6/14: The Dutchman Drives 'Em Wild

Honus drives the crowd wild, Al Lopez, Jose DeLeon, Squeakers, Comeback, Big Bats...

• 1907 - Christy Mathewson was plunked by Pirate pitcher Lefty Leifield in the ninth‚ but carried on until the twelfth when the Pirates persevered 2-1 at Exposition Park. The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs, then hit into a home-to-first DP. But pinch hitter Otis Clymer came through, singling home the winning run. Honus Wagner made a play that “the crowd went simply wild with delight” over per the Pittsburgh Press. The Giants had runners on first and third in the eleventh and two down when the Dutchman raced from the SS hole to make a play on a ball hit up the middle. He tumbled after he made the grab, but still managed to flip the ball to second for the force out while flat on his back, saving a run and probably the game for the Pirates. He was, according to the article, rewarded with a five minute ovation. 
• 1940 - C Al Lopez was traded by the Boston Bees to the Pirates for C Ray Berres and $40,000. Berres caught for six more years with a lifetime .216 BA. Lopez caught seven seasons for Pittsburgh and hit .256 during that time. He later made the Hall of Fame as a manager. 
• 1985 - Jose DeLeon fanned 11 in seven innings to beat the Phillies‚ 3-2 at TRS, backed by homers from Johnny Ray and Sixto Lezcano. DeLeon‚ who didn’t win his first game until June 2nd‚ lost his next 11 to finish the campaign at 2-19. His 4.70 ERA was the worse of his career until his final season in 1995. 
• 1992 - The Pirates won their fourth straight one run game by a 5-4 count over the Mets at Shea Stadium. Andy Van Slyke brought in Gary Varsho with a ninth inning sac fly for the victory. They took consecutive 3-2 wins over the Mets in the first two games of the series and started the streak with a 2-1 win over the Phillies.
• 1996 - Jeff King singled home Jason Kendall and Mike Kingery in the ninth to send Rob Nen and the Florida Marlins to a 5-4 defeat at TRS. Florida had raced out to a 4-0 lead as Matt Ruebel could only get three outs in his start, but Ramon Morel, Jon Lieber, Dan Miceli and Dan Plesac tossed eight shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out eight Fish. 
• 2003 - Aramis Ramirez homered and doubled, driving in four runs, while Jack Wilson smacked three two-baggers good for three RBI among his four hits as the Pirates outslugged the Tampa Bay Rays 12-9 at Tropicana Field. 
• 2006 - Two unlikely run producers, Jose Castillo and Zach Duke, combined for seven RBI to propel Pittsburgh to a 9-7 win over the Cardinals at PNC Park. Castillo had a double and homer to drive in four runs and Duke had a pair of singles to plate three Buccos. 
• 2011 - The Bucs beat the Astros 1-0 at Minute Maid Park. Jeff Karstens threw 6-2/3 innings of three hit ball and five relievers picked up the slack, with Joel Hanrahan getting the save. The only run came in the second when Neil Walker singled off Bud Norris, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Garrett Jones’ knock.