Bucs, J-Bell Sprint From the Gate To Split Series With 6-3 LL Classic Win

Ivan gave up a couple of hits to open *sigh* but a Starling-to-Jordy_to-J-Hay cut Dexter Fowler down to escape the frame. It started off well for the Bucs against Mike Leake - Starling singled, J-Hay doubled (and lost an RBI when Marte hit third awkwardly and had to retreat back to the sack), then a Cutch bouncer and J-Bell bomb made it 3-0. Giving Buc hurlers a big lead hasn't been a boon lately; Jedd Gyorko's blast made it 3-2. Five out of six Pirates singled in the third, with J-Bell and Fraze chasing home three more runs to take the lead to 6-2. The Cards led off the fourth with an error and double; Ivan stranded them with back-to-back whiffs. Sam Tuiailala took the ball in the fourth for SL and stopped the bleeding.

J-Bell chased home four runs (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

In the sixth, a double and two-out knock cut the edge to three and brought on AJ Schugel who calmed the waters while the Bucs stranded a couple of ducks in their half. A bunt single and walk with an out in the seventh brought Dovydas Neverauskas into the game, and he set down the next two Redbirds. The bullpens navigated the final few outs without leaking any runs either way, and the Bucs get to raise it one more night. There was was a cool and fitting ending; both teams came out, formed lines and walked through shaking hands in true Little League spirit (w/o any nyah-nyahs, we hope).

The split didn't do much to advance either club's agenda - the Bucs are seven back in the loss column to the Cubs and the Cards four behind (and the same number of games behind for the wild card) with 38 games to go.

That's the way we like it... (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Notes:

• The first four Pirates hitters (Starling, J-Hay, Cutch & J-Bell) went 8-for-15, scored all six runs and drove in five. It marked the sixth straight multi-hit game for Marte while J-Bell's four RBIs tied his single-game high.
• Ivan was hit fairly hard - eight knocks over 5-2/3 IP - but limited the damage; the Redbirds stranded nine, hit into a DP and had a guy gunned on the bases.
• Tonight's Bowman Field attendance was 2,596.
• Gerrit Cole, who will start tomorrow at PNC Park against the Dodgers, stayed behind in Pittsburgh rather than spend the day traveling.