Arch Chased Early But Bucs Prevail 7-6

Chris Archer fell behind Matt Carpenter 2-0 and fired a third straight heater; it ended up in the seats. After an out, he bopped a batter, then put the frame to bed. He was fastball heavy; not sure if that's his first-time-around look or the Pirates' influence. Fraze opened with a two-bagger on John Gant's first toss and a Starling tapper moved him up. The Bucs challenged the call at first and won to put Bucs on the corners. Gregory sent them both home with a triple and an out later, Red Beard's sac fly made it 3-1. The Cards led off with a walk, knock and double in the second to cut the lead to one. Gant K'ed and Arch walked Carpenter semi-intentionally to pack the sacks. He got swinging whiffs of Yadi  and Paul DeJong on a 3-2 sliders *whew* as Archer leaned on his bread-and-butter. Gant struck out the side. El Birdos started the third with a double but two whiffs around a grounder kept them quiet. Fraze singled and Starling doubled to kick it off, then Gregory's sac fly scored Fraze. After a Moran walk, Cervy and J-Hay banged out back-to-back RBI knocks before Jordy's liner ended the fun.

Gregory carried the Bucs early on (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Arch can't keep that first hitter off the bases, but the fourth-inning walk didn't hurt. Pittsburgh got a two-out knock by Starling. It fell apart in the fifth. An opening walk (the third in four frames) and error - Jordy muffed a DP ball - was followed by three straight hits with the only out on a throw-out by Starling. Edgar Santana come in, giving up a single and intentional walk around the second out. He got Yadi, but it's 6-5 and a ball game again. John Brebbia took the ball and Freeser welcomed him with a knock. That was followed by three garden-variety outs. Edgar gave up back-to-back two-out knocks, and Cervy called the trainers to take a peek at him, but whatever Fran saw they were OK with. But not for long; a walk brought in Ric Rod to finish the frame. The Pirates went down in order. Keone Kela got his first call in Pittsburgh to work the seventh. He was a little shaky, too, giving up a double and two-out single, but Gregory saved his bacon by throwing out the lead runner at home. Tyler Webb allowed a Freeser hit and no more damage.

Kyle Crick got the eighth inning call. He hit the first batter, then a single put runners on second and third after a throw to the hot corner. A grounder tied it up, but the ol' contact play bit the Birds when Freeser tossed out the lead run at home. Jordan Hicks climbed the slope with a passel of changes behind him as Dexter Fowler limped off the field. J-Hay legged out a hit with one away and Jordy walked. Joey O grabbed a stick and went down on four pitches (triple figure sinkers followed by a swing 'n' miss slider). Fraze battled and rolled one of Hick's heaters into center to chase Josh home. Felipe Vazquez climbed the bump in the ninth. Yadi singled with an out and stayed there. RTJR!

Starling's stroke is coming back (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

We wouldn't worry too much about Arch and Keone's performances; a little acclimation to their new circumstances should go a long way. We'd worry more on the command tonight; there were a lot of deep counts, six walks and a couple of bopped batters to give the Redbirds opps they didn't earn. The Cards will be crying over this one; they had three runners thrown out and stranded 16 runners on the night. Always nice to steal the opener.

Notes:

• Fraze banged out three hits tonight and is 10-for-21 since being called up. Starling had three hits and scored twice while Freeser and J-Hay had a pair of raps. Gregory had just one knock but three RBI. The Pirates had 12 hits and went 5-for-10 w/RISP.
• Felipe got the save as Kyle Crick got the blown save/win combo. For The Nightmare, it was his 25th save, the single-season high by a lefty in franchise history. Mike Gonzalez had the old mark of 24, set in 2006.
• Despite getting tattooed in his debut, Arch got a standing O when he was yanked.
• 26,673 fans came out to see Archer debut tonight.
• Per John Dreker of Pirates Prospects, AJ Schugel pitched for the first time since May 3rd. It didn't go so well, as he gave up three runs in 2/3 IP for Bradenton.
• RHP Nick Burdi strained his quad during his rehab assignment with Altoona after recovering from TJ surgery.