Bucs Waste Strong Pitching Effort In 2-1 Loss to D-Backs; Reynolds Hurt

Willy worked a quiet, 10-pitch fly out, single, 5-4-3 DP opener. Melky banged a one-out double off Luke Weaver for all the Bucco ado. The Snakes went without a rattle in the second. Redbeard opened with an infield rap and stretched those wheels a little more, scoring an out later on Cervy's double to The Notch. Cotuck showed his youth by chasing a 3-2 heater well out of the zone and Weaver ended up striking out the side between raps. It was a no-drama third against the bottom of the order for Trevor. Fraze blooped a leadoff single, moved up on a bouncer and went to third on Gregory's rap, missing on a chance to score with some hesitant baserunning. It, of course, cost. J-Bell K'ed and Colin grounded out into the shift; the Pirates are 1-for-7 w/RISP, picking up where they left off last night. The Snakes put together a single/double combo in the fourth to knot the score. Bryan Reynolds opened with a knock, tweaked his leg on the way to first and left the game for J-Mart. Death, taxes, stranded runners and outfield injuries... A quick DP and short fly closed it out. Willy worked a calm fifth; ditto for Weaver.

Seven strong from Willy (photo Joe Guzy/Pirates)

A one-out walk and double put the D-Backs in a good place. They too like the contact play and the lead runner was cut down at home, Fraze-to-Cervy...or was he? Upon review, the call was overturned; the tag was a smidge late and the Snakes took a 2-1 lead before the gate shut. The Bucs had no response in their half. Williams worked a 1-2-3 seventh, usually Arizona's charmed frame, and will exit after 102 pretty-well tossed pitches, giving up four hits and a walk with four fans. Fran worked a one-out walk, and Weaver was given a pat on the rump and swapped out for Andrew Chafin. Good pick; he tossed one pitch and coaxed a 6-4-3 DP from Cotuck. Ric Rod worked the eighth, and LH Andrew Dyson somehow pulled an up-and-away pitch into right for a knock with an out. He didn't have much time to celebrate; Cervy threw behind him as he wandered off the base and picked him off. Good thing; the next pitch was a single to center, but no blood was let. Archie Bradley got the ball and walked JB Shuck on four pitches. A two-out infield single by Gregory set up J-Bell, who K'ed for the third time.

Keone Kela got the ninth; a two-out walk didn't hurt him. Greg Holland took the bump and walked J-Mart with one away, and a wild pitch moved him up 90' before Cervy struck out. Clint sent Jung Ho to the dish for Cole Tucker (K & DP tonight); he flew out to left and that's all she wrote.

Gregory hasn't missed a beat in his return (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

It's frustrating to watch these guys flounder with runners aboard; it was a 1-for-10 w/RISP night. Ump Gerry Davis gave the D-Backs a wider zone than the Pirates (kinda oddly; usually the home team gets those calls) that may have affected a couple of at bats, but the Pirates missed plenty of balls dead red in the zone, too. And that's how the grind goes; the winning run scored on a reversed call at home; if Fraze (who made a strong play) throws the ball a foot closer to the plate, they're still playing. That's how little margin the Bucs are working with until some bats get back. Back at it tomorrow, and hopefully the Pirates can find their mojo to break out of the recent Arizona curse.

Notes:

• Gregory had two hits; the only other Bucco to reach twice was Cervy with a knock and a walk. The Bucs whiffed 10 times and hit into two DP's.
• Bryan Reynolds left the game as a precaution due to left quadriceps muscle discomfort. He's likely to join brother OF's Gregory Polanco (now active), Lonnie Chisenhall, Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte and Jose Osuna, a hybrid fly-catcher (all out of commission), as a member of the IL.
• The crowds continue to be dismal; tonight's was 8,558.