Leadoff batter Tuck made sure there wouldn't be a repeat of last night by singling against Dallas Keuchel. He was bunted over (don't ask; we don't know), but two K made that a moot strategy. Willy tossed a clean opener. A couple of more Pirates whiffed in the second. A walk and double was followed by a sac fly for the Sox to make it 1-0; with two gone, a single and Danny Mendick dinger quickly ran it up to 4-0. It was a close thing; Gregory leapt to take the homer away and had it in his glove briefly, but it wouldn't stick (looks like it hit the thumb instead of the pocket) and he lost it coming down. Tuck stayed hot with another knock for all the Bucco action in the third. The Sox got a double and walk to start, but Jake picked the runner off first and Willy coaxed a couple of routine outs to squelch that threat. Nada from the Buccos in the fourth; Edwin Encarnacion went boom to leadoff for Chi-town.
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| Stalls is hitting .315 - photo Joe Robbins/Getty |
Joey O singled with two down in the fifth to no avail. For the South Siders, it was more of the same - with two on and two out, Eloy Jimenez jacked another long ball to make it 8-0. Keuchel walked the bases loaded with two away in the sixth and Stalls came through with a two-run rap. Chicago put up a zippo with a single. Jimmy Cordero got the seventh (Keuchel was at 97 pitches) and retired the Bucs in order. Tyler Bashlor answered the call for Pittsburgh (Willy was at 95 tosses himself) with less success - he gave up a first-batter double, then a one-out blast to Jose Abreu before a single and 6-4-3 DP ended the frame. Gonzo got into the flow by whacking a solo shot off Zack Burdi (yep, Nick's bro) in the eighth. Bashlor retired the Sox in order. Steve Cishek closed it out, giving up a Stalls rap before shutting the door in the ninth.
Imagine how Milwaukee must feel.
Notes:
- Tuck and Jake Stalling had two hits each; the rest of the team had two more knocks total.
- Pittsburgh acquired LHP Austin Davis from the Phillies for a PTBN and cash. The reliever was mainly with the AAA Lehigh Iron Pigs last year and posted a line of 4-1-3/2.75, w/4 walks/11 whiffs per game. He gave up seven runs in three innings for the big club this year, has 50 career MLB outings (2018-20) with a 5.86 ERA and was DFA'ed, so it's just another waiver wire deal.
- Injury update per Sports Medicine Director Todd Tomczyk: Kevin Newman is available. Kyle Crick threw another live BP and so far, so good for him. Colin Moran hasn't cleared his concussion protocol yet. Yacksel Rio is throwing, which is more than Keone Kela, who's been shutdown since his sore arm popped up (his arm tightness has lessened but not disappeared). Big Joe will throw a short sim game in Altoona, and Jamo will throw a live BP (he's been tossing from flat ground), so he's coming along well on schedule. Mitch Keller is tossing, too.
- The trade deadline, btw, is Monday. The Bucs are rumored to be ready to deal anyone and everyone, so we'll see what the weekend has in store.
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