Clint Canned, Bucs Bats Take Final Day Off As Pirates Drop Finale 3-1 To Reds

Well, a little excitement before the game; Clint was let go. Tom Prince will take the reins after Hurdle declined to manage today after his release. With that determined, Willy went to the hill, gave a literal tip o' the cap to Steve Blass in the radio booth, and put up a zero, though with a walk, in the first. Ty Mahle worked a 1-2-3 inning. Aristides Aquiro banged a leadoff dinger in the second, followed by a K and DP to calm the Reds down. Pablo led off with a rap but went nowhere. Trevor bopped the first Red up in the third but nothing came of it; the Pirates again made not a peep. Cincinnati drew another walk in the fourth; the Bucs went down in order again. The Reds added another run on Brian O'Grady's solo shot in the fifth. Erik Gonzalez singled with two away for all the Pittsburgh action. A walk and two-out double put Willy in a sixth-inning jam, but he eased out to keep it at 2-0. Amir Garrett came in. A walk, wild pitch and swinging bunt knock put Bucs on the corners with a out, bringing in Sal Romano. Joey O's sac fly, pulled in at the 399' mark, cut the lead in half.

Willy had a good showing today - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Willy came out for the seventh and gave up an opening single; he once again dug down for a whiff and DP to finish a very nice outing today. Joel Kuhnel toed the rubber, and Jake Elmore singled. After a pop, it was the Bucs turn to roll into a twin killing. Ric Rod gave up the third homer of the day to Alex Blandino - he now has two MLB long balls on his resume - in the eighth. The Reds drew a walk before the bell rang. Robert Stephenson took the ball, and K-Man singled with an out. Two pop ups later, he still stood on first. Yacksel Rios got the ninth inning wave. With an out, a single and error on an infield ball put a Redleg at second. An out later, another single put Cincy's at the corners, but Rios wriggled out of the pickel. Michael Lorenzen was greeted by a Joey O rap before sitting the Bucs down.

Well, lost the game, their skipper, and had a year with internal brawls, on field wrasslin' matches, arrests, and more guys down than General Lee had in Virginia. Oh, and 69 wins, their lowest total since 57 victories in 2010 (and that season got John Russell fired). Can't wait to see what the offseason brings.

Notes:

• Melky had two hits today; he was the only Buc to reach base safely twice.
• Mahle was the surprise starter today; the scheduled Trevor Bauer was under the weather this week and pushed back to this afternoon, but apparently still felt the effect of the bug.
• The last game of the year drew an announced crowd of 23,617.
• Sheesh. Steve Baron underwent surgery today to repair a fractured lower mandible (jaw bone). He is expected be ready for spring training. Baron was hit on the face by a pickoff throw during last night's game.
• The Cards ran roughshod over the Cubs today, 9-0, to clinch the NL Central title.
• Joe Maddon also bit the dust today; the Cubs announced he wouldn't return for 2020.