Attendance was 25,085 and time of game was 3 ½ hours.

On Saturday, Kevin Newman’s two-run single capped a three-run rally in the ninth inning as the Virtual Corsairs beat the Reds 9-7. The Pirates trailed 7-6 going into the ninth but Josh Bell hit a tying single then Newman came through with his heroics.

Craig Stammen (2-4) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for his first win with the Pirates since being acquired from the Virtual San Diego Padres in a trade. Keone Kela struck out two in a perfect ninth for 15th save in 18 opportunities.

Sean Manaea gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings with two strikeouts and no walks.

Colin Moran had two hits, including a two-run home run, Newman finished with two hits and two RBIs and Marcus Semien and Maile added two hits apiece.

Raisel Iglesias (1-6) took the loss. Senzel had three hits, including a home run, and Aquino and Eugenio Suarez also went deep for the Reds.

The Pirates are off Monday and open a two-game series against the Virtual Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night at PNC Park. Chris Archer (7-6, 3.60) will face left-hander Matthew Boyd (2-12, 5.40).

Bench coach Craig Wilson made a brief announcement over the intercom system on the charter flight home Sunday night that left many members of the traveling party scratching their heads and wondering why he did order Skyline Chili for the team again.

“Take Monday off and enjoy the day but don’t visit any massage parlors,” Wilson said.

STANDINGS

AL EAST: Rays 72-52, Yankees 69-55, Blue Jays 57-69, Red Sox 54-71, Orioles 30-93

AL CENTRAL: Indians 78-45, Twins 79-48, White Sox 76-48, Royals 48-76, Tigers 43-82

AL WEST: Angels 75-51, Astros 70-54, Mariners 64-61, Athletics 62-62, Rangers 53-71

NL EAST: Braves 79-46, Nationals 73-52, Phillies 68-57, Mets 54-70, Marlins 47-78

NL CENTRAL: Pirates 71-54, Brewers 68-55, Cubs 58-66, Reds 58-66, Cardinals 58-67

NL WEST: Dodgers 82-44, Padres 66-59, Diamondbacks 54-71, Giants 52-72, Rockies 51-74

STATISTICS

BATTING

Bell .267-24-76

Diaz .317-2-33

Dyson .282-2-33, 14 SB

Frazier .283-8-58, 6 SB

Gonzalez .294-4-17

Moran .275-3-16

Newman .268-3-42, 17 SB

Osuna .282-12-34

Polanco .252-24-89, 10 SB

Reynolds .294-9-47, 10 SB

Semien .277-24-65, 6 SB

Stallings .290-5-33

Swaggerty .370-2-8

PITCHING

Archer 7-6, 3.60

*Brubaker 2-1, 6.30

*Burdi 2-3, 1.55, 10 Sv

Crick 2-2, 3.78, 6 Sv

Feliz 3-2, 3.06, 2 Sv

Holmes 6-2, 4.00, 1 Sv

Kela 2-2, 3.31, 15 Sv

Keller 8-6, 3.58

Kintzler 4-4, 4.57, 17 Sv

Kuhl 0-2, 5.57

Manaea 12-7, 3.74

Musgrove 11-5, 3.52

Perez 1-1, 4.61, 4 Sv

Rodriguez 4-2, 3.96, 1 Sv

Stammen 2-4, 3.44, 1 Sv

*Williams 11-4, 4.48

*Injured List

 


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