Thursday, June 10, 2021

Dodgers & Some Ball Luck Team Up To Drop Pirates, 2-1

Today's Game: The tarps came out 25 minutes before game time. The first pitch wasn't delivered until about 8:15 PM, and Justin Turner ruined Tyler Anderson's clean inning with a two-out solo dinger into the visitor's bullpen. Tony Gonsolin had trouble getting started, too - Adam Frazier singled to open, and with two gone, a walk and Gregory Polanco's sharp rap tied the score. Another walk loaded the bases, but a K left them full LA drew a walk in the second to turn the order over. Gonsolin issued a trio of two-out walks after fanning a pair and Victor Gonzalez was waved in. Colin Moran hit it hard the other way, but it was a 105 MPH at 'em ball, so no luck. Turner rinsed and repeated, banging another two-out solo shot in the third, this one popping out of the webbing of the airborne Ka'ai Tom, who almost brought it back in. Pittsburgh went 1-2-3, with Michael Perez flying out to the track in front of the 410' mark. Big Blue made no noise in the fourth, and David Price sat the Pirates down in order. The Dodgers managed an infield knock in the fifth. Ke'Bryan Hayes singled, and a force out later, Redbeard was bopped in the hand/wrist and left the game. A grounder moved the two runners up, but they stayed put. The Pirates have left eight runners on, six in scoring position.

We'll find out about Redbeard's hand tomorrow - photo Pgh Pirates

Anderson gave up a knock and walk with two away in the sixth before escaping. Joe Kelly toed the slab and lost Ben Gamel with two gone and no harm done. Clay Holmes worked the seventh, and was tagged for a walk and rap with two away before a bouncer put it to bed. Blake Treinen climbed the slope and walked another Buc with an out before a 4-3 DP got him back in the dugout. LA drew a two-out walk from Sam Howard in the eighth for their action. Kenley Jansen came in with two away and fanned Perez looking on three pitches. David Bednar replaced Howard with one down in the ninth and sandwiched a walk between a pair of routine outs. Ka'ai did his thing and walked to start the Buccos off, and a fly followed by a bouncer moved him to second, but he recorded the third out himself, gloving a "look what I found" liner back to the box from Young Hayes.

It was a good game, with two keys: Turner's homer tucked into the short left field corner, that with 6" less carry would have been a loud out instead of the game-winner, and Redbeard's bases-loaded rope that found a glove instead of a gap. Wasting eight walks with just three singles as the Pirates did contributed, too; they picked a bad day to have their extra-base hit string end. 

Notes:

  • Fraze and Key had a walk and knock; B-Rey walked twice. Frazier tied his career-high hitting streak tonight at 12 straight games.
  • No official word on Redbeard's injury other than it's to his hand and will be checked out tomorrow.
  • The teams combined for just 10 hits but worked 13 walks
  • 10,957 fans were announced at the yard tonight.
  • 1B Will Craig cleared waivers and was assigned to Indy.
  • 2B Ji-Hwan Bae, who injured his knee in a collision yesterday, was placed in the 7-day IL by Altoona. We're guessing it's just a contusion, but that's not confirmed by the Curve.

Tomorrow's Game: The getaway game starts at 12:35 and will be on MLB on YouTube Live and KDKA 100.1 FM|1020 AM. Mitch Keller closes the series against Julio Urias.

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