Keller pitches Virtual Pirates past Nats in NLDS opener

 


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 opened postseason play in fine fashion.

Mitch Keller pitched seven strong innings and Colin Moran and Jacob Stallings had run-scoring hits in the decisive seventh inning as the Virtual Buccos downed the Virtual Washington Nationals 7-1 on Friday night in the opener of the National League Division Series at Virtual PNC Park.

Game 2 of the best-of-five series is set for Saturday with the Pirates’ Sean Manaea facing Patrick Corbin in a matchup of left-handers.

Fresh off being named the NL Pitcher of the Month and Rookie of the Month for September, Keller dazzled again.

He gave up one run and five hits while striking out five and walking one. He threw 92 pitches before being lifted for a pinch hitter.

The Pirates snapped a 1-1 tie against Max Scherzer with a two-run seventh inning then added four more in the eighth to break the game open.

Gregory Polanco started the seventh with a two-out double. Shortstop Trea Turner then misplayed Adam Frazier’s grounder for an error, keeping the inning alive and giving the Pirates runners on first and third.

Moran reached on an infield single on a grounder into the hole at shortstop, scoring Polanco with the go-ahead run. Stallings capped the inning by driving his RBI double to the gap in left-center field.

The Pirates chased Scherzer, the three-time Cy Young Award winner, during a four-run eighth. Scherzer was charged with seven runs – five earned – in 7 1/3 innings.

Guillermo Heredia drove in three runs for the winners and hit a solo home run in the third inning to open the scoring. Polanco and Heredia had two hits each.

The Nationals tied it with a run in the sixth.

Howie Kendrick had two hits in a losing effort.

Bench coach Craig Wilson’s handprints were all over the pre-game ceremony.

WWE wrester and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle threw out the ceremonial first pitch then presented two front-row tickets to Wrestlemania to all Virtual Corsairs’ players and staff members.

Wilson had the tickets written into his contract as an incentive clause if the Pirates reached the postseason.

“It’s true! It’s true!,” Wilson said, mimicking the Mount Lebanon native’s famous saying.

Another Wilson favorite, Toby Keith, sang the national anthem.

“I think a good time was had by all,” Wilson said. “The summer of fun continues, even into the fall.”

 


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