6/7 From 1960: Unlikely Heroes; Solo Shots; Team Mtg; All Ball; Game Stories; HBD Virgil

• 1964 - Bob Veale tied Babe Adam’s 1909 record with 12 K against Houston at Forbes Field, but watched the bullpen implode in the ninth inning to give the Colt .45’s a 6-3 win, with the big blows a pair of two-run raps, a single by Rusty Staub followed by John Bateman’s homer, both off Fred Green. Veale’s reaction - “I’m angry at myself for not finishing.” Veale would later shatter his record with 16 strikeouts in 1965. It was the first game of a twin bill, and Vern Law did finish the nightcap, winning 6-1 behind Bill Virdon’s three hits and a Bill Mazeroski homer.

The Great One - 1966 Topps

• 1966 - Bob Gibson K’ed four Pirates in the fourth inning - Jerry Lynch, Jim Pagliaroni, Bill Mazeroski and Don Cardwell - to tie a record held by several (Maz reached on a wild pitch third strike). He struck out 12 in seven innings, but also gave up 11 hits as the Pirates laid a 9-1 whipping on him and especially the Card bullpen at Forbes Field. Roberto Clemente was the boss man with three hits, including a homer, two runs scored and three RBI to back Don Cardwell, who went the distance by tossing a four-hitter. 
• 1967 - Roberto Clemente called a team meeting in New York after a twin bill loss with the Pirates six games out of first place. The Great One’s motive, per Les Beiderman of the Pittsburgh Press: “I called this meeting to talk things out. If you have any gripes about the manager, about me or anybody else now speak up. We can settle it here.” The clan gathering was presumably to smooth the waters between the players and manager Harry Walker, of whom Clemente said “We must stop blaming others and blame ourselves. It’s one thing not to like the manager and another not to play your best for him.” It helped short-term as the Pirates won 4-of-5, but not in the long run. The team finished 81-81 and in sixth place, 20-½ games behind St. Louis. 
• 1969 - Manny Sanguillen hit his first MLB homer and added a double to drive in three runs as the Bucs dusted the Braves 10-2 at Atlanta Stadium. Roberto Clemente went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer and triple while Matty Alou chipped in with three raps. Steve Blass went tape-to-tape, serving up a six-hitter. 
• 1972 - The Bucs can beat ya with a hammer or with small ball, as they proved to San Diego in a doubleheader sweep at Jack Murphy Stadium. They won the opener 12-5 behind Willie Stargell’s two homers and five RBI, then took the nitecap 1-0 in 18 innings with two infield singles, a double steal, and two walks. Maz was walked intentionally to get to Gene Alley, who drew a free pass from Mike Corkins to force home Al Oliver. Bob Johnson, who made his first two relief appearances of the year in the twin bill, got a win and save. Starter Dock Ellis was brilliant, giving up just two hits and at one point retiring 22 straight Padres in the second contest. 
• 1976 - The Pirates and Reds combined for seven solo homers (out of a total of 12 hits) bombed out of TRS. Al Oliver, Willie Stargell and Bill Robinson connected in the seventh off Jack Billingham while Richie Zisk hit the game-winner in the eighth for a 5-4 Buc victory. It was noteworthy for another event, too. The Gunner returned to TRS as part of the crew broadcasting the ABC Monday Night game. In the third inning, when the scoreboard flashed a welcome to Prince, Bob Uecker, and Warner Wolf, Pirates fans gave Prince a long standing ovation as Bruce Kison stepped off the mound to allow The Gunner his moment. Prince bowed to the fans, waved a babushka to the crowd and then teared up on the air. 

Virgil Vasquez - 2009 photo Joe Robbins/Getty

• 1982 - RHP Virgil Vasquez was born in Santa Barbara, California. Virgil got a cup of coffee with the Tigers in 2007 and a better shot to show his stuff with a thin Pirates pitching staff in 2009, going 2-5/5.84 in 14 games (seven starts). He was traded to Tampa, but was hit by a car while driving his scooter and broke both wrists, effectively ending his pitching days. He’s been working as a Twins’ minor league pitching coach since 2015.
• 2012 - Clint Barmes and Mike McKenry hit back-to-back doubles off Aroldis Chapman in the 10th inning to give the Pirates a 5-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds at GABP. It was a “who’d thunk it” rally - Chapman hadn't allowed an earned run in 24 appearances covering 29 innings prior to the game and hadn't even allowed a hit since May 17th, while Barmes and McKenry were both batting under .200. It was especially sweet coming right after Joel Hanrahan had blown the save by allowing Ryan Ludwick’s homer to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. 
• 2016 - The Bucs swept a twinbill from the NY Mets by identical 3-1 scores at PNC Park. The opener’s storyline was centered on Jon Niese and Neil Walker, traded for one another during the offseason and making their first appearances against their old teammates. Walker was held hitless while Niese spun seven innings of four-hit shutout ball. Josh Harrison had three hits and Jordy Mercer homered to help send Steven Matz to defeat. The Pirates collected 10 hits and RBIs from John Jaso, Cole Figueroa and Chris Stewart to give Juan Nicasio, with four innings of strong bullpen support, the nightcap win over Jacob deGrom. Mark Melancon completed a two-save day, the Pirates' first since Matt Capps in 2007, and Neftali Feliz worked both eighth innings to earn a pair of holds.