Pirates one-hit Phillies for 7-0 victory

With the way the offense has been playing this season, we’re used to this being reversed, but the Pittsburgh Pirates one-hit the Philadelphia Phillies in the opening game of their interstate series on Friday night.

Wil Crow went six innings, giving up the only hit — a single to Alec Bohm — to go along with four walks and four strikeouts, while Chasen Shreve and Duane Underwood brought it home by finishing up the final three innings. They walked two.

As for the offense, the Bucs had no long balls, but they hammered out 12 hits, including an RBI triple by Bryan Reynolds that got things rolling early for Pittsburgh.

Reynolds finished 2-for-5 on the night, while Pittsburgh also got multi-hit nights from Ben Gamel, who finished 2-for-5 with a double in the leadoff spot, Ke’Bryan Hayes, who also went 2-for-5, and he raked two doubles and an RBI, Gregory Polanco, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks, and Kevin Newman, who finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

In fact, Pittsburgh smacked five two-baggers on the night along with Reynolds’ triple, as the Pirates jumped up 5-0 after the first two innings and didn’t look back for the rest of the game.

Crowe now moves to 3-5 on the season, and he’s been pitching better of late after a slow start, and I think it’s a good move hitting Gamel in the leadoff and moving Newman to the back of the order. They’re both better served in those spots.

Vince Velasquez took the loss for Philly to fall to 3-6 on the year.

The Bucs continue their series with the Phillies tonight at PNC Park with another 7:05pm start. It’ll be JT Brubaker versus Aaron Nola on the mound.