Marquez Sharp, Archie Not, In 5-0 Loss to Rox

Chris Archer was touched for a couple of opening round raps but escaped unscathed. Bryan Reynolds doubled with two away against German Marquez and was left on the pond. The Bucs gave the Rox a gift in the second. Daniel Murphy doubled, went to third on a grounder and scored on the contact play. J-Bell's throw to home beat him by plenty and got Murphy hung up in a rundown, but Cervy's toss to third nicked his helmet and went into left to allow the run in. The Pirates went down quietly. Trevor Story started the third with a long ball to left on a ball that barely cleared Reynold's leap, ticking off his glove. The Bucs made no noise in response. Archie walked a pair (the 7-8 hitters) with an out in the fourth and both scored on Charlie Blackmon's two-out, first-pitch triple. Marquez kep dealing; he's mowed down 10 in a row. The Rox were held to a single in the fifth. Melky and Cervy singled for the Buccos, but stayed anchored at first and second.

Archie's struggles continue 2019 Topps Opening Day 

Well, Chris Stratton isn't pitching tomorrow; he came on in the sixth after Archie burned through 92 tosses. And Cervy didn't last much longer; Eli came in after Fran took a foul to neck area batting the inning before. A walk, fly and not-so-good bunt back to the box by Marquez that became a 1-6-4 DP made for an easy frame. Reynolds walked for all the Pirates action. Stratton gave up a walk and single in the seventh, but a caught stealing kept things calm. Pittsburgh continued to flounder against Marquez. The Rox used three eighth-inning singles to add another tally to the board and make it 5-0. The Bucs didn't get a ball out of the infield, though Jake Elmore did come close to ducking a tag at first. He lost the call (a review didn't show a tag being made, but Jake was still rung up), annoying Clint, who eventually was bounced; he prob had more frustrations than a call at first to get off his chest. Michael Feliz got the ninth and went 1-2-3. Carlos Estevez took over - Marquez was at 104 pitches - and a walk and error left runners at second and third with two gone before a whiff ended it.

Archie's performance was iffy at best; still too many walks and pitches, but he didn't have much chance tonight; Marquez was on top of his game.  So tip o' the cap and go after 'em tomorrow, whoever may be pitching.

Notes:

• Bryan Reynolds saw the ball well tonight; he was 1-for-2 with a double and lineout to go with a pair of walks. Only three other guys reached base besides him on two singles and an error
• Gregory was scratched from today's lineup because of "finger discomfort." Cervy was removed as a precaution after suffering an upper chest contusion.
• The Pirates are 1-6 when Arch starts this year; they game they won was 7-5. They were 5-5 in his 10 Pittsburgh starts in 2018.
• The announced attendance: 12,265.
• The Pirates have dropped four straight series openers, but have taken two-of-three after the smoke cleared w/the Rox set TDB.
• Harold Ramirez, the Bucco OF prospect sent to Toronto w/Frankie Liriano and Reese McGuire in 2016, hit his first MLB homer tonight with Miami.