Corey, K-Man, Willy Led Bucs to 3-2 Win Over the Crew

The Bucs got a bloop Starling single in the first off Jhoulys Chacin; the Brew Crew got nada off of Trevor Williams. The Pirates dented the scoreboard in the second. Corey D doubled, moved up on a bouncer and came home on Kevin Newman's sac fly. Willy tossed another clean frame. Pittsburgh went quietly in the third. Milwaukee bopped a two-bagger to go with a two-out walk, but no damage done. J-Bell walked to start the fourth, moved up 90' on a grounder and came home on Corey D's rap. Another walk set the Bucs up; a K-Man 6-4-3 DP squelched the rally. The Brew Crew worked a lead off free pass that Willy stranded at first. A Jacob Stalling walk and bunt up led to nothing for the Pirates in the fifth. Milwaukee opened with a two-bagger and Trevor responded with two K's and a roller to first to defuse the situation. Corey Knebel took over in the sixth and walked J-Bell; he was caught stealing (not sure but looked like a hit and run on a 1-2 count) as Dickerson fanned and it was a quiet inning. The Brewers tried to bunt their way aboard unsuccessfully, then whiffed twice.

Willy is in a good place this year (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Joakim Soria answered the seventh inning call with a 1-2-3 frame. Ric Rod relieved Willy, who was at 97 pitches, and gave up a rap but no runs. Xavier Cedeno got three grounders in a 1-2-3 eighth. Kyle Crick was waved in and served up three routine outs. Corbin Burnes was banged for a two-out double by Corey, who has three of the four Pirates hits. Make that three of five; Newman singled him home with a third run added to the cushion. Felipe Vazquez gave up back-to-back homers to Jesus Aguilar and Domingo Santana on fastballs to open the Brew Crew half, then settled down and tucked the next three Brew Boys away. RTJR.

Felipe likes to start his innings off working his fastball before mixing in his breaking stuff; looks like the league is learning to hunt heat in the early at bats. Once he mixed in his slider and change, he was fine. Hopefully, lesson learned. Willy was Superman again, giving up two hits and fanning seven with just enough offense to carry the day. The Bucs have three games left with both the Cubs and Brewers; it would kinda be fun to throw a wrench into their September runs.

Corey brought his stick today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Notes:

• Corey D had three hits (two doubles), scored twice and had an RBI; Kevin Newman had a pair of RBI as the duo was a double-trouble Brewer wrecking crew this afternoon. J-Bell and Red Beard each drew a pair of walks; Josh scored the other run.
• This was Willy's ninth six-inning plus scoreless start, the MLB's best.
• Elias Diaz (hamstring, out since 8/31) was doing baseball things during the pregame drills, and may be available off the bench today to hit if there aren't any new twinges.
• MLB Pipeline has the roster for the Pirates Instructional League, and quite a few hot prospects will winter for a bit in Florida.
• The Pirates are giving away 2,500 tickets for each of the next five home games as part of Fan Appreciation week. The schedule: Monday, 9/17-Teacher/Educator Night; Tuesday, 9/18 -Youth Baseball & Softball Players and Coaches Night; Wednesday, 9/19 - Active Military & Veterans Night; Friday, 9/21 - First Responders Night; Saturday, 9/22 - Nurses & Medical Caregivers Night. If you fit one of those categories, thank you for your service and click here to apply for your complimentary Bucco tix (limit - two apiece).