Bucco Bats Carry the Day in 11-9 Win Over LA

With two gone in the first and a runner on first, Willy left a two-strike fastball center-center to Matt Kemp; he got lucky as Kemp's shot hopped the fence for a ground rule double to save a run. A grounder closed the inning, tho Trevor burned through 28 tosses. Caleb Ferguson made his MLB debut by bopping J-Hay, who made up for it by being tossed out at third on Austin Meadow's infield hit (not his bad; Joey Cora waved him on with brio). The inning fizzled from there. The Trolley Dodgers went down in order in the second. Hmmm...a trend; leadoff man Corey D got dinged with a pitch. Red Beard & Freeser walked an out later. Willy took strike three, but J-Hay picked him up, doubling off a belt-high 2-0 fastball to chase home three. AM walked, and after 57 pitches, Fergie gave the ball to Daniel Hudson. Starling knocked home another tally before the gate shut.

J-Hay chased home three tallies (image source: Pittsburgh Pirates)

Willy walked a pair with two outs in the third and it of course bit him - Matt Kemp doubled and Cody Bellinger homered, and it was a 4-4- game. Not for long as Corey D singled and Freeser walk; a grounder by Moran was thrown away, plating a run, and an out later, another bouncer brought home a second tally. Willy had been pulled for a pinch hitter and Steven Brault took the ball in the fourth, having a quiet frame against the bottom of the order. Brock Stewart got atop the hill. With an out, Amore walked and Corey D singled and both scored on Freeser's double. The Dodgers charged back; a walk, single and Kemp homer made it 8-7 in the fifth. Starling became the third Bucco HBP, but that was all the action. LA got a one-out knock in the sixth and Ric Rod was waved in. He closed it down the hard way; with Austin Barnes running on a 3-2 pitch, a liner to Corey D and his relay to first resulted in a DP, with a diving Freeser making a nifty tag.

Scott Alexander took the mound and gave up an infield knock to Corey D (he was first rung up but the call was overturned after a challenge). Freeser walked and S-Rod singled a run home. Yimi Garcia answered the phone and gave up a two-run double to Gregory, who was tossed out trying for three; the Bucs have lost a trio of guys trying for third in seven innings, counting Fraze last night. Edgar Santana trotted in for the seventh and twirled a clean frame. Erik Goeddel took his turn; Starling walked, stole second and was stranded. Kyle Crick came on in the eighth. He gave up consecutive 3-2 walks, with a wild pitch in between each. With two outs, a two-strike balk (quick pitch) and single scored them both. Felipe Vazquez was tasked with the four-out save and started with a whiff. Tony Cingrani joined the parade, walked Red Beard, and the trainer led himoff, to be replaced by Josh Fields. He quickly calmed the seas with a S-Rod pop and DP ball fed to Gregory. LA got a leadoff walk, then another one an out later. That brought up Kemp, who is 3-for-3 with two doubles and a dinger, but an at 'em ball to J-Hay sat him down *whew*. A garden variety grounder followed; time to RTJR.

Corey plated four times (image source: Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Dodgers started a AA pitcher and it looks like everyone on the hill turned into minor leaguers - there were 18 (!) walks issued in a three hour, 48 minute game. It's hard to watch Willy work; he's been a month-long mess, and the bullpen remains problematic. It was ugly, but a win is a win, even if some ERAs took a bruising, and one that the Pirates badly needed. They'll be back at lunchtime tomorrow afternoon for the rubber match if they don't hit the snooze button after a long night.

Notes:

• Corey Dickerson has five outfield assists this year, a career high. He also had three hits, a walk, and four runs scored. J-Hay had two raps and three RBI. The Pirates 6-7-8 hitters (Colin Moran, Freeser and S-Rod) reached base eight times (they drew six walks, two each) and scored five times with three runs chased home.
• Ivan Nova has responded well to his throwing program. It's TBD when he returns, though; he's not among the announced starters through the weekend.
• Jung-Ho Kang went 1-for-4 with a homer, GIDP and whiff for Bradenton tonight. The Bucs, per the AT&T SportsNet TV guys, are skipping a rehab level and fast tracking him to Indianapolis this weekend.
• Here's a list of all the Bucco draft picks for 2018.