After a whiff, Nick Kingham gave up three straight knocks to jam the bases. Another punch out almost got him out of the pickle, but he bopped Mike Moustakas on a 2-2 pitch and it was 1-0; The King just can't work a scoreless first frame. He had two strikes on five batters, but three of them reached base anyway. Wade Miley tossed a clean inning. Orlando Arcia led off the second with an almost homer; a fan reached over The Notch wall to snag the ball, and it ended up a ground rule double. Then the pitcher walked and a batter later, Christian Yelich hit a dinger that counted; there's no fan interference 440' away from the plate. Pablo added to mess by dropping a ball in right, then Travis Shaw launched one 425' into the seats; that's the third ball hit over 400' in the span of six batters. After a knock and a walk, Tanner Anderson was called into action and four pitches later, the bleeding was staunched. The Bucs put up an Eli single, J-Low 6-4-3 DP and Joey O 104 MPH at 'em ball inning. A double, grounder, and wild pitch (a walk & stolen base also happened) tallied another run for the Brew Crew in the third. The bottom of the Bucco order went down without a peep.
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| Josh's PNC farewell as a Bucco? (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) |
A comebacker, single and 5-4-3 DP made the fourth an easy, six-pitch frame for Tanner. Miley's was easy, too, taking eight pitches to complete. Anderson is feelin' it now, with a seven-toss fifth. The Bucs opened with an Eli knock and Luplow walk; a boot on Joey O's grounder packed the sacks. J-Hay doubled home a pair and Jordy did likewise on the next pitch. Ryan Lavarnway grabbed a bat and Corey Knebel took the ball. Ryan fanned on three pitches, Pablo on four and Krame, who hit inexplicably for Marte, on six. In the sixth, it was now Krame at third, Joey O in right, Pablo in left and J-Low in center with Steven Brault pitching. With an out, a knock, wild pitch and couple of five-pitch walks filled the bases. Moustakas got ahead 3-1, but Steven came back to fan him and was pulled for Michael Feliz to match up with Erik Kratz; Ryan Braun hit for him and walked on four pitches, then Arcia on five. A very wild pitch that kicked up the first base line cleared the bases, the third run scoring when Feliz whiffed on Bell's throw to home. Five runs on one hit... Corbin Burnes tossed a 1-2-3 frame. Michael stayed on in the seventh and plunked Yelich, who then stole second before the Brewers went down. Jordan Lyles tucked the Bucs away.
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| May be Jordy's last call, too. (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) |
Dovy Neverauskas worked the eighth and Moustakas welcomed him with a homer. Lyles bopped Colin Moran to even up, we suppose, then retired the Buccos in order. Nick Burdi got the ninth and gave up no runs on a knock and a walk to go with two strikeouts. Joey O singled off Matt Albers with two away and it counted when Fraze banged a pinch hit homer. K-Man fanned and that ended it.
Well, not a great taste left in the fans' mouth today. It just emphasizes that the middle infield isn't the only winter concern; the Pirates FO needs to build pitching depth for 2019.
Notes:
- No Pirate had more than one hit; Eli was the only Bucco to reach twice with a knock and a walk.
- Today's announced attendance at PNC Park was 20,623 for a season total of 1,465,316. That's the lowest mark ever for PNC Park and the fewest fans since the '96 Bucs drew 1.3M.
- The Pirates were mathematically eliminated from the wild card race today.
- J-Hay was pulled from the game in the top of the eighth and got a standing O as he went to the dugout waving to the fans. Jordy also was taken out a batter later and got the same treatment from the faithful.
- The Pirates announced Starling was pulled because of left calf tightness that occured when he was running out a grounder in the fourth inning.
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