Bucs Run Out Of Rallies, Drop Finale 8-6

J-Grove worked a clean opening round; the Pirates, as has been there wont, drilled three bullets off Anthony Sclafani that all found leather, with Billy Hamilton's laid-out grab of Cervy's shot to the track worthy of a highlight film (Statcast gave in a 98% hit probability). Cincy went down in order in the second; Joe has fanned three of the last four batters. A big bang finally fell, landing in the right center field seats as Red Beard opened with a long ball. Two garden variety outs later, Gregory singled but Jordy couldn't turn the order over. The Redlegs opened the third with a pop single into short right, followed by a one-out knock by Hamilton. A wild pitch and grounder (it would have been a DP but for the WP) tied it up; a two-out knock gave them the lead. The Pirates went quietly. The Reds added on in the fourth; a single and Eugenio Suarez homer off a cutter that ran across the heart of the plate made it 4-1.

J-Grove was chased early today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Hamilton opened the fifth with a single *ruh-roh* and stole second a pitch later. A walk and bunt single (an apparently unstoppable ploy against the Pirates) followed before Joey Votto doubled in a pair, bringing on Dovydas Neverauskas. He gave up a walk to load 'em but escaped further leakage. J-Bell lased an out to right, but Gregory read the Colin Moran memo and parked it in the seats, safe from any leather. It was his first long ball since May 12th. Tyler Glasnow came out for the sixth and gave up a one-out knock to DeSclafani with no further ado. Cervy drew a two-out walk that brought in lefty Amir Garrett to face Red Beard, and three sliders sat Moran down. Queen City got a walk in the seventh and nada else. After two outs, a walk and a walk got Garrett yanked and in came Jared Hughes. Two seeing-eye grounders rolled up the middle by Freeser and J-Hay sandwiched around a wild pitch made it 6-4 and the Bucs still had a pulse.

Michael Feliz worked the eighth. He gave up a soft knock between whiffs; the lone runner was caught stealing by Amore on a botched hit-and-run to make for an easy frame. Corey D singled with two away on a left side bleeder and J-Bell added a knock. Raisel Iglesias was waved in and tried to sneak a high two-strike heater past Gregory; he banged it for a double, scoring Corey but losing J-Bell, who was cut down trying to score. Even with two outs, it was an aggressive send by Joey Cora, and ended badly with an unsuccessful challenge for blocking the plate, like that had a chance to work. Edgar Santana took over in the ninth and gave up a Hamilton single and Scott Schebler dinger off a 3-1 fastball. He later gave up a two-bagger to Joey Votto but no more runs. Starling reached on an one-out infield rap. He was forced by J-Hay who walked to second on defensive indifference and scored on AM's knock, but that was the last hurrah.

Gregory was big-time at the dish today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The pitching never gave the Bucs a chance today. Musgrove needs some time to prove or disprove the confidence the FO has in him as a starter. Our major concern now is that his velo dropped a couple of miles in this outing; that's worrisome for a guy who spent two months rehabbing a bum wing. It was a normal game in that Billy Hamilton again wreaked havoc; it was an odd game in that so many bullets became outs and so many nerf ball bouncers became hits. Well, at least the Pirates finally took a series; now to buckle up and try to do the same against the Brewers.


Notes:

• Gregory was 3-of-3 today with a homer and walk along with two runs scored/two RBI. No other Pirate reached base more than once.
• Billy Hamilton had his first three-hit game of the year and his 10th lifetime against the Bucs. He scored three times, stole two bases, started the relay that threw out the tying run at home and made a sliding web-gem catch. And even with those three hits, he's still hitting just .197.
• The Pirates staff has thrown 46 wild pitches. That's top in the majors, with Pittsburgh's nearest NL competition the Phils with 34 wayward tosses.
• On his Sunday show, GM Neal Huntington says there hasn't been any FO conversation re: moving players, contrary to recent speculation of the Pirates being in seller mode.
• If you were wondering about all the blue trim today, the Bucs & Reds are using Father's Day to promote Prostrate awareness; royalties for all blue merchandise sold go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer.