5/9 From 1950 Through the 1980’s: Slugfest; Dirtball; Ralph & JT En Fuego; Game Stories; HBD Buddy

• 1950 - Ralph Kiner hit a grand slam, the eighth of his career & second in three days, then added a three-run homer during a 3-for-4, seven-RBI outing as the Bucs beat Brooklyn 10-5 at Forbes Field. Bill Werle tossed 6-⅔ frames of scoreless relief for the win. 

Ralph chased home seven runs - 1950 Bowman

• 1958 - Ted Kluszewski broke up a scoreless tie between starters Robin Roberts and Ron Kline - both hurlers went the distance - by belting a lead-off, first-pitch homer in the 12th to give the Bucs a 1-0 win over the Phils at Forbes Field. It was only the fourth Pirates hit off Roberts while Kline scattered eight knocks. The play of the game may have been Roberto Clemente’s laser beam that cut down Granny Hamner at home in the fourth inning, preserving the scoreless deadlock.
• 1959 - Pittsburgh blasted Philadelphia 9-1 at Forbes Field behind Ron Kline’s eight-hitter. He was backed by Bob Skinner's two homers, three runs scored, and four RBIs. Roberto Clemente added three raps, including a pair of triples. 
• 1963 - Worms beware: The Bucs beat Dick Ellsworth’s slider into the dirt all day as Ernie Banks became the first NL first baseman to post 22 putouts in a game (with an assist). The Cubs whipped Pittsburgh 3-1 at Wrigley Field as Ellsworth allowed Pittsburgh just two singles. 
• 1979 - Four bench-clearing brawls, four beaned batters and two grand slams were the highlights of a 17-9 Bucco victory over the Braves at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Substitute umps ejected five players‚ both managers and a coach. As for the game itself, the Pirates headed into the ninth inning with a slim 10-9 lead before exploding for seven runs. John Milner’s grand slam off Gene Garber highlighted the big frame. Earlier, Bill Robinson had hit two home runs off Phil Niekro to give the Pirates the lead. Tim Foli added four more RBI. 

Jason Thompson - 1983 Donruss

• 1983 - Jason Thompson picked a fine time to break out of his 3-for-27 slump, banging out a career-best five hits at Jack Murphy Stadium to lead the Pirates to a 5-3, 14-inning win against San Diego, snapping a five game losing string. The Pirates collected 18 hits, but had a tough time cashing in - in the 12th inning, they left runners a second & third with one out and in the 13th, they loaded the sacks with no outs and still couldn’t push a run home. With two gone in the 14th, Johnny Ray doubled and Richie Hebner was intentionally walked, then the Friars brought in lefty Gary Lucas to face JT. Thompson got ahead 2-0 and was hunting a heater; he got it and banged it off the left center wall for a two-run two-bagger. The Bucs fourth pitcher, Manny Sarmiento, got the win while Ray collected four hits and Lee Mazzilli homered. 
• 1988 - LHP Buddy Boshers was born in Huntsville, Alabama. Boshers, who had pitched for the Angels and Twins, was claimed off waivers from the Astros by the Bucs in 2018, and was called up for eight games in August without making an appearance before being optioned back to Indianapolis.