8/20 Games: Boots, Extras, Gems, Bats, #1,000 For Danny

• 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.
• 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.

Preacher Roe 1945 Play Ball

• 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.
• 1961 - The Cubs and Pirates tied an NL record by playing their third straight extra-inning game at Wrigley Field. Chicago took this one 1-0 when Billy Williams singled home the winning run with two outs in the 11th, making Bob Friend a loser to Don Cardwell. The clubs had split the first pair; all three games went 11 innings.

Bob Friend 1961 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.
• 1975 - Manager Danny Murtaugh’s 1,000th win came with a 3-1 victory over the Giants at TRS. The Pirates scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on Craig Reynold’s double and a two-run knock by Rennie Stennett. Jim Rooker pitched eight innings of three-hit ball to earn the win with Dave Giusti closing it out.
• 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.

Jose DeLeon 1984 Topps

• 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.
• 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.