Virtual Pirates lose in 12 to Cardinals

 


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.

ST. LOUIS – The Virtual Pirates enter an important four-game home series with the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers coming off taking two of three from the Virtual St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend at Virtual Busch Stadium.

That’s four Virtuals in one sentence.

Tommy Edman’s RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning Sunday gave the Cardinals a 6-5 victory and allowed them to avoid being swept.

The first-place Pirates (79-58) remained 6 ½ games ahead of the second-place Brewers in the National League Central. The teams open their series Monday night with Trevor Williams (12-4, 4.30) facing Jeff Samardzija (6-13, 4.92) at Virtual PNC Park.

With the score tied at 5-all, Victor Caratini drew a leadoff walk in the 12th from Michael “Big Mike” Feliz (3-3) and Edmundo Sosa followed with a single. The runners were bunted up to second and third by Lane Thomas.

After Whit Merrifield lined out, Edman lined his game-winning hit off the glove of shortstop Marcus Semien.

Adam Duvall hit a two-run home run in the top of the 11th to put the Virtual Buccos ahead 5-3. However, the Cardinals scored twice in the bottom of the inning against Brandon Kintzler and Feliz.

Keone Kela was unavailable to pitch after recording saves in each of the first two games of the series.

Semien’s run-scoring single in the eighth pulled the Pirates into a 3-3 tie and forced extra innings.

Josh Bell hit a two-run homer off Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty and had two hits, Duvall drove in three runs and Semien had two hits.

Travis Swaggerty and Gregory Polanco both went 0 for 5. Swaggerty struck out four times and Polanco had three punchouts.

Mitch Keller gave up three unearned runs in six innings along with six hits. He had seven strikeouts and no walks in a 99-pitch outing.

Edman and Sosa each had three hits for the Cardinals. Trevor Cahill (1-0) was the winning pitcher.

It was 81 degree at game time with the wind blowing in from right field at 11 mph. Time of game was four hours and nine minutes and attendance was 46,510.

On Saturday, Polanco’s tiebreaking two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning gave the Virtual Corsairs an 8-6 victory.

Adam Frazier had four hits, Bryan Reynolds added three hits and Swaggerty hit a two-run homer. Polanco connected for his game-winning blast off Giovanny Gallegos (4-7).

Reynolds twisted an ankle running the bases and left the game in the fifth inning. He was placed on the injured list for the fourth time this season and Cole Tucker was recalled from Virtual Triple-A Indianapolis.

Craig Stammen (4-4) got the win despite allowing the tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kela pitched a scoreless ninth for his 19th save.

Chris Archer allowed five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings with five strikeouts, no walks and 108 pitches.

On Friday, Joe Musgrove pitched one-run ball over eight innings as the Pirates won 4-2.

Musgrove (12-5) had 10 strikeouts while allowing no walks. He threw 101 pitches.

Kela got the save, though he gave up a solo home run to Brad Miller in the ninth.

Bell’s three-run homer off Carlos Martinez opened the scoring.

The Virtual Buccos had another fun weekend thanks to bench coach Craig Wilson. He took the team on a tour of the Gateway Arch on Thursday’s off day followed by dinner at Charlie Gitto’s restaurant on The Hill.

“A good time was had by all and now we’ve got to be ready for the Brew Crew,” Wilson said. “It’s a big series.”


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