Virtual Pirates lose late 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 let one get away.

The Virtual St. Louis Cardinals scored all their runs in the eighth, an inning capped by Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run double, to rally for a 4-2 victory over the Virtual Buccos on Monday night to open a three-game at Virtual Busch Stadium.

The Pirates (68-51) lost for the third time in four games and had its lead in the National League Central cut to three games over the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers.

Sean Manaea took a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning before allowing a leadoff triple to Edmundo Sosa. After Manaea struck out the next two batters, Brandon Kintzler came on in relief.

Kintzler immediately walked Harrison Bader on four pitches. Lane Thomas followed with an RBI single then Matt Carpenter singled to load the bases.

Bader scored the tying run on a wild pitch before Kintzler served up Goldschmidt’s game-winning double.

Manaea wound up with a hard-luck no-decision, giving up only one run and three hits in 7 2/3 innings. He also had six strikeouts and one walk and was removed after his pitch count reached 101.

Kintzler (4-4) was charged with three runs in 1/3 of an inning.

The Pirates scored both their runs in the first inning when Josh Bell hit an RBI triple and scored on Gregory Polanco’s ground out.

The Virtual Corsairs had just five hits, including two each by Bell and rookie center fielder Travis Swaggerty.

Andrew Miller (2-1) got the win and Giovanny Gallegos notched his 27th save.

It was 75 degrees at first pitch with the wind blowing in from center field at 9 mph. Attendance was 38,057 and time of game was three hours and 12 minutes.

Veteran left-handed reliever Oliver Perez joined the club prior to the game. He was claimed off waivers from the Virtual Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

Perez and bench coach Craig Wilson were teammates with the Real Pirates from 2003-06. After a warm embrace between the two old friends, Wilson kicked a nearby clubhouse laundry cart.

That was in remembrance of Perez doing the same during the 2005 season in the visitors’ clubhouse at old Busch Stadium and breaking his foot in the process.

“It was just to have a little fun with Ollie,” Wilson said of his shenanigans. “It’s good to have him back with the Pirates. It’s going to be fun. I’m glad I didn’t break my foot, though.”

The Pirates also activated Kevin Newman from the injured list and designated Jake Elmore for assignment.

The series continues Tuesday night when Joe Musgrove (10-4, 3.26) takes the hill against Jack Flaherty (4-12, 4.80).


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hall of Fame voting becoming more chore than honor

Image
The honor is never lost on me. Sometime just after Thanksgiving every year, the enveloped arrives in the mail from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown. Enclosed is my annual Hall of Fame ballot as I am part of the electorate that consists of all members of the Baseball Writers Association of America with 10 years of continuous service. I have been voting for 24 years now and do not take the responsibility lightly. Being elected to the Hall of Fame changes people’s lives and demarcates the great players of the game’s history from the very good. When I get ready to cast my vote, I always pause to appreciate the significance. Voting for the Hall of Fame is something I enjoyed for many years. It was fun to look at the various candidate’s careers – study their statistics, recall personal observations, talk to peers from their playing days – before casting my ballot. However, the fun is being squeezed out of the task with each passing year. So many of the c
Read more

Bob Nutting and PirateFest

Image
A number of people have been in touch on social media or emailed wanting to know why Bob Nutting was not at Piratefest at PNC Park on Saturday morning/afternoon and but at the Pitt-West Virginia game on Saturday night. As a matter of disclosure, I wasn't at Piratefest and haven 't been there for years. I have no interest in it and, from a professional standpoint, don't find any value in attending. Nevertheless, I contacted Pirates spokesman Brian Warecki to ask about Nutting's whereabouts Saturday and he said the owner was on hand for a portion of Piratefest. This  was his response. "Bob was at Piratefest, along with his wife, for a few hours in the morning. He chatted with our players and mingled with season ticket holders." I also followed up by asking why Nutting did not take part in any of the Ask Pirates Management sessions as he has done in other years. This was his Warecki's response: "Ask Pirates management is exactly that, daily
Read more

Playing the Pirates' 2020 season anyway

Image
Hi there, As everyone knows, opening day of the Major League Baseball season was supposed to be on Thursday. However, like most of the rest of the world, the coronavirus pandemic has changed those plans. I have been asked to simulate the season using the game Out Of The Park Baseball 21. I will be the general manager/manager of the Pirates. We will play the original schedule, which means I'll make my managerial debut Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Virtual Tropicana Field. If enough people are interested, I'll post a small blurb on each game. I realize there are more important matters in the world but perhaps it can serve as a diversion for a few minutes. Stay safe, John
Read more