Home Opener: Bucs Hang On To Take 5-4 Win & Remain Undefeated

Jameson Taillon started the 2018 home card with a 1-2-3 inning; Gregory Polanco gave the crowd a quick jolt by doubling home J-Hay, who had drawn a walk from Lance Lynn. Another pair of free passes set up a bases-loaded, two-out situation for Colin Moran. He launched a full-count high heater over the Clemente Wall to give the Bucs a 5-0 jump from the box and earn himself a curtain call after his first Pittsburgh at bat. Jamo liked it; he struck out the side in the second around an infield single. It remained quiet; Lynn, with six walks and at 95 pitches, was replaced by Taylor Rogers in the fifth. S-Rod went to short in the sixth; Jordy jammed his hand a couple of innings prior after he hit the dirt.

Jamo had the curve/heater combo workin' today (image Positively Pittsburgh)

The Twins made some sixth-inning noise. After a whiff, Brian Dozier went long, just tucking a drive inside the foul pole. That was followed by a single, and Clint waved in Edgar Santana. It was a good day for JT if shorter than hoped. He went 5-1/3, giving up two runs on four hits (two were infield knocks), walking none and fanning nine while tossing 91 pitches. A double, wild pitch and double brought in Josh Smoker; another double made it 5-4 before Dovy Neverauskas put out the fire twice; he induced a foul pop that plopped right between Cervy and Moran, neither taking charge of ball before a fly to left redeemed them. Trevor Hildenberger took the ball in the bottom half and sat down the Bucs. Dovy started the seventh with a walk and a plunk on the toe that had to be awarded via challenge. An Uncle Ray visit helped; Neverauskas served up a hot shot around-the-horn DP ball and then a can-of-corn fly to keep the Pirates up. Zach Duke came on for the Twins. Two free passes and two swingin' K's later, Addison Reed took the ball to face Freeser and walked him, but got Cervy on a fly.

Michael Feliz toed the rubber in the eighth and started with a walk. Two outs later, he lost another Twinkie, but a forceout closed the frame without any damage. The Bucs opened with a walk, single and sac bunt by Frazier (don't ask; Clint do love his bunts). J-Hay whiffed, looking bad while doing it, and Gregory was given an intentional pass (the 11th Twinkie walk of the day). Good move; Marte went down 6-3 to run the Corsair LOB count to 10. With Felipe off today, George Kontos came in for the close; he was 1-for-2 in save opps last year for the Bucs (it was his first MLB save, earned on the last day of the season against the Nats), but 0-for-5 earlier in the season as a G-Man. He acted like he's been there before and tossed a no-drama frame. RTJR, the Pirates are now 4-0.

Colin had the big blow (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Pirates had five hits on the day; Colin Moran's was the big kahuna. The Bucco starters need to get a little more length to their game; the middle pen is pretty volatile at this point. That said, carrying eight guys as cavalry ended up a stroke of genius the way the weather has jerked the schedule around so far. They used every available guy today (Rivero/Glasnow off days due to workload, Brault because he'll get Thursday's start) except for Clay Holmes, who was prob just a little jet-lagged after flying from Detroit to Indy to Pittsburgh. After a quick turnaround yesterday with three games started within 24 hours, the boys deserve a nap day tomorrow.

Notes:

• Colin Moran is the first Pirate to hit a grand slam in the Home Opener since Roberto Clemente in 1962. The only other Bucco with a Home Opener grand salami is Ralph Kiner, who did his deed in 1949. 
• Gregory drew four walks today; R-E-S-P-E-C-T, as Aretha would say. 
• It was officially announced post-game that Steven Brault will take Joe Musgrove's spot in the rotation Thursday against the Reds.
• In the crucial walk-up music category,  Fran Cervelli switched out Dino's "That's Amore" for Guns N' Roses "Paradise City" during his first at bat before returning to regular programming in the following sets of swings.
• Today's announced attendance was 30,186, breaking a streak of 14 straight Home Opener sellouts. It's the smallest Opening Day crowd in PNC history and the smallest Opening Day gate since 1982.
• Clay Holmes will replace Steven Brault as a long-man while Joe Musgrove is on the DL. Don't sleep on Holmes; Minor League Ball's John Sickels pegs him as the Pirates 2018 sleeper candidate. As for Musgrove, he can return to action on April 9th, in time for the Cub series at Wrigley.
• The Orioles signed briefly-a-Bucco OF Michael Saunders to minor league deal. Since last June, he's been with the Phils, Blue Jays, Pirates, Royals and now the Birds organizations. That's a lot of stops for a 2016 All-Star.