Lyles Whiffs 12 As Bucs Even San Diego Series 5-3; DuRapau To Start Tomorrow

The Bucs got Melky aboard on a two-out boot; J-Bell tried to make the Friars and Joey Lucchesi pay, but his rope to left (exit speed: 110 MPH) found leather. Jordan Lyles was tapped for a dinger by Franmil Reyes; keeping SD in the yard seems to be an issue so far this series. A tqwo-out walk led to no further damage. It was a 1-2-3 second for Pittsburgh. The Padres led off with a knock, which was enough to turn the order over. K-Man singled with two gone in the third, but it wasn't a very disciplined inning by the hitters. The leadoff man reached again when Ian Kinsler singled off Jake Elmore's glove, but a fly and 6-4-3 DP closed it out quietly. With an out in the fourth, J-Bell delivered a one-out rap and Bryan Reynolds went deep to center to put the Bucs up a run. SD stayed alive in their half on a two-out throwing error by Jake Elmore, but it only cost Jordan two extra tosses. The Pirates made nary a peep in the fifth, nor did the Padres. Melky singled with an out in the sixth and was doubled up 6-4-3 three pitches later. Back-to-back one-out raps put Padres on the corners, but Lyles coaxed a K and fly to center to keep them there.

The Ace? (photo MLB.com)

The Bucco seventh went single, 6-4-3 DP, lineout as Lucchesi has thrown just 77 pitches. We'll never figure Clint out; he pulled Big Joe after 75 pitches, but let Jordan go with 91. But the ol' skipper must have known something; Lyles struck out the side. Brad Wieck was called on in the eighth and walked Tuck. After a Redbeard line out, Phil Maton was waved in to face the top of the order. He tossed a wild pitch while walking K-Man. Cole went to third on a Starling fly to right and came in when Melky yanked a two-strike cutter into right for a double. Gerardo Reyes became pitcher number three after that, getting J-Bell on a tapper on 99 MPH heat. Kyle Crick lost Manny Machado with two outs on a 3-2 pitch, but no harm came of it. In the ninth, Eli walked and Gregory singled with one away. Tuck came through, bouncing a RBI single into left off a two-strike slider. Redbeard followed with a rap the opposite way to make it 5-1 and sending Cole to third. Matt Wisler was summoned to the mound and doused the fire. Felipe Vazquez came on; guess Clint hadn't counted on the late cushion. Good thing he had it; the Friars opened with a double and dinger. But The Nightmare finished up by fanning two of the next three, and you can raise the Roger.

Bryan's homer got the ball rolling (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Jordan Lyles was what the doc ordered; for all the tooth-gnashing in March, he may be the best offseason signing the Bucs made, along with Melky and Frankie. Felipe should be off tomorrow after back-to-back outings - his velo dropped a couple MPH to the final batch of batters, whether by choice for control or from lack of action. We'll see how long baseball's version of the Light Brigade can keep on keepin' on; half a league onward...

Notes:

• Melky and Bryan Reynolds each had two hits while the Buc pitchers collected 15 K (Lyles -12, Vazquez - 2, Crick - 1)
• Jordan Lyles is the first Pirate with 12 or more whiffs (eight third strikes on his curve) since Frankie Liriano in 2016 and had the most for a righty since Gerrit Cole did the deed in 2014. The dozen punchouts are his career high.
• Looks like the Bucs are going with an opener (or maybe bullpenning, who knows?) tomorrow. Clint announced Montana DuRapau will start. He hasn't made a start since his first year in the Bucco system in 2014, but has been used for multiple innings in the minors.
• BTW, for those who don't follow the Padres, slugger Franmil Reyes is born to bop. The 23-year-old RF'er has lost 14 baseballs this year, and at 6'5", 275 lbs., it's no wonder. This is the Dominican's first full season in the bigs.
• Trevor Williams is the 20th Pirate to end up on the IL this season. He'll miss awhile as he's been shut down for 10 days.
• If you missed it last night, SD's Ian Kinsler went theatrical after his homer, bat-flipping and cussin'. Per reports, the league fined him today.