Arch Sharp, Fraze Blasts Game-Winner As Bucs Broom Royals 2-1

In between two whiffs, Adalberto Mondesi doubled to the RF gap and stole third, but Chris Archer got a bouncer to leave him there. With two away against Fillmyer, J-Bell banged a ground-rule double the oppo way, the ball bounding over the railing. Cervy singled, but Josh was nailed trying to score to end the frame; a good throw from short-ish center beat him easily. The Royals raised some two-out dust in the second with an infield rap and walk. Arch got out of it, going full on Fillmyer before fanning him but running his pitch count to 40 with the extended inning against the bottom of the order. Corey D opened with a two-bagger, moved to third on a roller, and tallied on a Red Beard sac fly to draw first blood. Pablo made a nifty diving catch in the third, but couldn't help when Mondesi hammered a ball 421' over the RC wall; Arch just can't throw a clean inning. Starling singled and stole second with two gone and died there. Arch kinda got a clean fourth; a one-out single was erased on a 4-3 DP, with Fraze making a strong turn with a toe drag. Pablo legged out a two-out tapper before Moran fanned. Whit Merrifield dinked a double with two outs, but was caught trying to steal third for another smudged but clean frame.

Arch had it going tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

With two away, the first retired on a nice barehanded play by Hunter Dozier, Fillmyer hung a curve to Fraze and he dropped it over the Xfinity sign in RC. The sixth was a for-real clean frame, with Arch punching out a pair. J-Bell singled; he was caught trying to swipe second, making him 1-of-6 in steals, with his only success on a double steal when the ball was thrown into center...maybe it was a hit-and-run Cervy missed, since he didn't swing. Anyway, it hurt when Corey D's two-out double was wasted. The Royals got a whiff, single and 6-4-3 DP in the seventh. The Bucs went quietly and Ric Rod climbed the hill in the eighth. With two outs, Newman threw the third out away, but it just gave RR an excuse to ring up another K. Brian Flynn answered the call and gave up a single to Starling and nada else. Felipe Vazquez, who's looked a little worn down lately, came in. After two routine grounders, he lost the next batter, but no prob; a fly to right completed the Bucco brooming. RTJR.

Fraze's shot wasn't a walk off but it was a game winner (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

You'd like to see a little more offense in the past two days; the Royals didn't exactly throw Koufax and Drysdale at the Bucs. But the sweep is a feel-good entry into the home conclusion set against the Brewers and a final visit to Wrigley. And Arch has shown signs of coming around, which will be a key to 2019.

Notes:

• Starling, J-Bell and Corey D each had two hits tonight.
• Another slim turnout of 13,073 tonight.
• Arch spun seven innings for the first time as a Bucco - he gave up a run on six hits with a walk and eight K. Maybe a little two-seam/curve action (limited and not real effective right now) and working out of the stretch will pay off...or maybe KC can't hit. Stayed tuned...