Virtual Pirates, Keller beat Brewers, extend lead


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 – Mitch Keller pitched one of the best games of his young career in one of his biggest games.

Keller pitched one-run ball over six innings and Colin Moran and Josh Bell homered to lead the Virtual Pirates to a 4-2 victory over the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night at Virtual PNC Park.

The Virtual Buccos extended their lead in the National League Central to three games over the second-place Brewers by winning the first game of the three-game series.

The win followed a 2-0 loss to the Virtual St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday as the Pirates lost two of three in that home series.

Keller (8-4) had nine strikeouts while allowing five hits and three walks. The rookie threw 104 pitches.

Craig Stammen pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his first save of the season. Closer Keone Kela was unavailable to pitch.

The Pirates scored all their runs in the fourth off Jeff Samardzija (5-12) to take a 4-0 lead. The inning was highlighted by solo homers from Bell and Moran. Guillermo Heredia added an RBI single.

Bell had two hits. Every player in the starting lineup except Keller had at least one hit.

Luis Urias homered for the Brewers.

Time of game was three hours and 24 minutes and attendance was 37,698. It was 70 degrees at first pitch with the wind blowing out to center field at 17 mph.

The victory was a satisfying one for Pirates bench coach Craig Wilson. After watching the team lose back-to-back games going into the pivotal series, Wilson stayed up all night Sunday.

“I was just thinking of ways to win,” Wilson said. “We’re trying to win a pennant. A whole lot of Starbucks got me through.”

The Pirates lost Sunday when Carlos Martinez (7-12) and Giovanny Gallegos (25th save) combined on a five-hit shutout for the Cardinals.

Chris Archer (7-5) went five innings and threw just 53 pitches before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning with the Pirates trailing 2-0. Archer gave up two runs (one earned), five hits and two walks while striking out five.

The showdown series with the Brewers continues Tuesday night. The Pirates have not named a starting pitcher after Trevor Williams stayed home Monday because of an undisclosed illness that is likely to land him on the injured list.

The Brewers will go with Adrian Houser (9-7, 4.51).


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