Bucco B-Team Behind Jamo & the Pen Sweep ChiSox 3-2

In the first, Jamo left a walk and a knock stranded. Hector Santiago bopped Max Moroff to open the Bucco half, but a Freeser DP an out later finished it off quietly. Yanny Garcia went golfing to drive Taillon's first pitch in the second, a sinker, over the fence to put the ChiSox up. The Bucs had an answer. Corey D singled, Eli walked, and they both scampered home on S-Rod's double; he was tossed out a third after a successful (and righteous; his slide took him off the bag) Chicago challenge of the original safe call. It was a quick and clean third for Jameson & Hector. Garcia got bopped with two outs in the fourth, followed by a walk, but no damage done. Corey D drew a free pass with two gone for all the Bucco action. Chicago tied it in the fifth when Yolmer Sanchez drilled a hung changeup deep; the Sox have three hits and two have left the house. Jamo was walked on four pitches with two outs and was left there.

Jamo struggled a bit but had no blowback from his cut hand (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Chicago got a two-out two-bagger from Garcia in the sixth, followed by a tightly squeezed walk. An infield bleeder loaded the sacks and brought on Edgar Santana against lefty Daniel Palka. He went to the brink by falling behind 3-1 before getting a bouncer to plug the dike. Jace Fry claimed the bump; he lost Joey O with two gone but only bruised his pitch count. Edgar stayed on the hill for the seventh and was touched for just an infield knock. Joakim Soria was welcomed by an Eli double; he had the green light on a 3-0 pitch. An out later, Jordy walked on four pitches. J-Bell grabbed a stick and rolled a single into left center against the shift to give the Bucs the lead. Fraze was next off the bench and his tapper loaded the bases after a Bucco challenge overturned an apparent force at second (the SS never controlled the throw). Gregory, with a chance to blow it open, whiffed and so did Freeser, so thanks for the gift, but no thanks.

Michael Feliz got the set-up call in the eighth to kick off the post-Kontos era. He gave up a two-out knock but no further drama played out (you might consider Fraze in CF as drama enough; he moved there after S-Rod went to second). Nate Jones walked Eli with two outs but kept the spread at one run. Felipe Vazquez gave up an infield knock with two outs (apparently 1-2-3 innings are verboten today) but one pitch later, it was time to RTJR.

J-Bell off the bench for the game-winner (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Jamo struggled some today, but his line was strong enough and the Pirates bench, with a little clutch help from J-Bell, had just enough oomph to slide on by the hapless ChiSox. The Buccos only managed four hits to go with their six walks and a bop; today it was enough with a big assist to the revamped pen. Now the Padres, visiting for four games, are the next target.

Notes:

• S-Rod had two runs plated and Eli touched home twice; J-Bell chased home one run and Corey D scored. They had all four of the Bucco knocks (and three of the six walks).
• Edgar Santana claimed his first MLB win today.
• Cervy took some warmup pitches behind the dish between innings while Eli was slipping into his tools of ignorance, a good sign going forward.
• There were 20,286 at PNC Park today; it was student day at the yard.
• After a day off, J-Hay is slated for a full game at leadoff/second base tonight at Altoona and will DH tomorrow; the rest of his rehab sked is TBD.
• Relievers on ice: AJ Schugel visited Dr. James Andrews and was given a platelet-rich plasma shot. Enny Romero is still in exercise mode and isn't  allowed to throw yet.