Stop Us If You've Heard This Before - Pirates Lose

Dakota Hudson spun an easy, eight-pitch first frame. Chris Archer threw four pitches and gave up three singles, all hit on the nose, to load the bases. But right on time, he coaxed a DP and whiff to escape with just one run on the board. The Bucs got that back when J-Bell doubled to start the second, moved up on a wild pitch on plated on Joey O's deep sac fly. Redbeard singled and an out later, Stalls doubled him to third, but Archie tapped out, so both sides have let chances slide by already. Arch struck out the side. B-Rey was plunked in the foot with an out in the third; Starling bounced into an around-the-horn DP on the next offering. The Redbirds got a two-out triple on a ball that Reynolds couldn't keep in his glove and that Tommy Edman barely beat to third, surviving a challenge. It took 11 pitches, but Goldy finally lined out to strand him. J-Bell stroked his second two-bagger to start the fourth and Joey O singled him to third. Redbeard brought him in with a fly to center. K-Man dropped one for a knock, then Jake rolled into DP *sigh*

Arch has put together strong back-to-back outings by becoming a two-pitch guy again - photo Pgh Pirates

With two outs, a double and infield single - K-Man made a rangy stop in the hole but should have eaten the ball - tied the score, then a bunt single put Cards on the corners before Arch ended the uprising. With Tyler Webb on the hill, the Bucs went down without a peep in the fifth; ditto for St. Louis. Starling legged out a leadoff hit in the sixth and stole second. After J-Bell went down on strikes, John Brebbia was waved in and fanned Joey O before intentionally walking lefty Redbeard. It worked; K-Man flew out to the track. Archie worked a 1-2-3 frame for his second straight strong outing; he K'd nine without a walk after 100 pitches. Pablo lined out to the fence between a pair of whiffs in the seventh. Michael Feliz opened with a walk; a strikeout and DP cleaned that up. Andrew Miller walked J-Bell with two away in the eighth; Carlos Martinez took the bump to retire Joey O.

Redbeard was on base three times tonight - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Ric Rod gave up a leadoff double just over Bell's mitt, and Goldy's single off Newman's glove on a backhand stab an out later put the Redbirds up a by run. Marcell Ozuna homered, and that should put a bow on it at 5-2. Joey O then fell down tracking a routine fly and was charged with a three-base error. Geoff Hartlieb took the ball and gave up a sac fly before shutting the gate. Redbeard walked to open the ninth before Carlos closed it out at 6-2.

The Roger is going to be moth eaten before it flies again.

Notes:

• The Pirates had seven hits; J-Bell had two doubles and a free pass,scoring twice. Redbeard had a knock and two walks
• Archie has 131 K in 113-2/3 IP, so he's had that going all year.
• Since June 8th, Michael Feliz has made 25 outings and put up a 2.08 ERA with 31 whiffs in 26 innings.
• Keone Kela is starting the second half of his suspension; today will mark six days down, four to go. He can travel and practice with the team, but has to take a powder at gametime.