Sunday, August 20, 2017

8/20 Games: Boot the Ball Day; Bob, Jose & Kris Gems; Game Stories

  • 1903 - The Pirates set a record for futility in the first inning of a twin bill at the Polo Grounds, committing six errors (they would boot eight balls during the game) and allowing seven runs to the NY Giants in a 13-7 loss. But they came back in the nitecap behind Deacon Phillippe, who tossed a five hit, 4-1 winner against NY, backed by Fred Clarke’s home run. The split kept the Pirates five games ahead of the G-Men in the NL pennant race.
Babe Dahlgren (photo via Baseball Birthdays)
  • 1945 - The Pirates hit two homers (Babe Dahlgren, Pete Cascarart), two triples (Lee Handley, Jim Russell) and two doubles (Tommy O’Brien, Johnny Barrett) to romp over the Brooklyn Dodgers 11-1 at Ebbet’s Field. The Dodgers added seven errors and six walks to the mix to make it an easy day for the Pirates. Preacher Roe went the distance for the win. 
  • 1947 - It wasn’t a very good day for pitchers as Pittsburgh bludgeoned its way to a 16-10 win over Boston at Braves Stadium. 19 players banged out 34 hits. The leader of the pack was the Pirates’ Jim Russell, who went 5-for-6 with a double and triple, five RBI and three runs scored. Jimmy Bloodworth wasn’t far behind, going 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs. It wasn’t all on the hurlers; the teams combined to commit six errors, allowing 10 unearned runs to score. 
  • 1953 - The Pirates used four Philadelphia Phillies errors to beat Robin Roberts 5-2 at Connie Mack Stadium, ending his 15 game winning streak against them. The winner was 19-year-old Jim Waugh, who tossed a six hitter. Four of the Bucco runs were unearned.
Jim Waugh 1953 Topps
  • 1969 - Bob Veale tossed a four hitter with one walk and 10 Ks to defeat the Houston Astros and Denny Lemaster 1-0 at Forbes Field. The big lefty allowed just one runner beyond first during the contest. The game’s only run scored in the eighth, when back-to-back Astro errors and a successful bunt set up Roberto Clemente’s sac fly. 
  • 1983 - Jose DeLeon took a no-hitter into the seventh inning for the third time during the season‚ but Cincinnati's Dan Driessen doubled with two outs to spoil the no-no. DeLeon finished with 13 strikeouts and a 4-0 two-hit victory at TRS. Jason Thompson and Tony Pena had two hits, a run and a RBI each. 
  • 2002 - Pirate pitching held the Cardinals hitless after a one out single in the first at Busch Stadium. The 8-0 win was started by Kris Benson, with an inning each from Brian Boehringer and Al Reyes. Jason Kendall had three RBI, and five Bucs homered - Brian Giles, Aramis Ramirez, Rob Mackowiak, Craig Wilson and Adam Hyzdu. 
Reggie Sanders 2003 Topps 205
  • 2003 - Reggie Sanders hit a pair of homers in the fifth inning, including a grand slam‚ as the Bucs scored 10 times in the frame on the way to a 14-0 romp against the Cards at Busch Stadium. The Pirates homered six times (Sanders - 2, Rob Mackowiak - 2, Jason Kendall & Brian Giles), with a team record-tying four bombs in the fifth as Kendall, Giles and Sanders went back-to-back-to-back in the inning. Jeff D’Amico tossed a complete game three hitter. 
  • 2014 - Down 2-0 in the bottom of the eighth and in the throes of a seven game losing streak, the Bucs rallied to overtake the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park by a 3-2 score. A leadoff walk to Gaby Sanchez in the eighth was followed by a ground rule double off Travis Snider’s bat. A grounder and wild pitch brought them home to tie the game. Jordy Mercer opened the ninth with a single and went to third an out later when Justin Upton misplayed Starling Marte’s fly to left center. Sanchez again was the man of the hour, hitting a fly just deep enough to plate Mercer. Tony Watson got the win and Mark Melancon the save.

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