Brew Crew Uses Late Two-Out, Two-Strike Single to Take Series With 6-5 Win

Brent Suter faced three Pirates and got three grounders in the first; Trevor Williams also worked an easy frame with a pair of K. It was a quiet second for the Pirates. The Brew Crew started with a walk and two raps to load the bases; with an out, they got a single and error on a slow roller; Kevin Newman tried to rush before throwing the ball away to make it 2-0. With two away in the third, the Bucs knotted the score when Tuck walked and Gonzo went deep (HBD to me!). Willy gave the lead right back with a bopped batter and single; a well-timed 4-6-3 DP kept the inning in hand, but a two-out rap put the Crew was back on top 3-2. Drew Rasmussen took over in the fourth - it's a bullpen day for Milwaukee - and surrendered a pair of walks with two outs before getting a comebacker to shut it down. Willy was touched for a double and walk to open. With an out, Williams almost escaped; he got a DP ball, but K-Man misfired on the relay and the Brewers plated another. 

Sam Howard was strong again tonight - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates kept it tight as Tuck doubled and scored on Fraze's two-out knock in the fifth. Keston Hiura had a quick answer, leading off with a homer, and Sam Howard took the hill. He calmed it down, issuing a walk, then picking off the runner. Freddy Peralta answered the bell for the sixth. Redbeard walked and Stalls doubled; Joey O's two-out single chased them both home to tie the score at 5-5. Sam walked another guy but kept the scoreboard clean. Fraze was nicked by a pitch with an out in the seventh and Devin Williams got the call. He added a walk, but left the Buccos on the bases. Tyler Bashlor toed the slab and spun a clean frame. Williams struck out the side in the eighth and Nik Turley took his turn. He gave up a leadoff double and held the runner in place for two outs. Shelty called for an intentional walk, then brought in Chris Stratton. The brain storming didn't work as Orlando Arcia bounced a two-strike single into left to give the Crew the lead. Josh Hader got back on the bike in the ninth and was on his game this time, striking out the side.

The Buc starter, Trevor Williams, put the bullpen in a bad spot; of course, K-Man's two throwaways helped keep Willy in hot water. The Bucs did keep on, scoring all five runs on two-out knocks, but minus a timely long ball, it's hard to put together a big number when you get five hits and fan 15 times.

Notes:

• Stalls and Tuck reached twice with a knock and walk each; Redbeard drew a pair of free passes. Gonzo and J-Bell whiffed three times; three other Bucs K'ed twice. Moran was the only Pirates not to go down on strikes tonight. With that, the Pirates are in the MLB's middle of the pack in K; the problem is that they're last in slugging % and hitting under .220 overall.
• The Bucs head home to PNC Park after this one. They play the Cubbies three times, the Reds four times, and close out with the White Sox for a pair.

 

Willy v Brent Suter, Lineup & Notes - No Trades But Some Movement

Game: It's a late getaway game, starting at 7:40. It will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Erik Gonzalez SS, Adam Frazier LF, Kevin Newman 2B, Josh Bell DH, Colin Moran 1B, Jake Stallings C, Gregory Polanco RF, Jose Osuna 3B, Cole Tucker CF and Trevor Williams P. Talk about mix 'n' match - six of the nine starters have played multiple positions for the Bucs.

Willy looking for a rebound - image Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (1-5, 5.34) v LHP Brent Suter (2-0, 3.68). Willy was off to a solid start until the CWS pummeled him last time out to the tune of eight runs in six innings, launching three homers. He's thrown 90+ pitches in his last five starts, so he's stretched out, though it doesn't mean he goes deep into games, getting past the fifth just twice. This is his first outing against the Crew this year, but Trevor has been strong against them in his eight career appearances (seven starts) with a slash of 3-3/2.74. This will be Suter's first start of the year, and it will be a Brew Crew bullpen game, as he's only been back in the saddle since late July after TJ surgery. In two relief appearances against the Pirates this year, Suter has given up six runs (four earned) and six hits in 2-2/3 IP.

Notes: 

• There were no Pirates trades today. That's not too surprising, considering how many guys are hurt and others underperforming. Fraze, Kela Keone and Big Joe were thought to have drawn some outside interest, but it's a tough sell with everyone sporting a red tag of some sort.
• The Bucs activated Colin Moran from the concussion IL and sent Will Craig back to the Altoona camp in a 1B swap.
• The press gang is reporting that 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes will be promoted to the big club and join the team in Pittsburgh tomorrow, although Ben Cherington wouldn't confirm the move.
• Miami dealt with Arizona for Starling Marte today. The Marlins’ outfield now consists of Marte, Corey Dickerson, and Matt Joyce. Sound familiar?

8/31 Deals: Johnny Ray, A-Ram, Shawn Dunston, Justin Morneau, Infield Housecleaning & More

• 1953 - The Pirates sold RHP Johnny Lindell to the Phillies. His knuckler fluttered wildly that year, leading the league in walks and wild pitches. He was listed as a pitcher with the Pirates, but was often used as a pinch-hitter and hit .286, once tying a game with a three-run ninth-inning homer. The Phillies released him in May 1954 after his hybrid pitcher-outfielder role proved to be a not very strong pairing. Lindell was an odd story. He entered the league in 1941 as a pitcher, then was converted to the outfield, where he played from 1943-50, earning an All-Star berth once with the Yankees. He came back again as a knuckleball pitcher after a couple of years in the minors, but only lasted until May of 1954. 

Johnny Ray - 1987 Topps Sticker

• 1981 - The Pirates acquired 2B Johnny Ray and two PTBNL’s (pitchers Randy Niemann and Kevin Houston) from the Houston Astros in exchange for IF Phil Garner. Ray spent seven years in Pittsburgh, hitting .286, and was Rookie of the Year runner-up in 1982 to Steve Sax. Scrap Iron played through 1988 and hit .260 for the Astros, where he also had a seven-year run. Nieman pitched for parts of a couple of seasons for the Pirates and worked the show until 1987, having a pretty good year for the Mets in 1986. Houston never made it out of the minors. 
• 1985 - The Pirates traded former batting champion Bill Madlock to the Dodgers for prospects RJ Reynolds and PTBNL Cecil Espy and Sid Bream in a pretty solid deal for the Buccos. Madlock would last two more years in the show, retiring after the 1987 campaign at age 36. 1B Bream spent six years in Pittsburgh, four as a starter, and hit .269 in that span. Reynolds, a platoon OF, spent six seasons with Pittsburgh and also hit .269. OF Espy was sent to AAA, claimed by Texas in the Rule 5 draft, and returned as a FA to spend a couple of campaigns in town in 1991-92, batting .254. 
• 1994 - In one of their better international deals, the Pirates signed 16-year-old Aramis Ramirez as an amateur free agent. A-Ram was the Pirates' last significant signing from the Dominican until the Rene Gayo era began a decade later. Ramirez had a pair of stints with the Bucs to open and close his career. 
• 1997 - The Bucs became buyers instead of sellers when they obtained SS Shawon Dunston from the Cubs for future considerations to bolster the chances of the “Freak Show” team sneaking into the playoffs after Kevin Polcovich injured his ankle. Dunston hit .394 with five homers, but after an 18-game Bucco career was lost to the Indians in free agency after the season. He was a pretty good Plan B; the Pirates had first cast their eyes toward former Pittsburgh SS Jay Bell, but the Royals wanted more in return than the FO was willing to give. 
• 2011 - Pittsburgh shipped OF Matt Diaz to the Braves for a PTBNL, P Eliecer Cardenas, who was quickly released. Diaz hit .259 in his brief spell as a Buc and spent two more bench years in the league before hanging up his spikes after the 2013 season. 

Justin Morneau - 2013 photo Justin Aller/Getty

• 2013 - The Pirates pulled off their second trade of the week, picking up 1B Justin Morneau from Minnesota for OF Alex Presley and a PTBNL (RHP Duke Welker). Justin hit .260 w/.370 OBP during the month, but his lack of power (0 HR, 4 2B, 92 PA) led the Bucs to let him walk the following year. He still had some gas in the tank, hitting .316 w/20 HR in 182 games for the Rox over the next two campaigns before retiring after the 2016 season. Presley was a depth OF’er for the next five years while Welker was reacquired by the Bucs and got into two games in 2013. 
• 2017 - In an unusual move, RHP Juan Nicasio was placed on irrevocable waivers and claimed by the Phillies on his birthday. It was odd because Nicasio was a solid eighth-inning set-up guy (2-5-2, 22 holds, 2.86 ERA in 65 games w/60 K in 60 IP) who the Pirates let go for nothing. Nicasio was a FA after the season and unlikely to have been retained, but the Bucs, who were still hanging around in July when they could have traded him with no strings attached, kept Nicasio and then tried to slip him through trade waivers when the team faded. In some one-upmanship, Juan was claimed by the Chicago Cubs to block him from going to another contender. So the FO pulled him back and later put him on the waiver wire, saving some cash ($600K owed for September), opening up his spot to audition for 2018, and finally to reward Juan with a “better situation” (ie, joining a playoff contender) that was foiled when Philadelphia, the NL’s worst team, claimed him but was rectified when they dealt him to St. Louis. 
• 2018 - The Pirates committed themselves to a full-scale infield youth movement (and saved a few dollars in the process) by trading vets David Freese and Adeiny Hechavarria at the playoff deadline. Freese went to the Dodgers for DSL player IF Jesus Manuel Valdez and Hechy went to the Yankees along with some cash for a PTBNL or cash considerations. Freese left a hole as a utility man with a good bat (.270, 32 HR in three years), versatile glove (1B-2B-3B) and locker room leader while Hechy was a late pickup who only got into 15 games, hitting .233. Sean Rodriguez had been DFA’ed days earlier, cleansing the roster of most of its older infielders save SS Jordy Mercer and 2B Josh Harrison, who would depart in the offseason as FA’s.

8/31 Through 1950: HBD Ramon, Red, Ray, Syd, Wally, Duke & Monte

• 1866 - C Charley “Duke”/“Duke of Marlborough” Farrell was born in Oakdale, Massachusetts. Farrell was a big (6-1, 208), switch-hitting catcher who could fill in at other spots and batted .275 in 18 big league seasons. He stopped at Pittsburgh in 1890, playing three spots (C, 1B, OF) and batting .290. He went to Boston, then returned in 1892 but had a fairly miserable time, batting just .215 and never feeling quite at home in the clubhouse or city; he was traded in the offseason for Lefty Killen. He earned the nickname Duke of Marlborough early in his career; he was raised in Marlborough as a youth. 

Red Ehret as a Louisville Colonel - Ars Longa

• 1868 - RHP Phillip “Red” Ehret was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He played for Pittsburgh from 1892-94 and put up a 53-59/3.79 line in 109 starts and 15 relief appearances. Red also played some outfield and got 438 PA in that span (mostly as a pitcher), batting .201 (hey, at least he was on the right side of the Mario Mendoza line, right?) And yes, he was a redhead.
• 1869 - SS Monte Cross was born in Philadelphia. Monte spent 15 years in the show, known as a good glove man, and helped launch his career in Pittsburgh in 1894-95, batting .273 and becoming a starter for the first time in ‘95. He spent his last 10 seasons at home with the Phillies and the Athletics. When his MLB career ended in 1907, Monte hung on for awhile, playing minor league/semi-pro, umpiring and managing, notably for several seasons at Maine, before joining the real world as a salesman. 
• 1883 - C Syd Smith was born in Smithfield, South Carolina. He spent parts of five seasons in the show, with the last two in Pittsburgh from 1914-15, getting into six games, going 3-for-12. He then managed the Pirates’ Caddo Lake Gassers, a Texas League team in a gas/oil boomtown. Before baseball, he also was the head coach at the Citadel in 1905 - for the football team. 
• 1888 - OF Wally Rehg was born in Summerfield, Illinois. He began his seven-year MLB career with the Pirates in 1912, going 0-for-9 in eight games. He did better with the Red Sox and later with the Braves as a bench outfielder. Known for his brash mouth, he greeted Hans Wagner in Pittsburgh by calling him “Grandpa.” He played in the minors until 1930, got a couple of movie cameos, and made movies his second career, albeit as an Paramount Studio electrician. 
• 1907 - C Ray Berres was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was a Bucco back-up from 1937-40, a good glove guy that hit .225. After his playing days, he was the pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox from 1949-66, then again from mid-season of 1968 through 1969, primarily under manager Al Lopez. He and Lopez had an interesting history together. Berres served as Lopez’s back-up early in his career and then was later traded to the Pirates straight-up for him. 

Ramon Hernandez - 1973 Topps

• 1940 - LHP Ramon Hernandez was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The reliever tossed six years (1971-76) in Pittsburgh, going 23-12-39/2.51 after being signed by Howie Haak, and was a bullpen member of the Bucco division champs of 1972, 1974 and 1975 (he was a September call-up for the 1971 team). In a nine-season career, Hernandez’s line was 23–15-46/3.03.

8/31 From 1960: Blass/Face Switch; Seven Straight; Game Stories; HBD Erik, Juan & Morris

• 1960 - The Pirates fell behind the Giants and Billy “Digger” O’Dell 3-0 at Candlestick Park, but after seven were up 7-4 and that lead held up. The club got a two-run shot from Roberto Clemente in the fifth, used four singles to take a 4-3 lead in the sixth and iced it in the seventh with two more singles, a walk, an error and two sac flies. The G-Men got a run back in their half off Joe Gibbon and had a pair on base, but Elroy Face came on and struck out Felipe Alou and Willie Mays. He finished up the game, striking out six in 2-⅔ IP for his 20th save. Reliever Clem Labine was credited with the win. 

Morris Madden - 1989 Score Fastest Risers

• 1960 - LHP Morris Madden was born in Lauren, South Carolina. He tossed 14 of his 16 big league outings (three starts) for the Pirates in 1988-89 with a 2-2/5.03 line and was released after the ‘89 campaign. He had a long minor league career, spanning 1979-90 and collected 1,100 strikeouts over that stretch. Morris coaches the Carolina Metros, an umbrella organization for youth traveling teams with a strong mentoring component. 
• 1968 - Steve Blass got the first out against the Atlanta Braves‚ and then moved to LF. ElRoy Face, 40, was in the process of being sold to the Tigers (actually, it was a done deal, but Detroit wouldn’t have an open roster spot until September 1), and the club sent him in for one last appearance (legend has it he was asked whether he wanted to start or relieve, and opted to make his last outing from the pen). He retired Felix Millan on one pitch to tie Walter Johnson's MLB record of 802 pitching appearances with one club. Then manager Larry Shepherd came out for him, Blass returned to pitch and the Pirates won 8-0 at Forbes Field. 
• 1986 - RHP Juan Nicasio was born in San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic. The Pirates signed the five-year vet (LA, Colorado) in 2016 to a $3M deal and inked him again in 2017 for $3.65 M. After trying him out as a starter, the Pirates put him back in a bullpen role where he became an effective eighth-inning bridge. The Pirates let him go on waivers as an apparent salary dump and lost him to the Phils with no return. He’s now with Seattle. 
• 1987 - The Pirates won their seventh straight game, defeating the Atlanta Braves 7-3 at TRS. Andy Van Slyke went 3-for-3 with a homer and walk, scored three times and drove home a pair while Al Pedrique chipped in two raps. Mike Dunne went the distance, tossing a six-hitter and earning his sixth win in the last seven decisions. As the cherry on top, earlier in the day Doug Drabek had been named the NL Player of the Week for going 2-0, giving up two runs in 16 innings the week before. 
• 1991 - Utilityman Erik Gonzalez was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Traded to the Bucs in the 2018 off season, he played 3B-SS-2B for Cleveland over parts of three seasons with a rep as a good glove man and meh bat (.262 BA/79 OPS+). With Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison’s departure after the 2018 campaign, Pittsburgh was looking for an IF’er, and Gonzalez was out of options and blocked with the Indians, making for a fit. He was hurt for the majority of 2019, but started for much of 2020.

Erik Gonzalez - 2019 Topps

• 1991 - The Pirates rode six innings of perfect relief by Roger Mason, Bill Landrum and game winner Bob Kipper to a 3-2, 12-inning victory over San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium. The Buc tallies came in the second on Barry Bonds’ two-run shot and a leadoff homer to left by Don Slaught off Jose Melendez in the 12th. 
• 1999 - The Bucs provided lots of late-inning drama while topping the Rox at Coors Field in 10 innings by a 9-8 score. Kevin Young gave the Bucs an 8-4 lead with a two-out, first-pitch grand slam down the LF line in the ninth. In the bottom half, six straight runners reached off Mike Williams to make the score 8-8, but Angel Echevarria was thrown out at home by Brian Giles to keep the game knotted. The Bucs came up with four hits and a walk in the 10th, but could only tally a run to take a shaky lead. With two away for Colorado, Dante Bichette singled off Jose Silva and was waved around on Vin Castilla’s double to left center, but was cut down by Al Martin to Mike Benjamin to Keith Osik (7-6-2) to preserve the win. 
• 2008 - Milwaukee thumped the Bucs, 7-0, for Pittsburgh's 10th loss in a row. Ricky Weeks led off with a homer at PNC Park and it went downhill from there. The big story was CC Sabathia’s one-hitter; the lone rap was a weakly-hit fifth-inning grounder by Andy LaRoche that Sabathia dropped; the scorer, much to the chagrin of manager Ned Yost, ruled it a hit (and not unreasonably). Yost felt that CC had fired a no-hitter and even filed an unsuccessful appeal over the ruling. CC blamed himself for the controversy, telling ESPN "The ball was still rolling and I probably should have picked it up with my glove...I think if I pick it up with my glove, I get him." 
• 2013 - The Pirates whipped the Cardinals, 7-1, at PNC Park to retake the NL Central lead behind AJ Burnett. Russ Martin had the big bop, a three-run homer, while Neil Walker added three knocks. The newly-acquired Morneau was ready to rep; although not needed for this battle, he arrived in mid-game after flying in from Texas.

Bucs Bounce Back, Top Brew Crew 5-1

Fraze drew a walk for all the opening Bucco action against Brandon Woodruff. The Brew Crew worked a free pass and rap to leave runners stranded at the corners against Steven Brault. The Pirates cashed in first on Gregory's solo shot in the second. Brault survived a JT Riddle boot, thanks in part to a JR Murphy toss-out of a would-be stealer. Nary a Pittsburgh peep in the third. The Crew led off with a rap and then a J-Bell error, and it later cost the tying run after Keston Hiura's two-out single. Kevin Newman started it off with a rap in the fourth and trotted home ahead of J-Bell, who continued his resurgence by banging his fourth dinger. Kyle Crick was back in the saddle and put up a zero, leaving a Brewer on the pond. With two away in the fifth, Woodruff lost both Gonzo and Fraze on 3-2 pitches, and it bit him when K-Man singled home a run to make the count 4-1, although the back runner, Frazier, was tossed out at third. Nick Tropeano got the next call and gave up a rap but ran into no other problems.

K-Man stayed hot with two hits - 2019 Topps Fire

Alex Claudio 1-2-3'ed Pittsburgh in the sixth. The Brew Crew put together a bunt single (Riddle is not exactly Brooks Robinson at the hot corner) and walk, but a timely 6-4-3 DP in between made for an easy frame for Nick. Singles by JR, Gonzo and Fraze off Eric Yardley pushed home another run in the seventh. After a pair of routine outs, Tropeano surrendered a walk and then bopped a batter. Geoff Hartlieb was called to the rescue and promptly plunked the next Brewer to juice the sacks, but did his job with an inning-ending K. JP Feyereisen took the ball in the eighth and sat the Buccos down in order. Milwaukee drew a one-down walk and moved the runner up after a wild pitch, but no damage was done. The Pirates went quietly in the ninth and sat Ric Rod back on the bar stool again. He issued a free pass with an out, then cruised through to shut the gate. Raise the Roger.

Notes:

• The top of the order did its job today, going 4-for-9 with three walks. Kevin Newman had two hits, Fraze was aboard three times with two walks & a knock, and Gonzo reached twice with a hit and a walk.
• Pittsburgh was quite efficient today - they went 2-for-3 with RISP and only stranded four. The Crew left 13 ducks on the pond and were 1-for-9 w/RISP.
• Sometimes, it ain't how hard you hit it: Going into today, Gregory is second in exit velocity for his batted balls (96.1 MPH) and batting .120. Of his nine hits, five have left the yard. Miguel Sano is first with 96.3 MPH, and he's hitting just .242. One other Buc is in the top 10 - the concussed Colin Moran is ninth with a 93.4 MPH velo; his BA is .259.
• Per Jerry DiPaolo of the Trib: Pregame, Shelty said that Anthony Alford is ticketed to be part of a rotation in CF with Cole Tucker and Jason Martin. He added there is no timeline for Big Joe Musgrove and Mitch Keller, who are both throwing to various degrees, to return other than sometime during the season.

Steven Brault v Brandon Woodruff, Lineup & Notes

Game: The Sunday afternoon match begins at 2:10 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Erik Gonzalez SS, Adam Frazier LF, Kevin Newman 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Gregory Polanco DH, Cole Tucker RF, JT Riddle 3B, John Ryan Murphy C, Jason Martin CF and Steven Brault P. This team has more lineups than Heinz has varieties!

Jason Martin gets another start - 2019 Topps Total

Pitchers: LHP Steven Brault (0-1, 4.80) battles RHP Brandon Woodruff (2-2, 3.19). Steven had a nice record as a starter, albeit based on a series of short starts (piggyback, rain). We'll see if he has some bounceback today; the White Sox beat him up for four runs in three innings in his last outing. He's got two scoreless relief frames against the Brew Crew from July. He's seen Milwaukee a lot; he has 17 outings (11 starts) v the Brewers, with a 1-3/3.83 line. Woodruff has been steady as she goes this year although he sometimes runs up his pitch count; he's given up two runs in five of his seven starts. He shut out the Pirates 3-0 on July 29th, giving up one hit and making it into the seventh inning.

Notes: 

• Bryan Reynolds went on paternity leave today and was replaced by Will Craig on the roster. Congratulations, papa!
• Even w/o fans, home field makes a difference. The Pirates are 5-9 in their own yard, but 4-12 on the road. So does the league. Pittsburgh is 8-10 against the NL but just 1-11 v AL squads.

8/30 Through the 1930s: #200 for Wilbur; Pie 5-for-5; Game Stories; HBD Kiki, Johnny, Will & Charlie

• 1870 - RHP Will Thompson (he also played 1B and the OF) was born in Pittsburgh. He made one MLB appearance, working three frames for the 1892 Pirates. He gave up a run and took the loss. After playing at Penn, he spent time in the local minors in the New York State League at Elmira, the Pennsylvania State League at Johnstown and the Iron & Oil League for New Castle. He later served in the 1898 Spanish–American War. 
• 1878 - IF Charlie Starr was born in Pike County, Ohio. Charlie played three years in the show, joining the Bucs in the middle in 1908 after a couple of years at Youngstown and batting .186 in 20 games. He played for two more clubs after that in 1909, then joined Buffalo for a couple of seasons before heading south, suiting up for New Orleans, Mobile, Chattanooga and Little Rock before his last pro at-bat in 1916. He retired and became a metal worker in construction. 

Kiki Cuyler - 2003 Fleer Fall Classic

• 1898 - OF Hazen Shirley “Kiki” Cuyler was born in Harrisville, Michigan. The Hall-of-Famer spent his first seven seasons (1921-27) as a Pirate, hitting .336 with a .399 OBP. The end of his Pittsburgh era was rocky. In 1927, Cuyler was benched for nearly half the season because of a dispute with rookie manager Donie Bush. The Pirates went to the World Series, but Cuyler was on the pine, and that November, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He played 11 more seasons and ended his career with a .321 BA. Per SABR, two explanations have been given for his nickname "Kiki." In one version, the players called him "Cuy" in the minors at Nashville, so when a fly ball was hit to Hazen, the shortstop would call out "Cuy" as would the second baseman, and the echoed “Cuy-Cuy” caught on with the fans. A variant says that "Kiki Cuyler" was caused by his stuttering problem and was the way Cuyler's name came out when he pronounced it. Either way, the nickname’s popularization is credited to Vol’s announcer Bob Murray. 
• 1916 - RHP Johnny Lindell was born in Greeley, Colorado. Johnny started as a pitcher in 1942 and ended as one in 1953, spending the eight years in between as an outfielder. After hitting below the Mendoza line in 1950, he was sent to the Hollywood Stars in the PCL where manager Fred Haney turned him into a knuckleballer. Lindell returned to the majors in 1953 at the age of 36 with the Pirates, who had Haney at their helm. His knuckleball was tough to hit but tougher to control, and Johnny led the league in walks and wild pitches with a line of 5-16/4.71. His stick recovered as he batted .286 in 91 appearances, but it was the end of his road. He was sold to Philly in late August of 1953, finished out the season there, then got five at-bats the following campaign before leaving the show. 
• 1921 - Dave Robertson connected for the cycle to lead the Bucs to an 8-2 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He scored twice and drove in three runs. George Cutshaw and Clyde Barnhart added three knocks each as Whitey Glazner cruised to victory, scattering seven hits for the complete game win. 
• 1924 - Wilbur Cooper, who is the Pirates all-time pitching leader with 202 opponent scalps and 236 complete games, won his 200th career contest (he finished with 216 wins) in a 12-3, complete game decision over Cincinnati at Forbes Field. It would be Wilbur’s last Pirates campaign and he finished the year slashing 20-14/3.28 before becoming part of a six-man deal with the Cubs after the season. The 32-year-old lefty had started out with Pittsburgh in 1912 when he was just 20. Wilbur won double-digit games 10 times in that time, including four 20 or more win seasons and two more at 19. 

Pie Traynor - 1929 Kashin Publications

• 1929 - Pie Traynor went 5-for-5 to lead a 21-hit attack in an easy 15-0 win over Chicago at Forbes Field. Heinie Meine tossed a three-hitter as Pittsburgh dominated. It was the Pirates' fourth win over the Cubs in three days, with the Windy City snapping their losing streak with a 7-6 win the following day.
• 1930 - The Pirates swept a twinbill from Cincinnati, 5-0 and 3-2, to win their 12th game in 14 outings. The Waner brothers, Paul and Lloyd, scored all five runs in the opener with George Grantham driving them in three times. Spades Wood tossed a six-hitter for the win. Grantham was big in the second game too, with three hits, two runs and an RBI as Larry French outdid the Reds’ Larry Benton.

8/30 From 1950 Through the 1970s: 17 Straight for the Baron; Gunner/Arlin; Game Stories; RIP Arky; HBD Marlon & Luis

• 1951 - The Pirates rallied from an 8-1 deficit to take a 10-9 victory from the Giants at the Polo Grounds. Frank Thomas hit his first MLB homer and Ralph Kiner won it with a long ball in the ninth while Gus Bell and Pete Castiglione also went deep for the Bucs. Pittsburgh climbed back to take the lead in the eighth, only to have the Giants tie it, but the G-Men were trumped by Kiner in the end. Murry Dickson blew the save but ultimately got the win, one of 20 he earned during the campaign.

Frank hit the first of 286 MLB dingers OTD - 1952 Topps

• 1952 - Arky Vaughan, 40, and his friend Bill Wimer drowned in California’s Lost Lake. While the two were fishing, their rowboat overturned. Wimer couldn’t swim, and both men went under when Vaughan tried to save his bud. Vaughan retired with 1,173 runs scored, 926 RBI, 118 steals, a .318 BA and .406 OBP. His .385 batting average, .491 OBP, and 1.098 OPS in 1935 are Pirate team records, and the batting average is a 20th century record for NL shortstops. Arky was a Hall-of-Famer who was included in the Ritter/Honig book “The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time” and cited by Bill James as the second greatest SS in history, behind only Honus Wagner. 
• 1953 - The Milwaukee Braves flexed their muscles and set some records against hapless Bucco hurling in a doubleheader at Forbes Field, sweeping Pittsburgh by 19-4 and 11-5 scores. The Bravos blasted eight homers in the opener, breaking the NL one-game record of seven held by three teams, including the Pirates. They added four more in the nightcap, breaking the NL consecutive games mark of 10 held by the 1925 Bucs. Eddie Mathews and Jim Pendleton led the onslaught with three homers each while Johnny Logan added a pair (Pendleton & Logan both later played for Pittsburgh) as the Post Gazette topped the day’s box scores with the headline “Cheaper By the Dozen.” 
• 1959 - ElRoy Face notched his 17th straight victory of the year, earning a 10-inning win against Philadelphia, 7-6, at Forbes Field after Dick Stuart’s two-run double in overtime. The Bucs rallied from a five-run deficit on the strength of Danny Kravitz and Stuart homers to sweep the doubleheader. They took the opener 2-1 behind Harvey Haddix’s arm and Bob Skinner’s two-out, ninth-inning knock that scored Dick Hoak to climb to four games from the top. Maybe they listened to NBC broadcaster Leo Durocher, who regaled some of the Buccos before the game with tales of his ‘51 Giants winning the pennant although 12-1/2 games back at one point. Face had also won the last five decisions of 1958, giving him a 22 game winning streak. He finished the year 18-1, and his 18 relief wins remains the major league record. The Baron went a month (6/11-7/12) without giving up a run, and his 22 straight wins is second only to Carl Hubbell’s 24-gamer. 
• 1960 - The Pirates defeated Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers, 5-2, at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Bob Friend picked up the win with late help from ElRoy Face, supported by long balls from Dick Groat and Roberto Clemente. Arriba was the only right-handed hitter beside Frank Howard to homer the opposite way in the Coliseum during the season after swatting a Koufax heater 400’. 
• 1972 - Bob Prince turned the mic over to ex-KDKA announcer Harold Arlin, the first man to ever broadcast a live baseball game. The Gunner graced him to call a few innings in Pittsburgh while Harold’s grandson‚ Steve Arlin‚ was on the mound for San Diego. Pap-pap didn’t have much to brag about as the Bucs won 11-0, with Manny Sanguillen and Dave Cash combining to drive in seven runs on five hits. There was a highlight moment, though - Roberto Clemente tied the club record for hits with a pair of knocks, equaling Honus Wagner's franchise mark of 2,970 career hits. 

The Gunner & Harold Arlin - 1972 photo via Baseball HoF

• 1977 - OF Marlon Byrd was born in Boynton Beach, Florida. The Pirates acquired the vet, along with John Buck, from the Mets for the 2013 stretch run in exchange for Dilson Herrera and Vic Black. He came through, hitting .318 with three homers during the regular season and .364 in the postseason with a big three-run homer in the Wild Card win against the Reds. He then signed with the Phils during the off season. Byrd also had two PED suspensions, in 2012 and 2016, with the second one ending his 15-year career. 
• 1979 - IF Luis Rivas was born in La Guaira, Venezuela. Luis played for eight years, primarily for the Twins, and finished his career in Pittsburgh in 2008, batting .218 (he had never hit under .256 in his prior stops) after signing a minor league FA deal for $525K. He did have one big week for the Bucs, though - he had his first two-homer game on May 25th and banged his first grand slam on the 31st.

8/30 From 1990: Hayes Traded; Martinez, Buechele Acquired; New CBA; Latino HoF; Game Stories

• 1990 - The Pirates picked up vet OF/1B Carmelo Martinez from the Phillies for OF’s Tony Longmire, Wes Chamberlain and Julio Peguero. Martinez lasted less than a season with the Bucs, while the young outfield prospects ended up with bench roles during their brief careers, with Chamberlain the only solid producer of the three. 
• 1991 - The Rangers traded 3B Steve Buechele to the Pirates for young pitchers Kurt Miller and Hector Fajardo. Buechele, a FA, signed with the Pirates after the season, but was moved at the next deadline for Danny Jackson after hitting .248 in 453 BA. Miller tossed off-and-on until 1999, appearing in 44 games for the Marlins and Cubs, while Fajardo was done in 1995 after pitching in 28 games for the Rangers. 

Steve Buechele - 1992 Leaf

• 1996 - The Pirates sent 3B Charlie Hayes to the Yankees (the eighth player New York brought in during August) for a PTBNL, RHP Chris Corn. Charlie hit .286 for the Yankees and played through 2001; Corn never advanced past AA ball. 
• 2002 - After marathon sessions, Bud Selig & Donald Fehr announced a new four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the MLBPA. Revenue sharing increased, random drug tests were permitted, a luxury tax was introduced, the minimum salary rose to $300K and contraction, a major bone of contention, was ruled out until 2006 at the earliest. The 30th was the drop-dead date set by the Union to wrap up negotiations and the two sides just crossed the wire. 
• 2005 - The Milwaukee Brewers fell 6-0 to the Bucs behind Paul Maholm’s four-hitter at Miller Park, an impressive outing for the 23-year-old lefty’s first MLB start, a day delayed due to rain. It was an oasis in an otherwise arid stretch of games that saw Pittsburgh lose 11-of-12 contests. The Bucs put up a five spot in the first inning, keyed by Jack Wilson’s base-clearing, bases-loaded double (he also later started a slick DP with a diving stop and open glove feed to Freddy Sanchez). The Bucs had the bases empty with two outs, but Doug Davis walked four of the next five batters, all on 3-2 pitches, before Wilson cashed in. 
• 2006 - Pittsburgh scored three times in the 11th inning to come back against the Cubs 10-9 at PNC Park. Chicago scored twice off Marty McLeary (who got the win), but the Bucs scored on Jose Castillo’s single to cut the lead to one. Ryan Dempster walked Jose Bautista on four pitches to load the bases for Freddie Sanchez, who lined a two-run, two-out single to right for the win, giving him four RBI on the night. Castillo had four knocks while Jason Bay and Xavier Nady had three hits apiece.
• 2011 - Andrew McCutchen was a ray of sunshine in an otherwise dismal outing as he hit a ninth-inning homer against the Houston Astros in an 8-2 loss at Minute Maid Park, becoming the eighth Pirates player to ring up 20 home runs/20 stolen bases in one season, and the first since Nate McLouth in 2008. 

Frankie Liriano - 2013 photo Associated Press

• 2013 - The Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cards 5-0 at PNC Park behind Francisco Liriano’s two-hitter and a 3-for-4 night by Garrett Jones, who had four RBI and was a triple short of the cycle. The HR was #100 of his career. Pittsburgh moved back into a Central Division tie for first with the Redbirds in front of a sellout crowd of 38,036. 
• 2013 - The Latino Baseball Hall of Fame announced its newest class, including ex-Pirates Matty Alou (1966-70), Vic Davalillo (1971-73), Rennie Stennett (1971-79), Tony Armas (1976) and Julian Javier (minors 1956-59, traded to SL 1960).

You Take It, No You - Brew Crew Rallies Last to Take 7-6 Decision

The Bucs had a little excitement in the first against Brett Anderson and even scored a run. Erik Gonzalez and Tuck opened with raps to occupy the corners, then the ado - Kevin Newman's grounder got Gonzo tossed out at home, tho he did duck-and-shuck long enough to get Cole to third. Tucker scored from there on J-Bell's sac fly. It was tied up pretty quickly, when Christian Yelich went deep (very deep; 460') off JT Brubaker. Fraze singled in the second, and with two away, JT Riddle doubled him to third; they both died in place when Gonzo fanned. A double, single and walk with one gone set up the Brew Crew. A force at home got Bru an out away from escaping, but a 3-2 walk forced a run home. That brought up Yelich, but B-Rey pulled in his liner to keep it 2-1. Tuck singled to open the third, and Stall's two-out two-bagger knotted the score. The Brewers drew a walk but no blood. The Bucs went down in order in the fourth, and ditto for Milwaukee. 

J-Bell looks like he's snapping out of it - 2020 Topps Heritage

The Pirates made some noise in the fifth. Gonzo tripled and scored on Newman's sac fly, then J-Bell went boom to put Pittsburgh up by a pair. JT stayed in the groove and struck out the side. Fraze singled to start the sixth, bringing on Freddy Peralta who closed it down. Sam Howard took the ball and tossed a clean frame. It was Eric Yardley's turn for the Brewers in the seventh. He walked a pair and gave up a rap, but a well-timed DP for the Crew keep the scoreboard clean. That hurt when Chris Stratton climbed the mound and gave up a leadoff bomb to Orlando Arcia to tighten it up. Alex Claudio got the eighth inning call, and he allowed a walk and nothing else. Nik Turley gave up a leadoff double and bopped the next batter. He was a strike away from wiggling out, but Avasail Garcia doubled on a two-out, 1-2 heater to chase both Brewers home on a looper that landed on the left field chalk. 

Josh Hader toed the slab, walking two of the first three Bucs before a passed ball moved them into scoring position. J-Bell worked another free pass to juice the sacks. Then Stalls walked as did Fraze, and the Bucs were back in the lead, bringing on Devin Williams. In a big at bat, he fell behind B-Rey 3-0, but came back to run the count full (strike one was the traditional 3-0 gimme) and got him to roll into a force at the dish. Gregory pinch hit, and per his MO this season, smoked a liner to right that found leather. Ric Rod came on, and yep, walked the first batter. Then Eric Sogard took a 2-1 fastball yard (yah, guys do hunt heaters when they're ahead in the count), and the Brew Crew won the battle of the backends by default.

Oh well, another reason to drink...wait, the bars aren't open yet? Geez, between the Bucs and bugs...

Notes:

• Gonzo, Tuck, J-Bell and Fraze each had a pair of hits.
• Six runs isn't a bad night's work, especially considering the Bucs stranded 11 runners and were 1-for-12 with RISP. 
• At the halfway point of the season, Jake Stallings has as many RBI as Josh Bell with 12. Raise your hand if you had Eric Gonzalez (13) with the team lead 30 games into the season.
• Josh Hader had made 10 outings lasting 9-2/3 IP. He's given up no hits, but two runs (tonight's) on 10 walks.

JT v Brett Anderson, Lineup & Notes

Game: The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Erik Gonzalez 3B, Cole Tucker CF, Kevin Newman SS, Josh Bell 1B, Jake Stallings C, Adam Frazier 2B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Jose Osuna DH, JT Riddle RF and JT Brubaker P. Note to Shelty:
We always wonder when we see Joey O at DH and J-Bell playing first why their roles aren't switched...

JT toes the slab - photo 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: RHP JT Brubaker (0-0, 4.80) meets LHP Brett Anderson (2-2, 3.52). JT is still feeling his way through a regular MLB rotation slot; he's given up eight runs in three starts (11 IP); six walks have hurt him. But his slider/fastball combo has its moments. His last outing was against the Brewers, when he gave up two runs in four frames, so Shelty would like to see Bru stretch it out a little longer as he hasn't gotten to the fifth inning yet. Anderson has shown good control with a make 'em pound it into the dirt repertoire, and won his last two starts. This is his first start against the Pirates this year, but he's been strong against them in his career, with a line of 3-1/2.73 in five starts.

Notes:

• And some more deck shufflin': RHP Carson Fulmer was called up to the MLB roster and RHP Kyle Crick has been activated from the IL. RHP Nick Mears and 1B Will Craig have been optioned to Altoona to clear space.
• Recently released utility guy Brock Holt has been signed by the Nats.

8/29 Through the 1950s: Byrne Deal; Forbes Field on TV; Game Stories; HBD Pep, Billy, Dode, Woody, Jimmy & Ensign

• 1883 - UT Jimmie Savage was born in Southington, Connecticut. Savage appeared in the show for three seasons, including 1914-15 when he played for the Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federal League. Jimmie, then 30-years-old, played mostly in left but filled in at short and third base as needed. He finished his Rebel days with a .278 BA. He stayed local, dying in New Castle, but returned to his family roots and was buried in Southington.  
• 1888 - LHP Ensign (his given name) Cottrell was born in Hoosick Falls, New York. He started his five-year career in the majors in 1911 with the Pirates after leaving Syracuse University, giving up four runs in his inning of work, and was released later in the season without any more action. His last game was tossed in 1915, and he went off to RPI to finish his schooling, becoming a self-employed civil engineer and surveyor.  
• 1892 - OF Roy “Woody” Wood was born in Monticello, Arkansas. Roy started his three-year career with the Pirates after playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He hit .286 in a short stint and left baseball after the 1916 season to become a naval aviator in WW1. Woody went back to Fayetteville afterward, opened a dry goods store and was a mover in the town’s civic affairs before passing away at home in 1974.  

 

Pep Young - 1936 National Chicle Fine Point

• 1907 - IF Lemuel Floyd “Pep” Young was born in Jamestown, North Carolina. He played eight years (1933-40) for the Bucs, hitting .264 and playing mainly second, but with some short and third thrown in. The high tide of his career was in 1938, when he received some votes for the NL MVP after hitting .278 in 149 games. As fate would have it, he hurt his knee the next season, and played just 93 games over the final three years of his career (1940-41; 1945). He came by his nickname honestly. Per the Harrisburg Daily Independent, "He is the sort of player...who is on his toes all the time, chock full of life and ginger. It was his great display of energy in the minors that earned him the nickname of 'Pep.'"  
• 1909 - The Pirates traded 3B Jap Barbeau, 2B Alan Storke, and cash to the Cardinals for 3B Bobby Byrne. Byrne had his best years as a Buc, playing through the 1913 season and hitting .277 while helping the Pirates to the 1909 World Series title. Barbeau and Storke finished the year strong but both were near the end; Storke was done after 1909 and Barbeau in 1910.  
• 1918 - C Joe “Dode” Schultz Jr. was born in Chicago. He played for the Bucs from 1939-41, hitting .231 as a seldom used reserve and pinch hitter. His dad, Joe Sr., was also a Pirate, donning the Bucco uni in 1916. Dode went on to manage the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and replaced Billy Martin as the Tigers skipper in 1973 to cap a long minor league coaching career. As for his nickname, Rory Costello of SABR wrote “As a child, Joe’s parents nicknamed him Dode, although the boy (Joe) ‘had no idea what it meant, if anything.’” The book “Detroit Tigers Lists and More” by Mark Pattison & David Raglin claims Dode is shorthand for “Dodo.” No wonder Joe pleaded ignorance.  
• 1919 - SS Billy Cox was born in Newport, located in central Pennsylvania. He got a September call-up in 1941, spent four years in the service and became the starting Bucco shortstop in 1946-47, batting .280. He was traded to Brooklyn, moved to the hot corner, and played seven seasons for them and in three World Series.  
• 1953 - TV station WENS (Channel 16) kicked off its entry into the Pittsburgh market by being the first to televise a Pirate game from Forbes Field. There were two high cameras (one behind home, the other on the first base line; eventually, a third field-level camera was added) while the radio announcers, Rosey Rowswell and Bob Prince, did the play-by-play. Oh, the Bucs lost to the St. Louis Cards 5-4 in front of 3,145 that Saturday afternoon despite 2B Johnny O’Brien’s three hits. WENS chose the ballgame to start as they were heavily into sports, televising not only the Bucs but Duquesne basketball and Pittsburgh Hornet hockey. WENS (W-Entertainment, News, Sports) was an ABC affiliate and went off the air in 1957 after Channels 4 & 11 were licensed.  

 

The Gunner & Rosey - 1990 Pittsburgh Press File Photo

• 1956 - The Pirates rallied in the ninth to tie the Braves 1-1 at County Stadium, only to lose when Roy Face was tagged for a three-run, walk off homer by Joe Adcock. But there was, despite the low score, plenty of action. In the fourth, Dick Groat asked for a clean ball to be put into play and home plate Frank Dascoli denied him. That started a heated argument, as the Bucs believed Milwaukee starter Lew Burdette was tossing a wet one, which was the trigger for Groat’s request. Then in the eighth, Frank Thomas was rung up trying to score; that call was also disputed and ended up getting Danny Murtaugh and Ronnie Kline sent to the showers.  
• 1959 - Bob Friend helped himself by driving in three runs with a two-out, bases-loaded double and tossed a nine-hitter against the Phils in an 11-1 romp at Forbes Field. Smoky Burgess also chased home a trio of runs with a pair of homers while Dick Groat added four hits.

8/29 From 1960 Through the 1990s: Wagner So Close...; Ray Robbery; TSN Dave; RIP Big Poison; Game Stories

• 1965 - Hall of Fame OF’er Paul “Big Poison” Waner died in Sarasota, Florida at age 62. Among his many marks were a .333 lifetime BA, 3,152 hits with eight 200+ hit seasons, and a 1927 MVP award. His #11 was retired by the Pirates in 2007. After his playing days, he owned a batting cage establishment in Harmarville. One of the guys he helped develop there was rookie shortstop Dick Groat of Wilkinsburg.  
• 1970 - Dave Giusti was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Pirate Cutthroat.” He finished his “cutthroat” season 9-3 with 26 saves and a 3.06 ERA, working 66 games/103 IP as a multi-inning finisher.  

• 1978 - Despite a 36-minute rain delay, Bert Blyleven spun a five-hit, complete game shutout with eight strikeouts in a 5-0 win over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium. Willie Stargell led the attack with three hits, including a homer, and three RBI while Dave Parker & Ed Ott anted up a pair of knocks. It was Bert’s 39th whitewash; he would go on to toss 60 over his career.  
• 1983 - The Pirates Rick Rhoden, with late help from Kent Tekulve, edged the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 at Riverfront Stadium to increase the Bucs division lead to 1-1/2 games over the Phils and Expos. Rhoden scattered six hits and fanned nine while helping himself with an RBI knock; the other run came courtesy of a Marvell Wynne homer. Teke tossed two innings of one-hit ball after Rhoden left with a “twinge” in his arm. 1984 - God helps those who help themselves: RHP Don Robinson pitched two scoreless innings of relief, knocked in the go-ahead run and scored the insurance marker as the Pirates beat the Astros, 4-2, at The Astrodome. Robinson broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 9th inning with a two-out single and touched home for the fourth run after Tony Pena followed with a double.  
• 1987 - Lotta firsts: Andy Van Slyke hit his first (and only) grand slam off Larry Andersen with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to ice an 8-2 win against the Houston Astros at TRS, extending the Bucco win streak to five games. Mike LaValliere went deep for the first time on the season and Mike Bielecki picked up his first win of the campaign while tossing the first complete game of his career. His six-hitter topped Nolan Ryan and Larry Anderson. Bobby Bonilla added three hits, including a double, and chased home three runs. Not all the goodies were first-timers: Ryan passed the 200+ K mark for a record 11th year.  
• 1987 - The Pirates traded 2B Johnny Ray to the Angels for two minor leaguers, 3B Bill Merrifield and LHP Miguel Garcia. With Jose Lind in the wings, the Pirates thought Ray, whose range had diminished noticeably at age 30, was expendable after seven years and a .286 BA. Maybe he was, but the Bucs sure didn’t get much - Merrifield never played for Pittsburgh and Garcia made 13 Pirate appearances with a 7.71 ERA. Meanwhile, Ray won an All-Star berth and hit .296 in four seasons for the Halos before closing his career in Japan. Ray’s agent said that the 2B had demanded the trade after GM Syd Thrift brought up Lind, claiming that Chico would cut into Ray’s playing time and cost him bonus money. The two sides had been cool since spring training when an expected (by Ray) contract extension didn’t happen. 
•  1988 - LHP Dave LaPoint became the first Pirate starter to begin his Pittsburgh career with three one-run or fewer starts when he whipped the Reds 8-1 at Riverfront Stadium. He was obtained for reliever Barry Jones in August from the White Sox, finished the year 4-2, and then signed with the Yankees as a FA the following season. 

 

Dave LaPoint - 1989 Upper Deck

•  1990 - Barry Bonds went 3-for-4 with five RBI to lead the Bucs to a 10-0, rain-shortened seven inning win over the Braves at Atlanta-Fulton Stadium. Jeff King added three RBI, two off sac flies, as Doug Drabek won his 17th game. The game ended a four-game losing streak and followed a clubhouse meeting held by manager Jim Leyland after a lackadaisical 9-0 loss the night before. 
•  1995 - RHP Paul Wagner came within one strike of a no-hitter with a one-hit, 11K, 4-0 win over the Rox at TRS. With two away in the ninth, 1B Andres Galarraga chopped a 3-2 pitch past the mound and over second, where Nelson Liriano made the grab but couldn’t beat The Big Cat to first with his throw. For Wagner, it was just his third win against 13 losses, and the victory snapped a six game Pittsburgh losing string.

8/29 From 2000: Cota Controversy; Hey Hey J-Hay; Gregory Puts Bucs In the Books; Game Stories

• 2000 - Kris Benson shutout the Giants 8-0 at TRS. He gave up one hit in eight frames, a first inning single to Barry Bonds. The Pirates banged four doubles (two by Enrique Wilson), a triple and a homer (John Vander Wal) off Livian Hernandez, who only managed six outs before getting the hook. 
• 2003 - C Humberto Cota was suspended without pay and removed from the 40-man roster for refusing to play for AAA Nashville. He had hurt his hand in winter ball during the 2002-03 off season and told the Sounds he was injured and in too much pain to keep on playing (Pat Meares syndrome) after he was sent down by the Pirates, a diagnosis not shared by the team docs. Cota took 2-1/2 months off to rest his paw, then got back in shape by playing some winter ball outfield. The Bucs reinstated him and invited him to camp, where he won a backup role in 2004, allowing Craig Wilson to move to the OF. He held down an off-and-on bench spot through 2007, and even played a career-high 98 games in 2005 after Jason Kendall was traded to Oakland in the previous winter.  

 

Humberto Cota - 2002 Topps Vintage Rookies

• 2006 - The Pirates scored twice in the 11th on an error and a bases loaded walk to defeat the Cubs 7-6 at PNC Park. Matt Capps, the sixth Pirate pitcher, picked up the win while Xavier Nady went 3-for-5 with a double and a couple of runs scored. The Cubs had jumped out to a 4-0 lead; the Bucs tied it in the sixth, then the clubs exchanged tallies in the seventh to set up some bonus baseball. 
•  2012 - The Pirates made their last push of the year by dropping the Cards by a 5-0 score behind Wandy Rodriguez at PNC Park. Pedro Alvarez banged a three-run homer to lead the attack. The Bucs moved within a game of the wildcard, having shut out the Redbirds 9-0 the day before with Petey adding another pair of homers and four RBI in support of James McDonald. It was just a tease; Pittsburgh finished September 7-21 and ended the season with just 79 wins.  
• 2014 - It was Josh Harrison day at PNC Park against the Cincinnati Reds. Presented with the Heart & Hustle Award before the game, J-Hay had the key hit in the Pirates come-from-behind, 2-1 win. His triple off Jonathan Broxton scored Andrew Lambo to tie the game in the eighth inning, and Josh came home with the game winner on Jose Tabata’s chopper through a drawn-in infield. Not only did J-Hay have three hits, but made several web-gem plays during the contest, the best of the bunch being a diving stop that he turned into a 5-3 DP and a hustling chase of a bad relay that led to a cut down runner at home. Edinson Volquez had a no-hitter through six frames, but was in line for a loss after Tony Watson, in relief with two outs in the eighth, allowed a soft single to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. Watson got the win (funny game sometimes) and Mark Melancon tossed a perfect ninth for the save. The game was played before a sellout crowd of 37,209 fans.
• 2016 - Gregory Polanco blasted a three-run opposite field home run off the Cubs Jake Arrieta at Wrigley Field for the 11,000th homer in Pirates history. Josh Bell added his second career home run with another oppo taco, a solo shot in the fourth inning off Arrieta in a 5:03, 13-inning contest that the Bucs eventually lost 8-7. Pittsburgh loaded the bases with no outs in the final inning, but could only chase home one run on a Josh Harrison sac fly. It didn’t hold up long - Jeff Locke couldn’t get an out in his second inning of relief, and Chicago used four singles around an intentional walk to take home the bacon. 
• 2018 - Trevor Williams went six innings of three-hit, scoreless ball with a career-high eight strikeouts and the bullpen (Edgar Santana, Keone Kela and Felipe Vazquez) took care of the rest as the Pirates dropped the Cards 2-0 at Busch Stadium. A little small ball paid off in the fifth as the Bucs used a bunt, bloop and hit-and-run to generate the scores with Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco driving in the runs. Polanco, Corey Dickerson and Adam Frazier each had a pair of hits while Marte and Jordy Mercer scored.  

 

S-Rod - 2018 photo Pittsburgh Pirates

• 2018 - Utilityman Sean Rodriguez, in his second go-around with the Pirates, was DFA’ed when Jordy Mercer came off the DL. S-Rod joined the Pirates in the winter of 2014 after a trade with Tampa Bay for P Buddy Borden, hit .246, and signed for another season at $2.5 M. He hit .270 w/18 HR and was a NL Player of the Week in 2016, then signed a two-year, $11.5 M deal with the Atlanta Braves. He injured his rotator cuff in a car accident and was traded back to the Pirates in 2017 for 1B/OF Connor Joe. In his first game back with the Pirates, he hit a walk-off home run, but it went downhill after that. S-Rod hit .168 for the Bucs over the remainder of the campaign and .167 the following year before he was let go. He played every position except pitcher/catcher while with the club. He’s now with Miami.  
• 2019 - The Pirates sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored seven times against Colorado at Coors Field, then hung on to finally take an 11-8 victory. Kevin Newman led off with a homer with two hits in the opening frame and had four on the night, including a second dinger. Adam Frazier also chipped in four hits and Jose Osuna added a homer. The Pirates had an eight-run lead in the eighth, only to see the Rockies tee off on the bullpen and make it interesting at 11-8. Felipe Vazquez came on to get a drama-free save of Trevor William’s win.

Brew Crew Unloads Two-Out Thunder to Romp 9-1

Corbin Burnes had an easy opener; Derek Holland fanned the first two Brewers, then gave up a first-pitch, solo shot to Jedd Gyorko. J-Bell led off the second with an infield single but went nowhere. Dutch Over whiffed the side, with a walk tossed in. The Bucs had nada going on in the third. Milwaukee opened with a bopped batter and two-bagger. Two more K almost got him out of it, but Ryan Braun whacked a 3-2 heater into the seats to put the Brew Boys up 4-0. Josh singled with two away in the fourth, again with no result. With two outs, Holland walked a guy and gave up a two-run bomb to Jacob Nottingham; three two-out homers in four innings isn't real strong finishing. That was followed by another rap, erased trying to steal on Jake Stallings. Stalls had a good frame, singling in the fifth, but like the other Pirates runners, never made it to second. Derek walked a pair around two outs, and he was tapped for a two-run double before nailing the third out, ending his night at 100 pitches.

Will the Pirates find a buyer for Derek Holland? - photo 2020 Frank Franklin II/AP/Pirates

 Kevin Newman walked with two gone in the sixth and stayed put. Nick Mears was waved on and zipped through the inning. David Phelps climbed the hill in the seventh (Burnes was at 93 pitches) and K'ed the first two Buccos. Sticking with the evening's program, he then gave up a two-out dinger to JT Riddle, his first of the year. Gyorko went non-conformist when he homered again with only one out. An error and single left Mears in the more usual two-out hot water before Sam Howard took the ball and closed it down. Drew Rasmussen tossed the eighth and surrendered a walk. The Bucs sent out Dovy Neverauskas, who matched Rasmussen. He put it away 1-2-3 in the ninth.

If you ever wondered how important getting that third out is, Derek Holland gave up all eight of his runs with two away (twice with the bases empty) on three homers and a double. Three of the hits were on two-strike sinkers (and the other was on a first-pitch sinker), so maybe he needs to mix it up more, locate better or maybe he loses something after so many tosses. Still... 

Notes:

• The Pirates had four hits; J-Bell had two of them.
• The Brew Crew had eight hits - four left the yard and two more were doubles. JT Riddle's homer, on the other side of the pillow, was the Bucs first extra-base hit in 26 innings.
• Lots of whiffing - 15 Pirates fanned along with a dozen Brewers.
  

Derek Holland v Corbin Burnes, Lineup & Notes, Player Shuffle

Game: The Bucs visit Miller Park and the Brew Crew for a four-game set. The lidlifter starts at 8:10 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. The Brew Crew is coming off a doubleheader loss to the Reds yesterday, so at least Mo should be on our side today.

Lineup: Erik Gonzalez SS, Adam Frazier 2B, Kevin Newman 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Bryan Reynolds DH, Gregory Polanco RF, JT Riddle 3B, Jake Stallings C, Jason Martin CF and Derek Holland P. About time they gave Fraze a little OF love; he looked at home in the pasture a couple of years ago. B-Rey gets a break as DH and Martin gets a start before Alford is added to the roster.

Derek opens the Brewer series - photo 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: LHP Derek Holland (1-1, 6.17) starts it off against RHP Corbin Burnes (0-0, 3.42). These guys should seem familiar to Dutch Oven - this is his fifth start of the year and the third against the Brew Crew. He's tossed 10-2/3 IP v Milwaukee, giving up three runs on six hits and six walks with 10K, so he's been tip-toeing through weeds in his work. Burnes has been a high strikeout, high walk guy who's given up more walks (16) than hits (15) this year. He's also fanned 36 in his 26-1/3 IP and only given up one long ball, which are his keys to escaping trouble. His last outing was against Pittsburgh; he went 5-1/3 frames, giving up three runs on five hits, two walks and seven whiffs in a no decision.

Notes:

• The second shoe fell on the OF Anthony Alford claim. The CWS will add a reported $243,300 in 2019-20 international pool space (signing deadline October 15th) to the Pirates in a deal for OF Jarrod Dyson, along with picking up the remaining $333,000 of his salary. Alford will take his place as CF caddy - or maybe he'll get a true audition; we'll see - with the same profile as JD, except younger, cheaper, more power and with at least the chance of some upside. For the time being, OF Jason Martin has rejoined the big team.
• Recently acquired LHP Austin Davis was placed on the 10-day IL. There's been no official announcement of the move yet, so the nature of the injury is unknown.
• The Pirates have optioned RHP Cody Ponce back to their B-Team in Altoona. He was the extra body for the doubleheader roster yesterday and was here just long enough to get his first MLB start and win. 
• The Mets claimed OF Guillermo Heredia from the Pirates and optioned him to their 30-man alternate roster.
• Today is Jackie Robinson Day, when all the players wear #42. It's usually help April 15th (his debut date) but was pushed back by the shortened season.
  

8/28 Through the 1920s: Bush Resigns; HBD Howie, Jolly Cholly, Wally & Chauncey

• 1873 - IF Bill “Chauncey” Stuart was born in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Bill was a two-sport star, also playing halfback for Penn State football. He got into 19 games and collected 77 at-bats in 1895 with the Pirates, batting .247; he would get one more major league plate appearance in 1899 with the NY Giants. He retired after that and went into oil speculation. He died in Fort Worth, but was buried at State College.

Jolly Cholly - 1919 photo via Detroit Public Library (filter ColouriseSG)

• 1898 - Charlie “Jolly Cholly” Grimm was born in St. Louis. The 1B played six years (1919-24) in Pittsburgh, hitting .286, but made his reputation with Chicago in the following dozen years after a big 1924 trade sent him to the Windy City. Charlie became a manager after his playing days with stops in Boston/Milwaukee and the Cubs. He earned his nickname for his cheerful, upbeat manner, ala Chuck Tanner. 
• 1902 - OF Wally Roettger was born in St. Louis. Wally ended his eight-year MLB career (mostly with the Cards and Reds) in Pittsburgh in 1934, hitting .245. A college hoopster beside ballplayer, Wally went on to become the baseball skipper at the University of Illinois from 1935-51 and an assistant basketball coach from 1936-49; he started on that trail when he coached hoops at Illinois Wesleyan during the baseball off-season. His tale had a sad ending; at age 49, with heart problems and failing eyesight, he took his own life. 
• 1911 - Pirate super scout Howie Haak was born in Rochester, NY. Pittsburgh discovered much of its legendary Latino talent from the mid-1950s through the 1980s thanks to Haak's efforts. He recommended that Pittsburgh draft Roberto Clemente from the Brooklyn system and signed Manny Sanguillen, Omar Moreno and Rennie Stennett of Panama; Julian Javier, Tony Pena, Jose DeLeon, and Cecilio Guante of the Dominican Republic; Al McBean of the Virgin Islands and Roman Mejias of Cuba. 
• 1925 - The Pirates hung on to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-9 at the Baker Bowl. Kiki Cuyler had four hits, including a pair of inside-the-park homers, Eddie Moore and Clyde Barnhart added three knocks apiece and George Grantham homered. Babe Adams and Tom Sheehan gave up five runs in the bottom of the ninth and Ray Kremer had to come on to get the final out with the bases juiced. He retired pinch hitter Nelson “Chicken” Hawks, who was batting for the second time in the inning and already had a hit and run under his belt. 

Donie Bush - photo Conlon Collection/Getty (filter ColouriseSG)

• 1929 - Donie Bush resigned as the Pirate manager, replaced by coach Jewel Ens. Bush took the team to the World Series in 1927, where they were swept by the Murderer’s Row Yankees and played without Kiki Cuyler, who Bush had benched. The Pirates had lost 8-of-9 when Bush resigned and were 14-½ games behind the eventual titlists, the Chicago Cubs.