Pirates Take Series With Down-to-the-Wire 5-2 Decision

The Bucs gift-wrapped a run in the second when Scooter Gennett doubled off Jamo, went to third on a wayward pickoff try by Eli and scored on a sac fly. The Pirates tried to answer in the third off Tyler Mahle, but Fraze's GIDP w/runners on the corners and an out muffled the effort. To boot, Adam hurt himself (looks like a hammy) on the play, bringing Mad Max into the game. Then the Reds punched back, loading the bases with no outs; Jamo worked out of it with a K, pop and fly. Pittsburgh did come back in the forth thx to the J-Gang - J-Bell walked, J-Hay was bopped, and both scored on JJ's two-bagger. Again, the Reds put runners at second and third, thx to S-Rod's two-out mishandle of a grounder, but again JT wiggled out. The cushion was padded when Starling singled, was bunted up and plated on Cutch's knock. The Reds did finally push a run in with a bloop, walk - Jamo was swapped out for AJ Schugel after that - wild pitch and grounder to make it 3-2. It was another bad day at the office for Jamo - four IP, five hits, four walks & four K while tossing 108 pitches.

Felipe added a little drama but brought it home (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Kevin Shackelford and AJ traded zeroes in the sixth. Drew Storen and Huddy did the same in the seventh. The Bucs blew a golden opp in the eighth against Micheal Lorenzen. A Cutch walk and J-Bell double put runners at second and third. After a J-Hay lineout, JJ was given an intentional pass to load 'em.It proved a good move when S-Rod banged into a 6-4-3 DP and a potential crooked number turned into another goose egg. Juan Nicasio also put up a zip the more traditional 1-2-3 way. Raisel Iglesias gave up  a single-double combo to Eli and Freeser to open the ninth, and this time the Bucs cashed in on a two-run rap by Starling. He stole second and moved to third on a grounder, but surprisingly didn't tag on Cucth's medium fly to right and ended up stranded. Felipe came on and a single, later followed by S-Rod's two-out misthrow (he's not having day to write home about), brought up Joey Votto as the tying run. He walked for the fifth time, taking a borderline 3-2 heater to load the bases. But a bouncer later, it was all good and the Jolly Roger unfurled.

JJ chased the first runs home (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Not a thing of beauty, to be sure. 19 runners were left aboard between the two clubs. The Bucs struck out eight more times, bringing the series total to 33. The staff walked seven more after losing six in the opener, a disturbing trend as of late. But hey - they're 3-of-4 in their little league unis; we say make them the alt jersey.

Notes:

• Starling had three hits, JJ a knock and two walks and the trio of Cutch, J-Bell & Eli had a rap and a walk. Partay and Jaso both had a pair of RBI. Marte, btw, has played in just 50 games but holds the team lead in stolen bases with 13.

Marte Partay! (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• Joey Votto walked five times. He tied the MLB record for most pitches seen in five plate appearances with 43 (D'Angelo Jimenez, SD - 2001) since 1988 when pitch count records were first officially kept. Of course, Joey has the teensiest strike zone in the league; he'll be hugely out-of-luck when the robo-umps arrive.
• In his radio show, Neal Huntington said the Bucs may go to a six-man rotation or skip some starts to create innings for Brault/Glasnow and that Austin Meadows will not get a call up. They want him, as previously noted, to play winter ball. (Austin was pulled from the Indy game for undisclosed reasons about the same time Fraze was injured, so NH may have spoken too soon). He said September call-ups will be two-tiered, with an early call followed with some later post-playoff additions.
• Going into today, Juan Nicasio leads the majors in appearances with 64; Felipe Rivero is sixth at 61 though neither is top ten in bullpen innings worked. Both, btw, worked an inning today. Seven of the top 12 pitchers in games pitched come from the NL Central.
• Tyler Mahle's C Chad Wallach was also making his big league bow. Chad is familiar with Tyler as they were the Louisville battery, so while green, there was a comfort zone between the pair. It's the second time this year that Cincy has fielded a MLB debut battery.
• The Tigers recalled OF JaCoby Jones from AAA Toledo. He was dealt to Motown in 2015 for Joakim Soria, and Jones has developed into a good glove, bad bat CF'er.