Pirates Outbang Angels 10-7

Well, they're making Griffin Canning work. Fraze flew out on a 3-2 pitch, then B-Rey walked on a full count. Starling singled off the SS's glove but was caught trying to stretch it. Then J-Bell walked before a pop ended it; lotta running around for no runs, although Canning burned through 30 pitches. The Halos led off with a double followed by a walk. A Shohei Ohtani double and grounder brought them both home. Then came another walk and knock to make it 3-0 before it stopped after Willy tossed 31 pitches. K-Man singled with an out in the second, moving up a base when the ball was misplayed by Mike Trout. A fly to the track moved him to third, where he died. The Angels drew another walk with one gone, and Ohtani tripled him home an out later when B-Rey missed on a diving attempt and the ball got past him. Fraze and B-Rey opened the third with raps. A fly to right moved Fraze to third. J-Bell's bloop scored one; another plated when Canning took the airmailed cutoff and threw the ball away, with Josh ending up on third. Redbeard doubled him home, and it's a game again at 4-3. The first two batters walked for Anaheim and a one-down single tallied another Halo before a DP provided an escape hatch.

Fraze was on base four times tonight from the top of the order - photo Pirates

Each teams left a runner at first in the fourth frame. Taylor Cole got the ball in the fifth, and a Starling single and J-Bell bomb knotted the score. Redbeard singled and Joey O sent him home with a two-bagger, later scoring on Pablo's two-out knock to make it 7-5, good guys. Luis Garcia came in to collect the final out. Willy gave up an opening double to Matt Thaiss; he moved to third on a grounder and made the last out when he tagged on a fly to Starling, who gunned him out at home; good throw and nice swipe by Jake. In the sixth, the Bucs loaded the bases on two walks and a knock, then Joey O's deep sac fly added to the lead. Michael Feliz gave up a single and walk with two outs, then struck out Ohtani. Jake Jewell got the seventh inning call. Pablo got bopped, but it hurt less when Fraze doubled him home, although Adam was caught trying to stretch it. Bryan Reynolds followed with a bomb to make it 10-5. Frankie Liriano spun a clean frame. The Bucs left Joey O on the pond in the eighth while Frankie mowed down the bottom of the order. Fraze and B-Rey singled with two gone in the ninth and were stranded. Clay Holmes toed the slab and surrendered a dribbler hit and walk. After an out, a steal and single sent home two Angels, bringing on The Nightmare. One pitch resulted in a 4-6-3 DP, raise the Roger again.

Starling's been the dude lately - photo Pirates

Interleague play and the Angels are a good combo, it seems, and Pittsburgh has kept Trout under control while LA can't stop Josh while B-Rey has countered Ohtani. Let's hope that trend continues another day... And give props to Michael and Frankie for holding the fort after Willy.

Notes:

• The top of the Pirates order had nine hits, three each from Fraze, B-Rey and Starling. The middle of the lineup chipped in six more, with two each from J-Bell, Redbeard and Joey O. That's a team effort.
• Felipe Vázquez got two outs and a save on one pitch. Per Joe Block, he's the fifth MLB pitcher to do that this decade.
• Little surprised Kyle Crick was on ice tonight, as we're assuming he'll serve his suspension starting tomorrow when Keone returns. Makes us think he may be dinged up, too.
• Both the Pirates and Angels have gone through 13 starters this year.
• Corey Dickerson got drilled in the hand tonight and taken out of the game. The x-rays came back negative, so it looks like he dodged a bullet and will miss just a couple of games for the Phils.