Bucs Keep Battlin' But Still Broomed By Bravos 6-5

Julio Teheran walked K-Man, who was caught stealing (after a Bravo challenge) and then walked Bryan Reynolds, but settled down quickly. Joe Musgrove bopped Dansby Swanson with an out because why not, otherwise cruising. The second went quietly with a Ozzie Albies rap being all the action. Pittsburgh drew first blood in the third when a Fraze single, Big Joe bunt and Reynolds' rap produced the initial tally. The Bravos answered; Ronald Acuna doubled and Freddie Freeman chased him home. Redbeard reached on a error in the fourth, on a ball that Matt Joyce lost. The gift was accepted when Eli doubled Moran home with two outs after working the count full from an 0-2 hole, with his lob ticking off a diving Acuna's mitt. Fraze was intentionally walked and Big Joe almost crossed them up, making good contact on a ball to center that Acuna measured. With two away, the eight hitter, Matt Joyce, and Teheran dropped back-to-back knocks, but Joe fanned Acuna (on a generous call; the day's strike zone has been extended both ways). Ronald slammed his bat and helmet on the way back to the dugout and Bravo skipper Brian Snitker got bounced for barking.

Big Joe was blown up in the fifth; he's now 4-7/4.88
photo - Joe Guzy Pittsburgh Pirates

Three grounders, three outs, in the fifth for the Bucs. Not so for Atlanta; they followed an opening walk with a triple, two singles and a double before Geoff Hartlieb was called in. He turned the tide, but not before a pair of grounders chased home another run to make it 6-2. Teheran did what good pitchers do; he shut the Pirates down in the sixth. The Bravos started with an infield knock but it ended there. Touki Toussaint took over in the seventh. Fraze and Corey D hit consecutive doubles with an out and a rap by K-Man left Pirates on the corners. Reynolds doubled in one more run and left Buccos at second and third, bringing on Anthony Swarzak. Starling popped up for a huge out, J-Bell was given a free pass and  Redbeard chased a pretty good two-strike slider to keep the Atlanta lead at two runs. Dovy Neverauskas plunked the first Brave and later walked another, but put up a zero. Jerry Blevins tossed a clean eighth, as did Dovy. Luke Jackson got the ninth inning calland was tagged for a two-out two-bagger by Bryan Reynolds. A passed ball and Marte's roll-over infield knock to short made it 6-5; J-Bell's fly to left made that the final score.

Pretty much the same ol'; batters keep on swinging but the pitchers just can't keep the plate clean. Off to Miami; maybe they can turn the page there.

 Notes:

• Bryan Reynolds banged out three more hits (two doubles, run scored, two more chased home) and Fraze a pair of raps (double and plated twice).
• The Pirates have lost seven in a row; the Braves have won seven in a row. Pittsburgh dropped into the cellar while the Bravos took over first.
• The Bucs have gone 6-18 since May 21st. The offense has scored five or more runs 15 times in that span. But the pitching has given up five or more runs 19 times and double figures eight times during that stretch; they've held opponents to under four runs twice in those two dozen games.