Pirates Even Series With Lots of Brew Crew Help, 9-4

Yes baby - a clean, five pitch first for Archie, with the last out recorded on a sweet play in the hole by K-Man. Starling singled with two away off Jhoulys Chacin and stole second; that set up the first run when he came home on a J-Bell rap. It cost Arch a few more pitches to get through the second, but that was thx to a couple of whiffs. Fraze rolled a single the opp way with two outs to turn the order over. The good times ended on the first pitch of the third when Jesus Aguilar went yard into the shrubs. The Bucs came right back. Singles by K-Man, Gregory and Starling with a boot thrown in produced a run. J-Bell lined out sharply to center, with the runners moving up, and Bryan Reynolds walked. So did Redbeard, to force home a run. Jake fanned and Fraze walked; so did Archie to chase in the second and third runs via a bases-loaded pass. Freddy Peralta came on and K-Man brought home two more with a rap before the music stopped at 7-1. With two gone in the fourth, the Brew Crew got a Mike Moustakas two-bagger, a walk, and Keston Hiura homer to get back in it. Another walk and single followed before the gate was shut. Bryan and Redbeard singled with an out and were on second and third with two outs; Jake K'ed again.

J-Bell set the Bucco total bases/month mark tonight at 94 - 2017 Donruss Optic

The fifth went quietly by for both clubs. Milwaukee got a two-out rap in the sixth. For the Pirates, Starling dropped one down for a bunt single with one gone. With two gone, Reynolds beat out another infield ball not handled real well, and it cost the Brew Crew when Redbeard singled home a run. Jake then hit a liner to the box that was deflected to second; it was both muffed and then thrown away to plate another Bucco. An intentional walk loaded 'em for Archie, who popped out. Arch fanned a pair in the seventh and got the last out on a sliding grab by Gregory. Archer is now up to 92 pitches, closing a good night's work except for that two-out burp in the fourth. Alex Claudio took the bump and twirled an easy frame. Frankie answered the call in the eighth and got three up, three down. Colin singled with two down but no rally broke out. Felipe Vazquez came out to get some work; he's been off since the 27th. A couple of K's around a single and a bouncer put it to rest after 15 pitches. Raise the Roger.

Three hits, three runs and a stolen sack - 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter

13 singles, five walks and a couple of less than sterling plays in the field were all the Buccos needed tonight. Archie was more on point this game, but not being able to close out the fourth made it another meh game run-wise, although seven innings was his longest outing since April 13th, when he tossed seven frames against the Nats. Tomorrow will be a tough match - Brandon Woodruff is on a solid roll, and Nick Kingham will have his hands full keeping pace.

Notes:

• Lots of Bucco hitting heroes, and all the usual suspects: Starling had three raps while K-Man, J-Bell, Bryan Reynolds and Redbeard had a pair of knocks. Throw in walks, and Reynolds, Moran & Fraze each reached base three times.
• J-Bell's single in the first gave him a Bucco record for total bases in a month with 93; he finished with 94.
• K-Man has gotten three or more at bats in 17 games this month; he's had at least a hit in 16 of them.
• An odd stat, but fitting for this year's club: the Pirates scored 9+ runs with no extra-base hits for the first time since 5/26/2003 in a 10-0 win v the Cubs, and for the the tenth time since 1908 per AT&T SportsNet. That's some deep stat diving.
• 28,465 was the announced attendance tonight.
• Well, boo. Keone Kela has cut rehab short due to continued right shoulder pain and will be shut down for 10 days. The problem started in 2017 and has flared up pretty regularly since.

Archie v Jhoulys Chacin; Lineup & Notes

Game: It's a 7:05 start and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Tonight's free tee features "The Nightmare" and it's also dollar doggie night. And believe it or not, it should be a soft summer night with hardly a cloud.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Colin Moran 3B, Jake Stalling C, Adam Frazier 2B, Chris Archer P. This is the first time Jake and Chris have been a battery; it shouldn't be that big a deal as Eli's only caught Archie twice. K-Man (.338 BA, 1-for-5 yesterday) stays at the top of the order, Fraze (.246, 0-for-3) on the bottom.

Archie's last chance to get a win this month - Photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Chris Archer (1-5/5.75) goes against RHP Jhoulys Chacin (3-6/4.88). Arch hasn't gotten past the fifth inning in six weeks, hasn't won a game since April 7th, and has had a terrible May (0-3/8.56), so it's about time to kick it up a few gears. It'll be tough, based on recent history; he started twice against Milwaukee last year, and went 0-2/10.00. Chacin has had a so-so month, going 0-3/4.26. Chacin saw the Pirates a bunch last year, going 0-3 but with a decent 3.03 ERA in six starts. Both guys are looking for an outing to hang their hat on.

Notes:

• J-Bell is tied with Ralph Kiner for the most total bases in a month by a Bucco (92), which Ralph set way back in 1947. He also has 24 extra-base hits, tying the franchise record established by Paul "Big Poison" Waner in 1927 and again in 1928.
• Some good news on the injury front: Jordan Lyles says he's ready to go after throwing his bullpen yesterday.
• The Zachster is back in action: the Reds have activated Zach Duke, 36, who had been on the IL with a calf sprain.

5/31 Through the 1930’s: Rain Out, Not; Big Poison Boppin'; Babe Two-fer; Game Stories; HBD Russ

• 1888 - The Alleghenys forfeited a game to the New York Giants when they failed to show up at the Polo Grounds while it was raining, staying high and dry in their hotel. The Pittsburgh Press wrote “Manager Phillips claimed that he had word that there would be no game and that it rained from 3:30 to 4 (the game’s starting time). President Nimick will protest the game.” He did; the league didn’t buy the alibi and the Pittsburgh nine forfeited the match. 

Babe Adams double delight - 1909 WM Dick Handcut

• 1909 - Babe Adams won both ends of a doubleheader at Exposition Park against the Cardinals. He worked the final two frames of a 5-4 win in the opener, then tossed a complete game 4-2 victory in the second match. Dots Miller had five hits during the twin bill with Hans Wagner adding three more knocks. The two games drew 20,633 fans. 
• 1915 - The Pirates swept the first place Cubs by identical 1-0 scores at Forbes Field in front of 15,000 fan as Wilbur Cooper (three hits, eight K) and Al Mamaux (five hits, five K) hurled complete game whitewashes. The Pirates won the first game when RF Bill Hinchman was plunked with the bases loaded to force home C George Gibson (they wouldn’t win another 1-0 game via the plunk again until 2017) and the second on a wild pitch that allowed Hinchman to plate from third. As Ralph Davis of the Pittsburgh Press noted, “This was getting the breaks...it was the luck of the Buccaneers to profit twice from slips made by Chicago twirlers.” 
• 1927 - The Pirates overcame a 6-1, sixth inning deficit by scoring nine times in the final four frames to nip the Cubs 10-9 at Forbes Field. 1B Joe Harris was on fire, going 5-for-5 with two triples, a double, four RBI and two runs scored. 
• 1930 - Umpire Russ Goetz was born in McKeesport. After 13 seasons of honing his craft in the minors, he was an AL umpire from 1968 to 1983. Goetz was part of the blue crew for two All Star Games, four AL playoff series, and two World Series, including the Bucs 1979 battle against the Baltimore Orioles. Russ went into umpiring after serving in the Navy during the Korean War with deployments in Korea and China. He started his sporting days as a basketball player for the Tigers and remained in Tube City after he retired. 

Paul Waner 1932 - US Caramel

• 1932 - Paul “Big Poison” Waner banged out his 20th double of the month at Forbes Field in the fifth inning against Cincinnati’s Red Lucas to set the MLB record. The Pirates won the game 4-1 as Waner went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI to back Larry French’s mound work. During the month, Big Poison collected 43 hits - 21 singles, 20 doubles and two triples. 
• 1937 - The Reds beat the Pirates 8-3 in the opener of a doubleheader at Crosley Field. It was the only game Cincinnati won against the Pirates that season. Starting with a 7-5 loss in the nightcap - Pep Young’s three run homer was the big blow - Cincy lost the next 17 straight to the Buccos, and dropped 21 of 22 games‚ tying the MLB record set by the Cubs over the Braves in 1909 and the Yankees over the Browns in 1927. In fact, the Reds would drop the first three to open 1938 for a 20 game losing streak against Pittsburgh, another MLB record.

5/31 From 1940 Through the 1960’s: Gridder Vic; Satch Back; HBD Kenny & Joe

• 1942 - Satchel Paige rejoined his old Grays teammates when they played against the Dizzy Dean All-Stars in an exhibition game at Washington’s Griffith Park. The match drew 22,000 fans (the major league Senators averaged just 5-6,000 per game) and the Satchels beat the Dizzys 8-1. Clark Griffith, the Sens’ owner, told Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard after the game that he was going to “break up your league” and sign black ball players, but he never made good on the promise. 

The Whistlin' Irishman could hit a little, too - 1949 Bowman

• 1948 - At Wrigley Field‚ the Cubs set a paid attendance record when 46‚965 fans passed through the turnstiles during a doubleheader split with the Pirates on Memorial Day. The Bucs lost the opener 4-3 after Chicago scored in the ninth off Kirby Higbe. Pittsburgh rallied in the nightcap behind Elmer Riddle to win 4-2. Danny Murtaugh chased home a pair of runs and scored once to provide Riddle with some working space. 
• 1953 - Vic Janowicz became the first Heisman Trophy winner to play MLB when he appeared as a pinch runner for the Pirates in the first game of a doubleheader loss to the Dodgers. He was a better gridder than ballplayer; he hit .214 in his 1953-54 MLB stint with the Buccos. He went on to play a little NFL ball, but a car accident in 1956 ended his pro sports days. 
• 1961 - Pittsburgh bashed out nine doubles (two by Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski, with one each from Joe Gibbon, Dick Groat, Hal Smith, Gino Cimoli and Dick Stuart) in a 9-1 laugher at Forbes Field against the Milwaukee Braves. Joe Gibbon tossed a six-hitter with 10 strikeouts to earn the win over Warren Spahn. 
• 1962 - Joe Orsulak was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. A sixth round pick of the Pirates in the 1980 draft, he was seen as the Bucs future lead-off man and CF’er. In his four years in Pittsburgh (1983-86) he never managed to secure the job, though he did hit .272. He lasted 14 years in the show, hitting .273 lifetime as primarily a bench/platoon outfielder. 

Joe Orsulak - 1986 Donruss

• 1964 - Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers beat the Pirates 6-4 at Forbes Field, but had to survive a towering blast by Roberto Clemente to do it. The Great One hit a ball halfway up the light tower 450’ away in center field. Post Gazette writer Jack Herndon estimated the drive would have traveled 500’ if the lights hadn’t been in its way; the Dodgers beat man Frank Finch of the LA Times agreed. 
• 1967 - OF Kenny Lofton was born in East Chicago, Indiana. The Bucs signed him as a free agent for $1.025M and he had a nice year in 2003, hitting .277 with 18 swiped sacks. He became part of perhaps the biggest salary dump in Pirates history when he was traded to the Cubs at the deadline for Bobby Hill, Jose Hernandez and Matt Bruback. Lofton and A-Ram helped Chicago to the 2003 NL Central title. Kenny played until he was 40, retiring after the 2007 campaign with 17 seasons, 11 playoff years and six All-Star berths on his resume. After Lofton left baseball, he went into film and television, his major at the U of Arizona. He does some media gigs and founded FilmPool Inc., a movie company.

5/31 From 1970: Clemente Day; Jose Five-Spot; Coke Trial; Bonds First; Game Stories

• 1973 - The Bucs topped the Atlanta Braves 3-1, backing up Nellie Briles three-hitter with Willie Stargell’s three-run blast in the eighth at TRS. Stargell’s ball went 468’ and landed in the upper deck. Of the 12 shots that carried into the cheap seats in TRS history, Pops launched the most; this was his fourth and final second-tier homer. It broke up a gem by Gary Gentry; he had a shutout going into the eighth when with one out, an infield single and 3-2 walk that raised the hackles of Bravo manager Eddie Matthews was followed by Willie’s blast. Briles went the distance for the win, sending Atlanta to their seventh straight loss. 

Pops 2004 Fleer Greats of the Game

• 1985 - A Federal grand jury indicted seven for cocaine distribution and sales in baseball, none of which were Pirates (the players that testified were granted immunity). GM Joe Brown hoped the indictments would “...remove the shadow that has existed over the Pirates…” but his hope was in vain. The coke trials tainted the team’s freewheeling clubhouse culture and several Bucs, notably Dave Parker and Rod Scurry, in the eyes of the fans. 
• 1986 - Barry Bonds collected his first MLB hit, a first-inning double off Rick Honeycutt, as the Bucs beat the LA Dodgers 4-0 at PNC Park. Bonds must have been excited; he was picked off a batter later. BB had debuted a day earlier, but went 0-fer. Bill Almon’s two-run homer and Bob Kipper’s eight shutout innings keyed the win. 
• 1994 - It wasn’t a good day to be a Pirate pitcher. San Diego scored 13 runs in the second inning on the way to a 15-5 whipping of the Bucs at Jack Murphy Stadium. Steve Cooke and John Hope were the hapless hurlers in that unlucky frame. 
• 2006 - Jose Castillo homered in his fifth straight game as the Pirates defeated Milwaukee 6-1 at PNC Park. Castillo hit a two-run shot off Chris Capuano in the second inning to continue a streak that began on the 26th against Houston’s Taylor Bucholtz, the third longest in franchise history behind Dale Long’s eight game streak and Jason Bay’s six-gamer. Ian Snell and three relievers combined on a three hitter against the Brew Crew. 
• 2008 - SS Luis Rivas had four RBI, two runs scored, a homer and double as the Bucs pounded St. Louis 14-4 at Busch Stadium to ruin Tony LaRussa’s 2,000th game as St. Louis skipper. Ronny Paulino added three RBI with three hits and a homer of his own while Jose Bautista chipped in with four knocks. Xavier Nady and Freddie Sanchez had three hits each as the Pirates pounded out 19 knocks. 

Luis Rivas 2008 Photo John Grieshop/Getty

• 2016 - Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that this date would be Roberto Clemente Day throughout Major League Baseball. The highlight of the celebration was to be a game between the Pirates and Miami Marlins at San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Unfortunately for Roberto’s homeland, the game was moved to Miami after a Zika outbreak on the island, and his special day was pushed back. The day of remembrance began in 2002, and beginning in 2009 was marked by pre-game ceremonies around MLB with the teams presenting their Roberto Clemente Award to its nominee, with the overall winner announced after the World Series.

Brewer's Blast Bucs In 11-5 Win

Well, Big Joe's May didn't get any better; a leadoff double and two-out dinger by Mike Moustakas put the Brew Crew up 2-0 out of the gate; Joe was lucky to escape with that as he left runners at second and third after MM's bomb. Chase Anderson spun a clean frame. Milwaukee opened the second with a rap, and again the Brewers struck with two outs when Christian Yelich tripled. J-Bell banged a double to start up the Bucs, and went to third on Bryan Reynold's rap. After Redbeard K'ed, Eli singled Josh home and sent Bryan to third, but the Bucs couldn't get him in as their runner-at-third woes continue. Every run would help; Moustakas took Big Joe's fourth pitch of the third long and Yasmani Grandal clobbered the very next offering over the wall, too. K-Man opened with a rap; the next three Bucs went down quietly. The Brew Crew just managed a couple of singles in the fourth. Redbeard went yard in the Pittsburgh half, sending his shot '422; Eli singled but couldn't get a fire going.

Redbeard is second in homers and RBI on the club - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

The Bucs got a break in the fifth; after a double and walk, a strike-em-out, throw-em-out DP during a double steal try helped carry Musgrove out of danger. Gregory drew a walk and Starling was bopped with one away, but both anchored in place. The Brewers went down without a peep in the sixth; Joe's day is done now, after 102 pitches. But he outlasted Anderson, who was replaced by Jeremy Jeffress. JJ 1-2-3'ed the Buccos. Alex McRae worked the seventh, giving up a knock and tossing a wild pitch while putting up a zippo. Tuck led off with a rap; it was wasted. With two outs in the eighth, McRae fell apart - a full-count walk, double and a couple of singles gave the Brewers the couple of runs needed to ice it. Corbin Burns gave up an infield rap and walk that left Bucs at second and third with two outs; Melky pinch hit and banged a double to plate the pair, then Tuck singled him home. Ric Rod was called in for the ninth (it's his fourth outing in four days), and yep, the first hitter, Eric Thames, homered and it got worse. A couple of doubles, a couple of walks, and it was 11-5 just like that. Matt Albers mopped it up.

Melky got the Bucs back in it, briefly - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Clint won't use his Big Three when he's behind, and if his starters don't keep it close, the remaining five aren't likely to have many shutdown innings in them. It's really frustrating to claw back and then watch guys get lit up, especially now that the offense, while not exactly well oiled, is pushing some runs home. And yes, for the millionth time, we know the injuries are on a biblical scale. But one reason they're scuffin' now is because back in March, when they knew they were set at the MLB level but paper-thin behind them, they did nothing to buttress the staff. Reap what ya sow. And we will say this; these guys made be outgunned most days, but they don't mail games in.

Notes:

• Bryan Reynolds, Eli and Tuck each had a pair of hits.
• Pittsburgh has lost 8-of-11 and given up 5+ runs in 10 of those games; the bright side is that they've score 5+ runs six times.
• The Brewers banged out 11 extra-base hits, one off their franchise record. They pounded out 18 raps during the game.
• Josh Bell is the third player in NL history with 12+ doubles and 12+ home runs in any calendar month. The other two were Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, both in July 1961, per StatsBySTATS.
• There were 13,059 at the ballyard tonight on a gray and threatening evening.

Big Joe v Chase Anderson, Lineup & Notes

Game: The set opens at 7:05 as the Bucs return to PNC to meet the Brew Crew. The game will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. Maybe: there's a real good chance of passing t-storms through 10 PM or so; the Pirates should be sailing an Ark instead of a galleon this year.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Adam Frazier 2B, Joe Musgrove P. Fraze finally got bumped off the top of the order, tumbling to the eight spot. And it looks like K-Man is slowly taking command of the SS situation.

Big Joe gets the call tonight - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (3-5/4.27) opens up against RHP Chase Anderson (2-0/3.25). May has been brutal for Joe; he's 2-3/8.25 in five starts, and that includes a gem against Arizona. He's taken on the Brewers twice, both times in 2018, without a decision but a hefty 6.94 ERA. This is Anderson's third start since coming off the IL with a blister/cut. He started the year in the pen and is a wild child; he's gotten 15 outs once in five starts. Chase has been steady against Pittsburgh - he's 7-4/3.61 in 14 career starts.

Notes:

• The Bucs and Brew Crew haven't met yet this year; they'll mix it up seven times in the next 10 games to catch up. Both teams are looking to pick it up: Milwaukee has lost six of its past 10 games while Pittsburgh has lost seven of 10.
• Willy threw off a mound yesterday for the first time since he went on the IL on May 17th. Jordan Lyles is scheduled for a side session today in his first test since tweaking his hammy. How he feels afterward will determine if he goes Sunday or is pushed back.
• Jake Elmore cleared waivers and was assigned to Indy yesterday.
• David Bell, Cincy manager, is losing his mind over beanbrawling. Sounds like a little gaslighting to us. 

5/30 Through the 1920’s: Fido Sics 'Em Twice; Leach/Leifield Deal; Triples Outbreak; HBD Turkey & Al

• 1878 - OF Mike “Turkey” Donlin was born in Peoria, Illinois. Mike played one of his 12 big league campaigns in Pittsburgh, hitting .316 as a 34-year-old in 1912. Known as "Turkey Mike" because of his strut, Donlin’s baseball career was held back by his bid for stage stardom. While a player, he spent three off seasons touring in a play called “Stealing Home” and after his retirement moved to Hollywood, where he appeared in 50+ films but as a bit player. 

Turkey Donlin 2012 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions

• 1892 - Mark “Fido” Baldwin, a native Pittsburgher alleged to have the best fastball in the league, tossed both ends of a Pirates doubleheader sweep of the Baltimore Orioles at Exposition Park, winning 11-1 and 4-3. Baldwin went 26-27/3.47 with 45 complete games and 440 IP in ’92. 
• 1893 - From Baseball Chronology: "Jake Beckley successfully pulls the 'ancient’ hidden-ball trick on Baltimore Oriole Joe Kelley as Pittsburgh wins 9-1.” The Bucs swept a doubleheader from the Birds (they were managed by former Pittsburgh field general Ned Hanlon, who in a three-year span skippered the Alleghenys, Burghers and Pirates) at Exposition Park, also claiming a 10-3 victory. It was a pretty good Pirates club; the team finished 81-48, five games behind the NL Champs, the Boston Beaneaters. 
• 1894 - RHP Al Mamaux was born in Pittsburgh. He went to Duquesne University and pitched for the Pirates from 1913-17. Mamaux was 49-36/2.61 during that time, and had strong seasons in 1915-16, going 42-23 with back-to-back 21 win campaigns. He spent the off-season as a crowd pleaser of another sort, touring as a vaudeville singer touted as "The Golden Voice Tenor.” 
• 1912 - In a not-so-sweet deal, the Pirates sent veteran 3B/OF Tommy Leach and P Lefty Leifield to Chicago for UT Solly Hofman and P King Cole. Leach, 34, started the next two years for the Cubs and came back to retire as a Pirate in 1918. Lefty pitched five more seasons, going 57-25. Cole lasted one year in Pittsburgh, going 2-2/6.43 while Hoffman played two years for the Pirates, getting into 45 games and hitting .246. 
• 1921 - There were four NL doubleheaders on this date, and all four resulted in a sweep. The Pirates did their part by taking two from the Chicago Cubs at Forbes Field, 13-0 and 6-3. Jimmy Zinn tossed a five hitter in the opener, backed by four RBI from George Cutshaw and Possum Whitted, with Max Carey scoring four times. The nitecap was led by Whitted and Walter Schmidt who both went 3-for-4, with Possum scoring three times and Schmidt driving in a pair. Chief Yellow Horse, the third Pirate pitcher, went 7-⅔ shutout innings for the win and recorded the only strikeout of the day by Pittsburgh’s moundsmen. 

Chief Yellowhorse 1920 Photo George Bain/Library of Congress

• 1925 - The Pirates set a MLB record by hitting eight triples against the St. Louis Cardinals in spacious Forbes Field during the nitecap of a twinbill. Max Carey and Clyde Barnhart each banged out a pair of three-baggers while Kiki Cuyler, Pie Traynor (who added two doubles), Glenn Wright and Eddie Moore each had one. Barnhart had four hits, four runs and five RBI in the game as the Bucs ran their win streak to seven with a 15-5 romp. The Bucs took the opener 4-1 behind Emil Yde and four DPs. Max Carey had a pair of RBI and George Grantham had three hits, including two doubles, in that match. Every Pirates started reached base safely; the club stranded 12 runners and had two more tossed out on the basepaths. The Pirates collected 32 hits during the day.
• 1927 - The Bucs lost the opener of a Forbes Field Memorial Day doubleheader to the Cubs 7-6 in 10 innings, ending the Pirates 11-game win streak. The big play was made by Cubs’ SS Jimmy Cooney, who snared Paul Waner's liner, stepped on second to double up Little Poison, and then tagged Clyde Barnhart coming from first for an unassisted triple play. Pittsburgh came back to win the nitecap‚ 6-5‚ also in 10 innings. Lloyd Waner collected seven hits during the twin bill.

5/30 From 1930 Through the 1970’s: Rizzo's 9 Ribbies; Scoop Triple Dipper; Moose Surgery; RIP Max; HBD Tony

• 1939 - Johnny Rizzo set a club record that still hasn’t been matched by driving in nine runs against the St. Louis Browns in a 14-8 win at Sportsman's Park, gaining a doubleheader split for the Bucs. He banged a pair of homers and two doubles. 

Johnny Rizzo - 1939 Play Ball

• 1958 - The Milwaukee Braves beat the Bucs and ElRoy Face 7-4 at Forbes Field, scoring four times in the ninth to rally for victory. The Baron of the Bullpen, Elroy Face, gave up the runs, two of which were unearned, but came back strong; he wouldn’t lose again until September 1959, claiming 22 straight wins. The game hinged on two muffed pop ups, both fully weaponized by the Braves. The second game went the Bucs way 12-6; Pittsburgh banged out 18 hits w/five doubles and two three-baggers to overcome four solo homers by Milwaukee. Dick Groat and Bill Mazeroski each had four Pirate knocks, combining to score seven times and chase four runs home. Howie Goss got the win; Curt Rayburn started while Ron Blackburn worked in between the two. The Memorial Day twin bill drew 32,428 fans. 
• 1969 - Al Oliver started a triple play that saw him get two putouts and two assists during the action against Houston at Forbes Field. With Jesus Alou at first and Doug Rader at second, Johnny Edwards grounded to Scoops, who took the out and then relayed the ball to Gene Alley at second. Alley chased Alou back and flipped to Oliver for the tag. Meanwhile Rader, who had stayed on second thinking Edwards had hit a line drive, broke for third late when the light went on but Oliver gunned him down with Richie Hebner slapping the tag. The Bucs won the twinbill opened 9-3. Al had two of the Bucs 17 hits as Jim Bunning cruised to victory. The nightcap didn’t go so well as Bob Moose and Chuck Hartenstine got roughed up in a 9-6 defeat. Matty Alou and Billy Maz each had three hits but the Pirates couldn’t outscore the ‘Stros in a shootout. 
• 1971 - Willie Stargell launched a Ken Holtzman pitch into the upper deck in right field, the third of four that he’d ship to the top tier at TRS in his career, to cap a 10-0 win over the Cubs. Roberto Clemente and Bob Robertson also went long. Bob Moose didn’t need much help; he fired a three-hitter and fanned seven. 
• 1974 - Bob Moose had surgery to remove a blood clot from his arm after it had swollen to double its size. The clot wasn’t thought to be baseball related, but it cost Moose the rest of the season as one of his ribs also had to be removed. He was having an outlier year anyway, with a 1-5 record and 7.57 ERA, easily the worst numbers of his career and related to his arm woes. Moose never again reached the 100 IP mark after averaging 213 IP and 30 starts in 1972-73 before meeting a tragic end in a car wreck after the 1976 campaign. 

Bob Moose 1974 Topps

• 1976 - OF Max Carey passed away in Miami. In 17 Pirates seasons, he hit .287 (a strong average for the deadball era; his OPS+ was 111) with 688 stolen bases and a reputation as the best center fielder in the game who was nicknamed “Scoop” for his ability to catch balls hit in front of him. Max won a NL-record 10 stolen base titles and ranks among the top ten all-time in outfield chances per game (6,937 total), seventh in assists (339), and third in double plays (87). After he retired following the 1929 campaign, Carey went on to be a Pirates coach in 1930, then was the skipper of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1932-33. After baseball, he was involved in Florida real estate, wrote a book & several sporting articles, was a horse racing commissioner, and dabbled in politics. Carey was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961 by the Veterans Committee. 
• 1977 - Dave Parker was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the story “Battle Royale In the East.” The Buccos finished second in the NL East race with 96 wins, five games behind the Phils. The Cobra played in a team-high 159 games with 21 HR and a .338 BA. 
• 1985 - LHP Tony Watson was born in Sioux City, Iowa. The ninth round pick of the 2007 draft was a converted starter that moved to the pen, and made his debut with the Bucs in 2010, evolving into a solid bridge man for the Pirates and then taking over the eighth inning role in spectacular fashion, posting a 1.63 ERA with a couple of saves, 34 holds and 9.4 K per nine innings to earn a spot on the 2014 All-Star team. The media coined the phrase "It's elementary, Watson" to describe his consistent excellence. Tony took over the closer’s role in the summer of 2016 and held it until he was traded to the Dodgers at the deadline in 2017 (he notched 30 saves as a Bucco) and was replaced by Felipe Rivero (Vazquez). He’s now with the Giants.

5/30 From 1990: Kenny's 26-Gamer; Zeroes Galore; Mondesi Finale; Game Stories

• 1998 - Jason Kendall hit a walk off, bases-loaded single to cap a three-run ninth and give the Pirates an 8-7 win over the Montreal Expos at TRS. It was Kendall’s third hit of the day and his second RBI. Manny Martinez hit a two run homer and Kevin Young banged out four hits. Three Pirate relievers tossed four goose eggs, with Jason Christiansen earning the victory. 

Kenny Lofton 2003 Topps Gallery

• 2003 - Kenny Lofton homered against the Cards in a 7-3 win by Jeff Suppan to keep his 26-game hitting streak alive, tying Danny O’Connell’s modern-day mark set in 1953. He would go 0-fer the next day against the Cards Woody Williams and Jeff Fasaro, falling a game short of tying the club record, set by Jimmy Williams in 1899, during a 5-4 Pirate victory tossed by Kip Wells. 
• 2004 - The Raul Mondesi saga officially ended when the outfielder signed a $1.75M deal with the Anaheim Angels. He left the Pirates on May 7th after signing as a free agent ($1.15M) to return home to deal with a lawsuit and family safety issues. He never came back; it was all a ploy to get out of the Pirates agreement and head for greener pastures. Pittsburgh could have opted to keep him on the restricted list until the cows came home (and in hindsight, should have; that way they might have gotten some compensation for his flip) but instead washed their hands of him when he failed to report on the team-mandated “drop dead” date of May 18th, terminating his contract the next day. 
• 2006 - The Bucs walloped the Milwaukee Brewers 12-1 at PNC Park behind a pair of Jose Castillo homers. Jose added a single & double to chase home six runs while scoring three times. Freddy Sanchez also had four knocks and Jack Wilson added three as the Pirates collected 17 raps, seven for extra bases, to help Victor Santos to victory. 
• 2013 - For the second time in three days, the Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers, 1-0 in 11 innings. The Bucs used four pitchers - Mark Melancon got the W - and a Neil Walker homer to win at Comerica Park on the 28th, then came home to PNC Park and won with Bryan Morris and five other pitchers, cinched by a Russell Martin walk-off single off the wall in left center field. This one was a stolen win as the Tigers stranded 11 runners during the game. The squeaker was the club’s fourth 1-0 win in an 11 game span and their 16th win in the past 20 contests. 

Gregory 2016 Topps Bunt

• 2016 - The Pirates rolled over Miami at Marlins Park 10-0. Gregory Polanco hit his first MLB grand slam, Sean Rodriguez added a two-run blast, and David Freese went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. The big story was lefty Jeff Locke, who pitched a complete game shutout, the first time he had gone the distance in 101 career starts. It was the Bucs first CG since 2014, when Vance Worley went wire-to-wire. Locke gave up three hits without a walk, and thanks to two DPs, faced the minimum amount of batters until two were gone in the ninth when he was touched for a bloop single. It was a textbook example of pitching to contact; the Pirate southpaw had just one K.

Brault Beauty, Bell & 'Beard Bombs Boost Bucs to Series Split, 7-2.

The game start was delayed to 2:30, then 2:45; this season has been a cluster in several ways, weather high up on the list. It did get going roughly about then, and Bryan Reynolds became the first runner, drawing a one-out walk off Anthony DeSclafani. Starling threw away another walk by fishing for sliders and ended up popping out, then a grounder ended it. Steven Brault filled up the strike zone and was rewarded with a clean, nine-pitch frame. Eli singled with two gone in the second and K-Man hustled out an infield knock to turn the order over. The Reds went down quietly. There was no Bucco bangin' in the third. It was nine-up, nine-down, for Cincy. Melky singled with an out in the fourth; Redbeard banged into a 3-6-3 DP. A leadoff single was advanced to second with two gone; Yasiel Puig was walked intentionally to get to Derek Dietrich; Steven fanned him for the second time. K-Man stroked a one-out rap, was bunted up and died at second in the fifth.

Steven had it going on today - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

The Reds used a pair of singles and bunt to mount their first threat against Steven, with ducks on second and third and two gone. No prob; Nick Senzel tried to get cute with a sneak attack bunt; it ended the frame, thank you for not swinging. Bryan started the sixth with a knock, and an out later, J-Bell's rap put Bucs on the corners. Melky hit a shallow fly to freeze them, but Redbeard picked him up, launching a changeup into the opp field LC seats. Eli singled and Michael Lorenzen was waved in to finish up. A leadoff walk was followed by an out and a new pitcher, Ric Rod, after Steven hit the 74-pitch mark.  RR did his job, fanning Puig. Then Frankie got the summons to face Dietrich, and Cole entered to play SS while K-Man, 2-for-3, was double-switched out. A bloop put Reds on first and third, but Frankie had it under control, getting an 0-2 fly to tuck it in. Tuck opened the seventh with a two-bagger and was bunted up (Fraze gave it a run; the play went to review at first). Bryan Reynolds made the effort count with a rap to make it 4-0. Then Starling singled and J-Bell lifted one deep the opp way to start piling it on. Frankie retired a lefty and Clay Holmes took over, giving up a single between garden variety outs.

Matt Bowman worked the eighth, giving up a Tuck single with two outs. Clay bopped Eugenio Suarez in the hand, who then trotted halfway to the mound, had a few words, and then zig-zagged to first as manager David Bell came out to froth a little before being ejected. A whiff was followed by a walk, and a single plated a run. Holmes and the strike zone continued their barely nodding acquaintance, but he got out with no more damage. Raisel Iglesias got the ninth. He buzzed Bryan but won with a whiff before Starling singled. Josh dropped a flare to left and a passed ball moved them up, but the Bucs couldn't cash in after a K and at 'em ball. Nick Senzel sent one into the bleachers off Holmes with two outs before a comebacker finished it. Raise the Roger.

Colin's blast gave the Bucs a lead they never relinquished - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Well, Steven is good against the Reds and usually good when he throws strikes; he did both today to give the Bucs a boost. A couple of three-run jacks are pretty handy, too. Nice bounceback and now back to the 'Burg and the big bad Brew Crew,

Notes:

• J-Bell, Starling and Bryan had seven hits at the top of the lineup while Eli and K-Man had four knocks at the bottom. That'll usually play.
• GABP's bandbox played well for the Pirates today; Colin's dinger went 356' and out in left center and Josh's dropped gently into the first row in left; both were oppo field shots.
• Steven Brault has never lost to the Reds (4-0/1.01) and has a 19-2/3 IP scoreless streak v Cincy.
• All we got on Jordan Lyle's sore leg from the club is that he's playing catch today, FWIW, and isn't on the IL, so that's all good. 
• JHK is expected to get some time at SS during his Indy rehab.
• By the way, a couple of old Bucs are rehabbing for the Tigers - Jordy is playing in AAA to prep after a long stint with a quad injury, and J-Hay is on his second IL posting, this time with a partially torn hammy that could keep him out 4-6 weeks (the first was a shoulder injury).

Steven Brault v Anthony DeSclafani, Lineup & Notes

Game: The getaway day game starts at 12:35 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. It's a rainy day in Cincy, so we'll see how that goes. The forecast is for 40-50% chance of passing t-storms in the afternoon after precip all morning. Beats a tornado watch, though; prayers for Celina and Dayton, both of which were banged yesterday.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera RF, Eli Diaz C, Colin Moran 3B, Kevin Newman SS, Steven Brault P. The top two batters in the today's lineup were hopping around on sore tootsies last night, so that's good news for a banged-up club that they're back in action. Eli goes behind the dish day-after-night again.

Steven on the slab - Photo Joe Guzy/Pirates

Pitchers: LHP Steven Brault (1-1/7.11) closes the set against RHP Anthony DeSclafani (2-2/4.99).  Steven will start today sans an opener to set the table, after holding the Dodgers to two runs in 5-1/3 IP. He hasn't met Cincy yet this year, but saw them plenty in 2018, when he went 3-0/0.55 in seven outings (one start) covering 16-1/3 frames. So that's a trend that would be nice to continue. DeSclafani hasn't made it to the fifth in his past three starts and given up seven dingers in the 11-2/3 IP he's lasted. He went against Pittsburgh in April and was chased in the fifth, charged with six runs, and is 2-5/4.53 in 10 career starts against the Bucs. So he'll be heading to the hill in search of his mojo.

Notes:

• After today's game, the Pirates come home to take on the Brewers for four games, get a day off, and close the homestand with three contests against the Bravos. The Atlanta series will begin another 13-game stretch without a break, with the final 10 bouts on the road.
• The Pirates have lost 7-of-9 and are 26-27; they're 13-13 during May. Even with the back-to-back losses here, they're 6-3 v the Redlegs over the season and 16-12 on the road.

5/29 Through the 1910s: Big Bill Visits; Beckley Blast; Game Stories; HBD Jim

• 1884 - The Pittsburgh Alleghenys were no-hit by Columbus Buckeyes hurler Ed “Cannonball” Morris at Recreation Park during a 5-0 whitewash. Morris walked just one in a near perfect performance. The Alleghenys had been no-hit just five days earlier by Al Atkinson of the Philadelphia Athletics, who hit the first batter and was perfect the rest of the way. Cannonball joined the Alleghenys the following year and won 129 games over the next five seasons. He played a final year with the Pittsburgh Burghers of the Players League in 1890 before retiring to run his North Side bar.

Jake Beckley - 1994 Origins of Baseball

• 1895 - Jake Beckley blasted a three-run homer in the ninth to give the Pirates an 8-6 win over the Washington Senators at Boundary Park. The 1B ended the year with five homers, second on the team to Jake Stenzel’s seven, with a club-leading 111 RBI. The win left the Pirates in first with a 22-8 slate, but it wouldn’t last. They had a piece of the top spot last on July 18th, then finished the rest of the year at 30-34 and in seventh place, 17 games behind the Baltimore Orioles (the NL version of the O’s were contracted out in 1899 when the league cut teams and was then reorganized and resurrected in 1901 as an AL franchise).
• 1901 - 3B Jim Stroner was born in Chicago. Jim hit .367 w/42 HR for Wichita in 1928 and the Pirates brought him to camp the following season to take Pie Traynor’s place; manager Donie Bush wanted to move Pie to SS to replace Glenn Wright. Despite the bona fides and the tutelage of Traynor, Stroner only lasted six games (he was 3-for-8 hitting, but made three errors in seven chances at the hot corner) before he was sent to the minors. He had a convergence of tough luck - he wasn’t nearly at 100% physically, having undergone an appendectomy in the off season, and he wasn’t quite there mentally either, still recovering from the loss of his mother and wife, both who had passed away in the past year. Stroner never got another shot at the ring; he played in the minors through 1939 before retiring. As for Pie, the SS thing didn’t work out; he hurt his back and moved back to third.
• 1905 - Dave Brain tied a modern-day MLB record with three triples in the same game when the Pirates lost a 6-3 decision to the St. Louis Cardinals at Exposition Park. Brain would repeat the feat in a game against Boston later during the season, becoming the first player to accomplish the triple-triple twice in one season. Oddly enough, it was feast or famine in regard to three-baggers for the infielder; they were the only six triples he hit during the campaign, the only one he spent with Pittsburgh.

Dave Brain - 1909-11 American Tobacco

• 1909 - President William “Big Bill” Taft visited Exposition Park (Forbes Field would open a month later) to catch a Bucs-Cubs match, and made himself at home in the cheap seats, delighting the 14,091 fans. The Pirates weren’t so delightful, tho, as they went down to Three Finger Brown in 11 innings, 8-3, with Lefty Leifield taking the loss. The Prez must have made the Buccos nervous as the loss was the only time the team was defeated in a 19 game stretch.

5/29 From 1920 Through the 1950’s: Bucs Pick Up Stuffy, Earl; The Supremes; Game Stories; HBD Hitch

• 1921 - At Redland Field‚ Clyde Barnhart hit a ninth inning inside-the-park homer to tie the game with the Reds 2-2. He scampered to his first ITPHR after his ball was swallowed up by the right field tarp, considered in-play by the ground rules. It didn’t help in the long run as Pittsburgh lost 4-3 in 13 frames. But the freaky dinger did spoil what would have been the longest no-homer streak of the modern era - it was the only four-bagger that Cincy twirler Eppa Rixey allowed in 301 IP. 
• 1922 - In a decision that was pretty big for the Pirates as well as MLB, the US Supreme Court ruled that organized baseball was a sport, not a business, and exempted it from antitrust and interstate commerce laws. 

Stuffy McInnis 1925 - Photo George Bain/Library of Congress

• 1925 - 1B Jack “Stuffy” McInnis was signed as a free agent. The veteran was a reserve, getting into 106 games over two seasons, starting 64 of them. But his bat still held up; in 1925-26, he hit .337 for Pittsburgh, and .286 in the 1925 World Series against the Washington Senators. He played one more game after leaving Pittsburgh for his original club, Philadelphia, in 1927 before hanging ‘em up.
• 1928 - 2B Norma “Hitch” Dearfield Whitney was born in McKeesport. She played fast-pitch softball as a youth and after tryouts at the hometown Renziehausen Park, Hitch got to play with the All American Girls Professional Baseball League’s Chicago Colleens in 1949 and the South Bend Blue Sox in 1950 (no stats available). An injury while with South Bend in 1950 forced her to retire. She returned home, coached girls softball and was a member of the board of directors of the McKeesport Softball League. 
• 1929 - The Pirates leapfrogged the Cubs into a first place tie with the Cards after a 7-2 win at Forbes Field, their eighth victory in a row. Paul Waner had a triple, two runs scored, and two RBI. Pie Traynor added a pair of knocks with a three-bagger and three runs chased home; Dick Bartell also had a two hits. Rookie Steve Swetonic held the Cubs scoreless for seven frames before fading and got the W with help from Carmen Hill. Though the Bucs would jockey for first throughout July, they finished the campaign with 88 wins, 10-½ games behind the Cubs. A blah August (13-16) dropped them out of contention. 
• 1931 - C Earl Grace was traded by the Cubs with cash to the Pirates for C Rollie Hemsley. Grace caught five years for the Bucs and hit .275 over that span, retiring after 1937. Hemsley ended up playing 15 more seasons for five teams, hitting .262 and playing on five All-Star teams. 

Earl Grace 1933 - Photo Pittsburgh Press

• 1955 - At the age of 20 years and 284 days, Roberto Clemente became the second youngest player to hit three doubles in a game in MLB history, behind the Braves’ Eddie Mathews (ironically against the Pirates in 1952). The Bucs beat the Phillies 11-5 at Forbes Field; the young Clemente was the leadoff hitter, and banged his two-baggers off three different pitchers while going 5-for-5. Every Pirate starter had a hit. Dick Groat had four knocks, Frank Thomas went long and Max Surkont got the win. It was the back end of a doubleheader. The Buccos dropped the opener 5-2; Thomas had a home run in that contest, too.

5/29 From 1960: Tanner's #1,000; Zane 1-Hitter; Game Stories; HBD Charlie

• 1965 - Despite allowing three runs in the first inning, the Pirates rallied to defeat the New York Mets 7-4 at Shea Stadium. The Buccos were led by Roberto Clemente, who went 4-for-5, collected two RBI, scored three runs, and finished a home run shy of the cycle. The Pirates put the game away in the seventh when a two-out walk followed by four singles plated three runs. Don Schwall took the win and Al McBean got the save. 

Charlie Hayes - 1996 Upper Deck

• 1965 - 3B Charlie Hayes was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Charlie manned the hot corner and played a little first base for 14 big league seasons for seven teams (and three of them he played for twice), spending most of 1996 with the Pirates. He hit .248 as a Bucco starter before being sent to the NYY for a minor-league guy. The deadline deal worked out great for Charlie; he ended up a member of the Yankees ‘96 World Championship club after leaving the Buccos, a Central Division bottom feeder that campaign. Hayes now runs the Big League Baseball Academy in Texas, and his son Ke'Bryan was selected 32nd overall by the Pirates in the 2015 draft and is one of their hot prospects at his dad’s old spot, 3B. 
• 1979 - Don Robinson scattered five hits over eight innings to lead the Bucs to an 8-0 win over the Cubs at TRS. Dave Parker led the offense with three hits, a dinger and two two-baggers, and three RBI. Phil Garner had two knocks, also going deep, while Omar Moreno, Tim Foli, Willie Stargell and even hurler Robby had two knocks each as part of a 15-hit attack. 
• 1983 - Chuck Tanner claimed his 1,000th win as a manager (his skipper career began in 1970 with the White Sox) after an 8-5 victory over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium. The game wouldn’t make any coaching textbooks - the Bucs committed three errors and ran the bases like ninnies - but behind a 15-hit attack, the Pirates left themselves a lot of wiggle room. Tony Pena went 4-for-4 and four other Corsairs (Lee Mazzilli, Bill Madlock, Jason Thompson & Dave Parker) had two knocks while Manny Sarmiento tossed three shutout innings to seal the deal in relief of Larry McWilliams. 
• 1991 - The Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 at Busch Stadium as Zane Smith threw the second one-hitter of his career, striking out five to earn his seventh win on the season. Orlando Merced led the attack with two hits and two RBI for the Bucs. 

Zane Smith - 1991 Topps Stadium Club

• 1992 - Pittsburgh rocked the San Francisco Giants 13-3 at TRS. Barry Bonds went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI, Jose Lind chipped in with three runs driven in and Andy Van Slyke had three hits to give Vicente Palacios the win and Bob Patterson a save for tossing the final three frames. The Pirates used a 13-hit, 10-walk attack and an eight-run seventh inning to pull away. 
• 2000 - The Pirates put on a show for the 17,282 fans at TRS in a 10-4 romp over the Florida Marlins. Every Bucco starter reached base safely, including winning pitcher Jason Schmidt who walked, while John Vander Wal, Kevin Young and Pat Meares combined for eight RBI and every starter but Meares scored. Pittsburgh had 13 hits and the Fish hurlers aided the cause by issuing seven walks.

Dietrich Dingers Spark Reds to 11-6 Bucco Spanking - Jordan Hurt, Mitch Optioned Back, Ric Rod Stays

Lucas Sims had a lots better opener than Mitch did last night; he tossed a 1-2-3 frame, helped when Starling singled and was thrown out trying to stretch the blooper. Jordan gave up a two-out walk on a borderline call and shrugged it off. J-Bell roped out to right and the next pair fanned; not much plate patience on exhibit. A Jose Iglesias triple and well-placed tapper got the Reds on the board. Two more Bucs whiffed in the third; their free swinging is making it easy for Sims so far. It was a clean frame for Jordan. A couple of more Bucs fanned in the fourth, while the Reds opened with a two-bagger. Derek Dietrich pounded the next ball out of the yard. He finished up the inning, though the trainers came out to check on him briefly; looks like his groin is bothering him. J-Bell opened the fifth with a double, drilling what would have been ball four into right (good choice). After a pop out, Redbeard smoked one up the middle - and into an unassisted DP. In further good news, Geoff Hartlieb took the hill in the fifth; another pitcher down.

Hey, another pitcher hurt - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

He gave up a one-out double off a two-strike meatball that Starling misread, judging by his route. The fourth run came home on another two-bagger. After a second out, another Dietrich homer followed, then a single, double, single, single with the inning ending on a throw-out at second by Starling and an 8-0 count. The Bucs answered with a walk in the sixth and Cincy went quietly. Starling doubled in the seventh and was left on the pond. After a double, another Dietrich dinger and one-out walk got Hartlieb yanked and in came Rookie Davis, who stopped the leakage. Lucas' fun day ended in the eighth. Bryan Reynolds and Eli singled (the catcher legged out an infield knock), then with an out, Joey O got bopped. K-Man swatted his first MLB homer, and it was a granny. Robert Stephenson took the ball and stilled the bats. Jose Peraza pounded one out against Rookie. Jake singled with an out in the ninth and Bryan walked, with a wild pitch in between. Reynolds pulled up gimpy *does it ever end* and Big Joe ran for him. Eli doubled them both home before the final curtain fell.

Well...the Pirates have drained Indy. Wonder if they'll loot Altoona or Bradenton next? Steven Brault goes tomorrow to try to take home a split in the series.

Notes:

• Eli and Starling each had two hits tonight
• Jordan Lyles departed the game with "left hamstring discomfort." Bryan Reynolds said a foul off his ankle was causing him some pain, so he left as a precautionary move. He'll get a protective shield for his leg and plans to soldier on.
• Derek Dietrich has nine hits against the Pirates. Seven are homers.
• The Pirates optioned RHP Mitch Keller back to Indy and recalled RHP Richard Rodriguez, who was just sent down (on paper) after being yesterday's 26th man. Nick Kingham and Steve Brault get to hold their starting spots. As for Mitch, hard to say if that brutal first frame of Super Two time cut his stay short (or maybe some of both), but we expect he'll be back soon enough.

Jordan v Lucas Sims, Lineup & Notes - First Starts, Fraze Sits

Game: The game begins at 6:40 at GABP. It will be broadcast by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Kevin Newman 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera LF, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Cole Tucker SS, Jordan Lyles P. Guess Fraze did bruise his foot yesterday, and that leaves the middle infield kinda thin w/just Joey O (no word yet on Adam's availability; his foot was reportedly wrapped in the locker room).

Pitchers: RHP Jordan Lyles (5-1/2.81) goes against Lucas Sims (0-0/0.00). Jordan had his inning from heck last outing, but he's still the bedrock of the rotation. He faced the Redlegs once this year in April before he was fully stretched out, and still got five innings of three-hit, shutout ball for a 2-0 win. Sims, a former first-round pick of the Braves, was called up from AAA Louisville for the start, where he was 3-0/4.08. It's not his maiden MLB voyage; he been in 23 big league games (10 starts) with a 3-6/6.01 slash. His command has improved greatly this year in the minors; he's averaging 13 K and three walks per nine in AAA, so we'll see what the 25-year-old has to offer today. Sims tossed once against the Bucs last year, going 1-2/3 IP with a whiff, walk and bop.

Jordan gets the call tonight - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

First Outings:

Thought we'd take a look at how the more-or-less current staff's starting debuts matched up with Mitch's first trip:

• Jordan Lyles took his bow against the Cubs while with the Astros in 2011 and won 7-3, going seven frames w/5 hits, 2 ER, 4 K and 0 W.
• Archie's first go was in 2012 as a Ray v the Nats. He dropped a 3-2 decision, going six IP w/3 hits, 1 ER (three overall), 7 K and 1 W.
• Big Joe's debut was in 2016 as a 'Stro against Texas. Musgrove got a no decision in a 5-3 loss, tossing seven innings w/5 hits, 1 ER, 6 strikeouts and 1 W.
• Jamo opened in 2016 v the Mets. Jameson had a no decision in a 6-5 loss, twirling 6 frames w/6 hits, 3 ER, 3 K and 2 W.
• Chad Kuhl met the Dodgers in 2016 and won 4-3. His line was five IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, 5 K and 4 W.
• Steven Brault's maiden voyage was against St. Louis in 2016. He got a no decision in a 5-2 win, spinning four innings w/4 hits, 1 ER (two surrendered), 5 K and 2 W.
• Willy first started in 2016, taking on the Reds, and he had no decision in a 7-3 win. Trevor lasted four innings, w/5 hits, 3 ER, one strikeout and 0 W. 
• Everyone remembers Nick Kingham's 2018 outing v St. Louis. He fired a seven-inning one-hitter with nine punchouts, winning 5-0.
• Mitch Keller met Cincy last night and took an 8-1 loss, giving up 6 ERs in four frames, w/7 hits, 6 ER, 7 K and 2 W. His first inning was brutal; afterward he retired 10-of-11 Reds while tossing shutout ball.

Interesting? Yep. Predictive? Nah.

The King's 2018 debut hasn't quite translated yet - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Notes:

• As the 26th man, Ric Rod went back to Indy today after working in both ends of yesterday's twin bill.
• For those wondering if Mitch is another Bucco starter with a history of first-inning yips, the short answer in no; it was more likely a case of debut butterflies. What he does have is a history of taking a few starts to adjust when he advances to higher levels, so we'll see how steep his learning curve is at the pinnacle.
• As unlikely as it seems, the Pirates 26-26 record is the same as the Cards, and they're still just four games behind the Cubs in the Central Division.
• LHP Sean Burnett, drafted by the Bucs in 2000, announced his retirement. His last MLB posting was in 2016.

5/28 Through the 1950’s: Long Streak Hits 8; Protest That Worked; Reddy Debut; HBD Kirk, Sarge, King & Steve

• 1881 - RHP James “King” Brady was born in Elmer, New Jersey. King worked two of his five MLB seasons with the Bucs in 1906-07, and didn’t get much work, going 1-1, 2.16 in four starts but giving up an average of 11.5 hits every nine innings, and was shipped to the minors early in 1907 after taking a liner off the bean. He spent eight years on the farm, winning 85 games. The source of his nickname is uncertain, although it’s thought that a Pittsburgh writer gave it to him after a good outing. 

Reddy in his Buffalo days - photo via Find-A-Grave

• 1903 - OF Romer “Reddy” Gray‚ brother of author Zane Grey (they were both originally Grays; their dad changed the spelling allegedly to dodge some bills), made his MLB bow as a Buc. He went 1-for-3 in his only big league game as the Pirates beat Boston 7-6. Gray scored a run, knocked in another, drew a walk, and caught the only ball hit his way in the OF. He played on loan from the nearby Worcester minor league club as the Pirates, due to some injuries and personal issues, found themselves short handed for the game against the Beaneaters at the South End Grounds. Gray was an early AAAA ballplayer; he never found a home in MLB but had a career .311 minor league BA. His author brother was also a ballplayer in his younger days; he even played at Pitt briefly. They were teammates on both the Jaxons and Findlay Sluggers of the Interstate League in 1895, and Zane went on to pen several baseball themed stories. 
• 1919 - LHP Steve Nagy was born in Franklin, New Jersey. Steve was teammates with a couple of famous folk, notably TV star Chuck “The Rifleman” Connors (who played for the Dodgers and the Cubs before going on to Hollywood) at Seton Hall University and Jackie Robinson as a Montreal Royal, but their fame didn’t provide him with any coattails. He pitched briefly in the majors for two years, spending 1947 as a Pirates reliever and going 1-3, 5.79. Steve missed some time during WW2 while in the navy, but still managed to play 14 minor-league campaigns before he retired from the game after the 1958 season. 
• 1921 - Pittsburgh protested their 4-3‚ 10-inning loss to the Reds and won. After Reds P Dolf Luque misfired the ball into the Cincinnati dugout‚ Clyde Barnhart was called out going to third when the ball was tossed back into the field. The Pirates said no way; it was a dead ball, and NL president Heydler agreed. The game was later replayed from that point (it was 3-3), and the Bucs took full advantage of their second chance, turning the table to win 4-3 on June 30th. 

Clyde knew he was safe... photo 1921 The Sporting News

• 1923 - LHP Bob “Sarge” Kuzava was born in Wyandotte, Michigan. Bob spent 10 years in MLB, stopping in Pittsburgh for four appearances lasting two innings and giving up two runs in 1957. It was the last big league season for the 34-year-old; he was sold to the Cards and got three final outings. He began his career as a starter and finished it as a reliever/spot starter, with his highlights in 1952 when he went 2-2/3 no-hit innings for the Yankees to save the seventh game of the World Series against Brooklyn, a 4-2 win after saving the clinching sixth game the year before with a perfect ninth inning to defeat the Giants, 4-3. Kuzava was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. He got his nickname of Sarge after spending three years during WW2 in Burma. 
• 1956 - First baseman Dale Long added to his major league record by hitting a home run in his eighth consecutive game, a 3-2 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers at Forbes Field. The liner was hit off of Carl Erskine in front of 32,221 Forbes Field fans who didn’t settle down until the big first baseman made a curtain call, said to be the first in MLB history. The record was later tied by Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey, Jr. (1993). Brooklyn’s Don Newcombe closed out the string the following day as Long went 0-for-4. Dale finished the season with a career-high 27 long balls, the first of four 20+ HR seasons in five years, not a bad mark for a guy who didn’t get a chance to play every day until he was 29 years old. Oh, and Bob Friend helped, tossing a complete game two-hitter. 
• 1957 - OF Kirk Gibson was born in Pontiac, Michigan. He spent 1992 as a Pirate toward the end of his 17-year MLB run, coming over from KC in a swap for P Neal Heaton, and the 35-year-old was released in May after hitting .196. He closed out the final three years of his career with the Tigers after Sparky Anderson talked him out of retirement. The 1988 World Series hero has since worked as a coach, manager and announcer.

5/28 From 1960: Memorable Mack; Roberto Riled; Bay Six Pack; Game Stories; HBD Alex

• 1960 - More Destiny’s Darlings lore: Roberto Clemente was on third and Hal Smith on first with two outs in the eighth with Maz up at Forbes Field. He fanned on a ball that hit in the front of the plate, ricocheted off ump Al Barlick and straight to Phillies pitcher Jim Owens. Maz froze, Smith jogged to second and Clemente went halfway down the baseline. Owens chased Roberto as his bench called for him to throw to first, which he either didn’t hear or ignored. In the run-down‚ Clemente knocked the ball out of C Jim Coker's glove to score the tying run. The Pirates won 4-2 in the 13th on Don Hoak's two-run HR. 

Roberto was involved in some antics OTD - 2018 Upper Deck

• 1963 - Called out at first on a close play for the second time in the game‚ Roberto Clemente twice jostled ump Bill Jackowski while arguing the decision. Clemente was ejected‚ and skipper Danny Murtaugh got his Irish up, challenging the man in blue to duke it out until he was pulled away. The Great One was fined $250 and suspended for five days by the league. To top the day off, the Pirates lost 5-1 to the Phils at Forbes Field. 
• 1977 - OF/1B Alex Hernandez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Alex was taken by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 1995 draft and spent two campaigns in Pittsburgh, getting into 27 games and hitting .183 in 2001-02. He spent his last couple of seasons playing indie ball and in the Puerto Rican Winter League before retiring in 2006. 
• 1988 - The Pirates whipped the Reds 5-2 at Riverfront Stadium behind an unstoppable leadoff man Barry Bonds. BB went 2-for-2 and was walked three times, scoring three runs with a RBI to rev the Bucco engine. Bobby Bonilla and Darnell Coles both added a single and double to help Bob Walk to the win with a Bob Kipper hold & Jeff Robinson save. 
• 1990 - Memorial Day seemed like it was going to be more memorable for Dodger pitcher Tim Belcher, who was working on a one-hitter through eight innings at TRS, than anything the Bucs would do. But in the end, the Pirates provided the holiday fireworks, scoring five times in the ninth off two Dodger relievers to take an improbable 6-5 win from LA. The Bucs trimmed the lead to 5-3 and loaded the bases with two down in the final frame. Jose Lind spanked a 3-2 liner through the right side and RF’er Hubie Brooks tried to cut down the tying run, Gary Redus, at the plate. The throw was up the line and C Mike Scioscia tried to pick the ball and swipe the runner. It didn’t pan out; he missed the throw entirely and it rolled to the back wall, allowing Don Slaught to lumber in from first to plate the game winner for Bill Landrum, who had worked the ninth for Pittsburgh. 

• 2004 - In the lidlifter of a twin bill, utilityman Rob Mackowiak smacked a two-out, walk-off grand slam for a 9-5 Pirates victory barely nine hours after his wife, Jennifer, gave birth to their first child, Garrett Matthew. Chicago’s Matt Clement had a tough outing with a wild pitch and plunks of Bobby Hill, Jason Kendall and Craig Wilson in the fifth frame of the opener (the three HBP in an inning tied the modern era MLB record), opening the gates to a four-run frame. In the second game, Mack drilled a two-run shot in the ninth, the 500th homer at PNC Park, into the same right center field seats as the one he hit three hours earlier to send the nitecap into extra innings, later won by Craig Wilson’s 10th inning homer, for a 5-4 sweep of the Cubs. It was the first time since 1967 that a doubleheader was won by walk-off homers. 
• 2006 - The Pirates lost to the Astros 5-4 at PNC Park. Houston scored four times in the ninth off three different Pirate pitchers to tie the game, then won it in the tenth on a Preston Wilson knock off Salomon Torres. The game did have a bright side. Jason Bay homered off Fernando Nieve in the fourth inning to run his consecutive game HR streak to six contests, the second longest in Pirate history after Dale Long’s 1956 eight-game streak. It started on the 22nd against Arizona’s Orlando Hernandez. Bay had a pair of bombs on the 20th, too, giving him nine home runs in eight games. 
• 2011 - Four Pirates (Andrew McCutchen, Lyle Overbay, Chris Snyder and Ronnie Cedeno) went long as Pittsburgh whipped the Cubs 10-1 at Wrigley Field. Paul Maholm tossed a three-hitter for the complete game victory. 
• 2013 - The Bucs rode strong pitching and an 11th-inning home run by Neil Walker off Jose Ortega to edge the Tigers at Comerica Park 1-0, despite striking out 14 times. Jeanmar Gomez and Rick Porcello started the game while Jason Grilli finished it in style with swinging strikeouts of Motown’s Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in order to earn his 21st save and Mark Melancon’s first win as a Pirate.