Bucs Batter Baltimore 13-1; Underwood for Apostel Trade w/Cubs, Fulmer DFA'ed

Today's Game:

Holy Moly - a nine-inning game on TV! JT Brubaker got the starting nod against the Orioles, while tagging up after him were Chase De Jong, Richard Rodriguez, Kyle Crick, Chasen Shreve, Clay Holmes and David Bednar. Adam Frazier got his first action of the year, albeit as DH, with Kevin Newman at SS, Brian Goodwin again in center and Dustin Fowler in left. The Bucs apparently enjoy being on the tube; they romped past Baltimore, 13-1.  

Brubaker and De Jong got the Bucs off to a good start, each spinning a pair of scoreless frames. Ric Rod gave up a run on two hits but with two K, and Crick worked out of a two-runners jam by fanning the side. Shreve and Holmes worked quiet innings, each stranding a Bird at first. Bednar closed it out with a K.

With the wind blowing in, there were no dingers, but the Pirates were quite efficient - they banged out 15 hits (four doubles) and stranded just seven runners. The biggest blow was Fowler's bases-loaded double, sending three Buccos home. The swatting was contagious today; a dozen Bucs had hits and 11 scored, drove in a run or both.

Kevin's hot but ouch... - 2019 Topps Gold Label

The only sour note was after Newman doubled in the fourth for his second hit of the day (he's been en fuego so far) but pulled into second with a tight hammy, so we'll see how that plays out.

Notes:

• Pittsburgh dealt with the Cubs for RHP Duane Underwood, Jr., 26, sending 1B Shendrik Apostel to the Windy City. RHP Carson Fulmer was DFA'ed to make room on the 40-man for Underwood. He spent parts of three seasons with the Cubs with a slash of 1-1/5.20 as a reliever (he's also potentially a starter) had been DFA'ed. Apostel, 20, spent the last two seasons in the Dominican League with a .252 BA and 11 HR in 265 ABs. Fulmer was caught up in a logjam of long men/spot starters in camp.
• Fraze, Ke'Bryan Hayes and Ji-Hwan Bae each collected a pair of hits today.
• The Bucs and O's played a backlot B game earlier in the day. Michael Feliz, James Marvel, Max Kranick and Blake Weiman did the slabwork. 

Tomorrow's Game:

The Bucs get a beach day on Monday. They pick up the gauntlet again Tuesday against Atlanta at Sarasota with Steven Brault leading the charge. The game is scheduled for 1:05 and will be broadcast on KDKA 1020.