Diaz paces Virtual Pirates in Game 2 win over Nationals

 


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 are within a game of winning the National League Division Series. Yet they will be without one of their top hitters while trying to advance.

Elias Diaz went 2 for 2 with two walks Saturday night as the Virtual Buccos downed the Virtual Washington Nationals 5-3 in Game 2 of their NLDS at Virtual PNC Park.

The Pirates took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series but lost Josh Bell to a strained oblique. The switch-hitting first baseman will be sidelined through at least the end of the NLDS.

Following a travel day Sunday, the series resumes Monday at Virtual Nationals Park in Washington. Chris Archer will pitch for the Pirates as they try to sweep the series, facing Jordan Yamamoto.

The Virtual Atlanta Braves are up 2-0 on the Virtual Los Angeles Dodgers in the other NLDS.

The Pirates scored four runs in the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie and Diaz highlighted the outburst with a two-run single.

Marcus Semien started the seventh with a leadoff single off losing pitcher Tanner Rainey. Rainey retired the next two batters but then walked Gregory Polanco, Adam Frazier and Colin Moran in succession for force home the go-ahead run.

Daniel Hudson relieved and Diaz lined his two-run single to right-center. Guillermo Heredia capped the inning with an RBI single.

The Nationals scored runs in the eighth and ninth inning to draw to 5-3. However, Keone Kela came on in relief of Craig Stammen and struck out the last two batters for the save.

The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when both teams scored a run. Wilmer Difo hit an RBI single for the Nationals and Semien countered with a run-producing single in the bottom of the inning.

Semien finished with three hits.

Trevor Williams was the winning pitcher as he worked a scoreless seventh inning. The manager made the controversial move of sending Williams to the bullpen for the postseason even though he won a team-best 16 games in the regular season.

Sean Manaea started and allowed one run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and three walks. He threw 92 pitches.

It was chilly for the second straight nights on the banks of the Allegheny River. Game time temperature was 51, one degree cooler than Game 1, with the wind blowing out to center field at 9 mph.

Attendance was 38,360 and time of the game was three hours, 43 minutes.

Bench coach Craig Wilson again carved time out of his busy schedule to stage an elaborate pre-game show. The legendary Steve Blass threw out the ceremonial first pitch and Wiz Khalifa rapped the national anthem a day after Toby Keith sang the Star-Spangled Banner.

“Steve is Mr. Pirates and I’m trying to get all genres of music represented with the anthem,” Wilson said. “Plus, Wiz is a Pittsburgh guy and a Pirates’ fan.”

There has been talk that Sammy Khalifa might throw out a first pitch later in the series.

The Pirates also rewarded fans with a bobblehead doll, at Wilson’s behest. Well, it was really a “bobblearm” doll.

The doll depicts popular strength and conditioning coach Frank Velasquez lifting weights and his arms getting larger as he continues to pump iron.

 


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