Bucs Jump to Early Lead Behind Gregory, Pen Seals the Deal 6-3

Ivan Nova whiffed two of the first three Nats; the third out reached on a swing-and-miss passed ball by Cervy that looked close to a foul tip, but no Bucco protest, so... It cost Ivan seven pitches but no damage as he got Bryce Harper to fly out. New leadoff man Corey D greeted Jefry Rodriguez with a rap to right and Starling doubled him to third. They both came home on Gregory's single up the middle. He stole second and came around on Red Beard's oppo field two-bagger. The bats then reverted to Jello with a comebacker, K and foul pop. The first three Nats reached on raps in the second with Adam Eaton's knock chasing home Matt Adams, but Starling cut down Daniel Murphy at third. That seemed to pump Nova; he fanned the next pair. The Bucs went back to work - a Mad Max walk, Corey D triple and two-out homer by Gregory gave the Pirates a nice early pad. The Phils got a two-out knock in the third; the Pirates left runners on the corners.

Ric Rod struck out the side on 11 pitches in the seventh
(photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

In the fourth, another two-out single by DC; Starling singled, stole and was stranded. It wouldn't be an Ivan start without a long ball and Juan Soto banged a solo shot in the fifth off a fat full-count fastball. The Bucs wasted a Freeser double. In the sixth, Bryce Harper went long on a grooved 3-2 heater to make it 6-3; we're sensing a pattern. With two gone, Cervy and Adam Eaton exchanged chirps over Lord knows what; the benches briefly emptied, but no blood was let (peace reigned before the bullpens could even join in). Eaton got the best of it, doubling to end Nova's night as Ric Rod entered to get the final out. Matt Grace took the ball for the Nats; a walk to Gregory was his only ding. Ric Rod fanned a pair in a clean seventh. Shawn Kelley retired the Buccos in order. Edgar Santana worked the eighth and *wow* struck out the side (Anthony Rendon - Harper - Adams) on 11 pitches. Justin Miller spun a 1-2-3 frame.

Felipe Vazquez gave up a bloop single to Murphy to open the ninth, followed by a one-out rap. No sweat; he got red-hot Mark Reynolds on a 6-4-3 DP to send the folks home happy. RTJR!

Felipe celebrated his All Star status with his 19th save
(photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Corey D led off like a boss, Gregory lost a baseball & had four RBI, Starling played center like a gazelle and the bullpen was stellar again as the Bucs took their second straight win. For Ivan, a very meh outing with eight hits and two more homers, but on this night, the good play overcame the not-so-good, yay.

Notes:

• This was Corey D's first shot at leadoff in Pittsburgh, but he's accustomed to the position, having started in the one spot 87 times before joining the Bucs with a .267 BA/.317 OBP. He did a nice job, going 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and a RBI. Gregory had two hits including a homer & four runs chased home, and Freeser chipped in with a pair of raps.
• The Buc backend continues to be fan-tastic; six of the 10 outs they recorded were strikeouts.
• 14,073 were in the house tonight.
• The Nats reinstated C Matt Wieters (hammy) from the 10-day DL today.
• Not only have S-Rod and Clay Holmes gone to Bradenton during the IL All-Star break, but so has Mitch Keller to stay on schedule.
• Buster Posey dropped out of the ASG with hip inflammation; Yadier Molina got the nod over Cervy to replace him.