Anderson, Difo Tough Enough to Outlast Bullpen Meltdown, Bucs Salvage Finale 6-5

Today's Game: Adam Frazier and Kevin Newman greeted Kyle Hendricks with singles, and a walk to Ka'ai Tom loaded the sacks. Jake Stalling's roller plated a run and moved the gang up 90', which paid off when Wilmer Difo's two-out single chased home the pair to make it 3-0. Todd Frazier's rap moved Difo to third and he touched home on an infield error caused by Troy Stokes Jr's speed, so a great start for the MASH unit. Ball luck smiled on the Bucs finally; there wasn't a ball hit hard enough to bruise an ego that inning. Tyler Anderson used 10 tosses to retire Chicago, with two screamers gloved. The Pirates ripped a couple of balls in the second, but all found gloves. The Cubbies opened with a double and a two-down knock made it 4-1. With one gone in the third, Erik Gonzalez singled and came around on Difo's three-bagger. He tallied on another Cubbie boot, running the tally to 6-1. Tyler fanned a pair in a clean frame. Tom smacked a ground rule double with two away in the fourth, but no damage done. A knock and a walk put Chi-town in business. A fly moved the lead runner to third and a chopper scored him. An infield rap that survived a challenge put Cubs on the corners, but Tyler got out of it at 6-2.

The Toddfather found his swing for two hits - photo Pgh Pirates

Difo and the Toddfather had back-to-back singles with one gone in the fifth but nothing came of the traffic. The Cubs went down in order on 10 pitches. Justin Steele took the mound in the sixth and *surprise* walked Tom amid three groundouts. It was three up and three down for Anderson, helped by a sweet sliding grab by Stokes. Pittsburgh made nary a peep in the seventh while Tyler kept cruising, mowing down the last 10 Baby Bruins. Dillon Maples got the eighth inning call and punched out two Bucs in a 1-2-3 frame. Anderson lobbied for another go and got it, fanning two more. In the ninth, Jason Adam gave up a K-Man single and Jake two-sacker an out later but struck out the side around them. Tyler, at 102 pitches, was done and Kyle Crick came in to finish. He bopped the first batter, threw a very wild pitch and walked the next guy. A loud out to the track moved the lead man to third, and that brought in Richard Rodriguez. He battled Nick Martini for 10 pitches but got the swinging K. A single made it 6-3 and brought up the tying run. Ildemaro Vargas didn't knot it, but his double made it 6-5. Javy Baez pinch hit and worked the count full before grounding out to Fraze *whew*. Raise it.

Kevin Newman had a pair of raps - 2020 Topps Archive

Well, that ended up a little more exciting than we hoped. But the Buc B-Team and Tyler Anderson carried the day in the end. The back end of the pen was due to come to earth, but at the same time...? Anyway, enjoy this one; the homestand is gonna be a challenge with the Reds and Giants.

Notes:

• Wilmer Difo finished a homer short of the cycle, scored twice and had three RBI. Todd Frazier and Kevin Newman had a pair of hits, and Ka'ai Tom reached three times on a knock and two walks. Every Pirates position starter had a hit except for Troy Stokes Jr.
• Fraze kept on keepin' on - his hitting streak is now at 10 games.
• Kyle Crick and Ric Rod both were scored on for the first time this season today.
• Pittsburgh scored six times; two of the runs were unearned and the team went 1-for-12 w/RISP. Nine of its 11 hits were singles.
• The Pirates hope to have new OF Ben Gamel in uniform tomorrow against the Reds.
• Ouch - Indy was no-hit by Iowa, striking out 15 times. The Iowa Cubs used four pitchers in the 2-0 win. It was the first time Indy had no-no'ed since 2002.

Tomorrow's Game: After the game, the Bucs head back to Pittsburgh for three games against the Reds and a four-gamer v the Giants. The Cincy opener begins at 6:35 with Mitch Keller taking on Tyler Mahle and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.