8/8 From the 70’s Forward: Smith Trade; Back-to-Back-to-Back; 2011 Fade; Rally Caps; HBD Ohlie

• 1977 - The Pirates had jumped out to a 3-0 lead after an inning at TRS, but Chi-town All-Star Rick Reuschel, who would become a Bucco in 1985, settled in after that. By the seventh the Cubs had banged their way back to take a 6-4 lead, but Reuschel struggled as he neared the finish line. In the seventh, he gave up a run after walking Frank Taveras, who stole second and scored on Dave Parker’s rap. Big Daddy got through the eighth, but couldn’t hang on in the final frame. Omar Moreno singled, Rennie Stennett doubled, and after a Jim Fregosi lineout, Dave Roberts got the call to face Ed Ott. Maybe they should have let Reuschel face one more batter; Otter drilled a triple off Roberts to walk off a 7-6 victory. The first inning runs were driven home by Bill Robinson and Al Oliver with a later solo shot by Fernando Gonzalez. Grant Jackson got the win; Bruce Kison and Goose Gossage preceded him. 

Ohlie 2010 Topps

• 1982 - RHP Ross Ohlendorf was born in Austin, Texas. Ohlie pitched for the Pirates from 2008-11 with a line of 13-27/4.60. Ohlendorf was a bit more than a jock; he graduated from Princeton and spent a summer as an intern in Washington for the Department of Agriculture. He also tossed an “immaculate inning” - nine pitches to strike out the side - on September 5th, 2009 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Ohlie tossed in the show for four years and four teams after leaving Pittsburgh, spinning the ball in Japan in 2017. 
• 1990 - The Pirates sent IF Willie Greene, RHP Scott Ruskin and a PTBNL to the Montreal Expos for LHP Zane Smith. The other player was OF Moises Alou (named as part of the deal on 8/16), a highly regarded prospect deemed expendable as he was blocked by OFs Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla. Alou played 17 years, made six All-Star teams and carried a .303 career BA. Smith spent six of his last seven seasons with the Pirates, winning 47 games behind a 3.35 ERA, and was a staff mainstay for the early nineties’ clubs, winning 16 games for the division champs of 1991. 
• 1995 - Orlando Merced, Jeff King and Midre Cummings hit back-to-back-to-back homers in the second inning against the Giants at Candlestick Park, the first time a trio of Bucs had turned that feat in 25 years. King also become the first Bucco to homer twice in the same inning since 1894 when he went yard off Sergio Valdez and Terry Mulholland in the second frame, a deed he’d match again the next season. The Pirates won by a tally of 9-5. 

Jeff King 1995 Flair

• 2008 - The Bucs took a 2-0, 12-inning win from the Phils at Citizens Bank Park. Steve Pearce’s double and Freddy Sanchez’s two-out infield knock plated the Pittsburgh runs. Craig Hansen got the save for TJ Beam in dramatic fashion. LF Brandon Moss ran down Chase Utley’s opposite field gapper and his relay doubled Shane Victorino off first to end the game. Six Pirate pitchers allowed just a half-dozen hits, although nine walks led to a dozen stranded Phils. 
• 2011 - The Pirates snapped a 10-game losing streak by beating the Giants 5-0 at AT&T Park. Charlie Morton threw a six-hitter with ninth inning help from Jose Veras while Garrett Jones’ 4-for-5 day was the highlight of the Buc attack. The sad sack run took the Bucs from five games above .500 to five below, puncturing both their playoff hopes and a shot at finishing with a winning record.