Buc Slumber Company in 4-2,12-Inning Loss to Reds

It was a gray and thundering night, but Steve Blass got his ceremony in before some drizzle fell, albeit cutting his farewell speech a little short as the ground crew yanked out the tarps as soon as he threw the game's Opening Pitch. As Stevie Ray Vaughan would note, even "The Sky Is Crying" over Blass' departure. The game started about an hour late after the mop up. James Marvel was dinged for a two-out bloop double with no damage. Lucas Sims tossed a clean frame. The Reds got on the board in the second on a Tucker Barnhart two-out solo shot. Joey O singled and Kevin Kramer walk to open the Bucco half. A fly and passed ball tallied Jose; Kramer came home on Steve Baron's two-out two-bagger to put the Bucs up 2-1. He hurt himself on the bases, so now Jake Stallings is the only catcher left standing. The Cincy's answered with a double and walk to start the third. Another walk juiced the sacks with an out, but a pair of comebackers kept the plate clean. Matt Bowman spun a clean frame.

James dodged a lot of bullets but only gave up a pair - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

The Reds led off the fourth with a double that was singled home an out later, the ball deflecting off Newman's mitt into center. K-Man then snagged a liner for an unassisted DP to close the inning. With an out, Kevin Kramer lined out just beyond The Notch. Jake Elmore reached on a two-down bungle, causing no damage. Marvel gave up his fifth extra-base knock in five innings, another leadoff double, but he left him at third. The Reds are 1-for-9 so far w/RISP. It was three grounders, three outs for the Pirates. Yefrey Ramirez took over in the sixth and fanned a pair in a quiet inning. Amir Garrett retired the Bucs in order. After a leadoff single in the seventh off Ramirez, Williams Jerez was called in and gave up a double. The Reds first out was a contact play tag at home, followed by a whiff. Parker Markel was brought in to face Eugenio Suarez and walked him to jam the sacks, with the Buccos again squeaking through after a fly to right. After an opening K, Sal Romano was waved in and walked Elmore. He was caught stealing an out later to end the frame.

Markel walked the first Redleg in the eighth. A balk moved him up 90' and was followed by a free pass with two gone. Clay Holmes was dispatched to the slab and got a bouncer to sit 'em down. After an out, Romano was flipped for Kevin Gausman. He was tapped for a two-out single by K-Man,who was thrown out trying to stretch it. The Bucs have had four runners so far tonight; two have been thrown out on the bases. Keone Kela worked the ninth, and gave up a walk that never advanced. Pablo walked to open the Bucco half and Fraze doubled Reyes to third. Melky was given four wide ones to fill the bases after a three-pitch Joey O whiff. The Reds went to a five-man infield - kinda crowded there with the three Bucco runners and umps - and stayed that way as Elmore also fanned on three pitches and Erik Gonzalez popped out. Bases loaded, Pirates...well, ya know. Chris Stratton answered the 10th inning bell. He gave up a two-out walk, the Pirates seventh, and then walked another, both on full counts, before closing the lid. Raisel Iglesias tucked the Bucs away on six pitches.

Joey O was the only Buc to see the bases twice tonight - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Alex McRae gave up a leadoff knock in the 11th. He then dished out a DP ball, and gave up another rap before the third out. RJ Alaniz climbed the hill. After Pablo lined out and Fraze flew out to the track, Joey O walked and McRae, batting for himself (Big Joe Musgrove is the only bench bat left), singled him to second. No cigar; Jake Elmore couldn't cash him in. The Reds again got an opening rap in the 12th and a bopped batter was next. He got another DP, but a two-out double made it 3-2 Cincinnati. Then he hung a two-strike curve to the pitcher Alaniz, and he singled home an insurance run. The Bucs went down 1-2-3.

Ah, September. Kinda miraculous that it took the Reds 12 innings, four hours and 27 minutes to win; they banged out 13 hits (seven for extra bases) and got eight walks, stranding 15 runners and going 3-for-18 w/RISP. The Bucs had five hits to go with five walks. One more game to go, if Clint can find nine guys in one piece to finish out the season.

Notes:

• In 12 frames, Joey O was the only Bucco to reach safely twice with a walk and a knock.
• With his third team and 26th MLB at-bat, Steven Baron collected his first big league extra-base hit and RBI tonight, but left immediately afterward with a head injury. 
• The announced attendance tonight was 21,084.
• During Steverino's ceremony, the Pirates announced they are creating a Hall of Fame, based in PNC Park, for next year and that Steve Blass will be an inductee. Not many details, so stay tuned.
• The Pirates gave out 38 grants as part of the "Field for Kids" program; a third went to Allegheny-Westmoreland county organizations, with the rest scattered around the region.
• Steve Pearce, who carved out a respectable AL career after leaving the Pirates, is on the verge of retirement.