Williams put Virtual Pirates on doorstep of title

 


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.

CHICAGO – The Virtual Pirates have put themselves on the doorstep of a division title.

Trevor Williams pitched eight dazzling innings for his 16th win of the season and the Virtual Buccos blanked the Virtual Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Thursday afternoon at Virtual Wrigley Field.

The Pirates (88-65) reduced their magic number to two for clinching the National League Central championship. They hold an 8 ½-game lead over the second-place Milwaukee Brewers (79-73) with nine games remaining.

The Pirates can wrap up the crown Friday night when the two teams open a three-game series at Virtual Miller Park in Milwaukee. JT Brubaker (2-2, 7.36) is scheduled to start against Adrian Houser (11-12, 4.95).

Williams (16-4) scattered four hits in lowering his ERA to 3.80. He had six strikeouts and one walk in a 106-pitch outing.

Keone Kela pitched the ninth for his 21st save.

The Pirates took an early 2-0 lead against Yu Darvish (12-14) and that was enough support for Williams. Marcus Semien had an RBI single in the first inning and Elias Diaz hit a solo home run in the second.

Semien, Diaz and Colin Moran had two hits each.

Bench coach Craig Wilson has doubled as the Virtual Corsairs’ director of fun all season. However, he says he has no major celebration planned if or when the Pirates clinch the division.

“We’ll start getting ready for the playoffs,” Wilson said. “I want to celebrate then rather than now.”

However, the manager, strength and conditioning coach Frank Velasquez and media relations czar Jim Trdinich figure to do something to commemorate the franchise’s first division crown since 1992.


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