Big Joe, J-Bell, Tuck Hometown Homer Stop Snakes 6-2

Starling kept his hit streak going with a first-inning double, but that was all the trouble Luke Walker met. Joe Musgrove walked the first Snake, but *whew* that was all the damage; it's good to get out of a first inning alive if you're a Bucco hurler. Melky and Colin opened the second with raps (Redbeards a bunt against the shift) and Big Joe walked with two away, but the result was just more stranded runners, so far a theme in Arizona. The D-Backs went quietly in their half. Starling and Gregory opened the third with raps to put Bucs on the corners; J-Bell's force-out finally plated a run, but they still managed to leave a runner at third with an out. Big Joe kept cruisin'. No noise in the fourth for Pittsburgh; 'Zona got a lead off knock, but an out later a 6-4-3 DP cleaned it up. Fraze walked to leadoff the fifth, and two outs later J-Bell banged one into the seats to open up a little breathing room. Melky singled afterward but an at 'em ball ended the rally. Joe shut the Snakes down, with a two-out walk the only adventure. The sixth was 1-2-3 for both sides.

Big Joe has a reason to cheese (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Zack Godley took the ball in the seventh and tossed a clean frame. Big Joe kept steamrollin'. The Bucs added on in the eighth on J-Bell's second bomb, which flew 460'. Melky singled and two outs later home town boy Tuck tucked one into the bullpen to make it 6-0. Clint pinch hit for Big Joe; sure hope he knows something we don't to yank him while tossing a one-hitter while at 75 pitches and holding a six run lead with his pen burnt to a crisp. Ric Rod came in and gave up a homer, natch, but at least with a pad tonight. Greg Holland got the ninth. Starling doubled and with two away, an open base, and experience to lean on, they walked J-Bell. Good plan; Jake Elmore fanned. Michael Feliz got the ball. After a comebacker and whiff, a single, defensive indifference steal and another knock made the tally 6-2. An Uncle Ray visit was followed by a K (good chat) and you can raise the Roger.

Big Joe getting back on the bike is good news; Starling, Gregory, J-Bell and Melky raking is also promising. Sweet moment,too, when Cole planted one in front of his homies. We'll wait for postgame to see why Clint pulled Joe; we suspect it's another one of his gut decisions. Nice win against a team that's hexed the Bucs lately, and it keeps a series take alive.

And so does J-Bell (photo MLB Pipeline)

Notes:

• Melky and Starling had three hits; J-Bell had a pair, both leaving the yard. For Josh and Starling, it extended their hitting streaks. Melky has five hits in the two games v Arizona after going 0-fer during the Card series.
• The Bucs broke a nine-game losing streak to Arizona.
• PNC Park was put to good use in the Pirates absence - Pitt & West Virginia played there tonight. WVU won the first match 5-4 back in April and is ranked 19th in the country while Pitt is coming off a series win against North Carolina (#14). It was all Mounties tonight, as they took a 9-4 win over the Panthers that wasn't as close as the score would indicate.