Chad Kuhl was pumped to start; he struck out the side swinging in the first. Motown's Matthew Boyd was almost as good, getting through with a walk and whiff. The magic wore off in the second when CJ Kron opened with a solo dinger. The Bucs had an answer. Phil Evan's single around two walks juiced the sacks with an out and Erik Gonzalez's rap chased home a pair of runs. A wild pitch set up a couple of more ducks, but the Pirates left them on the pond. Kuhl ran his K total to six during a 1-2-3 third frame. J-Bell's single, Redbeard's 5-6-3 DP and B-Rey's line out took care of Pittsburgh. Chad retired the Tigres in order in the fourth. Jake Stallings doubled with an out and Gonzo followed with a homer (and at 463', it was no cheapie) to up the edge to 4-1. Whip's day was done (four IP, one hit, seven K) and Steven Brault, per the plan, toed the slab in the fifth.
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| Chad had it all going today - image Positively Pittsburgh |
A double, single and walk quickly jacked the sacks with no outs. A single and another walk made it a one-run lead. Another walk tied it up and Geoff Hartlieb got the ball. He fanned a couple before he walked in the lead run; praise the Lord, a grounder ended it. Singles by K-Man and B-Rey put Bucs on the corners with two away; Phil the Thrill brought them home with a blast into the bullpen. John Schreiber took over to close the inning. Yacksel Rios was waved on in the sixth. A single scored, chased home via a two-out double by ol' Bucco JaCoby Jones. Pittsburgh went down in order. A single, bopped batter (Shelty got bounced while rightfully disputing the ump's vision just prior to the HBP) and walk took care of Rios in the seventh, replaced by Miguel Del Pozo. Why, we're not quite sure, but he did his thing, giving up three straight smoked hits. He got a couple of outs before a two-run double put the Bucs down by a 12-7 count. Gregory Soto climbed the hill and got three bouncers for a quick frame.
Del Pozo stayed on and an opening single followed by an error put him in instant hot water, but a K and 6-4-3 DP provided him with an escape from the eighth. Buck Farmer gave up raps to B-Rey and Fraze followed by a Jake Stallings walk to juice the bases with an out. Gonzo doubled home a pair and Jose Cisnero was called upon, closing the door. Ric Rod got the ninth and fanned a pair in a 1-2-3 frame. Jose Jimenez claimed the mound. After a pair of K's, B-Rey and Phil singled with two strikes to plate a run, and holy moly, Fraze bopped a two-strike heater to the CF tarp to knot the score. Nik Turley took over in the 10th. A two-out rap scored the free runner; Tuck's throw beat the runner home but John Ryan Murphy couldn't come up with it cleanly to put Detroit up a run. Gonzo opened with a single off Bryan Garcia to put Corsairs on the corners (Murphy was the ghost runner), and Tuck's sac fly tied it. J-Bell singled with two gone, but the runners were stranded.
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| Ric Rod has been dependable - 2018 photo Rob Carr/Getty |
Dovy Neverauskas worked the 11th and let the free bird in on a one-out single that kissed the chalk; the Bucs challenged the fair call without luck; it appeared to be the right call. A steal, bad throw to second by Murphy (he's having a tough day) and Austin Romine single put the Tigers up by a pair. Then came a walk and a two-run double, reminding us that Tuck is shortstop by trade, not an outfielder. Carson Fulmer put it to rest.
The highlight tonight was seeing Gonzo break out; he had a miserable start last year, but came back to hit .349 in September. He has the opportunity now to show us if he's the .255 hitter (74 OPS+) his career stats say he is or is coming into his own at the dish, as Neal Huntington predicted. Otherwise, pity to waste the hot sticks but same MO...
Notes:
- Erik Gonzalez's six RBI set his career high. Gonzo became the sixth Bucco SS to drive home that many runs in a single game. He was triple short of the cycle with four hits. B-Rey and Phil Evans each added three raps/three runs scored, with Phil picking up four RBI.
- It took Phil Evans exactly 100 MLB plate appearances to swat his first homer.
- Colin Moran is in the midst of an ice age; his 0-for-6 dropped him to a .216 BA.
- Tonight, Chad Kuhl made his first start since June 26th, 2018. Welcome back, Whip.
- The Pirates used eight pitchers; five ended the night with ERA;s over 6.43. Del Pozo tops the list at 17.13.
Chad Kuhl makes his first start since June 26, 2018.
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