Bell's five RBIs not nearly enough for Virtual Pirates


  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 -- Josh Bell’s big day could not overcome an awful performance by the Virtual Pirates’ pitching staff.

Bell homered, doubled and drove in five runs but the Virtual New York Mets snapped a 5-5 tie with a nine-run seventh inning and went on a 14-7 victory at Virtual PNC Park.

The Virtual Buccos (85-64) lost two of three in the series and have dropped four of their last six games. They still hold an eight-game lead over the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central with 13 games to go and have a magic number of six for clinching the division title.

Bell’s three-run double pulled the Pirates into a 5-5 tie in the sixth inning. However, the Mets answered with nine runs in the seventh.

Blake Weiman (0-2) was charged with four runs in 1/3 inning and Brandon Kintzler was rocked for five runs while also getting only one out. Wilson Ramos’ two-run single was the key blow of the inning.

JT Brubaker started and was tagged for five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He had four strikeouts, three walks and threw 87 pitches.

Kevin Newman had two hits and Bryan Reynolds drew three walks.

Amed Rosario had four of the Mets’ 18 hits and Pete Alonso homered. Ramos finished with three hits and three RBIs and J.D. Davis added three hits.

Ex-Pirate Justin Wilson (2-6) got the last out of the sixth inning and was credited with the win. It was sweet revenge for the left-hander, who was angry he was left out of the Give ‘Em The Willies bobblehead promotion on the previous homestand.

“Take that Craig Wilson,” Justin Wilson, referring to Pirates bench coach Craig Wilson, the originator of the promotion. “He’s no relative of mine, I’ll tell you that.”

It was a rainy day at the ballpark with the game time temperature 63 degree and the wind blowing out to center field at 8 mph. Attendance was 33,715 and time of game was four hours, 20 minutes.

On Saturday night, the Pirates beat the Mets 9-3 as Trevor Williams got his 15th win.

Williams (15-4) worked 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out seven, walking three and throwing 112 pitches.

Reynolds and Gregory Polanco hits solo home runs off Jose Urena (8-6) during a four-run first inning. It was the first of three hits for both.

Elias Diaz had two hits and two RBIs and Colin Moran also had two hits.

The Pirates open a four-game series against the Cubs on Monday night at Virtual Wrigley Field in Chicago. Joe Musgrove (13-6, 3.50) will face left-hander Caleb Smith (10-12, 4.04).


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