Woodruff, Thames Double Team Bucs, 3-1

The Bucs opened with a single by K-Man *ho hum* and Bryan Reynolds getting plunked by Brandon Woodruff. With Bucs on the corners and two gone. Redbeard doubled to right; one run scored but an on-the-money relay cut down back runner J-Bell at home. The first Brewski bunted for an opening rap (the catcher Yasmani Grandal, sheesh) followed by a walk; Jordan Lyles is off to the same start as his hill foe. A grounder moved them up; another one to Colin at third resulted in a Brewer cut down at home. Lyles uncorked a short wild pitch, advancing the lead runner to third. Jordan threw away a pickoff try to allow a run, then Eric Thames' two-out, two-strike triple plated another. The Pirates went quietly in the second; ditto for the Brew Crew. In the third, the Bucs all K'ed while the Brewers all bounced out. It was nine-in-a-row for Woodruff in the fourth. Thames kept it up against Jordan, drilling a 3-2 fastball into the stands. That was followed by a 3-2 walk but no further turmoil.

Jordan was workmanlike tonight - image Positively Pittsburgh

Corey D started the fifth with a two-bagger. Two outs later, he went to third on Jordan Lyle's infield bleeder, but no further. Lyons likewise stranded a leadoff double. Nada for the Pirates in the sixth; Milwaukee got a two-out single and wild pitch (the Pirates challenged the safe call at second with no success) but zero runs thanks to a great grab by Starling. In the seventh, Pittsburgh got a leadoff knock from Redbeard, but that was followed by a Corey D 3-6-3 twin killing (Corey beat the rap by a good step, but the Bucs lost their challenge the inning before so there were no more to be had) and another grounder. Michael Feliz trotted on for the Buccos and gave up a two-out walk before finishing up. K-Man doubled to left with two away in the eighth, bringing on Matt Albers as Woodruff, who was tough tonight, was at 108 tosses. He got Reynolds on a fly to right. Clay Holmes toed the slab and coaxed three garden variety grounders. Josh Hader came in to close the book and did with no problems.

Jordan did his job well enough; three runs on five hits in six innings on 103 pitches with two walks, two wild pitches and five fans to keep the gang in the game while sparing the pen another long night. Give Woodruff credit tonight; he stayed out of the hitting zone, getting 10 grounders and six whiffs in 7-2/3 IP. Who'd have thought this would turn into a pitcher's series? We'll see who gets the big end of the stick tomorrow afternoon.

He keeps on keepin' on - 2019 Donruss

Notes:

• K-Man and Redbeard had two hits apiece; the Bucs only had six raps on the night.
• Michael Feliz has been scored on just once in his last six outings. Clay Holmes has put up a zero in six of his last eight appearances.
• In a Fox snippet, J-Bell was taped telling Christian Yelich that he was asked by the league to play in the ASG Home Run Derby and accepted. From the horse's mouth...