Bucs Take 2-1 Thriller From Padres Behind Keller & Bullpen

Today's Game: Dinelson Lamet got a couple of quick outs, then Phil Evans and Colin Moran dropped back-to-raps to no avail (note to Bucs; try to get in scoring position with less than two outs tonight). Mitch Keller lost the second Padre hitter on four pitches but cruised out on 14 pitches. Tom singled with one gone in the second and Kevin Newman followed with another off a glove. Ka'ai had an attack of happy feet, though, and was caught trying to get to third before Mitch bounced out to end the frame. SD put up another zero with a single in their half. Pittsburgh finally touched the plate on consecutive two-baggers by Adam Frazier and Bryan Reynolds to lead off the third against Ryan Weathers, who then buckled down to strand B-Rey at third. The Friars went down 1-2-3. The Pirates went down in order in the fourth as SS Ha-Seong Kim gobbled up another bullet, already his third nice play of game. Kell fanned a pair in the San Diego half. Keller opened the fifth with a single, was forced by Fraze, and he was picked off first. Too bad as B-Rey banged another double, but another zero ended up on the board. The Padres went down on eight pitches.

E-Gon manufactured the winning run on pure hustle - 2019 Topps

Keona Kela got the call for the sixth. With one gone, Erik Gonzalez singled, stole second and scored on an aggressive dash (he was off on the pitch) on a grounder to second to make the tally 2-0. With one away, SD broke up a 12-down-in-a-row streak with a single, followed by a steal. With two gone, a wild pitch and walk ended Keller's night; Sam Howard spun the final out. Pierce Johnson toed the rubber in the seventh, and a one-out walk was erased on a DP. David Bednar took the hill, and two singles around a right-side grounder got SD on the board. A soft roller moved the runner to second, where he stayed. Emilio Pagan tossed the eighth. Colin Moran doubled with an out. A grounder and work-around walk put Bucs on the corners, but Tom K'ed to end it. Kyle Crick gave up a walk but no further noise. Drew Pomeranz worked the ninth without the Pirates making a peep. Richard Rodriguez took the bump. Somebody will score off him sometime, but it wasn't San Diego tonight. Raise it.

The pitching has been sound the past three games; nice to see it finally rewarded tonight as the Bucs stay alive to take the series tomorrow.

Notes: 

• Bryan Reynolds and Colin Moran each had a pair of hits while Fraze doubled and walked.
• Ric Rod has now tossed 23! straight scoreless outings, dating back to last August. 
• Mitch Keller collected his first MLB hit tonight.
• The Pirates had a 22-inning scoreless streak before plating in the third. They also snapped a five-game losing string.
• The upper level minor league pitching performances were nice tonight: Indy's Chase De Jong: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K and Altoona's Roansy Contreras: 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K. A few dingers were launched too, making for a promising Opening Day for the Baby Bucs. 

Tomorrow's Game: JT Brubaker finishes the set against Yu Darvish. The getaway match starts at 8:10 and will be aired on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.