Virtual Pirates sweep Nationals in NLDS, Braves up next


 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.

WASHINGTON – The Virtual Pirates are moving on.

Bryan Reynolds’ sacrifice fly in the ninth inning broke a tie and Marcus Semien followed with a two-run home run as the Virtual Buccos rallied for a 5-2 victory over the Virtual Washington Nationals at Virtual Nationals Park on Monday night to sweep the National League Division Series in three games.

The Pirates will meet the Virtual Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series, a best-of-seven affair that will begin later this week at Virtual PNC Park. The Braves upset the 106-win Virtual Los Angeles Dodgers in a sweep of the other NLDS.

With the score tied 2-2, Guillermo Heredia reached on an error by first baseman Howie Kendrick on a dropped throw to start the ninth. Pinch hitter Kevin Newman’s single put runners on the corners with no outs.

Reynolds lofted his sacrifice fly to right to score Heredia with the go-ahead run. Semien followed his homer to left-center that made it 5-2.

The Pirates scored twice in the eighth to tie the game at 2-all. Gregory Polanco hit a sacrifice fly and Colin Moran then delivered an RBI single.

Moran had three hits and Adam Duvall and Elias Diaz added two each. Duvall subbed at first base for Josh Bell, who is out at least a week with a strained oblique.

Craig Stammen got the last out of the eighth inning for the win. Keone Kela pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

Chris Archer started and went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out five, walked three and threw 104 pitches.

Nationals starter Jordan Yamamoto pitched seven scoreless innings and Starlin Castro homered.

It was 61 degrees and rainy at game time with the wind blowing out to center field at 8 mph. Time of game was three hours and 47 minutes, and attendance was 40,366.

The Pirates bussed to Washington on Sunday’s travel day as ownership looked to save some money. That led to considerable grumbling among the players.

However, bench coach Craig Wilson made the trip much more enjoyable. He had the bus driver pull off at the Breezewood exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and then bought everyone in the traveling party MTO sandwiches, candy bars and alcohol slushies.

“You try to make the best of a bad situation,” Wilson said. “If this season has taught us anything, it’s that food always makes the situation better.”


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