No Fireworks Today, Just Another Fizzle As Bucs Fall 4-1 - Corey to Philly

Luis Castillo looked sharp in putting the Bucs away in the first. Not so Dario; his first pitch was sent into the seats by Jesse Winker; suddenly long balls have become an issue for Agrazal. Two whiffs later, the Reds got a pair of raps before the bell. The Pirates went quietly in the second; Castillo's slider/change combo has them in a fog. DA cleaned up the bottom of the order; he's up to four K already. K-Man singled to open the third, stole second and made it to third on a bouncer, dying there. A single and Eugenio Suarez homer on an 0-2 pitch, a pull job to left that was reviewed, made it 3-0. J-Bell singled with two gone in the fourth, mingled among three strikeouts. Cincy got a leadoff double, moving to third on a ground. A bopped batter didn't lead to a riot, just boos and barking (it was a back foot slider), but it did lead to a contact play out at home. Then the bases were jammed after Dario plunked another Red *sheesh* in the arm, getting the hook. Michael Feliz got the last out. Eli singled with two outs in the fifth to no avail. Chris Stratton was tagged for a walk and double with two away, but wriggled out of the jam.

Dario has surrendered five homers in his last two starts - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

It was a 1-2-3 sixth for Pittsburgh. A double and single puts Redlegs on the corners with an out, but a DP cleaned that up; the Reds are allowing the Bucs to hang around. Redbeard singled off a mitt with two outs in the seventh and nada else. Frankie Liriano took the ball, and a two-out walk, steal and single gave the Reds another tally, with a Starling-to-Bell-to-Newman relay cutting down Nick Senzel trying to stretch it. Eli singled to start the eighth and Joey O doubled him to third,bringing in Michael Lorenzen. He served a short fly, a RBI grounder, and walk to Starling before retiring J-Bell on a roller; the Bucs didn't take much advantage of their first solid opp. At the same time, a hug party was being held in the dugout; Corey D was shipped to Philly and was giving his farewells. Ric Rod tossed a clean frame. Lorenzen went to right field (he's played a dozen games in the pasture this year) and Raisel Iglesias took the bump. Lorenzen caught the first out, and a K was followed by a pop. Say goodnight, Gracie.

Swept by the Mets. Lost two-of-three to the Reds. Just traded a .315 hitter for who knows what?  More people in Latrobe than PNC Park. *sigh*

Notes:

• Eli had two of the Pirates six hits.
• Didn't expect much for Corey; the reported return is a PTBNL and international bonus money. (Confirmed by the Pirates). We'd have tried to re-sign him, but reading between the lines, that appeared to be a non-starter.
• David Bell and Clint turned in the lineups before the game and notably didn't shake hands. Could a cage match be in their future?
• The downside of last night - we're still wincing over the old replayed vids of the Reds drilling Cutch that are popping up all over social media.
• No decision yet on Jamo's arm; he's debating whether rest or surgery is the proper course of action as the doc's latest opinion was apparently noncommittal.
• Nick Burdi and Gregory Polanco are off to Bradenton for rehab work.