Brewer Bombs, Buc Boots Add Up To 6-2 Defeat

Holy moly! The sun is beaming in Pittsburgh, the birdies are chirping their spring song and Tyler Glasnow tossed a 1-2-3, 10-pitch opening frame. Zach Davies answered by putting the Bucs away without  ball leaving the infield. Ty had a better second; it took him nine pitches to navigate the frame. Gregory walked on four pitches to open, Jose Osuna fanned on three. El Coffee was picked off, Goose bounced out and it was on to the third. The Brew Crew got their first run with two outs when a single was followed by a liner to right; JJ stepped up and the ball sailed over his head to make it 1-0. Stew got the Bucs first knock and was stranded for his trouble.

Tyler went an inning too long (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Travis Shaw went deep to open the fourth and make it 2-0; the Pirates stranded a pair. Milwaukee tacked on another with a walk, bunt, and Goose error in the fifth; Ty's not getting a lot of help today. The only Pirate to reach was Glasnow, who walked. It was 1-2-3 for the Brew Crew in the sixth. Pittsburgh flashed some two-out muscle when J-Bell doubled and Jose Osuna cracked his first MLB homer to make it 3-2. The Brewers answered in the seventh. Keon Broxton singled, stole second and scored on a one-out Jesus Aguilar double. That brought on Johnny Barbato, who shut the gate. Tyler went 6-1/3 IP giving up four runs (three earned) with two walks and six K after 101 pitches. Jacob Barnes and Oliver Drake combined to quiet the Bucs.

Jose's first MLB long ball (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Milwaukee went quietly in the eighth with just a walk. Corey Knebel struck out the side with a Gregory knock sprinkled in. Alternating whiffs and dingers in the ninth, Aguilar and Eric Thames went deep, bringing on Josh Lindblom, who ended the trend by getting a bounce out. Neftali Feliz took the ball and gave up a knock and a walk. Stew tried to bunt his way on; it was a good effort but didn't work. Two routine outs shut the book.

The Bucs reverted today; the lack of a third OF'er cost them one run and another boot at second cost them one more. But with the lineup, it probably didn't make much diff. We know Clint schedules rest days in advance, but with a day off for Fran and J-Hay resting a sore foot, he might have let Cutch play. The FO, even when Fraze and Freeser return, would be well advised to try to balance the bench a little better. Off to LA; at least the Bucs have a series win under their belt.

Notes:

• Gregory had two hits and drew two walks; other than Jose Osuna's long fly, the Buc bats were AWOL today.
• Pittsburgh's seven second-base errors in 21 games lead the league.
• The Pirates are carrying as many catchers (3) as outfielders, and one of those OFers, Jose Osuna, is actually a slash player at 1b/OF. 
• The Bucs drew 25,109 to the yard today.
• Indy IF Max Moroff homered from both sides of the plate last night for the first time in his career. He has an IL-leading eight long balls.