Ducks Left On The Pond + Kinsler's Dinger Off Ric Rod = 4-3 Friar Win

The Pirates went down 1-2-3 to Eric Lauer. Willy went full on the first two Padres, whiffing one and walking the next. A single and bopped batter juiced the sacks, but Trevor K'ed ole Bucco farmhand Alex Dickerson and K-Man made a nice play on a tricky hopper to shut it down. Eli reached on an error in the second for all the Bucco noise; the Friars were also quiet. Fraze singled with two gone in the third before Starling fanned. San Diego got on the board first when Franmil Reyes sent a 3-2 fastball into the seats. With two gone in the fourth, Bryan Reynolds and El had back-to-back raps but no runs resulted. Willy left after two outs, holding his side...just what the Bucs need, another starter hurt, sheesh. Frankie Liriano came in cold, and tho it took 10 pitches, he got his whiff. K-Man opened the fifth with a two-bagger and a pair of tappers (both of which reached) brought him home. Frankie walked the eight hitter and he was bunted up, but two K's quelled the spark.

Willy may be a bigger loss than the game... (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Eli banged a one-down rap in the sixth; an out later K-Man was credited with an infield single/error to put Bucs at second and third. Adam Warren took the ball from Lauer and Melky grabbed a bat. A wild pitch brought in Diaz, then Melky walked before Fraze's well struck out; Pittsburgh is 1-for-8 w/RISP. Ric Rod claimed the bump. He gave up an infield knock and with two outs, a walk and an Ian Kinsler homer off a hung breaking ball, the eighth he's served in 19-1/3 IP. The last out was another knock tossed out by Bryan Reynolds while trying to stretch a single into a two-bagger. Robbie Erlin got the seventh inning, and Gregory's solo shot brought the Bucs back within a run. Michael Feliz was waved in and tossed a clean frame. Craig Stammen threw a 1-2-3 eighth. Felipe Vazquez answered the phone; he hasn't worked since the 11th. The rust showed as he bopped Manny Machado, then he was back in the groove, getting a DP and bounce out while hitting 101 on the gun. Kirby Yates came in looking for the save and got it without breaking a sweat (plate ump Paul Nauert gave him a handful of very generous calls) to seal the Friars 4-3 win.

Eli picked up a couple of hits tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Same ol' story; gotta figure out a way to bring the runners home on one end, especially on days when J-Bell and Starling  are human, and Ric Rod gotta figure out a way to keep balls in the yard on the other. If Willy has an oblique/rib injury, the Pirates may have to activate Uncle Ray to pitch; the upper levels are dry until JT Brubaker recovers and Mitch Keller ripens. As a sidebar, the ump's union better get ready to face the robo-ump challenge; Paul Nauert was terrible behind the plate tonight, and he's just part of a trend.

Notes:

• Eli and K-Man each had a pair of hits tonight. The Pirates had two extra-base knocks out of their eight hits and both scored. Their eye isn't helping; they've drawn two walks in the past two games, although SD tried to help with three errors. The Padres only had five hits tonight; three were off Rodriguez.
• J-Bell and Starling had their hit streaks end tonight.
• Ric Rod and Arizona's Matt Koch are tied for the league lead in long balls surrendered with eight, and both are around the 20 IP mark.
• Lots of Pirates from the San Diego area: Willy, Big Joe, Steven Brault and Kevin Newman are all from San Diego county.