6/15 From 1970: Double Caught Stealings; Rain Out Under a Roof; Randomness; Game Stories; HBD Eric & Josh

• 1971 - The Bucs scored twice in the ninth to beat Houston 3-0 at the Astrodome behind Steve Blass’ six hitter. But Roberto Clemente’s catch was the highlight reel. Ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the eighth with one on and one out, Clemente first robbed Cesar Cedeno with a sliding, shoestring catch. The next grab off Bob Watson was even better when he leaped and pulled in his liner from over the wall with his back to the plate, crashing into the fence at full throttle. He landed dazed; CF Al Oliver had to take the ball from him. Per BR Bullpen, UPI’s Darrell Mack caught Watson’s reaction: "I never saw one like that...he hit it (the wall) wide open. He never slowed up. I don’t see how he could keep the ball in his glove. The thing that makes him so great is that he does it all in a jam. He’s one of the best clutch players in the game.” The fans in Houston gave him two ovations; one after the catch and once again in the ninth when he batted. As for the game, Al Oliver’s seventh inning homer broke up a scoreless duel between Blass and Larry Dierker; Richie Hebner and Manny Sanguillen knocks chased home the insurance markers. 

Roberto - 1971 Arco photo

• 1976 - The Bucs were in effect rained out of a game at the Houston Astrodome. Though the field was fine and the teams took their pre-game warmups, flooding prevented the umps from reaching the yard. The Pirates and Astros shared their clubhouse buffet on the field with the Houston staffers and fans who made it in, with several wearing flip-flops. It was the only time in Houston and MLB history that a game under a dome was called off because of bad weather. The only other prior cancellation at the dome was for Dr. King's death, and other places have banged games because of a building malfunction, but never for rain.  
• 1977 - After a bitter front office/media feud, the Mets sent Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds for Doug Flynn, Steve Henderson, Dan Norman and Pat Zachry. It was rumored that the Pirates were interested in dealing for Tom Terrific, but New York’s FO asked for a package featuring Bruce Kison with prospects including 20-year-old Dale Berra, who was a first-round draft pick in 1975. Pittsburgh wouldn’t part with Berra and the Mets walked away. Buster spent nine years as a Pirate, slashing 81-63-6/3.49. Dale joined Pittsburgh late that season and spent eight years (the last three as a starter) as a Bucco (.238 BA) before moving to the other Big Apple nine, the Yankees, in 1984 as part of the Tim Foli/Steve Kemp deal. Seaver’s dominant days were mostly behind him, but he still had a decade and 113 wins left in his tank. 
• 1980 - C Erik Kratz was born in Telford, Pennsylvania. The journeyman made his second appearance as a Bucco in 2016; he caught nine games in 2010 as a rookie. Defensively, he did a fine job, throwing out 50% (8-of-16) wanna-be base larcenists, but hit just .111. Pittsburgh is one of nine teams the backstop has played for in 10 MLB seasons; he’s bounced around the league more than a superball. 
• 1987 - RHP Josh Lindblom was born in Lafayette, Indiana. He pitched regularly for the Dodgers and Phils from 2011-12 as part of a trek that included stops at five MLB teams, seven minor league towns and two Korean nines. The Pirates liked him; they claimed him off waivers in 2014 only to release him to the Lotte Giants of the KBO, then signed him again when he returned after two years. He spent most of his time at Indianapolis, getting into four 2017 Pirates contests and giving up nine runs in 10 plus innings. He went back to Lotte and now twirls for the Doosan Bears. 

Josh Lindblom - photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates

• 1987 - In a 3-1 win over the Cardinals‚ Jim Morrison set a MLB record by getting caught stealing home twice in the same inning. He was first caught in a rundown and Terry Pendleton dropped the throw to third, with Morrison being credited with a CS and Pendleton an error. Mo tried to steal again - some guys never learn - and was caught cleanly the second time. Mike Diaz went deep while Andy Van Slyke and Spanky LaValliere doubled home runs to back Mike Dunne’s complete game three-hitter. 
• 1992 - Jeff King was also caught stealing twice in the same inning. The first time he was given 1B after being picked off when he collided with Phillies P Terry Mulholland during the rundown. Mulholland was called for interference‚ and King was charged with a caught stealing. He was nailed later in the frame trying to steal third. The Bucs lost 4-1. 
• 2008 - The Bucs squandered a 4-2 lead in the ninth, allowing the Orioles to score twice, but came back in the tenth to claim a 5-4 win at Camden Yards. Jason Bay walked to start the extra frame and scored on Adam LaRoche’s single. Matt Capps, who had blown the save by giving up a two-run, two-out homer to Bip Roberts, struck out a pair in the 10th to claim the W. 
• 2010 - The Pirates lost to the Chicago White Sox 6-4 at PNC Park, but don’t blame Andrew McCutchen. He had his seventh three-or-more hits game, with a walk, a run scored and an RBI, while stealing three bases for the second time in his brief career. In one sequence, Chicago’s Matt Thornton threw to first 14 times to keep Cutch close - and he still swiped second. Brad Lincoln lost his second straight start since being called up from the minors, and for the Bucs, it was their ninth consecutive defeat. 

Cutch - 2010 Topps 206

• 2010 - Even Independents loved the sixties Bucs: The Pennsylvania House passed a bill honoring the Pirates 1960 championship team as part of the club’s 50th anniversary celebration. It was approved by a 197-0 vote and was sponsored by 64 members in a rare bipartisan display.