Groundhog Day: Cards Beat Bucs 3-1

Fraze hit Wano's first pitch of the night into the bullpen for a quick Bucco start. The Cards got it back with a soft lob into center bookended by walks, and though Joe Musgrove got a DP ball, it brought home the tying run before he wiggled out. Redbeard singled with an out in the second to make all the Bucco noise. The Cards got an infield rap, then saw it erased on a caught stealing for a 1-2-3 frame. Waino fanned a pair and Big Joe whiffed the side in the third. J-Bell walked and Joey O singled with one away in the fourth to plant Bucs on the corners, but a pair of strikeouts put it to bed. The Cards stranded a one-out walk. Jake opened the fifth with a knock. An out later, a Fraze walk and B-Rey single loaded the sacks. Didn't help; Starling lined out to short on a leaping snag by Paul DeJong and J-Bell was rung up on a borderline but close enough heater. Moose fanned two more in a quiet half. The Bucs left K-Man on after a two-out single in the sixth.

Frankie had a good night - 2014 Bowman Silver Ice

Dexter Fowler singled to open, but had his happy feet cut down by Bryan as he tried to stretch a bloop into a double. It was a short-lived victory; Tommy Edman doubled two pitches later, and took a turn at second. K-Man throw a one hopper to third that Moran watched bounce by him into the stands; Edman scored on the unforced error, poorly played on both ends. That was followed by a single and double. Frankie came in and got a bouncer; it got under Redbeard's glove and then Newman, backing the play, dropped the ball. It was ruled a hometown single as another run scored. It ended on a bunt DP; the out was made at first and the relay home caught another adventurous Redbird. Somehow it's only 3-1; St. Louis may have ran themselves out of a huge frame. Giovanny Gallegos served a couple of well stroked balls but it ended up a clean seventh; no smoke from the Cards, either. Kyle Crick and Gallegos exchanged quiet eighths. After Redbeard lined out sharply to center, Carlos Martinez took the ball, and two soft outs later, the Pirates dropped their seventh straight.

No deep commentary needed; as the guy from the Hindenburg crash said "Oh, the humanity..."

Notes:

• The Pirates had six hits; only Fraze touched a base safely twice with a homer and walk.
• Ray Searage told the Post Gazette's Jason Mackey that contrary to popular opinion, the pitch-to-contact days are in the rear view mirror. He says the current staff issues involve execution, not game planning. Kinda sounds like he's throwing the staff under the bus, even if it is deserved.