6/9 Games: Zisk Cycle, Short Stints, Brant's Big Day, Kiner-less Korner, Sweeps & Game Stories

• 1905 - It was a wild first inning, as attested by the Pittsburg Press headline "Pirates Win Slugging Bee: Two Twirlers Driven Off the Rubber After One Inning." The Giants scored five runs in the top of the first off Sam Leever and the Pirates came back with six runs off Iron Man Joe McGinnity in the bottom of the frame. Deacon Phillippe of the Pirates and Christy Mathewson of NY replaced the twirlers in the second inning. It was all Pittsburgh after that, with the Bucs rolling over New York 12-6 at Exposition Park. Fred Clarke, Ginger Beaumont, Honus Wagner, Del Howard and Tommy Leach each collected a pair of hits, while Phillippe pitched “cleverly” per the Press. And to add insult to injury, the Giants were pelted with fruit as they walked along Market Street after getting into a name-calling contest with some Pittsburgh fans after the game.

Deacon to the rescue (photo Conlon Collection/Detroit Public Library)

• 1940 - The Pirates won for the fifth time in six games when they took the back end of a twin bill from Philadelphia by an 11-5 score at Forbes Field. Elbie Fletcher went 3-for-4 with a double and five RBI while Paul Waner matched him, also going 3-for-4 with a double, with two RBI and three runs. Mace Brown got the win.
• 1946 - The boys in blue really got under the skin of Giants manager Mel Ott. He was ejected from both games of a doubleheader at Forbes Field for arguing calls (two different umps tossed him), a MLB first. Ott should have read the riot act to his hitters instead, who were shut down by 2-1 and 5-1 scores by Bucco hurlers Fritz Ostermueller and Johnny Lanning.
• 1953 - The refusal of the NL owners to allow the Pirates to take down Forbes Field’s Kiner Korner after the trade of Ralph Kiner played into the Pirates’ hands in their 7-4 win over the Cards. Eddie Pellagrini belted a three run pinch HR over the short porch in the eighth‚ after Dick Hall earlier lofted a solo shot in the fourth into the same spot.

Roberto (photo Mark Kauffman/Sports Illustrated)

• 1966 - For the second time in a week, Roberto Clemente homered over the center field wall at Forbes Field, becoming the first right handed batter to pull off that feat more than once. The blast came during a 4-2 loss to the Cards; the first was part of a 9-5 win over Houston.
• 1972 - Through his first 10 starts of the season, LA’s Don Sutton had slashed 8-0/1.14, but met his match with the Pirates. He suffered his first loss of the season when he gave up 10 hits and five runs (two earned) in seven innings to the Bucs at Dodger Stadium. Pittsburgh put up their five-spot in the opening frame. They didn’t exactly pound him; the runs scored on just three singles augmented by a trio of Dodger misplays. Still, the Pirates held their own with Roberto Clemente collecting three hits while Vic Davalillo and Al Oliver added a pair each. It was only a temporary burp for Sutton - even though he lost the next three games, he was an All-Star with 19 wins and a 2.08 ERA at year’s end.
• 1974 - Richie Zisk hit for the cycle against the San Francisco Giants during a 14-1 romp at Candlestick Park, with five RBI and four runs scored. Willie Stargell outdid him with two homers, a double and six runs driven home. Bob Robertson also went long as Jerry Reuss cruised to victory.

Willie Stargell 1978 Topps

• 1978 - Down 8-1 after five innings, the Bucs came to life and ran down the Cincinnati Reds by an 11-9 count at TRS. They were led by Willie Stargell, who had pumped up his teammates with a short mid-game speech, and Bill Robinson. The pair combined for seven hits, including four doubles, six RBI and five runs scored. Chuck Tanner made the unorthodox move of bringing in starter John Candelaria from the pen and he recorded four straight outs to save Grant Jackson’s victory.
• 1989 - Pittsburgh scored in the bottom of the ninth to tie the Mets after they had gone ahead in the top half, and then plated again in the tenth to take a 4-3 win at TRS. Gary Redus’ two-out single-and-error bouncer to short scored Rafael Belliard to knot the game. Another Met miscue led to the winner. Andy Van Slyke’s single to right was misplayed into a three-bagger, and after a pair of intentional walks, Benny Distefano’s ground ball was the walk off at-bat to earn Bill Landrum the W.
• 1999 - The Pirates beat up on the Tigers‚ 15-3‚ as Brant Brown smacked out five hits‚ including a double and homer, scored four runs and drove home five. Ed Sprague and Jose Guillen each added a bomb and three RBI at Tiger Stadium. It was the first time the Pirates ever played in that ballyard. Francisco Cordova picked up the win.