Swaggerty gives Virtual Pirates win in 11th of NLCS Game 1


  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 – Rookie Travis Swaggerty stepped off the injured list and into a postseason hero role.

Swaggerty singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Virtual Pirates downed the Virtual Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Saturday night in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at Virtual PNC Park.

The center fielder missed five weeks with a broken hand and sat out the Virtual Buccos’ three-game sweep of the Virtual Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven NLCS is set for Sunday night with Sean Manaea pitching for the Pirates against fellow left-hander Max Fried.

The American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays is tied at 1-1.

With the score tied at 4-4, Gregory Polanco drew a four-pitch walk from losing pitcher Luke Jackson to lead off the 11th. One out later, Elias Diaz singled to put runners on first and third.

Swaggerty then lined a single down the right-field line to drive in Polanco with the winning run.

Diaz and Adam Frazier had two hits and Marcus Semien drove in two runs.

Tyler Webb, the Pirates’ fifth pitcher, struck out the side in the top of the 11th and got credit for the win.

Mitch Keller started and gave up three runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and three walks. He threw 103 pitches.

Atlanta tied it at 4-all in the eighth on Cristian Pache’s run-scoring ground out against Craig Stammen.

Ronald Acuna Jr.’s two-run single in the seventh off Trevor Williams put the Braves ahead 3-2. Bryan Reynolds’ RBI single in the bottom of the inning drew the Virtual Corsairs even.

Buster Posey had three hits for Atlanta and Austin Riley hit a solo home run. Starter Mike Soroka allowed three runs in six innings.

The game lasted four hours and 29 minutes on a brisk 49-degree evening with the wind blowing out to center field at 8 mph. Attendance was 37,939.

Bench coach Craig Wilson again came with the idea for elaborate pregame show as Johnny Depp (captain Jack Sparrow), Kiera Knightly (Elizabeth Swan) and Orlando Bloom (Will Turner) all threw out ceremonial first pitches.

Pittsburgh native Christina Aguilera sang the national anthem.

Wilson also urged all fans to dress as pirates to spur on the baseball Pirates.

“Our guys were really inspired by the fans,” Wilson said. “It was quite a showing.”

 


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