Moran Granny, Bullpen Lead Bucs to 7-5 Series Clincher at San Diego

Austin Meadows almost legged out an infield knock to open against Tyson Ross, but a challenge overturned the original safe call. J-Bell walked and a quick around-the-horn DP by J-Hay ended the frame. Eric Hosmer singled with two outs (one on a very nice play by Corey D in left) and stole second, but Jameson Taillon whiffed his way clear. Dickerson continued his roll by going boom in the second; Gregory walked but no more havoc was wreaked. With one gone, the Padres drew back-to-back free passes. A single brought home a run with the lead runner moving to third when Eli muffed the throw to the plate. It hurt; pitcher Ross lofted a sac fly to give SD the lead. The Pirates made not a peep in the third. Wil Myers opened with a full-count walk (all three have been on 3-2 pitches) that should been called strike three, and the missed call hurt when JT hung an 0-2 curve to Hunter Renfroe, who doubled Myers home.

Another bad day at the office for Jamo (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bucs chipped back in the fourth; a single, wild pitch and Eli double cut the lead to one. Ross singled with two down and stole the first base of his career; Jamo focused and got the third out. AM spanked a two-out double in the fifth and J-Bell walked. A swinging bunt by J-Hay loaded the bases (after the batter ahead of him walked, he swung at two pitches a mile off the plate, getting a miss and a dribbler). Red Beard took a ball, then turned on belt-high heater, inside half, and drilled a grand salami. San Diego got one back when Hunter Renfroe launched a two-out bomb to make it 6-4. That was followed by consecutive hard knocks, and JT's day was done as Edgar Santana entered, whiffing Freddy Galvis. Well timed by Clint, who usually won't touch a starter with the lead until he's got his full five innings.

Eli opened the sixth with a big fly off a full-count slider, and that dinger brought in Jose Castillo who calmed the waters. Ric Rod took the ball and walked the first hitter, then gave up a single. An out later, an infield bleeder brought a run and Steven Brault in. He walked the bases loaded - the strike zone has been squeezed bloodless all day for both sides by ump Todd Tichenor - then got a short fly for the second out. Kyle Crick came in to get a righty-righty match with Christian Villanueva and fell behind 3-1, but came back to get a K. Robert Stock got in some early seventh inning hot water after an error and a rap put Pirates on the corners. He got J-Hay on a short fly, geez, lotta them going around lately, and lefty Robbie Erlin was flipped the ball. AM was cut down at home on the contact play when Red Beard grounded to first and Corey D fanned; the Bucs need work on that runner on third and no outs scenario.

Eli has a hot stick (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Crick walked the first guy after being ahead 0-2, and after two outs & 28 pitches, he walked another. Uncle Ray visited and Kyle got another batter; four tosses later, a fly ended the inning. The game is three hours old now. Adam Cimber answered the eighth inning bell and worked a calm frame. Tyler Glasnow took over and 1-2-3'ed the Friars. Craig Stammen got the ninth. AM bounced a one-out single but nothing came of it. Felipe Vazquez toed the slab. He got Travis Jankowski on a pop behind the dish after the fifth 3-2 toss in a great battle. That was followed by a pair of quick whiffs; RTJR.

Three homers, with one being a granny, should and did win the game. Jamo's inconsistency is a worrisome thing, though the bullpen came up aces. They could use a laugher for a break; Clint sure isn't making Clay Holmes and Tanner Anderson earn their paychecks. But live in today; the Bucs head to LA with 4-of-6 in the bag so far on the road trip.

Notes:

• Austin Meadows, Colin Moran and Elias Diaz each had a pair of hits today.
• Per Elias Sports, Colin Moran is the second Pirates rookie to hit two grand slams in a season. The other was Wally Westlake in 1947.
• Corey D's homer was his first since May 4th, his first RBI since June 1st and his first extra-base hit since June 16th.
• Big year for Kyle Crick - he earned his first MLB save in May and today got his first big league win.

Kyle looks like more than a throw-in (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• This was Pirates' eighth three-homer game this season and they're 8-0 in those contests per Chris Mack.
• The Bucs walked seven Padres and only drew three walks with a super-tight strike zone; the difference was that SD adjusted and the Pirates kept on swinging.
• OK, now we can lay the Joey Cora decision to bed - he wanted Gregory on the bag yesterday but wasn't going to send him; he thought the fly was too shallow (it was just medium depth) for El Coffee to score. All Clint had to say today after offering Joey cover last night was that "if he gets that opportunity to make that call again, there'll be a tag and a go."
• Cervy has been moved from the seven-day concussion DL to the regular 10-day DL. It's a paper move as he wasn't ready to rejoin the club yet.