Pirates Pounded In Finale 12-3

Vince Velasquez and Mitch Keller traded clean first innings. Redbeard and Joey O started off the second with raps, but were left on the pond. Rhys Hoskins opened with a three-bagger and a single brought him home. Three more knocks plated a second run; Mitch got a pair of K to end the frame and strand Phils at second and third. There was no Bucco noise in the third. Bryce Harper legged out a tapper to short; Hoskins doubled him home; the ball actually rolled across the top of the wall for several feet, a Philly first, allowing Harper to score easily. Starling singled in the fourth and trotted home ahead of J-Bell's homer, making it 3-2. It was a clean frame for Kells. K-Man singled with two away for all the Pittsburgh fifth inning action; Corey Dickerson continued his "Revenge is Mine" tour by homering. That began a barrage against Keller, and he left down 8-2 before Yefry Ramirez doused the flames.

Another good day for Starling - image Pittsburgh Pirates promo

Austin Davis took the mound in the sixth and gave up a dinger to Starling; JT Realmuto got it back with a long ball in the Philadelphia half. A walk, steal, thrown away pickoff try and rap added another point to the Philly total. Jake singled in the seventh to no avail. The Phils dribbled a soft single to start, and that run plated after an infield knock and passed ball. Edgar Garcia tossed the ball in the eighth, and Starling's one-out hit was erased on a J-Bell DP. Philly banged a pair of two-out two-baggers to plate another run; after 90 pitches, Yefry's arm was no doubt dragging. Fraze doubled with two outs in the ninth to briefly prolong the misery.

Another day on the evaluation trail for 2020. Too bad everyone isn't following the example of Marte and Bell.

Notes:

• Starling had three hits and J-Bell a pair; each homered.
• Per Jayson Stark of The Athletic: "(Mitch Keller) is the first pitcher since ER became an official stat to cram 8+ strikeouts and 8+ ER into an outing that short!"
• Gregory is working out but not ready for a rehab assignment while Archie is doing site-specific exercise, but with no throwing. JT Brubaker is also back to regular throwing after a brief shutdown.
• The Pirates' Arizona Fall League roster was mostly announced: Oneil Cruz, SS; Jared Oliva, OF; Blake Cederlind, RHP; Jason Delay, C; Nick Mears, RHP; Cody Ponce, RHP. The Bucs have seven slots, sop there's one PTBNL. They'll play for the Peoria Javelinas.
• The rookie GCL season and Florida State League Bradenton Marauders (maybe) are both ending their campaigns a little bit early because of Hurricane Dorian. The GCL is cancelling its playoffs while the FSL will hold theirs post-Dorian (Bradenton didn't make the field).