6/19/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter
Mired in a lengthy losing streak, the Bucs turned to their 2021 #1 overall pick, Henry Davis, to try and turn the tables back in their favor. Everything about his arrival – from the announcement mid-game, the national hype among fans and media alike and the Monday evening crowd of an announced 23,083, all the expected pomp and circumstance – seemed to be in direct contrast to everything else we know about the 23-year-old.
Calm. Quiet. Subdued. Happening far away from the team, the media and the fans. One-on-one with his manager. This is much more in-character for the Louisville Slugger. His talent showing on the field, at the plate, between the bases, letting his play do the talking. And since a baseball game was played tonight, I guess we should talk about it.
Osvaldo Bido took the mound for his second career start and once again opposed the Cubs and their starter, Drew Smyly. The similarities don’t end there, unfortunately, as Bido battled through rain in the 2nd inning. He got Dansby Swanson to line out before Christopher Morel grounded into a fielder’s choice but then the rain came. He got behind on Yan Gomes before he singled and then threw four straight balls to Miles Mastrobuoni to load the bases. As the rain was pouring down, Bido continued struggling to locate and surrendered a 2-run single to Mike Tauchman and an RBI single to Nico Hoerner to put the Cubs up 3-0 early.
Davis, appropriately, got the first hit for the Bucs with a lead-off double in the third inning.
It was one of just 3 hits that the Bucs bats managed against Smyly, who dealt with traffic on the bases throughout the night as he walked 5 batters in 5 innings of work but wiggled out of bases loaded in the third and fifth innings to keep the Pirates off the scoreboard.
Bido performed well outside of the rain-drenched second inning, lasting 6 innings with 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. Recently added southpaw reliever Ryan Borucki took over in the 7th and allowed a single to Nick Madrigal – who stole 2nd – and an RBI single to Tauchman – who advanced to 2nd on an ill-advised throw home by left fielder Connor Joe. He got Hoerner to fly out to right field before his day was done.
Yohan Ramirez came on and allowed the runner to score in the 7th and 3 more scored in the 8th – partly due to a costly throwing error by Ji-hwan Bae – and left with 2 outs in the frame. Yerry de los Santos struck out Ian Happ to end the inning. Yerry would pitch a clean 9th inning as well.
Cubs bullpen combined to cover the final four innings allowing just 2 hits and striking out 3 as they won for the sixth time in their last seven games.
News & Notes
- The Pirates were shut out for the 8th time this season. The bats combined for 10 runners left on base and were 0-6 batting with runners in scoring position.
- Henry Davis finished the night 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, a strikeout and a hard lineout to deep center (105.1 MPH off the bat, traveled 392 feet and expected batting average of .750).
- Tonight’s attendance was the most in a Monday game at PNC Park since April 1, 2019 against the Cardinals (37,336) – which was the home opener that season.
- The Pirates look to try taking game two tomorrow with another rematch as Johan Oviedo faces off against Marcus Stroman again. Game starts at 7:05PM. Lets Go Bucs!
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