Home Run Or No Count: 11 Balls Lost In Dunedin As Pirates Overtake Jays 19-13

Archie and his butterflies got off to a good start: two IP, no runs, one hit, one walk, and four K. He left with a 1-0 lead thx to a KeBryan Hayes dinger. The Bucs went up 4-0 with a three-run third, fueled by a JT Riddle three-bagger and Redbeard long fly. Then the wheels came off for Big Joe Musgrove; he was slated to go four innings, but only got two outs  - he gave up a couple of homers that were unfortunately mixed with some soft hits; departing with the score 7-4 Toronto. But Tuck made it a one-run game with a two-run blast in the fourth for a heartbeat; the two tallies were gotten back with a big bang off Blake Weiman. Geoff Hartlieb worked the next two frames, giving up a run that was cancelled out by Guillermo Heredia's run-producing double, leaving the score at 10-7 after six.

Phil Evans chased 'em all home - photo Carmen Mandato/Getty

The Pirates put up a four spot in the seventh to take the lead after Phil Evans swatted a grand salami, and then added two insurance markers on Bligh Madris four-bagger. Edgar Santana worked a clean frame, earning his beer for the day, and the Buccos kept on coming. Will Craig hit a two-run bingo, Jared Oliva added a three-run fence-clearer, and a wild pitch small-balled another tally. Blake Cederlind fanned a pair while tripping the radar at 100 in a 1-2-3 eighth frame. The Pirates left a pair aboard in the final frame while Nick Mears was an out away from posting another goose egg, but a double and dinger ruined that scenario. Pedro Vasquez came in and got the last out; raise the Roger as the Pittsburgh's win it 19-13.

Tomorrow: The Bucs host the Bronx Bombers at 1:05, with the game aired by 93.7 The Fan. Chris Stratton gets the start at LECOM Park.

Notes:

• Five Pirates had two hits - Guillermo Heredia, Andrew Susac, Phil Evans, Will Craig and  Jared Oliva.
• Today's Buc bombers were KeBryan Hayes, Colin Moran, Cole Tucker, Phil Evans, Bligh Madris, Will Craig and Jared Oliva (The Jays had four long flies of their own). We wouldn't read much into the recent spate of HR Derby breaking out in Florida. On Sunday, during the 9-7 losses, the wind was blowing from 12-20 MPH; today, it's a 15-MPH afternoon, so a little Launch Angle goes a long way. As for the juiced ball era continuing, well, that's TBD.

KeBryan has had a strong spring - 2016 Bowman Inception

• The MLBPA has filed a second grievance against the Pirates for parsimony. New suits, same boss, same MO...
• Hey - a Bucco promotion for the early going: kids 14-and under get into PNC Park for free during April and May if the grownup buys a $20+ adult ticket.