8/15 Games: Wild Finish; Kiner Muscles Up; Bucs-Giants Rivalry; Pagan Pounders; Pitching Gems; Bingo

• 1910 - In a meeting of two powerhouse rivals, the Pirates and NY Giants split a twinbill at the Polo Grounds by 2-1 scores. The first game went 11 innings before either team scored. Pittsburgh got a pair of runs off Christy Mathewson thanks to a Fred Clarke double; Lefty Leifield was nicked for score in the bottom half but hung on for the win. The Giants scored twice in the first frame of the nightcap off Howie Camnitz, and Hooks Wiltsie made it hold up, with the only Buc run coming via a Hans Wagner double and Doggie Miller single an inning later. However, the game didn’t have much influence on the finish as the Cubs won 104 games and ran away with the pennant. 
• 1934 - The Bucs and the NY Giants split a twinbill at Forbes Field. The Giants took the opener 5-4, holding on after a four run first for the win. Lloyd Waner singled to bring his hitting streak to 22 games. Pittsburgh won a see-saw battle in the second game. NY tied it 3-3 in the eighth; the Bucs answered in their half and won 4-3 behind Schoolboy Hoyt’s arm and Arky Vaughan’s homer. The Giants did end Little Poison’s hitting streak in the second contest, but he collected knocks in the next nine games to claim a 31-of-32 games hit roll. 

Ralph Kiner 2016 Topps Now Throwback

• 1947 - Ralph Kiner hit consecutive home runs off Red Munger in his last two at bats during a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Forbes Field. Kiner then homered in his first two at bats in his next game against the Cards Ken Burkhart, tying the record for consecutive home runs. 
• 1950 - The Pirates surrendered six runs in the ninth, then scored a half dozen of their own to beat the Reds 10-9 at Forbes Field. The Bucs put up the six spot with six singles, a walk and an error, with Clyde McCullough getting the walk off knock, scoring Wally Westlake from second when his liner was deflected by Reds pitcher Johnny Hetki. The highlight was a fifth inning homer by Ralph Kiner to left center off Ewell Blackwell that was estimated to travel 480’. The Bucs third twirler, Bill MacDonald, earned the win. 
• 1951 - Ralph Kiner banged a homer and triple, scored twice and drove in four runs as the Bucs beat the Chicago Cubs 7-0 at Forbes Field behind Bob Friend’s two-hitter (to go with eight walks) and first career shutout. George Metkovich added three hits. 
• 1964 - Pirate pitchers Tommy Sisk, Frank Bork and Alvin McBean spoiled “Ernie Banks Day” at Wrigley Field, holding Bingo hitless in a 5-4 Bucco win. Donn Clendenon had a pair of RBI (his two-out single in the ninth was the eventual game winner) while Bob Bailey and Roberto Clemente homered. McBean got the win over Lindy McDaniel. 

Donn Clendenon 1967 Dexter Press

• 1968 - Steve Blass tossed a four-hit shutout in Pittsburgh’s 2-0 win over the Giants at Forbes Field. It was Blass’ seventh complete game and third shutout of the season. The Pirates runs came in the first inning on a single by Donn Clendenon and an error that brought home Willie Stargell. 
• 1969 - Big Bob Veale went the distance for the third straight time, scattering six hits against the Reds at Crosley Field to lead the Bucs to a 5-1 victory. The Pirates flexed their muscles in the victory, homering four times - Gene Alley went yard twice while Richie Hebner and Al Oliver also swatted long balls. 
• 1970 - Jose Pagan homered twice while going 4-for-4 with five RBI as the Pirates beat the Padres, 9-3 at TRS. It was the third career two-homer game for Pagan, who homered just 52 times in 4,032 career plate appearances. Bill Mazeroski also went long and Bob Veale struck out 12 batters while tossing a complete game for the win.