Royals Grind Down Pirates 7-3

Today's Game: The Bucs got off to a good start against Mike Minor. Adam Frazier doubled on a chalk-kisser, went to third on a fly to the track and scored on Bryan Reynold's right side roller. Chad Kuhl quickly gave up a leadoff two-bagger, then tossed a wild pitch. Two K's almost got him out of it, but a well-placed bouncer through an infield shift and off Kevin Newman's mitt knotted the score. The Pirates got a two-out walk and knock in the second to no avail. Kuhl bopped the first Royal, and he scored on a following double. A single made it 3-1, and Cole Tucker's error kept the line moving before three routine outs limited the damage. K-Man doubled with one gone in the third and Jake Stalling's two-out knock sent him home. Chad can't keep the leadoff guy off the bases; KC opened with a single and a wild pitch moved him up. A liner back to the box cleaned that up; Chad snagged the bullet, spun and then caught the runner off second. He followed that with another K. Both sides went down in order for the first time in the fourth. 

Ka'ai Tom, Bucco walk machine - photo Pirates

Nada in the fifth for the Buccaneers. Duane Underwood took over (Kuhl was at 75 pitches) and was whacked for three hits, including an Adalberto Mondesi dinger, an error, wild pitch and steal to make it 5-2. The Pirates couldn't cash in a two-out Gregory Polanco double in the sixth. KC had a one-out single negated via an around-the-horn DP. Jake Brentz took over for Minor in the seventh, issuing a leadoff free pass and nothing else. The Royals started with a single, but two easy outs and a caught stealing made it a calm frame for Underwood. Tyler Zuber worked the eighth and surrendered a solo shot to B-Rey to tighten the gap to 5-3. Luis Oviedo got the call and was banged for an opening two-bagger; a grounder and walk left Royals on the corners. A bouncer to third plated a run and a double chased home another tally. Greg Holland fanned two of three to drive the stake into the Buccos, 7-3 losers tonight.

Too little of everything tonight; it served mainly as an early testing ground for Chad Kuhl. He allowed three runs on six hits, one HBP and two wild pitches in four innings/75 pitches. To his credit, he didn't walk anyone or give up a homer, both previous problem areas, and emphasized his slider, a good thing. He's another guy with the goods but not the command; we'll see what the Buc coaches can do to sharpen that up while his jury sits this season.

Notes:

• The Pirates had six hits, but the only guy to reach base twice was Ka'ai Tom, who drew a pair of walks. B-Rey went deep and chased home two runs, adding to his team-leading total of seven long balls, 24 RBI and 31 runs scored. It should help him when he's bracketed by Ke'Bryan Hayes and Colin Moran in the near future. 
• The Pirates were 8-20 in May.
• Ke'Bryan Hayes is with the team in KC and working out, so everything looks like a go for his return on Thursday, when he's eligible to come off the IL.

Tomorrow's Game: First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 to conclude the two-game set. The match will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan, featuring mound opponents Wil Crowe and Brady Singer.