Bucs Bounce Back Behind Jamo To Even Series With 4-0 Win

Starling singled with two outs and J-Bell walked before Mile Mikolas finished up the first act. A one-out walk and DP made for an easy start for Jameson Taillon; the twin killing came after a review decided that Harrison Bader had interfered with Fraze as he made the turn. The Bucs went down in order in the second, with Gregory's liner run down at the fence. The Redbirds went quietly too on three wormburners. With an out in the third, Fraze shot one off Mikolas' foot and got a friendly ricochet; he ended up with a two-bagger. Cervy got brushed with a 1-2 change, followed by a muffed grounder to fill the bags. Josh made it hurt with a sac fly to put Pittsburgh on the board. Jamo breezed through the bottom of the order. Mikolas spun a quiet fourth; ditto for Jameson. The pair have served up 17 ground outs already.

Late entry Fraze had a pair of hits & scored twice (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Fraze tripled with an out in the fifth. Cervy got a mistake heater down the middle on an 0-2 pitch and he rattled another three-bagger (both were pretty poorly played by the Card OF'ers). Starling couldn't cash in, as Carpenter cut off his bid for a hit to turn a 5-3, nor could J-Bell, who flew out. Marcell Ozuna legged out the Cards' first rap, a right side infield bleeder quickly followed by another knock. Two whiffs and a soft roller put out the fire. Corey D and Red Beard kicked off the sixth with back-to-back singles. No luck; a pop up and Jordy at' em ball liner to Carpenter turned into a DP closed the page; knock on wood that all these squandered runners don't come back to bite. It was 1-2-3 for Jamo. Sam Tuivailala took over in the seventh and cruised through. St. Louis got another infield knock with an out but it caused no probs.

J-Bell walked with an out in the eighth and came home (he ran through a stop sign after a bobble in the outfield) when Corey D slapped an outside heater to left for a double; he took third on the throw home. Mike Mayers climbed the hill and gave up a sac fly to Red Beard. Gregory doubled before last call. Jamo toed the slab at 90 pitches, with Steven Brault loosening. No worries; he left a couple over the dish but still twirled a clean frame to close with three hits, a walk, six whiffs and 15 groundouts after 104 tosses. He got Brett Cecil came in for the ninth and Freeser, after a hand from old timey Card fans, flared a single to start it off but no pad was added. Edgar Santana got the horsehide. He showed some nerves by spraying the ball around, but got two outs, one nicely done by Jordy, before giving up a double and then closing it out. RTJR!

Corey D had his 17th multi-hit game (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Jamo's slider has really come into play the last two games. It's not a wipe-out pitch, but a nice change of speed and level to add to his mix that keeps his foes guessing. Believe it or not, today was his first win since April 8th! And give the club props, too - a loss like last night's could turn into a pity-party nosedive in a hurry, but they "showered off." Two down, two more to go in Gateway City.

Notes:

• Fraze and Corey D had two hits; Gregory just one but he stroked the ball well three times. He's still looking for some BABIP progression; he has just a .246 BA for balls in play with his career average 40 points higher.
• Kyle Crick & Felipe Vasquez were both down for maintenance tonight.
• This was Miles Mikolas' first loss of the year.
• FWIW, Mike McKenry thinks Vasquez has mechanic, not physical, issues caused by a rushed delivery. Clint said there are no plans to move Felipe out of the closer's role; they're going to roll up their sleeves and pore over video to ID his problems. Seems like they could have started that a little sooner, given his recent woes.
• The Pirates added to their MLB lead with their 23rd sac fly; they hit a pair tonight.

He's back in action (photo Dan Kubis/Pirates)

• Jung-Ho Kang went 0-for-3 with two walks, two K and a run scored in his Class A Bradenton debut.
• Mark the Shark is back in action; the Giants just activated him from the 60-day DL.
• The Yankees released Ollie Perez from his minor league contract.