Strong Pitching by Pittsburgh + Bobbles by Bravos = 3-2 Pirates Win

Starling opened with an infield knock against Anibal Sanchez, but was erased trying to swipe (he beat the rap cleanly, but the fielder pushed his hand off the base w/his glove to get a call; Clint and Marte were hot, but the out stood). J-Bell walked but the frame died after Ender Inciarte robbed Freeser with a web gem grab at the 375' mark to save a run. Inciarte got a one-out single when Marte inexplicably pulled up on a routine fly, but Jamo and Eli teamed up for an inning-ending strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP (Ender looked safe; tough inning for the second base ump). Corey D started the second with a two-bagger and came home on Eli's rap, with Diaz going to second on the throw home. Sanchez settled down to fan the side, using a cutter that kissed the inside corner to catch both J-Hay & Newman looking. Jamo bopped a batter, whiffed another and got two pops for an easy frame. Two more Bucs K'ed in a quiet third; Jamo also fanned a pair in a 1-2-3 Braves half. There was no Pirates noise in the fourth. Inciarte led off with a soft but well-placed double, but six tosses later, the Bravos were done. It was 12 in a row for Sanchez in the fifth; the Braves managed a two-out walk for their efforts.

Mr Dependable Won His 11th Game Tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Starling opened the sixth with a rap; J-Bell reached when his grounder was tossed high trying for a force. The safe call at second was challenged and upheld (the foot was off the bag). After smokin' two outs in his previous at bats, Freeser dumped a blooper into center with one out to plate Marte. Southpaw Sam Freeman took the ball with Corey D up and geez, a DP, this one a soft liner to second that trapped Freeser off first. The run was gotten back quickly by Ronald Acuna Jr., who homered the oppo way before Jamo shut it down. Luke Jackson got the seventh. Eli pulled up gimpy during a ground out, then J-Hay singled. A force and caught stealing of K-Man ended it. Johan Camargo tied it by leading off with a dinger; it was also an oppo taco. That was followed by a single, but JT worked out of it; at 103 tosses, he's done for the evening. Brad Brach was waved in for the eighth. Fraze led off with a walk; he was safe at second when the Braves misplayed another force attempt on Starling's grounder. Fraze tagged to third on J-Bell's fly and scored on Gregory's rap, followed by a nifty double steal. Freeser had a 3-0 count and swung at ball four twice, rolling out to first. Lefty Jeff Biddle was called on to match up with Dickerson and fanned him with a high heater.

Keone Kela answered the phone and tucked away the top of the Big Peach order with a pair of punch outs. Biddle stayed in and nine pitches later, the middle of the Bravos' lineup was up against Felipe Vazquez. Atlanta got back-to-back one-out knocks, both barely out of J-Hay's reach. Freeser got the lead runner on a grounder to third for the second out and a whiff put it to bed. RTJR.

Keone Kela has been even better than advertised (image AT&T SportsNet)

The offense still needs to find some juice, but tonight the Big A helped with a pair of misplays leading to runs, thank u kindly. Jamo spun his usual dependable outing, Kela and Vazquez did their thing, and hey, a win. Nice to get one of those every so often. Tomorrow's call-up day; Indy plays til September 3rd and is a heated pennant/wild card battle (like the Pirates used to be), so don't look for much movement until that's settled, although we'd expect Jake Stallings to be here immediately with Eli hobbled.

Notes:

• Starling had two hits; he was the only Bucco to reach twice.
• Jamo has tossed 17 straight games giving up three or fewer runs.
• Elias Diaz left the game with right hamstring discomfort.
• For those on the Tyler Glasnow watch, he was dealing again tonight. He allowed the Tribe two hits and one run over seven innings, striking out six with one walk.