The Pirates apparently have been needing some games against Colorado. In game two of their doubleheader, Mitch Keller repeated J.T. Brubaker’s scoreless effort, going five innings in a 4-0 win. The sweep guaranteed the Bucs’ first series win in over a month.
Keller faced trouble for exactly one batter. The Rockies didn’t get a runner past first until a two-out double by Matt Adams put runners on second and third in the fifth. Keller got a ground out to end the inning. He finished with two hits, two walks and six strikeouts, and threw 49 of 78 pitches for strikes.
It seems like Keller could have tried for the seven-inning complete game, but Derek Shelton went with Sam Howard in the sixth. He gave up just a two-out walk. David Bednar walked the first two hitters he faced in the seventh, but got the next three with no damage.
The Pirates’ offense was highlighted by two longballs, both by left-handed hitters off lefty Austin Gomber. Adam Frazier opened the bottom of the first with his second of the year. In the fourth, Ka’ai Tom, fresh off the injured list and acting as the 27th man in the doubleheader, hit his second.
In between, the Pirates got a second run in a manner that was a bit reminiscent of recent, unhappy events. Keller led off the inning with an infield hit off Gomber, although it took a challenge to get a clearly incorrect out call overturned. Frazier singled and, after a force at third, Bryan Reynolds worked the count full. With the runners going, Reynolds took ball four, but Elias Diaz threw to third anyway. The throw sailed into left and Frazier scored.
The final run came in the sixth after Jacob Stallings led off with his first major league triple. He lined a ball into left center and, when the center fielder missed the catch, the left fielder took his time getting over on the play. (The Rockies seem to be better focused on tanking than the Pirates.) Will Craig dropped a single into right to plate Stallings.
The Pirates go for the three-game sweep at 1:05pm tomorrow.
