Pirates Implode Late, Drop 6-2 Decision to Phils

The Bucs got off on the right foot when S-Rod dropped the second pitch from Aaron Nola over the LF wall. Steven Brault got a whiff, walk, and DP for a quiet start. Corey D singled to start the second but was erased on a Red Beard DP ball an out later. Brault continued to coast, fanning two more. The Bucs were quiet in the third; the Phils got a walk and a bunt but caused no damage. No Pittsburgh noise in the fourth, while the Quakers hit a couple of balls hard, but left a walk and knock aboard. Corey D's single was all the action for either side in the fifth. The Bucs were gifted a run in the sixth. S-Rod singled and came around with two outs when Starling's pop-up somehow fell. Philly came right back; a HBP (originally missed but awarded after a challenge; it apparently brushed his jersey) and single with an out brought in Michael Feliz as Clint used leverage v inning as a decider; it bit him as Rhys Hoskins fouled off several heaters til he found the one he liked, served down Broadway, and sent it yard; Feliz K'ed the next pair but that was the game for all intents and purposes.

Steven Brault's best outing of the year (image from Positively Pittsburgh)

The teams traded singles in the seventh with Nola still on the hill and Edgar Santana working for Pittsburgh. Luis Garcia took the ball in the eighth and K'ed a pair, then lefty Adam Morgan came in to face Gregory; El Coffee won by cueing a soft infield single to the left side. Hector Neris got the phone call to deal with Starling and retired him on a fly to right. Santana opened with a walk; Clint called Felipe Vazquez in (it was a two-fer, with Fraze also entering the game; two wild pitches (one which allowed a strikeout to reach; it was a pitch that was buried that Cervy should have blocked, but he tried to pick it) started the bedlam - a bloop single, another one off Vazquez's glove, a throwing error, an infield knock, a blown forceout at home on a wide throw...anyway, it was 6-2 and the frame was one that no little league coach would dare show his charges. Fraze singled in the ninth; the next three guys didn't and an ugly afternoon ended.

Well, the good news is though Steven still was not throwing a lot of strikes (93 pitches, 49 strikes), he did have his best outing. Otherwise, Clint's leverage usage blew up; we still think it's the way to go in the long run, so we'll see if this was a one-time thing or not. Feliz's game-busting homer wasn't a matter of anything except throwing nothing but fastballs (6-of-7 pitches); sooner or later, they'll get it timed. As far as fundamentals, don't hold your breath.

Notes:

• S-Rod and Corey D each had two hits; the Bucs collected eight during the game.
• Sean's long ball was the first game-opening homer he's ever hit. Of course, it was only the 18th time he's led off a game, too.
• The Pirates have scored two runs or fewer in six of their last eight games. They've lost three in a row and five of six.