8/2 Games: Smokey Joe; Run-An-Inning; Bonus Baseball; Game Stories

• 1894 - The Pirates set a club record by scoring in 14 straight innings during a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Browns when they plated a run in the first. They started the streak on July 31st, beating Cincinnati 11-10 while scoring in the last five frames, and then tallied in all eight frames on August 1st against the Reds, winning by a 15-5 count. The games were played at Expo Park. One additional footnote to the game: the infield fly rule was new, and what the Pittsburgh Press called “a puzzling play” occurred when pitcher Red Ehret missed an infield pop (not intentionally) that had been called an infield fly by the ump. The runner on first took off (the original rule stated he had to remain on first), the pitcher threw the ball into center field and all sorts of hilarity broke out until the Pirates had, per the Press, “a sudden awakening” and tagged first for the forceout. 

Wilbur Cooper (photo via Detroit Public Library)

• 1919 - Wilbur Cooper allowed two runs on five hits in eight innings in a 4-2 win against the Boston Braves at Forbes Field. Dana Fillingim had the Bucs shutout going into the eight. But a couple of knocks and a couple of walks put Pittsburgh on the board, and Vic Saier’s triple unjammed the sacks to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead. 
• 1928 - The Pirates scored 12 runs in the first three innings and ran away with an 18-4 laugher over the Phillies at the Baker Bowl. Glenn Wright (five RBI) and George Grantham (who scored four times) cranked out early three-run homers to pace the attack. Three more runs were driven in by both Pie Traynor and Fred Bickell. Burleigh Grimes coasted to the win. 
• 1930 - Playing at night under Kansas City's portable light system, the Homestead Grays' 44-year-old hurler, Smokey Joe Williams (27 strikeouts), spun a one-hitter (an eighth-inning bloop into right) to defeat the Monarchs' Chet Brewer (he gave up four hits & fanned 19, including 10 in a row starting in the 7th), 1-0, in a fiercely contested 12-inning matchup. Oscar Charleston scored the game’s the only run when he walked - the first free pass of the game - and later scored on Chaney White’s single. Not only were the pitchers top notch, but both were adept at doctoring the ball, an especially effective ploy at night. Per the Pittsburgh Courier “The opposing pitchers were cheating without the question of a doubt. An emery ball in daylight is very deceptive but at night it is about as easy to see as an insect in the sky.” Still, Grays owner Cum Posey later called it “the greatest pitching battle of the Gray’s history...” 

Smokey Joe Williams (photo via ESPN)

• 1931 - The Pirates stopped the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 at Forbes Field behind Erv Brame for the series sweep and team’s third straight shutout over the Redlegs. Paul Waner had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run while Tommy Thevenow also kicked in three knocks and a pair of RBI. 
• 1960 - The Pirates defeated the Dodgers 3-0 at Forbes Field behind Vern Law’s five hitter. Roberto Clemente’s arm was a game breaker. He threw behind Norm Larker at first to catch him rounding the base too far after a single, and then played a ball in the RF corner perfectly, holding the Dodgers to a single that was followed by a DP. The Bucco glovework was contagious; earlier in the game, Frank Howard was nailed going to third on a Bill Virdon, Dick Groat, Don Hoak trifecta with the Tiger climbing the ladder on a high relay and coming down with the tag. A close game was broken up in the seventh when Bill Mazeroski rolled a single up the middle to score Joe Christopher. But the gamebreaker came when Dodger hurler Stan Williams mishandled a bunt, leading eventually to a two-out, two-run double by Dick Groat. 
• 1970 - Pittsburgh outslugged the Braves 10-7 at Atlanta Stadium behind the hot sticks of Bob Robertson and John Jeter. Robertson went long twice and drove home six runs; the other four runs were plated by Jeter, who also homered. Dock Ellis got the win, although Dave Giusti made it interesting in the ninth, giving up three runs on back-to-back Bravo home runs. 

Bob Robertson 1971 Topps

• 1974 - The Bucs took advantage of a couple of Redbird miscues to take a 3-2, 14-inning match from St Louis at TRS, snapping a six-game Cardinal winning streak. The Bucs legit run scored on an Al Oliver solo homer. Pittsburgh scored a second run when the Cards muffed a double play. The winner came home after the Cards had already cut down one run at the plate but blew the chance at a second. Richie Hebner singled with two outs and Ed Kirkpatrick at second; Spanky scored uncontested when C Ted Simmons (a future Pirates GM) drifted up the line to track the throw home when he should have stayed at home. 1B Joe Torre slid over to cut the offline peg and spun to relay the ball only to find Simmons nowhere near the dish, but still 10’ up the baseline. Ramon Hernandez got the win, following Larry Demery and Dave Giusti. 
• 1977 - The Pirates scored twice in the ninth inning to tie the score 3-3 against Houston at the Astrodome before Bill Robinson hit a two-out, game-winning three-run homer off Dan Larson in the top of the 10th to win it. Robinson had tied the game with a single with Dave Parker aboard the frame before; the throw to third to try to get The Cobra went through third baseman Enos Cabell and both Parker & Robinson scored on the misplay. Larson threw a complete game in a losing effort, giving up just six hits, with five coming in the final 1-⅔ innings. Grant Jackson pitched the final three frames for the Pirates and allowed just one hit to earn the win. 
• 1993 - The Cubs beat the Pirates‚ 12-10‚ at Wrigley Field in a game marked by seven HRs‚ six ejections‚ three brushbacks and a brawl. Carlos Garcia had a pair of homers for the Bucs‚ and was beaned in his next at-bat in the sixth by Bob Scanlon, instigating the meet-at-the-mound scrum. Lloyd McClendon and Al Martin also went long for Pittsburgh. 

Brian Giles 2002 Finest

• 2002 - The Bucs walked off with a 6-5 win over the SF Giants at PNC Park. Down a run with two outs in the ninth, Jason Kendall lined a single and Jack Wilson followed with a bloop. Brian Giles drilled Rob Nenn’s 1-2 pitch into left center to plate them both for the win. Adam Hyzdu and Rob Mackowiak homered for the Bucs while Brian Boehringer got the win. 
• 2007 - It took 11 innings, but Pittsburgh whipped the SL Cards 6-5 at PNC Park. With two down, Jose Castillo's single scored Ryan Doumit from second. Ronnie Paulino had a homer and double while Salomon Torres picked up the win after two innings of shutout ball.