Bucs Beat the Rain & Tribe 7-0

The game was delayed to 7:55, then 8:05 - that one worked, yay. The Bucs went 1-2-3 against Corey Kluber - Dickerson singled, Starling lined out to center and Gregory hit into a DP of the ol' step on the bag and get the tag at second variety. Willy worked a clean frame. Colin singled with an out in the second. After a J-Bell force that should have been a DP, Freeser reached on a misplayed pop and J-Hay made the two bobbles hurt when he sent an 0-2 hanger 432' into the seats. Jordy doubled, Corey D walked and Starling knocked Mercer home before the dance ended, thanks to nice grab by Melky Cabrera to deny Gregory. The Tribe got a two out rap by Melky for their efforts. Kluber tossed a quiet third. With two Cleve outs, the rains came and the umps sent everyone dashing for cover. The storm passed through quickly enough and 1/2 hour later, Willy got the third out in a drizzle.

Wet Willy tossed a four-hitter over six for his first whitewash (photo Joe Guzy/Pirates)

J-Hay and Jordy singled with one gone in the fourth. A force left Bucs on the corners and Starling knocked another run home. Gregory ripped a trip-trip-triple and it was 7-0 when the smoke cleared. The Indians went down in order. Zach McAllister claimed the slippery hill in the fifth. He worked a whiff, J-Bell single and Freeser 6-4-3 DP for a calm inning. Cleveland opened with a walk and then bled a one-out swinging bunt rap. No damage resulted, and better yet, it's an official game now. Pittsburgh went quietly in the sixth with a couple of hard-hit balls finding leather. Willy gave up a knock, walk and knock with one gone to fill the sacks. He labored, but a whiff - his first - and a bouncer got him in the dugout. And everyone else, too - the tarps came out again. The blue crew waited for an hour or so, then pulled the plug at 11. RTJR!

Dang, sure is fun to watch the boys mash. Dunno how long this is going to continue, but enjoy it while it's happening.

Notes:

• 16 games straight with a hit for Starling. He had two knocks tonight, as did Jordy and J-Hay.
• This was Willy's first MLB shutout.
• The last time the Pirates won 10 consecutive games was in 2004.
• An hour before the game, the Pirates announced that they called up RHP Casey Sadler, optioned Max Moroff to Indy (S-Rod bumped him) and DFA’d Josh Smoker to clear space for Sadler on the 40-man. Sadler, 28, slashed 5-5/3.46 at Indy as a long man & spot starter.
• Corey D's homer run ended tonight at four games. The last Pirate to homer in five consecutive games was Jose Castillo in 2006.
• MLB.com named the Bucco relief corps as the "Bullpen of the Week." Well, duh, bullpen of the month is a better description; the back end guys have been untouchable in July.
• Per John Dreker of Pirates Prospects, Nick Burdi, the Rule 5 guy rehabbing from TJ surgery, is moving up to Altoona after a short stop at Bradenton.