Bucs Broomed in 11 Innings, 3-2

Nick Pivetta and Trevor Williams exchanged zeroes in the first, with a walk by Willy the only action. The second was clean and the third featured some bad bunting: T-Willy couldn't get his down and whiffed; Eli, who had singled, was picked off for the ol' strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP variation. For the Phillie guys, Carlos Santana made the last out trying to drop one for a hit. The Bucs got a pair of free passes that they stranded fourth; the Quakers drew a one-out walk and then returned last inning's favor with their own strike 'em out, throw 'em out twin killing, theirs triggered by a more traditional 3-2 pitch. Both sides struck in the fifth - Jordy doubled and Eli went long to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. A walk to the eight hitter and the Phils first hit, a double by the pitcher, scored one run. A wild pitch and walk left Phils on the corners; a sac fly to left tied it.

Trevor pitched well enough to win (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Marte singled with an out in the sixth; Corey D lined to second and yep, another DP. The Philadelphians went quietly. With an out and Freeser on first via a knock in the seventh, Edubray Ramos came in to calm the waters. Michael Feliz was back in his usual role and put up a zippo, making it exciting by serving a two-out but ultimately harmless triple. Williams gave up two runs on a hit, five walks, and seven K after 92 pitches; if he could have focused a little better against the bottom of the order in the fifth...still, good outing but for the walks. Tommy Hunter got the ball for Phillies. Tommy Hunter tossed a 1-2-3 eighth. George Kontos was nicked for a pair of two-out singles, one a laser and the other a bleeder. Pedro Florimon was called on to pinch hit, but fortunately ex-Buc P-Flo wasn't the vengeful sort and skied out.

Victor Arano took his turn in the ninth. Starling worked a long at-bat and was rewarded; even tho he rolled over and grounded to third, the throw was offline and he was aboard. He swiped second, and following a pop up (not a very productive at bat for Corey D) and liner that found leather, Red Beard was walked intentionally. Jordy bounced out *sigh*. Edgar Santana climbed the hill and was tapped for a two-out single that caused no problem. With an out in the 10th, J-Bell grabbed a bat and tripled. S-Rod K'ed, missing a 3-2 slider. Gregory was walked intentionally and Starling flew out. Kyle Crick had a frustrating but in the end scoreless frame; a bunt single and his own error put him in a jam, but he escaped. Yacksel Rios worked the 11th; a Corey D single and two-out error left Pirates on the corners, but Eli ended it with a comebacker. Richard Rodriguez came in and gave up a triple with an out that was reviewed to see if it left the yard, but it hadn't; to boot, the ball was just a couple of inches away from landing in Dickerson's glove. No diff; RR threw Aaron Altharr four straight sliders and he finally rolled one into left to broom the Bucs.

Eli provided what little punch there was (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Don't move up runners; that's a good way to strand nine runners and finish 1-for-10 w/RISP (which admittedly was a stat that was way overdue for regression). Fall asleep on the 8-9 hitters and watch it cost you the game. Maybe try to mix up the pitches a little bit. The team wasn't as good as its start and not as bad as it's playing now, but we sure hope they pick up a couple of lessons while foundering; they do too much by the seat of the pants and not enough by the ABC's.
Notes:

• Eli had two hits and Corey Dickerson added a walk and a knock; the Pirates had seven hits overall.
• Since Friday the 13th, the Pirates piled up 17 runs in two games and 10 runs in the other eight contests. They're 3-7 over that span.
• Joe Musgove will throw a bullpen session today after feeling no discomfort following Thurdsday's outing. If this one has the same result, he'll toss a sim game at PNC Park on Wednesday. The Pirates hope to have him back sometime in May.