Buccos Drop Series To Cards 5-0

The Bucs got a Cervy knock around two walks to fill the bases (one on a blown 3-2 call) with two outs off John Gant before Red Beard fanned. Joe Musgrove had a clean first act. Jordy started off the second with a smoked at 'em ball followed by a pair of comebackers. It was 1-2-3 for the Redbirds, with the last out well stroked but right at Gregory. Big Joe has thrown 18 pitches, all strikes, so far. Starling opened the third with a bunt single followed by a Fraze rap, but a fly and two whiffs finished by rising heaters ran up the LOB count to five. The bottom of the order gave J-Grove fits; Harrison Bader and the pitcher Gant mashed back-to-back 410'+ homers, one drawback of filling up the strike zone. The Bucs went down without a peep in the fourth, with a pair of K's looking. The Birds loaded the bases with three straight singles. A run scored on a force; J-Bell dropped the relay, costing a DP. No diff; Musgrove came back with a pair of whiffs. The Bucs hit a couple of balls on the nose in the fifth, but none found grass. A one-out walk and double that zipped past Moran put J-Grove in another pickle. Jose Martinez singled them both home with a hopper inside third, although there was the cold comfort in him being tossed out at second by Fraze.

Starling had the only hot stick tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bucco ball luck continued in the sixth; Gregory and Fran lined into 700' of outs, with Tyler O'Neill robbing El Coffee with a leaping over-the-shoulder grab at the track. J-Bell walked and Red Beard reached on a boot, bringing on Dakota Hudson, who got Jordy on a bouncer that 3B Yairo Munoz dove to cut off, saving a hit. Big Joe finished his day with a quiet frame featuring two K. After two whiffs in the seventh, a knock by Starling and walks to Fraze & Gregory packed the sacks. Carlos Martinez was waved in to face Cervy, who hit a can of corn to center. Nick Kingham tossed a clean, 10-pitch inning. Chasen Shreve tossed the eighth. J-Bell opened with a double and Jordy walked with an out, bringing on Jordan Hicks. His 101 MPH heat overmatched Kevin Newman, who looked at three strikes; Corey D went down swinging. Ric Rod fanned a pair and got a comebacker. Luke Weaver got the ninth and Starling opened with a leg single. Fraze flied out, and what would a Bucco game be without a DP, courtesy tonight of Gregory 1-6-3.

The offense continues it's woes; the stranded a dozen runners and went 0-for-9 w/RISP. The pitching may be facing another problem; Big Joe, Willy and Jamo are all approaching career highs in IP. The Pirates will be managing their innings in September, whether by going six-man, skipping starts or through pitch counts will be an interesting call

Notes:

• The Bucs had six hits; Starling had three of them.
• Big Joe began tonight's game with 21 consecutive strikes, the most by any starting pitcher to begin a game since pitches were first tracked in 1988 per Stats by STATS.
• John Gant tied his season high with seven K's.
• The Curve gave out their player awards tonight. The winners - MVP: Will Craig; Pitcher of the Year: Cam Vieaux; Unsung Hero: Jordan George; Fan Appreciation Award: Cole Tucker; Defender of the Year: Ke'Bryan Hayes & Teammate of the Year: Logan Ratledge.
• Baseball America has each team's top ten draft bonuses, with the Bucs running from Gerrit Cole to Tony Sanchez. 
• Stewie on the move again: the D-Backs have made a deal to acquire C Chris Stewart from the Braves, terms not yet announced.
• Giancola Stanton joined the 300 home run club tonight.