Virtual Pirates win season finale behind Manaea

 

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 – The Virtual Pirates finished the regular season on a winning note as they get ready for the postseason.

Sean Manaea pitched into the seventh inning to lead the Virtual Buccos to a 3-1 victory over the Virtual Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at Virtual PNC Park.

The National League Central division-winning Pirates finished 96-66, having won three games in a row and 11 of their last 12. They also wound up with a 13-game lead over the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers in the division standings.

The Pirates will meet the NL East champion Virtual Washington Nationals (94-68) in the best-of-five NL Division Series. Game 1 is set for either Thursday or Friday at Virtual PNC Park.

Manaea (14-8) allowed one run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out five and walking four. He threw 97 pitches.

Keone Kela pitched a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save.

Gregory Polanco’s RBI double in the third inning off Trevor Bauer (10-14) snapped a 1-1 tie and put the Pirates ahead for good. Bryan Reynolds added a run-scoring double in the seventh.

Polanco and Reynolds had two hits each.

It was pleasant 62-degree fall afternoon with the wind blowing out to right field at 8 mph. Attendance was 38,190 and time of game was three hours, 13 minutes.

Marking the last regular-season home game, it was Prize Day at PNC Park. All fans received a Pirates’ division championship T-shirt.

And one lucky fan won the opportunity to have lunch with bench coach Craig Wilson.

“Considering how much of our success has been centered around food in this 2020 season, I thought it was only fitting to make lunch the grand prize,” Wilson said.

On Saturday night, rookie Mitch Keller had 11 strikeouts in seven innings as the Pirates downed the Reds 5-2.

Keller (12-8) gave one run and three hits. He had two walks and threw 108 pitches.

Adam Duvall’s pinch-hit three-run home run in the eighth inning off Anthony DeSclafani (14-8) broke the game open as it pushed the Pirates’ lead to 5-1.

Marcus Semien, Reynolds and Colin Moran each had two hits.

Nick Castellanos had three hits for the Reds and Shogo Akiyama homered.


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