Bucs Waste Strong Willy Outing, Fall 5-2

The Twins got a deflected infield single off Trevor Williams for their first inning action. J-Bell answered with his own infield rap with two outs off Randy Dobnak, and Redbeard smoked out to CF'er Jake Cave, driving the ball at 106 MPH. Cave was rewarded by being bopped to open the second. Of course it cost; a two-out floater into left kissed the chalk and Cave hustled in from second base, with not a peep in reply from the Bucs. It was a quiet third; the Pirates wasted J-Bell's one-out double in the fourth. No Twin trouble in the fifth while Erik Gonzalez legged out an infield knock and was quickly caught stealing for a 1-2-3 frame. Willy spun a quiet inning to became the first Bucco hurler to go six full frames. Dobnak needed eight pitches to tuck the Bucs away.

Willy deserved a better fate tonight - photo 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates

Willy's streak ended at 13-in-a-row when Luis Arraez doubled with two away in the seventh. No prob; Trevor fanned Mitch Garver to end his most excellent start - seven IP, three hits, one run, one walk and five whiffs on 98 pitches. Cody Stashak took the ball from an equally impressive Dobnak, and he needed just 10 tosses to sit down Pittsburgh. Geoff Hartlieb answered the eighth-inning bell and walked the second man he faced. A two-out single was mishandled by B-Rey, leaving Twinkies at second and third. Nelson Cruz was walked in an apparent work-around, and went off as planned when a grounder ended the threat. Tyler Duffey got the call and the Pirates made not a peep. Buxton opened the ninth with a two-bagger. An out later, Hartlieb walked another and Dovy Neverauskas was beckoned. He fanned a pair and was also banged for a single and homer to make it 5-0. Jorge Alcala gave up a Fraze rap and J-Bell blast into the shrubbery before the Fat Lady made her appearance.

Well, gonna be tough when your bullpen consists of fifth-and-sixth inning types, especially with the offense on hiatus for eight innings most nights. Sera, sera...

Notes:

• J-Bell had three hits; Fraze added another, and that was the attack tonight.
• When it rains, it pours. RHP & Bucco closer Nick Burdi was placed on the 45-day IL with a right elbow injury, ending his season. The 27-year-old has already survived TJ and thoracic outlet surgery during his career, and though this injury wasn't identified, a trip to the 45-day IL suggests that it's pretty major stuff.
• Middle IF/CF JT Riddle was activated tonight after recovering from an abdominal strain suffered at the end of camp.
• RHP Keone Kela threw a bullpen, but his active date is still TBD. Kyle Crick hasn't worked a bullpen session yet but did begin throwing. No other achy pitchers are near to returning to action.
• Tomorrow is cutdown day, when the MLB rosters go from 30 players to 28.
• Once again, no Verizon channel for PIT2, AT&T SportsNet's second station that carries the Pirates when there's a hockey game. Verizon blames it on "technical issues."