4/15 From 1960: Delwyn Deal; Jim's #600; Bay Day; Hooverin'; Sweeps & Game Tales; HBD Adeiny, Jeromy & Rambo

• 1960 - OF/1B Mike Diaz was born in San Francisco. He played in Pittsburgh from 1986-88, hitting .250 with 28 HR in 524 AB. Diaz was dubbed “Rambo” by Bob Walk while with the Bucs because of his resemblance to Sly Stallone, and the club even promoted a popular poster of him under that nom de guerre. He had a second career in Japan lasting for four seasons beginning in 1989. 

• 1961 - The Dodgers and Pirates tied a MLB record by turning nine DPs (Los Angeles 5‚ Pittsburgh 4) in a 4-1 Buc win at Memorial Coliseum. It was only the second time (July 3rd, 1929, Cubs-Reds) that nine DPs have been turned in a nine-inning National League game, with eight the result of grounders. Bob Friend was the recipient of the twin killings. Bill Virdon smacked two homers, the first to lead off the game, and Don Hoak won it when he banged a bases-loaded, two-out double to chase home the Pirate tallies.
• 1966 - Bob Gibson and the Redbird bats dominated the Bucs in a 9-2 win at Forbes Field. It was the 18th straight for the Cards in Pittsburgh, tying the major league record set by the Dodgers against the Phillies in 1945-46 for consecutive road wins against one club. But the worm finally turned as the Pirates took the series by winning the next two games of the series. 
• 1969 - RF Jeromy Burnitz was born in Westminster Hills, California. After back-to-back solid seasons, the Pirates signed the 37-year-old, 13-year veteran to a $6M free agent deal for 2006. He hit .230 with 16 HR and Pittsburgh bought out the ‘07 team option year of his deal for $700K. Jeromy retired before that campaign opened, unable to catch on with anyone else. 
• 1977 - The Pirates spoiled the St. Louis Home Opener by beating the Redbirds, 7-0, at Busch Stadium. Jim Rooker pitched a complete game for the Bucs, giving up three hits and striking out five. Dave Parker, Duffy Dyer and Rennie Stennett all homered for the Bucs. Parker, Stennett and Frank Taveras each had two knocks as part of an 11-hit attack; the efficient Bucs stranded just four runners. 

Jim Rooker - 1977 Topps

• 1978 - The Pirates snapped a five-game losing streak by whipping the Cubs, 13-10, at chilly Wrigley Field (the game was played with the temp in the lower 40s), scoring nine times in the fourth inning and hanging on. The key blow in their big frame was a Bill Robinson grand slam, his second long ball of the day. The two clubs were as cold as the weather; they combined to commit six errors, issued 13 walks, plunked a pair of hitters and added a wild pitch. Jim Rooker, the starter, got the win although he gave up six runs (but just two earned) in five frames with Bruce Kison and Grant Jackson bringing it home. Dave Parker had three hits to pace the offense along with Robinson. 
• 1989 - SS Adeiny Hechavarria was born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. The light-hitting veteran infielder was picked up in an August, 2018, minor league deal with Tampa Bay. Hechy batted .233 in 15 games, and was sold to the Yankees. He’s looking for a job now after spending the past two seasons in Japan after being released by Atlanta following the 2020 campaign. 
• 1993 - Dennis Moeller won his first MLB game and manager Jim Leyland won his 600th as the Bucs swept the Padres, 5-4, in 13 frames at Jack Murphy Stadium. The unlikely hero was Tom Prince; the catcher was scheduled to be lifted for a pinch hitter in the ninth, but trotted back from the bullpen when the two Bucs ahead of him reached and he was called on to bunt. He did successfully, setting up the tying run, and then later doubled home Carlos Garcia with the game winner. The victory capped the Bucs first four-game sweep of the Friars at SD since 1983. 
• 1997 - The Pirates have taken some painful losses, but this game featured a painful win over San Diego at TRS. The Padres tied the game, 2-2, in the ninth inning on a Greg Vaughan homer off John Ericks, but the Bucs came back to load the bases with an out in their half. Tony Womack fell behind 0-2, fouled off a couple, and then was bopped to force home Jose Guillen with the winning run. Ericks was credited with the win in relief (and a blown save, too) as starter Jon Lieber went into the eighth frame before Ricardo Rincon took over. 

Tony Womack - 1997 Select

• 2006 - It was set up to be a big day for Jason Bay at PNC Park - it was not only his bobblehead night, but before the game, he was honored with the Tip O’Neill award as Canada’s best baseball player for the second straight year. The Cubs decided the best way to recognize Bay was to pitch around him; he was walked three times and HBP once, never posting an official at bat. The Pirates foiled the strategy (though it was effective) by first scoring on a walk, steal, and two-out error then adding another tally on a Craig Wilson three-bagger/Joe Randa sac fly. It was just enough to eke out a 2-1 victory, as Zach Duke went seven strong innings for the win, giving up just a run. John Grabow, Ramon Hernandez & Mike Gonzalez, who earned the save, closed out the final two frames. 
• 2009 - The Pirates acquired IF/OF Delwyn Young from the Dodgers for PTBNL RHPs Eric Krebs and Harvey Garcia. Young played 234 games for the Pirates during the 2009-10 seasons, hitting .255 with 14 HR and 71 RBI in his last MLB stint. Neither Krebs nor Garcia made much of a dent for LA, although Garcia had a cup of coffee with Florida in 2007, appearing in eight games. 
• 2015 - Francisco Liriano returned from paternity leave and tossed a gem, but the Bucs lost a 1-0 decision to the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. Frankie struck out seven and gave up four hits in six frames, but one of the knocks was a solo homer by former Bucco Rajai Davis that proved the game winner. Alfredo Simon and Joakim Soria only managed three K between them, but surrendered just two hits without a walk to stifle the Pirates, who had just one runner reach second. 

Frankie Liriano - 2015 Topps

• 2017 - The Bucs spotted the Cubs four runs in the first inning and were down, 6-2, heading into the sixth. But they shook the slumber from the lumber and roared back to take an 8-7 win at Wrigley Field. Fran Cervelli and Starling Marte homered to keep the Bucs around and Andrew McCutchen capped a five-run seventh frame with a three-run blast to chase long-time nemesis Jake Arrieta. Tony Watson kept it interesting by giving up a ninth inning dinger and walking the tying run aboard, but he put it to bed with a swinging whiff. Trevor Williams, in relief of Tyler Glasnow, was credited with the win and Watson the save. It was the middle match of a three-game Bucco sweep of Chicago.