Opening Day Wasn't Pretty, But It Was A Win: 13-10 In 13 Innings

Looked good for a minute when Fraze opened with a double (although he never moved off second) and Ivan Nova escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam (two walks & an infield single). So much for early optics. The Buc bats went icier than the Detroit weather while the Tigers jumped on Nova. He gave up back-to-back-to-back doubles to the 7-8-9 hitters and was lucky to escape with just two runs. The third went by uneventfully. In the fourth, the light went on as Gregory, J-Bell and Corey Dickerson hit consecutive one-out singles worth a run; two more came home on Cervy's two-out, two-run two-bagger to center. Ivan tucked away Motown in their half.

Dodging the Raindrops 2016 Topps

The Pirates went quietly in the fifth while Detroit made some noise. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with nobody gone, and it took that long to get someone up in the pen, even with two off days and an extra arm. Clint got away with that gaffe; Ivan coaxed a short fly and 6-4-3 DP to dodge his second bases-filled-with-no-one-out pickle of the day. Gregory opened the sixth with a walk, stole second and scampered to third when the ball skipped into center, scoring on J-Bell's single. A bigger inning was averted when Dickerson K'ed and Josh was gunned at second; a 3-2 pitch with no outs is usually not a running situation (especially with Bell on base). Dovydas Neverauskas took the hill for the Bucs and worked a 1-2-3 frame, with Nova's final line at two runs, six hits, three walks & four whiffs after 84 pitches.

Motown's Warwick Saupold took the ball in the seventh and spun a clean inning. Michael Feliz stepped in and ouch - he gave up a double on a fly ball Gregory should have gloved followed by a walk; the ump missed a couple of calls on that at-bat. No excuses for the next rocket, a game-tying double to right by Miggy. He scored on a single with the runner moving to second on a way-late throw home. Feliz was given the hook; he threw nothing but four-seamers and every ball was hit pretty well. It got worse for the next-up Edgar Santana, who tossed well; J-Bell booted a ball to make it 6-4 before the smoke cleared.

Drew VerHagen toed the slab; Fraze singled and J-Hay walked to put the Bucs in business. Lefty Daniel Stumpf came in to replace DVH and was greeted by a Gregory double to cut the lead to one; Bell's sac fly tied it with Gregory tagging to third. The inning came to a frustrating end when Dickerson's soft liner to short caught Polanco going the wrong way for a DP. George Kontos got the ball; his second pitch plunked the ump in the mask, knocking him out of the game. The inning was otherwise calm.

Today's Winner Steven Brault (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Shane Greene climbed the mound for the ninth and Marte tripled to say hi, scoring on Amore's knock. Jordy's hit-and-run single sent him to third an out later, and Frankie plated after a passed ball. Joe Jimenez got the wave with two gone; a walk and catcher's interference filled the bags. J-Bell's weak roller to second was tossed away. It was ruled a hit and error as two more Buccos crossed the dish. Felipe entered in a non-save spot as the only loose Pirate pitcher. He walked consecutive batters with an out, and they both scored on a double. An out was followed by another walk, with Rivero at 30 pitches. He's missing up and away, the same pattern he showed in Florida; a mechanical tinker is definitely due in his near future. At any rate, that brought in Josh Smoker, who promptly gave up a game-tying double.

Jimenez started the 10th, walked Marte and after an out, Alex Wilson answered the phone. Starling was caught stealing; he had a poor jump and never had much of a chance. Smoker walked the first batter; with two outs, he had a runner on second thanks to a wild pitch. JaCoby Jones looked at strike three, but the ump missed it, and of course the former Bucco farmhand took advantage and singled in the run to end it. Or did he? - the Bucs appealed the call at home; it looked like Fran nicked him sliding by. And he apparently did. So on we slog, minus Motown manager Ron Gardenhire, who was ejected after the call was reversed. Wilson put up another zero in the 11th. Steven Brault walked his first batter but got the next trio. The same pair stayed on the bump for the 12th; nada for either club.

With two gone in the 13th, Fraze and J-Hay singled. Then Hallelujah, Gregory rocketed one over the wall, sitting on a 3-0 pitch. But ho boy, after an out the El Tigres rapped back-to-back singles. No prob; Steven whiffed the next two Striped Cats swinging to put it, at long last, to bed and Raise the Jolly Roger for the first time this year. Hot takes? Nah, too early for that except to again suggest the season starts out west instead of the snow/rain belt.

Today's Hero 2016 Topps

Notes:

• Fraze, Gregory and J-Bell each had three hits; J-Hay, Starling and Fran collected a pair of raps. El Coffee had four RBI while Bell and Cervy each knocked home three. Harrison and Polanco each scored three times.
• Felipe Rivero and Michael Feliz were charged with eight runs in 2/3IP while the last three guys to make the club, Josh Smoker, Dovy Neverauskas and Edwin Santana, tossed 3-1/3 scoreless frames. George Kontos and game-winner Steven Brault also posted zeroes.
• J-Hay walked twice today! Sure beats getting plunked as a way to get aboard. 
• 13 runs was the most the Pirates scored in an Opener since 1911 when they beat the Reds 14-0 at the Palace of the Fans. The time of today's game was five hours, 27 minutes, the longest Opener in Bucco hostory. That 1911 contest took two hours and eight minutes.
• The Pirates were 1-59 when trailing by multiple runs after seven innings last year; now they at least have the one win safely booked for this year..
• IF Gift Ngoepe made the Blue Jays MLB roster.