RTJR For The Last Time As Bucs Take The Finale 6-5 in 10 Innings

For the Bucs, it was three up, three grounders, three down to Sal Romano. Billy Hamilton doubled, stole third and scored off Clay Holmes; a walk was erased by a DP. Eli led off with a knock in the second; an out later, Joey O's hard one hopper (104 MPH) was snagged by Romano and he turned two. The Reds opened with a walk and a knock. A line drive DP temporarily eased the pressure, but Tim Federowicz dumped one in the seats to make it 3-0. The bottom of the Bucco order went down peacefully in the third when K-Man was robbed on a diving catch by Phillip Ervin in right, and it was 1-2-3 for the Redlegs also. Starling doubled high off the wall, just missing homer #20, with an out in the fourth that led to nothing. Clay escaped after walking a pair in the Cincy half. Red Beard walked and Joey O doubled to open the fifth. Krame's sac fly brought in a run and moved Osuna to third, where he scored from after a wild pitch. Tanner Anderson took the bump and gave up a single, then bopped a batter on an 0-2 pitch. He almost got out of it, but a fly that moved the lead runner up and a two-out bouncer that Krame butchered (ruled an infield knock, home cookin', we guess) plated a run. A walk loaded the sacks before a whiff ended it.

Michael Feliz got the last win of '18 (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Matt Wisler got the sixth inning as the bullpenning began in earnest. This time Starling didn't miss as he connected on a long fly, and J-Bell followed with a tater of his own to knot the score. With two outs, lefty Amir Garrett took the hill with Red Beard up and stopped him on a liner to first. The tie didn't last long; Dilson Herrera led off with a homer off Anderson, who settled in and fanned two of the next three Reds. Joey O banged a two-bagger to open the seventh and a fly moved him up. Jared Hughes was waved in, and K-Man slapped an 0-2 sinker into right to even it up again. Ryan Lavarnway singled him to third, but Pablo squelched the rally with a 6-4-3 DP. Dovy Neverauskas answered the phone and punched out a pair in a clean frame. David Hernandez worked the eighth without a blip. Steven Brault climbed the slope and K'ed a pair in a calm frame. Raisel Iglesias toed the slab in the ninth and Colin smacked his first offering for a double. Joey O lined out to right and the two Kevins K'ed to freeze him at second. Michael Feliz spun for the Bucs and struck out the side, kinda. The last K was a ball that escaped Diaz and J-Bell couldn't come up with the throw to first, but a grounder made it a moot boot.

Jackson Stephens entered in the 10th and K'ed Feliz; guess the game's outcome isn't a big deal to Clint since he still has guys on the bench and in the pen. Pablo doubled and went to third on a bobble. Starling bounced out to third, then J-Bell walked semi-intentionally and Eli unintentionally. A wild pitch gave the Pirates the lead before Colin's soft liner ended it. Now Clint cares as Felipe Vazquez responded to the bell. Pablo made a nice running grab to get the first out, then The Nightmare took over, punching out the next pair. RTJR.

Joey O had two doubles today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Well, got it all in the last game - homers, botches, B-Listers, an entertaining finale and the win. The Bucs finished 82-79 and now it's officially hot stove season. There will be lots to chew the fat over in the off season.

Notes:

• Starling and Joey O each had a pair of hits, with a homer and three doubles between them. The Pirates had 10 hits (five were two-baggers and two left the yard) but went 1-for-11 w/RISP.
• Neal Huntington said on this Sunday show that they'd like to find a middle ground to bring Jung-Ho Kang back, though his $5.5M option is still in play. Kang's considered competition for Red Beard at third; there are no plans to use him at short.  NH added that the the club will "keep the door open" for Jordy and J-Hay to return, depending on their off season market value.
• Starling Marte became the third Pirate to have a 20 HR/30 SB season, joining Barry Bonds (four times) & Andy Van Slyke (1987-88).
• Clint Hurdle got his 1,200th career victory in the show today. He joins Bruce Bochy, Mike Scioscia, Buck Showalter and Terry Francona as current skippers in the 1,200 win club.
• This is the first time that the Bucs have two relief pitchers with at least 80 strikeouts in the same season: Felipe Vazquez has punched out 89 and Ric Rod 88. Only two Pirate relievers have hit 90 Ks in a campaign (Joel Hanrahan w/100 in 2010 & Jason Grilli w/90 in 2012).