Jordan Lyles v Adrian Sampson, Lineup & Notes - Starling Back, J-Mart Back to Indy

Game: The Ranger game starts at 8:05 EDT at Globe Life Park and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera DH, Colin Moran 3B, Fran Cervelli C, Bryan Reynolds LF, Cole Tucker SS, (Jordan Lyles P). The lineup has a little more bite against righties and with Marte back. We'll be watching Gregory to see how he settles in after a few more at bats; he's pulling the ball more, but with a career high 50% grounder rate and career low 12.5% hard-hit rate (although his soft-contact rate is low, too) per Fangraphs.

Gregory is still feeling his way back 2019 Topps Heritage

Pitchers: RHP Jordan Lyles (2-1/2.15) opens the set against an ol' Bucco farmhand, RHP Adrian Sampson (0-1/4.50). Jordan was thumped for the first time this year in his last outing against the Snakes and will try to get back on the bike tonight. Lyles hasn't seen Texas since 2016 and hasn't missed them - he's got a 1-5/8.15 lifetime line against them (nine outings, seven starts). Sampson is making his second start this year. He's also worked for Seattle and will be on the bump for his eighth MLB start/first outing against the Bucs. Sampson was part of the 2015 deal that landed JA Happ.

Notes:

• Starling is back; he came off the IL today. Jason Martin was sent back to Indy to clear a roster space after hitting .229 for the Pirates.
• Texas has scored 29 runs in their last two games to break out of their own five-game losing streak. They're second in runs scored in MLB, tied with the Dodgers and behind Seattle. They're also excellent at home (10-4 v 4-9 on the road), so tough set comin' up.
• This is the first trip back to Texas for Keone Kela and Jeff Banister since becoming Pirates a few months ago.
• Jose Osuna has joined Indy to continue his rehab; he had been working with Class A Bradenton. He's been playing all four corner positions - 1B, 3B, LF & RF.
• JT Brubaker, who was lifted from his last start with elbow tightness, has landed on the MiLB IL with an elbow strain; no estimate yet on recovery time. He was considered the next man up if the Pirates needed a starting minor league arm, at least until Mitch Keller finds his groove.
• The Eastern League named Altoona Curve 3B Hunter Owen as their Player of the Week. Owen hit .417/.440/1.000 with three doubles, a triple, three homers (in 25 PA's!), drove in six runs and scored seven times.
• The Goose, Phil Gosselin, was added to Philly's active roster, joining Cutch, S-Rod, and Juan Nicasio.

4/30 Through the 1950’s: First NL Game; Billy Boots; Hans In Bronze; Game Stories; HBD Ray, Scrap Iron & Tony

• 1877 - Jim “Pud” Galvin of the Pittsburgh Alleghenys tossed the International Association’s first shutout‚ defeating Columbus 2-0 at Union (Recreation) Park. The IA disbanded after the season. He tossed for 15 years, was MLB's first 300-game winner (he won 365 games) and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965.

The 1887 Alleghenys (image Charles Gross & Co.)

• 1887 - The Pittsburgh Alleghenys played their first NL game, defeating the defending champion Chicago White Stockings 6-2 behind Pud Galvin in front of nearly 10,000 fans at Recreation Park. In pre-game ceremonies, Fred Carroll’s beloved pet monkey (the chimp was also the team mascot), which had passed on to simian heaven, was buried beneath home plate. The team wouldn't become the Pirates until 1891, after they "pirated" the services of second baseman Lou Bierbauer from the Philadelphia Athletics.
• 1891 - C Tony Brottem was born in Halstad, Minnesota. He mad a couple of short visits to MLB baseball, getting into 62 games in three seasons, mostly as a Bucco in 1921, hitting .242 in 30 games. He had a long minor league career covering a dozen campaigns. His career had a sad ending; he tried a comeback in 1929 and was cut after 60 Class B games. Depressed, the 37-year-old committed suicide.
• 1924 - At Cubs Park, Rabbit Maranville lined a triple in the 14th inning and then stole home to beat Chicago‚ 2-1. Johnny Morrison was the winner over Elmer Jacobs as both pitchers went the distance. The Pirates had 12 hits, led by Max Carey’s three, but shot themselves in the foot via four DPs during the day.
• 1938 - 3B Bill Brubaker set a modern MLB record by committing four errors (he also was picked off second) in a 2-0 loss to Ray “Peaches” Davis and the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. Bill’s boots didn’t contribute to the loss; both Red runs (one off Russ Bauer and the other off Mace Brown) were earned. The outing was played in front of 10,000 fans, of which 6,300 were knotholers who got in gratis. It was an overdue victory for the Redlegs; it snapped a 20-game win streak against them by the Buccos.

The first Uncle Ray 1991 Upper Deck

• 1945 - Ray Miller was born in Takoma Park, Maryland. He spent ten years as the Pirates pitching coach (1987–96) under Jim Leyland, replacing Ron Schueler, and worked with Cy Young winner Doug Drabek. Miller also managed for Minnesota & Baltimore and tutored Mike Flanagan & Steve Stone while with the Os.
• 1949 - Phil “Scrap Iron” Garner was born in Jefferson City, Tennessee. He spent five years (1977-81) with the Pirates, playing second base for the 1979 World Series club. Scrap Iron hit .267 and stole 112 bases while a Bucco. After his playing career, Garner managed the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros.
• 1955 - A statue of Honus Wagner, created by Frank Vittor and paid for from donations, was unveiled outside the left field gates at Forbes Field. It’s been moved twice: first to TRS, then to PNC Park where his likeness greets fans at the main gate.

4/30 From 1960: Meares Signed; King Doubles His Pleasure; Bert Quits; Mad Dog Cover; Game Stories; HBD Jeff

• 1960 - Pittsburgh scored ten times in the second inning against the Reds at Crosley Field on the way to a 12-7 win, their eighth victory in a row. Roberto Clemente, Billy Maz (who was 4-for-5) and Dick Stuart each drove home three RBI. 

Jeff Reboulet 2003 Pirates Promo

• 1964 - Utility man Jeff Reboulet was born in Dayton, Ohio. Jeff had a 12-year MLB career as a jack-of-all-trades, playing every position on the diamond except pitcher. He closed out his big league run with Pittsburgh in 2003 as a backup infielder, batting .241, just about his lifetime average (.240). After living on a bench-warmers pay during his baseball days, Jeff turned that experience into his second career - when he retired, Reboulet co-founded Horizon Wealth Management and became a financial advisor. 
• 1967 - Juan Pizarro struck out eight batters and tossed a four-hit shutout in Pittsburgh’s 2-0 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Jerry May knocked in both of Pittsburgh’s runs with a run-scoring single in the second inning and a solo home run in the fifth frame. 
• 1980 - Phil Garner had his first two-homer game, good for three RBI, and Bill Robinson added another as the division leading Pirates took a 5-0 victory over the Expos at TRS. Jim Bibby tossed a six-hitter for the win. The long balls were a birthday gift to himself; Scrap Iron turned 31. 
• 1980 - Pitcher Bert Blyleven left the team and announced that he would retire if he wasn’t traded, citing “the non-support and lack of confidence from his manager,” unhappy that Chuck Tanner wouldn’t let him pitch deeper into games. He did finish out the year, going 8-13/3.88 with 216 IP and was granted his wish when he was sent to the Indians during the off season. 
• 1984 - Bill Madlock was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Have Bats - Will Hit.” Not quite...Mad Dog tried playing through a sore elbow and eventually had surgery in August to remove bones spurs. He batted just .253 for the campaign. 

• 1996 - For the second time in his career, Jeff King hit a pair of bombs in the same inning - one a grand slam - to lead the Bucs to a 10-7 win over the Reds. The first baseman joined Andre Dawson and Willie McCovey as the only MLB’ers to have accomplished the feat twice. The Bucs tallied nine times in the fourth frame to spark the victory at Cinergy Field, sending Cincinnati to its eighth straight loss. 
• 1999 - Pat Meares, 30, was signed to a one year, $1.5M contract by Cam Bonifay. He broke his wrist in spring training (the Pirates misdiagnosed it as a sprain), and a week after he came off the DL was given a four year, $15M extension. He played 240 games for the Pirates and 2001 was his last season, reaching a settlement that paid him for 2002-03 without him playing. 
• 2008 - Pirate RF’er Xavier Nady went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks while driving in three runs during a 13-1 rout of the Mets in New York. Nady’s three RBI increased his total to 26 for the month of April. That was tops in the NL at the time, and the most for a Pirate in the season’s first month since Willie Stargell’s 27 in 1971.

4/29 Through the 1960’s: First Sunday Game; Greenlee Field Opens; Game Stories; HBD John, Phil, Lefty & Frank

• 1860 - RHP Frank (Hengstebeck) Beck was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. Franks had five MLB outings in 1884, three with the Alleghenys. All three starts were complete-game losses as he put up a 6.12 ERA, although he did have better luck as a part-time outfielder, going 4-for-12. He finished up with two more losses with the Union Association’s Baltimore Monumentals to end his big league stay. He returned to baseball’s independent leagues, where he started from, and his trail dies off after his 1887 campaign with Ionia of the Northern Michigan League. 
• 1896 - LHP Ralph “Lefty” Mellix was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mellix’s family moved to Pittsburgh when he was a child and the Peabody HS grad became a semi-pro legend (he kept a day job at Westinghouse and later with the City), tossing briefly for the Homestead Grays in 1935 and part of a Gus Greenlee touring team in the 40’s. Lefty played for local and regional clubs too numerous to mention, often as a rental headliner, but his regular home was in Pittsburgh’s Hilltop, as he pitched and managed for the Beltzhoover Black Sox (later the 18th Warders), based out of McKinley Park. His playing days covered 1917-57, earning him the title of “The Granddaddy of the Sandlots.” Though records are scarce, it’s said that he was on the bump for 1500+ games and claimed nine no-hitters. After Mellix retired, the Pirates recognized him by giving him a lifetime pass and he become a historian of sorts as a dispenser of local black baseball lore. 

Rollie Hemsley (Retro Photos archive)

• 1930 - Rollie Hemsley, George Grantham, and Charlie Engle combined for 11 hits and 12 RBI to lead the Pirates to a 13-9 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Bucs rallied from a 7-1 deficit with a seven run sixth inning and never looked back. Ralph Erickson got the win (his only MLB victory) in relief of Ray Kremer with a save going to Steve Swetonic. Pittsburgh and Chicago were just holding up their end in a day of MLB fireworks - in the seven games played on this date, an average of 17+ runs a game were scored. 
• 1932 - Greenlee Field in the Hill, home of the Pittsburgh Crawfords, opened in front of 4,000 fans. Hall of Famers Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson were the battery as the Pittsburgh Crawfords lost the opener to the New York Black Yankees 1-0 in a pitching duel with Jesse "Mountain" Hubbard. Paige struck out 10 and allowed six hits, but Hubbard was better, surrendering just three knocks. The Allegheny County commissioners, Pittsburgh's mayor, and the city councilmen caught the opener from the field boxes. It was the first ballfield built specifically for a black team, erected by team owner Gus Greenlee. When finished, the grounds would seat 7,500, with lights added in 1933. It was demolished in 1939 to create space for the Bedford Dwellings. 
• 1934 - Red Lucas won Pittsburgh’s first Sunday home game as the Pirates beat Cincinnati 9-5 at Forbes Field, backed by Gus Suhr’s three hits and four RBI. Both Suhr and Paul Waner, who also had three knocks, homered. Because of Pennsylvania’s Blue Laws, Pittsburgh was the last major league city to play a home game on a Sunday after local referendums in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia approved Sunday ballgames in the 1933 November elections. 
• 1938 - Pittsburgh sportswriter Phil Musick was born; he was raised in the Garfield section of Pittsburgh. He began locally at the Greensburg Tribune-Review as sports editor. He joined the Pittsburgh Press in 1969 and later moved across the street to the Post Gazette, covering the Pirates and Steelers in his columns (“Stop the Musick,” usually filled with musings under “Things I think I think...”). He later was the first sports columnist at USA Today before returning to the Press. He left the paper in 1987 and hosted a talk show on WTAE-Radio while teaching journalism at LaRoche College. He also had a handful of books and national freelance articles on his resume before passing away in 2010. 

Ronnie Kline 1959 Topps

• 1959 - The Giants jumped ahead of the Pirates and Ronnie Kline 2-0 at Forbes Field early on and the lead held up until the Bucs counter punched in the seventh. Roberto Clemente opened with a triple, Smokey Burgess followed with a double, and Dick Stuart’s single tied the score. A double play dampened the festivities a bit, but Bill Mazeroski put the cherry on top by homering off Johnny Antonelli to give Pittsburgh the lead. Kline, who fanned nine Golden Gaters, cruised to the finish line, retiring the last eight G-Men as Pittsburgh went on to take a 3-2 win. 
• 1966 - OF/1B John Vander Wal was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He played for the Bucs in 200-01 and in 232 games hit .290 w/35 HR and 144 RBI. The Pirates traded him at the 2001 deadline with Jason Schmidt to the Giants for Ryan Vogelsong and Armando Rios in one of GM Dave Littlefield’s early deals after replacing Cam Bonifay in mid-July. In his career, Vander Wal banged 129 pinch hits off the pine and holds the single-season record for pinch hits with 28 with the Rox in 1995.

4/29 From 1970: Kingham Debut; Nova "Maddux"; Game Stories; HBD Tony & Steven

• 1978 - RHP Tony Armas Jr. was born in Puerto Piritu, Venezuela. Tony worked 10 big league campaigns as a journeyman starter and spent 2007 as a Pirate (4-5, 6.03) after inking a $3.5M deal. It proved to be his final full MLB season as the Bucs didn't pick up his 2008 option and the Mets released him the following year after one outing. Junior was the son of All-Star OF Tony Armas who had been a hot Bucco prospect but was traded to the A’s after a cup of coffee in Pittsburgh as part of the Phil Garner deal. 

Tony Armas Jr 2007 Upper Deck

• 1987 - The Pirates were clocked by the Dodgers 10-2 at Three Rivers Stadium, but with a couple of interesting sidebars. Ump Fred Brocklander blew a pair of calls on the same play, and while sorting them out, the Pirate Parrot launched a feather-brained dance of indignation, ending with a nerf ball aimed at Fred. When the other umps came to Brocklander’s rescue, the Parrot jumped in his cart and exited stage right. He quickly learned that umpires are not part of the show, at least not for mascots, and was suspended for a day (he did apologize - he was a rookie Parrot and just learning the ropes the hard way). And later, coach Rick Donnelly got into a bullpen fight with a couple of fans who had sneaked into the area through an unwatched employees entrance. He tried to get them to leave peacefully, but to no avail, leading to a brief battle that ended poorly for the interlopers. They were taken away by police and charged with public intoxication. The Pirates didn’t file any additional charges, apparently feeling being thumped by Rick was punishment enough. 
• 1990 - The Bucs swept San Diego 10-1 behind a four homer barrage at Jack Murphy Stadium. Barry Bonds and Jay Bell hit three-run bombs, Bobby Bonilla banged a two-run blast, and Don Slaught added a solo shot to grease an easy outing for Doug Drabek. It was the Pirates sixth consecutive win. 
• 1992 - LHP Steven Brault was born in La Mesa, California. Drafted by the Orioles in 2013, he was sent to the Pirates as part of the Travis Snider deal. The lefty moved through the system quickly and in July of 2016 made his MLB debut. He slashed 0-3, 4.86 but was in the running for a back-end rotation spot in 2017 camp, where he pitched well but lost out to Tyler Glasnow and was returned to Indy. He returned later in the year (1-0/4.67) and broke camp with the Bucs in 2018 as a long man and spot starter, going 6-3/4.61 in 45 outings. 

Steven Brault 2016 (image: Root Sports)

• 2000 - For the purists and the believers in productive outs, this was a game for you - the Pirates and Reds tied the MLB record in Cincinnati's 6-5 victory at TRS by hitting five sacrifice flies (the Redlegs also dropped a pair of successful bunts). Neither club was very clutch other than cranking out flies - the two teams combined to go 1-for-19 w/RISP during the game. Pat Meares and Warren Morris both homered in the losing effort, triggered when Cincy overcame an early Bucco lead by scoring five times in the seventh and eighth innings (with two of the runs plating on sac flies). 
• 2012 - Pitching for the AAA Indianapolis Indians against the Durham Bulls, Justin Wilson tossed the first 7-1/3 innings of a combined no-hitter (two walks, nine K, 107 pitches), completed by Jose “Jumbo” Diaz and Doug Slaten. He worked his first Bucco game on August 20th and also tossed for the Yankees, Tigers and now the Cubs after being converted to the pen. 
• 2017 - Ivan Nova tossed a 95-pitch, complete-game shutout against Miami at Marlins Park, winning 4-0. His "Maddux" (a complete game shutout using fewer than 100 pitches) was the first for a Bucco since Jeff Karstens tossed one on July 15th, 2011 against the Astros. Other factoids on the strike-throwing righty: In his 16 starts to date with the Pirates, Nova had more complete games (five) than walks (four) and had yet to hit the 100-pitch mark as a Bucco. John Jaso homered, but the big frame was the sixth when Fish hurlers walked four straight batters (two of them battling back from 0-2 counts) to force in a pair of runs. 

Ivan Nova 2017 Topps Now

• 2018 - Nick Kingham had a debut to remember - he retired the first 20 batters he faced in a 5-0 win over the Cardinals at PNC Park. He gave up a two-out single to Paul DeJong in the seventh, finishing with a one-hit, nine-K outing in his first MLB game. The contest was a scoreless duel between Nick and Luke Weaver before the Bucs broke it open with four runs in the sixth, keyed by a two-run single by Elias Diaz, who had three hits on the day. It was the Pirates fifth straight victory and gave them their earliest 17th win in franchise history.

Dodgers Overcome Quick Buc Start & Melky Mashing To Take 7-6 Win & Series Sweep

The Bucs scored first when Melky Cabrera ruined Rich Hill's return with a solo shot to left center. J-Bell added a two-out two-bagger, but JHK whiffed to end it. A walk, single and sac fly by Big Blue off Trevor Williams knotted it at 1-1. In the second, an error and a bunt single by Cotuck (C Russ Martin played it too aggressively; it looked as if it was going to roll foul) was followed by a Pablo RBI knock through the 2B hole. Willy's bunt moved the runners up to second and third, and Fraze's bouncer brought Tuck home. And holy moly, Pops Stargell was being channeled by Melky, who bombed another homer to make it 5-1. Willy did his thing, tossing a 1-2-3 frame. The Pirates calmed down in the third, and Hill tried to rally his troops with a leadoff knock, but they failed to follow his lead. Pittsburgh went quietly in the fourth and Cody Bellinger was up to his old tricks, banging a long ball to chip into the lead. The Bucs didn't get a ball out of the infield in the fifth. LA opened with two raps and a bunt to move them up. Willy whiffed Joc Pederson, and was a pitch away from escaping when he left an 0-2 change over the dish to Cory Seager, who belted a double; a jam-shot blooper to right followed, and it was a tie game.

Willy didn't have an answer today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Hill tossed an easy sixth; the Pirates haven't had a hit since Melky's second-inning homer. Willy was tagged for a two-out triple, but Martin's bullet to left was gloved by Melky to keep the tie. Julio Urias climbed the hill for LA in the seventh and fanned a pair, tho Bryan Reynolds managed to break the Bucs hitless streak with a pinch hit, leg single to third. Ric Rod answered the call. A walk was followed by a grounder to J-Bell; he drilled the lead runner in the back with his peg to put Dodgers at second and third. A pop out was followed by a knock; LA had the lead for the first time, and Frankie Liriano was summoned. He had Bellinger 0-2, allowed him to work the count full, and then gave up a single to right to put Big Blue up by a pair. Melky singled to open the eighth and went to third when the ball got through AJ Pollack. Gregory worked a professional, 10-pitch walk off Urias. J-Bell broke his bat, but got enough to dink one into left to plate Cabrera. But curb your enthusiasm; two short flies to right and a whiff of Tuck on three fastballs up-and-in stopped the rally cold. Keone Kela took the ball and tossed a three up, three down frame.

Melky was money (photo Icon Sportswire/Getty)

Kenley Jansen took over. Fraze walked with two outs to keep a pulse beating; he was kept alive when the ump missed strike three two pitches prior. Melky, bless his red-hot soul, then banged a double to left. Big Joe ran for Cabrera and it was up to Gregory. It took four pitches, all cutters and three pretty much down the middle, to fan him.

Big Blue's a nice team through the lineup and with good pitching; the Bucs did hang with them for two of the three, but the same mistakes keep haunting them. It'll be interesting to see if the pitching holds up. After feasting on the weak-hitting Giants and Tigers, the major's #2 & 3 offenses of Arizona and LA showed took a bite of the rotation and the club continues a murderer's row stretch Tuesday against MLB's #4 run producer, Texas.

Notes:

• The Pirates had nine hits; Melky had four with three runs scored and three more chased home. Hopefully J-Bell is coming around; he had a pair of hits today. Bryan Reynolds 
• The Dodgers 2-3-4 hitters, Seager, Muncy and Bellinger, had six hits and all seven RBI.
• Pittsburgh has lost eight straight.
• The answer to the Bryan Reynolds off day - he was bruised after colliding with Clayton Kershaw in a race to first last night, and Clint wanted to give him today and tomorrow's off day to recover. He was available off the bench and come on as a pinch hitter, singling to keep his hit streak alive at seven, with a knock in every MLB game that he's played..
• The Dodgers activated Rich Hill from 10-day IL to start today and placed LHP Caleb Ferguson on 10-day IL. He's the guy who loaded the bases in the eighth against the Bucs last night.
• Pirates prospect SS Oneil Cruz broke his foot last night; he's out for an indefinite period.
• Former Buc OF Jordan Luplow was called to the show by Cleveland.

Willy v Rich Hill, Lineup & Notes As Bucs Try To Salvage A Win

Game: The series closer will be at 4:10 EDT and will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan as the Bucs look to salvage a game.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Melky Cabrera LF, Gregory Polanco RF, Josh Bell 1B, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Elias Diaz C, Cole Tucker SS, Pablo Reyes CF, Trevor Williams. We're not sure why Clint is sitting Bryan Reynolds for Pablo; we'll see if it works.

Pablo gets the start in CF (image MLB Network)

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (1-1/2.59) closes the set v LHP Rich Hill (0-0/0.00). Willy just keeps cranking out quality starts; he's 5-for-5 so far this year. The Dodgers spanked him for four runs in three innings last year in a brutal start; his other two career outings have been better, giving up three runs in 11 IP. Hill is making his season debut, returning from from a left knee injury. He was on the mound once last year v the Corsairs and lasted five innings, long enough to claim a 6-4 win. The last time Willy and Hill took the bump against each other was in 2017 at PNC Park. Hill took a perfect game into the ninth inning and a no-hitter into the 10th, until J-Hay's solo shot gave the Pirates & Juan Nicasio a 1-0 victory.

Notes:

• Pittsburgh has the fewest homers in the NL at 19; they're tied with the Tigers for the fewest in MLB. In the Central, Milwaukee has 53 long balls (they lead the NL), St. Louis 39 and the Cubs & Reds each have 36. This month, btw, was a record-setter for the most home runs hit in April in MLB history (and no, it doesn't include March dingers).
• The Dodgers activated C Russ Martin (back) off the IL today.
• Ol' matey RHP Charlie Morton has been pretty solid since recovering from a torn hamstring in 2016. The 35-year-old has been a little fragile but put together a 32-10/3.22 line since then w/Houston and now Tampa Bay, where he's slashing 3-0/2.76 in the early going, and has averaged 10.5/K per nine over those two+ seasons.

4/28 Through the 1970’s: Buckshot's First; Game Stories; HBD Red, Walt, Tom, Pedro & Mark

• 1875 - RHP Walt Woods was born in Rye, New Hampshire. After playing for Chicago and Louisville (he tossed their final MLB game), he came to Pittsburgh in 1900, got into one game and was hammered. He was strictly pitch-to-contact (1.07/K per nine innings!), depending on guile, and was a back-end rotation guy who saw his MLB days end when the league contracted in 1901, putting a lot of hurlers out of work. While he was primarily a pitcher, he also appeared at second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions, although with a lifetime .206 BA, he never threatened anyone’s job in the field. He did enjoy a long career in minor league baseball, playing from 1895-1914. He retired to become a grocer and later a mailman. 

Red Lucas 1938 (photo George Burke)

• 1902 - RHP Red Lucas, The Nashville Narcissus (his nickname was penned by Colonel Bob Newhall, a reporter for the old Cincinnati Tribune, when Red was a fast flowering player with the Redlegs, per SABR’s Allen Quimby) was born in Tennessee. The righty spent the last five years of his career (1934-38) with Pittsburgh after coming over in a deal with the Reds. He put up a 47-32/3.73 line for the Bucs. Lucas was also a good stickman; he pinch hit in more games as a Pirate than he pitched, though his .238 BA was well below the .300 average he carried with Cincy. Oh, and he remembered well the team that traded him - he was 14-0 against the Reds during his Pirate stint. 
• 1924 - Bucco rookie SS Glenn Wright hit his first homer off Vic Keen in a 7-4 victory over the Cubs. Wright was better known for his mitt than his thunder; he set a MLB record during the season with 601 assists, a mark that lasted until 1980, when Ozzie Smith had 621 Astroturf assists. “Buckshot” was the Pirate SS until 1928 when he was traded to Brooklyn Robins. He hit .298 during his Pirates tenure. 
• 1930 - RHP Tom Sturdivant was born in Gordon, Kansas. Nicknamed “Snake” because of his nasty curve, he was an outstanding pitcher for the Yankees until he suffered a rotator cuff injury in 1958 that threw up a speed bump on his promising career: after posting 16 wins in 1957, he never again reached double-figures in season victories. He persevered as a seven-team journeyman, not leaving baseball until after the 1964 season. Snake hurled for the Bucs from 1961-63 with a 14-7-3/3.49 slash. 
• 1935 - RHP Pedro Ramos was born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. A 15-year vet, the Pirates signed him at the tail end of his career in 1969 as a 34-year-old. He made five appearances, put up a 6.00 ERA and was released. He finished the year with the Reds, the after a couple of 1970 outings with the Senators was released in late April, ending his MLB days. Pete was an All-Star once and had a great run as closer for the Yankees in 1964; he also led the AL in losses four times. 

Pedro Ramos 1969 (photo via Main Line Autographs)

• 1960 - OF Mark Ryal was born in Henryetta,Oklahoma. He spent six years in the show with five clubs, getting 100 at bats just once, and closed out his career as a Pirate in 1990, going 1-for-12 in nine games as a late season call-up from AAA Buffalo. Ryal went on to spend two more seasons in Japan before hanging up the spikes. 
• 1966 - The Pirates scored one run in each of the final five innings of regulation and added four more in 10th to outlast the Cubs at Wrigley Field 9-6. The tying run scored with two out in the ninth. Roberto Clemente fell behind Ted Abernathy 0-2, worked the count full and drew a walk after fouling off eight straight pitches. He then came around on Willie Stargell’s double. The Bucco 10th was highlighted by a delayed double steal, with Clemente swiping second and Manny Mota home. 
• 1970 - The Bucs 6-1 victory at Forbes Field ended Chicago’s 11-game winning streak. Luke Walker, Bruce Dal Canton and Dave Giusti combined for a three-hitter while Manny Sanguillen hit a pair of homers and had three RBI. Gene Alley, known more for his leather than wood, went 3-for-4.

4/28 From 1980: Joey O & Gift Bang; Game Stories; HBD Freeser, Yoslan, Romulo & Danny

• 1981 - RHP Yoslan Herrera was born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. Yoslan defected from Cuba in 2005 and the Bucs signed him in 2006. After a solid minor league resume, he was called up to Pittsburgh in 2008, where he went 1-1/5.81 in five starts as a 27-year-old. He had a good year in the minors in 2009, but was released and picked up by the Twins, who also cut him. He was out of pro ball for a couple of years, came back pitching for an indie team and had a last hurrah with the Angels, going 1-1/2.70 in 20 games. He asked for a release to pitch in Japan, tossed there for a year, and that marked the end of his pro career. 

Freeser 2018 Topps Gold

• 1983 - 3B David Freese was born in Corpus Christi. He began his career in St Louis and had a dream postseason in 2011, winning the NLCS and World Series MVP honors along with the Babe Ruth Award. Freese was traded to the Angels in 2014 and signed a one-year FA contract with the Pirates worth $3M in March of 2016 to fill the dance card while Jung Ho Kang recuperated from leg injuries suffered the season before. Freeser held up his end, hitting .270 w/13 HR and the Pirates inked him to a two-year agreement during the season with a guaranteed $11M/team option year that put him under team control through 2019. That deal proved a godsend after Kang was picked up for DUI during the winter. He held a starter’s job in 2017 (.263/10 HR), was bumped to the bench in 2018 by Colin Moran, and is now with the Dodgers. 
• 1984 - RHP Romulo Sanchez was born in Carora, Venezuela. He spent two years with the Pirates in 2007-08, going 1-0-1/4.60 in 26 outings. He finished with the Yankees in 2010, then tossed in Japan and China. He worked a year in Mexico and has been pitching in the Venezuelan League since 2013. 
• 1986 - LHP Danny Moskos was born in Greenville, South Carolina. He was the fourth overall pick of the 2007 draft by the Pirates out of Clemson. GM Dave Littlefield announced that they projected Moskos as a closer, raising a storm of criticism from the fans and media who were anticipating Josh Vitters (who was taken one pick ahead of Moskos and fizzled) Matt Wieters (who signed for $6M and thus fit into the “too-cheap Pirates” narrative, taken next after Moskos), or perhaps Jason Heyward (who was the 14th pick) to be the selection. Moskos was signed by scout Greg Schilz to a $2.475M deal, but ended up a bust. He tossed for part of the 2011 season for the Bucs in his only MLB campaign, going 1-1, 2.96 but with serious control issues. He’s pitched indie ball and in the Mexican Winter League last year and is a free agent now. 

Daniel Moskos 2011 Topps Update

• 2010 - The Pirates defeated the Brewers for the second consecutive game to take the series at Miller Field with a 6-5, 14-inning victory. The Bucs tied the game in the ninth on a Ryan Doumit homer off Trevor Hoffman (the second straight game that Hoffman, the all-time saves leader, had blown a save against the Bucs) and went ahead in the 10th on a Cutch long ball. The Brew Crew came back to tie it off Octavio Dotel, who left the bases full of Brewers before escaping the frame. Garrett Jones doubled home Akinori Iwamura with two down in the 14th while DJ Carrasco worked three innings of scoreless, one-hit relief for the win. 
• 2013 - The Pirates beat St. Louis 9-0 behind rookie Jeff Locke’s seven-inning, three-hit performance at Busch Stadium to take the division lead. C Russell Martin had three hits - a pair of homers and a double - while RF Garrett Jones also had three knocks including a HR and two-bagger. The victory was also Clint Hurdle’s 700th win as a big league manager. The Bucs turned the corner during this campaign, finishing with their first winning season since 1992 (and what a monkey-on-the-back that losing streak was!), coming in second place in the NL Central with 94 wins and advancing to the NLDS where they lost in five games to the Cards. 
• 2017 - Pittsburgh reeled in the Fish 12-2 at Marlins Park, sparked by an eight-run second inning that saw eight straight Bucs reach base after two outs. Winning pitcher Jameson Taillon struck out with the bases loaded twice to bracket that run, saving Miami further embarrassment. The attack was led by a pair of rookies who had started the campaign at Indy, OF Jose Osuna and 2B Gift Ngoepe. Jose went 4-for-5 with a free pass; Gift collected three knocks and walked twice as the pair reached base safely 10 times in 11 appearances. Ngoepe became the first Pirate since Eddie Moore in 1923 to reach base five times in his first MLB start. The contest also was first time since August of 2013 that the Pirates hit three triples (Fran Cervelli, Ngoepe and Alen Hanson) in a game; Jordy Mercer added a long ball.

Bucs Use Same Bad Bat, Bad Glove Formula In 3-1 Loss To LA; Injury Updates

It looked like vintage Clayton Kershaw; he K'ed two of the first three Buccos. Big Joe bopped the leadoff hitter with a backfoot slider then settled in. It was 1-2-3 for Pittsburgh in the second; Big Blue got a one-out walk, cleaned up quickly by a 6-4-3 DP. The Pirates drew first blood in the third on a Pablo Reyes single, bunt, and Fraze's two-out RBI knock. Melky legged out another single before the fun ended. Joe tossed a six-pitch frame. Kershaw was back on his game in the fourth with two more whiffs while Musgrove gave a leadoff knock; with two outs, a roller up the middle that both Fraze and Cotuck could have played became a single when no one took charge (tho the runner was originally rung up, he was clearly safe and a challenge confirmed it). They will next time, as Big Joe momentarily looked about ready to rudely introduce them to one another before he coaxed the third out. The Pirates made no noise in the fifth, losing a challenge of a safe call at first; the umps are trying to help but the camera don't lie. It was a clean frame for Big Joe, aided by a nifty play by JHK off a ball Joe deflected for a 1-5-3 putout, with the out confirmed after another Dodger challenge. There was no Bucco action in the sixth; ditto for Big Blue.

Big Joe had no help tonight (Pirates image)

With two away in the seventh, Bryan Reynolds doubled to break Kershaw's streak of 12-in-a-row retired Bucs, but Pablo's bouncer left him aboard. LA led off with an infield rap and a ground ball single to right left Dodgers on the corners (the Bucs caught a break when the ball hit the ump, saving it from going into the corner). A sac fly led to a jarring plate collision and safe call that the Pirates challenged unsuccessfully. The runner went to second on the throw, and another infield single off a throw that J-Bell couldn't handle left Dodgers on the corners again. Joe got a big K, but Joc Pederson took the next pitch to right center for a three-bagger, and the Pirates were down 3-1 before Frankie Liriano came in to get a final whiff. Caleb Ferguson took over for Clayton. Walks to Cotuck & Fraze, sandwiched around a Gregory rap, loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth. Pedro Baez was waved on and got Melky on a pop fly. Redbeard grabbed a stick and popped out on an infield fly, with both outs off a changeup. J-Bell didn't see a strike but still went down swinging. *sigh* Kyle Crick took the ball and yielded a walk/stolen base but kept the score the same. Kenley Jansen had a battle with JB Shuck but still spun a clean inning to close it out.

Josh has cooled off (2019 Topps)

Can't hit in the clutch, can't make plays in the field; it's pretty much been the same story for the past week or so. The team was running on the J-Bell/Redbeard express, but during this stretch, Bell is 8-of-38 (.210 with 13 K) and Moran is 4-of-22 (.182). Cervy is batting .175 and JHK is hitting .169 on the season. Kinda hard to mount much of attack with those numbers, although facing Ryu and Kershaw back-to-back would silence a lot of teams. As for the gloves, half the issues are attributable to miscommunication. The mix and match leads to some of those issues, but you have to learn the drill sooner or later. Clint's teams have always been strong in spirit, but not so much fundamentally, though a stable lineup would help. Nine different guys have played the outfield and seven the middle infield through 25 games. Injuries are the reason for that, but not an excuse for not being coached up.

Notes:

• The Pirates had five hits, with Fraze the only guy to reach twice on a knock and a walk.
• Bryan Reynolds has hit safely in each of his first six games in the big leagues.
• The Pirates have batted 19 times with the bases loaded and are still looking for their first hit (they do have two walks and a sac fly). During this seven-game losing streak, the Pirates are 5-of-46 w/RISP and scored 12 runs.
• The Pirates did end the Dodger's HR streak.
• Bill Brink of the Post Gazette informed us pregame that there is "More bad injury news for the Pirates. Corey Dickerson felt tightness in shoulder throwing from 110 feet (and) Lonnie Chisenhall had tightness in left calf while rounding a base." Chisenhall has had calf issue for three seasons now (oddly enough, he was rehabbing a broken hand) but there was optimism that Corey (shoulder strain) was nearing a return to action. Both will be examined next week.
• In other injury news, Archie's thumb issue flared up against the Giants and continued against LA; they're giving him a couple or three days with no throwing to see if the inflammation clears up. Starling (abdominal bruise) took BP and shagged flies, so he looks like he's on schedule. Also, C Jake Stallings (neck strain) began his rehab stint at Indy tonight. He hit cleanup and homered twice.

Big Joe v Clayton Kershaw, Lineup & Notes - Archie on IL, Feliz Back

Game: The road game starts at 9:10 EDT and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Melky Cabrera RF, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Josh Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Bryan Reynolds CF, Pablo Reyes LF, Cole Tucker SS, Joe Musgrove P. Clint has his hands tied against lefties; Elias Diaz is the only RH hitter not starting.

Big Joe hopes to cool the Dodgers hot bats (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-1/1.59) v LHP Clayton Kershaw (0-0/2.77). Joe's been another consistent workhorse so far; all four of his outings have been quality starts. He took on LA once last year and gave up a pair of homers in a 5-0 loss. Kershaw met the Bucs one time in 2018 and had lots of help in an 8-3 win. He's 3-3/3.16 in 12 career starts against the Pirates. The big lefty has transitioned from a power guy to one who's become a pitcher, now using his slider and change to make up for lost velo.

Notes:

• It never ends: The Pirates have placed RHP Chris Archer on the 10-day IL with right thumb inflammation. RHP Michael Feliz has been recalled from Indy to take Archer’s place. There's a couple of off days, so the Pirates can work with four starters. Feliz had a 1.00 ERA with 12 K in nine IP for the Tribe; the concern is still with walks, as he's given up six, with three coming  in his last outing.

4/27 Through the 1970’s: Pops May Day; Back-2-Back, Back-2-Back; 23 Runs w/o A Homer; Game Stories; HBD Phil, John & Paul

• 1893 - The Pirates opened the season against the Cleveland Spiders and were spanked by Cy Young, losing 7-2 in front of 7,600 fans at Exposition Park. The team had a strong season despite that sluggish start, finishing second in the National League with a 81-48 mark. Louie Bierbauer had two hits, as did Jake Beckley and Denny Lyons. Frank “Lefty” Killen took the loss (The Pittsburgh Press, somewhat unkindly, noted that “Killen was an easy mark for the visitors”) after surrendering four first inning runs. But it was a noteworthy game - it was the last time a season-opening game was played in Pittsburgh until 1954, a 61-year streak of road trips. 

Deacon Phillippe 1909 (photo Conlon Collection/Detroit Public Library)

• 1902 - Pittsburgh whipped Chicago 2-0 at Exposition Park‚ as Deacon Phillippe bested rookie Jim St. Vrain. St. Vrain only gave up a single to Ginger Beaumont, but it came after the Pirates had loaded the bases on an error sandwiched between a pair of plunked batters in the eighth inning. Phillippe fanned seven and all the other outs were recorded by the infield, with 1B Kitty Bransfield recording 16 putouts. St. Vrain wasn’t quite as sure of himself in the box as he was on the mound. He grounded a ball to Honus Wagner in the seventh and lost his bearings; the confused 19-year old ran toward third base as the astonished Hans threw him out rather easily, per Gene Alston’s Journal column. 
• 1912 - The Pirates walloped Cincinnati 23-4 at Forbes Field‚ and without a home run (although they had five doubles and three triples among their 27 hits). Bobby Byrnes and Dots Miller had five knocks apiece. Reds reliever Hansey Horsey surrendered 14 hits and 12 runs in four innings in what would be his only MLB appearance. Vice President James “Sunny Jim” Sherman, a big baseball fan, attended the game along with PA Congressman Jim Burke, Lieutenant Governor JM Reynolds and an assortment of politicos and generals. 
• 1918 - Usher Phil Coyne was born in Oakland. He started out dusting seats at Forbes Field in 1936 at the age of 18 and continued to serve the fans through the TRS era and at PNC Park until 2017. He retired after 81 years as a Pirates employee and good will ambassador at age 99 for health reasons, but came back to the old ballyard as the Buccos’ guest to be honored pre-game during his 100th birthday. 
• 1918 - Umpire John Rice was born in Homestead. After serving in the Marines during WW2 (Rice fought in Guadalcanal and Peleliu), he began his umpiring apprenticeship in 1948. Rice graduated to the AL in 1955 working through 1973, and arbitrated four World Series, including the 1971 Pirates-Orioles clash, and three All-Star Games. He made his home in Chicago after the war and was inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. 

Adam Comorosky (Photo Conlon Collection, undated)

• 1930 - The Pirates won their seventh straight game 9-5 over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. OF Adam Comorosky went 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Gus Suhr drove home three more and Ira Flagstead homered. 
• 1954 - Toby Atwell and Jerry Lynch hit back-to-back homers in back-to-back at-bats in the sixth and eighth innings, the first Pirates to accomplish the feat in the 20th century (Neil Walker & Gaby Sanchez matched the feat in 2014). It wasn’t enough as Pittsburgh lost to the Reds 8-7 at Crosley Field as Ted Kluszewski hammered a pair of long balls for Cincy. 
• 1965 - RHP Paul Miller was born in Burlington, Wisconsin. Miller’s MLB career lasted 10 games (two starts) tossed between 1991-93 for the Bucs with a line of 1-0/4.10. Paul Miller spent his entire pro career in the Pirates organization, selected in the 53rd round of the 1987 draft and remaining a Bucco until retiring in 1994 after a final campaign with AAA Buffalo. 
• 1970 - Steve Blass lost a pitching duel to Joe Decker and the Chicago Cubs 1-0 at Forbes Field. Blass surrendered just four hits over eight innings. One was a two-out triple by Glenn Beckert; he tried to stretch it into an inside the park HR and was dead at home, but Manny Sanguillen whiffed on the relay throw to allow the unearned, and only, run of the game to score. Roberto Clemente was thrown out at the plate twice during the game, once trying to score on a Willie Stargell double and again in the ninth when he tripled but was caught in a rundown a batter later, trapped following a comebacker. The Cubbies ran their winning streak to 11 games with the victory, a string the Pirates would snap the next day. 

Steve Blass 1970 O-Pee-Chee

• 1971 - Willie Stargell set a then-MLB record with his 11th HR in the month of April, a shot over the TRS center field wall against LA’s Pete Mikkelsen, in a 7-5 loss. The record stood for 36 years until it was broken by Albert Pujols, who hit 14 opening-month bombs in 2006.

4/27 From 1980: 6-Hits For Wally; #300 For Jose; Diaz Joins, Matty Mo Goes; Clemente Highway; Game Stories

• 1985 - Pittsburgh traded minor league C Steve Herz to the Phillies for utility PH Mike Diaz. Diaz fit in nicely as a bench player for a couple of seasons, putting up a line of .250/28/89 in 606 PA while Herz never made it out of AAA. 

Bill Almon 1986 Topps

• 1986 - The Pirates used offense from unexpected sources to pound the Phils 13-5 at TRS. Bill Almon went 3-for-5 with two runs, four RBI, two doubles and a homer while pitcher Bob Walk went 2-for-2 with a pair of two-baggers. Tony Pena added three hits while Mike Brown chipped in two more; the Buccos collected eight doubles during the contest. The Pirates jumped out to a 7-1 second inning lead, saw the Phils cut it to 7-5, and then iced it with a five-spot in the eighth. Mike Bielecki got the win and Walk added a save to his hitting heroics, tossing 3-1/3 frames of scoreless, one-hit ball. 
• 1990 - Wally Backman became the first NL’er to get six hits in one game in 15 years when the 3B’man went 6-for-6 against the Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium in a 9-4 Pirate win. The Bucs banged out 19 hits, with Barry Bonds collecting four, including two homers and a double. Neal Heaton claimed the win. 
• 1991 - The Bucs had their way with the Mets at Shea Stadium, winning 10-1. Randy Tomlin and Bob Patterson combined on a four hitter while a trio of Pirates had three hits - Bobby Bonilla, who had four RBI and a run scored, Spanky LaValliere, with two runs driven in and one scored, and Curtis Wilkerson, who plated three times. Pittsburgh took over sole possession of first place, and never lost it as they won the division by 14 games. 
• 1993 - Tim Wakefield threw 172 pitches in defeating Atlanta‚ 6-2‚ in 11 innings at Fulton County Stadium, and he didn’t even go the distance. He was relieved by Paul Wagner in the 11th after issuing a leadoff walk. It was the most pitches tossed by one pitcher in a single game during the nineties and the most ever by a Pirate. Fernando Valenzuela was the last to throw that many pitches in a game back in 1987. The Pirates took command of the game when Mike Stanton threw away a bunt attempt by Wakefield in the 11th, setting up a pair of two-out knocks and four unearned runs. 

Tim Wakefield 1993 Score Select Rookie

• 2005 - Jose Mesa sat Houston down 1-2-3 in the ninth to save Kip Wells’ 2-0 victory. It was his 300th career save, making Mesa the 19th pitcher in MLB history to reach that mark. Jason Bay and Jack Wilson drove home the runs at PNC Park. 
• 2008 - RHP Matt Morris, GM Dave Littlefield’s final swing-and-miss, was released by the Pirates after going 1-2/3 innings against the Phillies and giving up six runs on six hits. The 33-year-old compiled an 0-4 record with a 9.67 ERA in his five outings with Pittsburgh in 2008. He retired soon after, but the Bucs ate $11,037,283 in salary, including a $1M buyout for 2009. Pittsburgh replaced him by calling up RHP John Van Benschoten. 
• 2010 - A five-run ninth inning sparked by Ryan Doumit's grand slam and Ronny Cedeno's solo shot off Trevor Hoffman ended the Pirates 22-game losing streak in Milwaukee as the Bucs took a 7-3 victory at Miller Park. The Brew Crew's hometown hex over the Bucs was the longest held by one team over another since the Browns/Orioles lost 27 consecutive contests to the Indians in Cleveland from 1952-54. 
• 2018 - The Pirates spotted the Cardinals a five run lead at PNC Park, then began chipping away. In the sixth, a Gregory Polanco homer and Corey Dickerson sac fly made it 5-2, but the Pirates were stymied in the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, the first four Pirates reached and the game was knotted at five after Jordy Mercer’s two-bagger. He reached third with no one out, but a pop and two whiffs later, there he remained. The 10th went quietly and the Cards put up a zero in the 11th. But with two outs and David Freese at second via a walk and wild pitch, Starling Marte flicked a two-strike slider into center to walk off a 6-5 win. The Bucco bullpen - Kyle Crick, Tyler Glasnow, Richard Rodriguez, Felipe Vazquez and George Kontos (who got the win) tossed 6-2/3 scoreless frames after Steven Brault had been banged around early. Fran Cervelli had three hits; Marte, Polanco and Corey Dickerson each had a pair. 

Clemente Highway Dedication 2018 (photo Tap Into Newark)

• 2018 - Roberto Clemente is more than a local hero; the state of New Jersey named the part of Route #21 running through Newark as the Roberto Clemente Memorial Highway. "As one would drive up and down the highway - you can see the number 21. It was almost screaming for it to be changed, (to) Roberto Clemente,” Luis Angel Maisonave of Newark's Roberto Clemente Little League said.

Dodgers Sprint Out of the Gate Against Archie, Take 6-2 Win in Opener

The Bucs started hot when Fraze and Melky opened with singles off Hyun-Jin Rhu; Gregory followed with  a 3-6-3 DP ball, although a run did score. It didn't last real long; a two-out single was followed by a Cody Bellinger homer off Archie, who floated a change; Cody's been unreal this month and def not the guy to be serving meatballs to. Cervy singled with one gone in the second and Bryan Reynolds doubled him to third. Cole chased a full count cutter well out of the zone and Archie tapped out; the Bucs can set 'em up but can't finish 'em off. With two gone, Austin Barnes went yard (frustrating because he looked at strike three, but the ump missed the call); this is not trending well for the Pirates. The Pirates went down quietly in the third, and so did Big Blue when Bellinger lined an at 'em ball to J-Bell with a runner on (or in this case, off) first for a DP. J-Bell opened the fourth with a dinger of his own; Cervy added a later single, and it'd be nice to see him heat up. Archie gave it right back. He walked the first two batters, then a bloop single that was bobbled by Gregory plated a run and left Dodgers on the corners. A passed ball and double scored two more before Arch got the next three guys to stop the dance at 6-2.

The Dodgers played longball against Arch - 2018 Topps

The Pirates were shut down in the fifth. Nick Kingham got the call; he put up a zero despite a walk and wayward pickoff toss. JHK singled in the sixth while Ryu struck out the other three Bucs; the Dodgers went down without a squawk for the first time tonight, with Nick picking up a pair of whiffs.  Ryu gave up a JB Shuck single in an otherwise uneventful seventh, while Ric Rod was touched for a pair of two-out raps, but fanned his way to the dugout. Scott Alexander climbed the bump in the eighth, and Gregory singled with an out. With two gone, Dylan Floro was called on to finish up; it took one pitch to get JHK on a bouncer. Felipe came on to get some work, and he got 24 pitches worth, giving up a walk and single off his glove while fanning two. Yimi Garcia was beckoned for the ninth inning, and seven pitches later it was over.

Hard to believe both teams had nine hits, but for the Bucs, seven singles and 11 whiffs without a walk offset the effect. It's a tough series; LA is a good team, and if the pitching can't keep the score down, the Pirates are gonna have a big headache competing in the City of Angels.

Notes:

• Cervy had two hits; no other Pirate reached more than once tonight.
• With Bellinger's shot, the Dodgers have now homered in 33 consecutive games at home, a new record. 
• The South Korean press was out in force to chronicle the first Ryu-Kang matchup; Jung Ho went 1-for-3 with a K, holding his own.
• Corey Dickerson has joined AAA Indy for a rehab assignment. 
• Former Bucco farmhand LHP Taylor Hearn had a rough, wild child intro to the show yesterday (not completely unexpected, as he only had four AAA starts in his career); today the Rangers put him on the 10-day IL with elbow tightness. 
• It's a long read, but Tyler Kepner (author of "The History of Baseball in Ten Pitches") has a nifty tale regarding the history of the curve ball.

Archie v Hyun-Jin Ryu, Lineup & Notes - Reynolds Back

Game: The series opens at 10:10 EDT at Dodger Stadium and will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Melky Cabrera LF, Gregory Polanco RF, Josh Bell 1B, Jung Ho Kang 3B, Fran Cervelli C, Bryan Reynolds CF, Cole Tucker SS, Chris Archer P. Welcome back, Bryan.

Bryan Reynolds returns after a brief hiatus (photo MLB Pipe Line/Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Chris Archer (1-1/2.74) spins against LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-1/3.10). Arch is back in his regular groove. He had seven days off between starts in his last outing thx to his suspension, and felt that left him a little out of sorts in his 3-2 loss to the Giants. He's only seen LA once in his career, back in 2016, and was a 3-2 loser. Ryu is coming off an extra rest day; this is his second start since coming off the IL Saturday but he's been strong with nearly 11K/nine IP.  The southpaw has faced the Bucs four times in his career, the last time in 2017. He's 4-0/2.49 against Pittsburgh, so he's been a load for the Pirates to handle.

Notes:

• The Bucs have lost five in a row, six straight at Dodger Stadium and are 2-11 against LA in 2017-18. Archie will be trying to end a another record-tying streak by Big Blue; they've homered in 32 consecutive home games, knotted with the 1999 Colorado Rockies for the longest home long-ball stretch in MLB history. The Pirates pitching will also be tested again, working back-to-back sets against the two highest scoring clubs in the NL, first the D-Backs and now the Dodgers,
• LA is starting three lefties; Pittsburgh is batting .219 v LHP. 
• In case you've lost count, the Pirates still have 10 guys out - On the 60-day IL: Edgar Santana (elbow), Chad Kuhl  (elbow), & Erik Gonzalez (collarbone). On the 10-day IL: Nick Burdi (biceps), Starling Marte (abdominal), Corey Dickerson: (shoulder), Lonnie Chisenhall: (finger), Jose Osuna (neck), Kevin Newman (finger), & Jake Stallings (neck). The good news is that Marte, Newman, Chisenhall and maybe Dickerson could all be back by this time next week.
• Going into today, 19-year-old 1B Mason Martin has homered in five straight games for Low-A Greensboro. He was a 17th round HS pick in 2017, signing for $350K.

4/26 Through the 1970’s: Rallies, Game Stories, HBD Francisco, Virgil, Amos, Curtis & Ron

• 1900 - The Bucs drew 11,000 to the newly expanded Exposition Park, the biggest Pittsburgh baseball turnout to date, with a couple of thousand more fans trying to get in. The Pirates were fortified by the recent influx of Louisville players like Honus Wagner, but dropped a 12-11 slugfest to Cincinnati as the Reds lit up Rube Waddell and Jack Chesbro. The Bucs made a game of it by rallying for seven ninth inning runs. 
• 1905 - The Cubs beat Pittsburgh at Exposition Park, 2-1 as Chicago’s Jack McCarthy became the only major league OF’er to throw out three runners trying to score in one game, with all three assists on tag-up tries following triples. The game story in the Pittsburgh Press stated simply in the headline that “McCarthy Made the Throws.” 

Virgil "Fire" Trucks 1963 (photo Associated Press)

• 1917 - Coach Virgil “Fire” Trucks was born in Birmingham, Alabama. After a long pro career, he became the bullpen coach/batting practice pitcher for Pittsburgh in 1960 and stayed with the Pirates until 1963. Trucks later operated baseball camps for the Bucs. Jack House, sportswriter for the Birmingham News, gave him the apt moniker “Fire,” not because he chased red engines but because of his blazing heater; Trucks tossed two no-hitters for Detroit in 1952. 
• 1920 - Coach Ron Northey was born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania, near Hazelton. A big guy, Northey played 12 MLB seasons, missing some time for WW2, and after his playing days, he spent three years as a coach on Danny Murtaugh’s staff from 1961-1963 before becoming a White Sox scout. 
• 1940 - After putting up four runs in the eighth the day before and falling just short, the Bucs crossed home seven times in the eighth this day to roll over the St. Louis Cardinals 10-4 at Forbes Field. Debs Garms and Joe Bowman both had homers with three RBI to spark the rally and earn Mace Brown his second relief win in four days. 
• 1947 - OF Amos Otis was born in Mobile, Alabama. He played the final year of his 17-season career with the Pirates in 1984, coming over after 14 campaigns with the KC Royals. (He actually had been dealt to the Bucs during the 1976 off season, but as a 5 & 10 year player vetoed the trade of him and Cookie Rojas for Al Oliver.) His TRS season wasn’t much of a swan song for the 37-year-old: in 97 at-bats, he hit .165 and he was released in August. Amos worked briefly for the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies as a hitting instructor after he left the playing field and then retired to Las Vegas. 

Amos Otis 1984 Topps

• 1958 - With Pittsburgh and Cincinnati knotted 4-4 at Crosley Field heading into the eighth, Bill Mazeroski took over. First, he drilled an eighth-inning solo shot to put the Pirates on top, then his three-run bomb in the top of the ninth sealed the deal, 8-4. It was the first of eight multi-homer games in his career, with his next coming less than a month later on May 10th. 1958 was also the year Maz earned his first of seven All-Star spots. Billy’s heroics gave Don Gross the win after he spun four innings of one-hit relief, with Roberto Clemente, Bob Skinner and Ted Kluszewski adding three hits apiece to aid the cause. 
• 1961 - IF Curtis Wilkerson was born in Petersburg, Virginia. Wilkerson spent 11 years in the show as mainly a bench guy, getting into 85 games for the Pirates in 1991 and hitting .188. After he retired, he managed for three years in the Rangers system and then three more years (1999-2001) for the Buccaneers squads in Williamsport and Lynchburg. He closed out his skipper career in 2012 with an indie club. 
• 1972 - RHP Francisco Cordova was born in Cerro Azul, Mexico. He spent his five year MLB career (1996-2000) as a Pirate, first as a reliever who notched 12 saves in his rookie year before becoming starter. His slash was 42-47-12/3.96. He was part of one of the great Pirate moments on July 12th, 1997 at a sold out Three Rivers Stadium when he pitched nine innings of a combined 10-inning no-hitter, with Ricardo Rincón closing it out. The Pirates won the game on a three-run, pinch hit home run in the bottom of the 10th by Mark Smith. 
• 1978 - Ed Ott hit an 11th-inning home run at Shea Stadium to give the Bucs and Bert Blyleven, who pitched a complete game six-hitter, a 1-0 win. It took 35 years for another Pirate, Neil Walker, to homer for the only run in a Bucco extra inning victory.

4/26 From 1980: Gift Debut; Fans Behaving Badly; Kiner Statue; Game Stories & Randomness; HBD S-Rod

• 1980 - The Pirates scored five times in the first inning and cruised to a 9-2 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Pittsburgh pounded out 17 hits, led by three apiece from Mike Easler and Dave Parker. John Candelaria went the distance, allowing two runs on eight hits as the Pirates split a brief two game series with Chicago.

S-Rod 2018 (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• 1985 - Utilityman Sean Rodriguez was born in Miami. In his career, S-Rod has played every position but pitcher and catcher. The Bucs traded for him during the 2014 off season and he played around the field for Pittsburgh. He was signed up again for 2016 after hitting .246 and playing six different spots in 2015. The super-sub had a super year, batting .270 w/18 HR and turned that into a nice FA deal with Atlanta. He missed much of the 2017 campaign due to a shoulder injury suffered in an off-season car accident and returned to the Bucs via the trade route in August. He's now with Philadelphia.
• 1995 - 34,841 fans at TRS disrupted a delayed Opening Day by throwing whatever was handy (mainly giveaway day Bucco pennants) on the field to show their displeasure with the freshly resolved player’s strike and some shoddy play by the Bucs. The game was delayed for 17 minutes until the announcer told the unruly crowd that the contest was about to be forfeited. It might as well have been; Montreal won the game 6-2, chasing Jon Leiber in the fifth. The team was lucky they weren’t wrapped in Jolly Rogers and tossed overboard after one of the worse innings in their history. Going into that fateful frame, it was a 1-1 game between Pittsburgh and Montreal before the floodgates opened. There were two outs, Expos on the corners (the runner on first reached when his right side, shoulda-been inning-ending nubber was fielded but nobody covered the sack) and one run in when Roberto Kelly bled another soft roller, this one up the left side. 3B Jeff King flipped the ball into the outfield; RF Orlando Merced missed the mark on the throw home, and all three Montreal runners scored. Montreal added another run on a hit batter, single and wild pitch. Jason Christiansen added a throwing error to the pot before the Bucs got back into the dugout (and the ground crew picked up a field littered with pennants tossed by frustrated fans). So instead of being out of the inning, it ended up game, set and, match for Montreal, 6-2 winners. C Mark Parent told the Post Gazette’s Paul Meyer “That whole fifth inning was a fiasco. It was like Murphy’s Law.” 
• 1995 - As the Pirates were bungling away at the North Shore, Mayor Tom Murphy and Vince Sarni, chairman of the Pittsburgh Associates, left the Duquesne Club and announced that they had reached a framework to sell the Pirates and keep the team in Pittsburgh with Chambers Development Company chairman John Rangos, saying that an agreement could be reached within a week. They were wrong; the deal was never finalized and the PA held on to the team until selling it to the McClatchy group in 1996. 

Kiner Statuette (via Stadium Page)

•  2008 - Alhambra, California, dedicated a bronze statue to honor of its native son Ralph Kiner for his "accomplishments and contributions to the game of professional baseball and sports broadcasting.” The former Pirates slugger, a member of the Hall of Fame, grew up in Alhambra and graduated from its high school in 1940 before moving on to Southern Cal and the Buccos. 
• 2010 - The Brewers romped over the Bucs 17-3 for their 22nd straight win over Pittsburgh at Miller Park after they had already taken the opening series by 8-1, 8-0 and 20-0 tallies. The curse, dating back to 2007, was snapped the next day 7-3 by the Pirates, who also took the third game of the series for good measure. 
• 2011 - The Pirates selected OF Xavier Paul off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Xavier proved useful off the bench, getting into 121 games, but the corner outfielder hit just .254 with little power (2 HR) or patience (.293 OBP) at the plate. He was released after the campaign and played as a sub for three more MLB seasons with the Reds and D-Backs, followed by some bouncing around in the minors with stops in Mexico and the indie leagues. 
• 2016 - Pittsburgh pounded five home runs in the thin air of Coors Field to claim a 9-4 win over the Colorado Rockies. Andrew McCutchen hit three long balls and chased home five runs. With his second career three-dinger match, Cutch joined Ralph Kiner (four), Willie Stargell (four) and Roberto Clemente (two) on the list of players who have multiple three-homer games as Pirates. Starling Marte and David Freese (his first as a Pirate) added to the fence busting party, propelling Gerrit Cole to victory. 

Gift Ngoepe 2017 Topps Now

• 2017 - IF Gift Ngoepe made his first MLB appearance, going 1-for-2 (he singled in his first big league at-bat) with a walk and turning the game-ending DP as the Pirates hung on to beat the Cubs 6-5 at PNC Park. Ngoepe was the first African native (he’s from South Africa) to ever play in the majors, and it took the 27-year-old eight-plus minor league seasons to get the call. Pittsburgh jumped off to a 5-1 lead, started off by Josh Harrison’s lead-off homer in the first. Josh Bell later went long (both Joshes collected a pair of hits), but the Cubs kept chipping away. After an error on a potential inning-ending DP ball in the ninth left two Cubbies aboard, Tony Watson served up another grounder that did the trick to save Wade LeBlanc’s win. 
• 2017 - Ellwood City’s Hack Wilson, who banged 56 home runs and drove in a major league record 191 runs in 1930, was recognized before the Cubs game at PNC Park. It was it the 117th anniversary of Wilson’s birth, who put up those big 1930 numbers as a Cubbie (he spent half his 12-year career in Chicago from 1926-31), the night’s opponents. It was a nice touch by the Ellwood City Area Historical Society to recognize a local boy that made good, even if the Cubs didn’t opt to participate in the celebration. Proving once again that karma is a beach, Chicago lost 6-5.