Rays Crowd the Bases But Don't Pass Go As Bucs Take Series With 4-0 Win

Both Jamo and Chris Archer exchanged bops and knocks in the first; JT's HBP being accidental and Archer's, eh, not so much. neither side could take advantage. A leadoff double and infield single (runner at second holding) in the second put JT in a jackpot; a 5-4 DP (J-Hay grabbed a grounder at third and got the lead runners; very heads up) and K got him out of it. The Bucs went quietly. Tampa got a walk in the third, and the Pirates put together three consecutive one-out knocks with Cutch plating Fraze, but a J-Bell DP short-circuited a big inning. Jamo stranded a leadoff knock and steal in the fourth and JJ made it 2-0 with a homer to open the Bucco half. In the fifth, Jameson tossed a clean frame; the Bucs left J-Hay and Cutch at second and third. A pair of singles set up Tampa in the sixth, but they couldn't cash in. The Bucs did when Gregory yanked one over the Clemente Wall.

Nice outing by Jamo (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Rays kept coming in the seventh; an opening two-bagger and walk was followed by a line out, and Clint sent JT to the showers. Tony Watson grabbed the ball and barred the gate on four pitches. Chase Whitley toed the rubber and got into a two-out pickle. He bopped J-Hay, Cutch walked and J-Bell singled home another run. Adam Kolarek was waved in and din't have much work as Andrew was nabbed trying to steal third. Juan Nicasio was called on in the eighth and sailed through it with a pair of whiffs. JJ started things with a rap but nothing become of it. Felipe Rivero got a rest; Clint sent Edgar Santana out for the ninth. He was equal to the task, giving up a knock in an otherwise chill inning.

Jamo is excellent working from the stretch; the Rays were 1-for-9 with RISP against him in 6-1/3 IP. Being from the old school, the counting number we like is the zero runs. Cutch and Josh Harrison are still in beast mode, too. Nice win; two in-a-row with the sad sack G-Men coming to town could start something for Pirates.

Notes:

• Cutch had three hits and a walk while J-Hay had two raps and two plunks. JJ also stayed hot with a pair of knocks.
• Bruise brother: J-Hay now has four games this year with multiple plunks. The record for multi-HBP games over a full season is six (Ron Hunt, Craig Biggio). Josh leads the league in that category by a wide margin; he's been smacked 18 times while second place is held by the Cubs Anthony Rizzo with 13.
• There were 22,595 in the house tonight.
• Cervy was transferred from the from the seven-day concussion DL to the regular 10-day DL in a procedural move.

Jason is running into the setting sun... (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

• Indy's Jason Rogers has signed with Hanshin Tigers in Japan, turning the page on a not-very-good deal made by the Buccos last year.