8/27 Games:OF Optional, Rally, Higbe Does It All, Alpha-Omega HR, More...

• 1910 - Babe Adams, who took the hill in spite of a stomach bug, tossed a six hitter to down the Superbas 4-2 at Forbes Field. The outfielders played as an afterthought; the only out recorded in the pasture was a fly caught by Chief Wilson, and Brooklyn’s sole contribution was an assist by Zack Wheat, who threw out Bobby Byrnes trying to stretch a double into a triple. The solitary OF put out set an NL single-game record.
• 1925 - The Bucs tossed their second straight shutout against Boston at Braves Field, winning 1-0. The Pirates Vic Aldridge and Boston’s Larry Benton traded four-hitters; Pie Traynor drove in Eddie Moore in the third with the game’s only run. The day before, Lee Meadows threw a nine hit, 2-0 whitewash of the Braves, and did it without striking out a soul.

Vic Aldridge 1925 (photo Mears/The Sporting News)

• 1936 - The Pirates beat the Brooklyn Dodger 6-3 at Forbes Field. The highlight came after the game, when losing pitcher Van Lingle Mungo, in a snit because of the four errors the Dodgers made that led to four unearned runs, left the team and returned to Brooklyn. He would later become famous when the 1969 song "Van Lingle Mungo" by Dave Frishberg hit the charts.
• 1948 - The Phillies lost on a walk off homer by Bucco pitcher Kirby Higbe, who went long in the ninth at Forbes Field to give himself a 4-3 win after working a scoreless inning of relief behind Elmer Riddle. It was the last of three career homers for Higbe.
• 1965 - The Bucs scored six times in the ninth at Forbes Field to take the Astros into extra frames, eventually winning their seventh game in a row in 11 innings 10-9. Andre Rodger’s two-run knock was the key blow in the ninth; Harry Walker sent him up to pinch hit for Willie Stargell against lefty Danny Coombs. Al McBean, the Pirates sixth pitcher, took home the win. Roberto Clemente threw out a runner going from first to third the hard way. The Pirates ran a wheel play with runners on first and second, and Bob Lillis rolled the ball through the vacant infield. Bill Mazeroski described what followed in BR Bullpen "Roberto raced in from right field, dove for the ball, and with his face in the dirt threw out the runner going to third base!" Walker told Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press that “Clemente made the doggondest (sic) play I ever saw.” It kept the comeback alive; Houston banged out two more hits after his play.

Roberto Clemente 1965 Topps

• 2009 - The first and last Bucco hits left the yard, and that was enough for a 3-2 win against the Phils and JA Happ at PNC Park. Cutch opened the game with a long ball, and Garrett Jones ended it with a two run walkoff shot in the ninth. Denny Bautista got the win in relief of Charlie Morton, with Matt Capps earning a save.

Jordy's Slam Leads Pirates To 5-3 Win

Wait for it...after an out, Josh Bell walked. Otherwise, no probs for Matt Garza, who served a pair of whiffs. Ryan Vogelsong was dinged for a two-out single and saved by when a running grab in the CF notch by Cutch turned the page. Pittsburgh went 1-2-3 in the second. Keon Broxton drew a one-out walk and went to second when Josh Bell muffed a pick-off toss. An out later, an intentional walk brought up Garza, who fanned. J-Hay singled with two away in the third, and Bell followed with another when his liner to third deflected off a diving Jonathan Villar's mitt. Cutch walked to juice 'em, but no luck - Gregory's hot shot (111 MPH off the bat) was right at Scooter Gennett at second to end the frame.

Vogey ran through some raindrops but twirled another solid outing (photo Kim Klement/USA Today)

The Brew Crew went down in order. Fran got a knock with two gone in the fourth and was marooned. Four of the Bucs five base runners have reached after the sacks were empty with two outs, hardly the way to ignite a rally. A leadoff single and walk put Vogey in a jam. A force got the lead runner, and another grounder almost turned two, but J-Hay's relay was wide and took Bell off the bag. The bases were drunk with Brewers after a HBP, but V-Song K'ed his counterpart to keep it at zeroes. There was no Bucco base action in the fifth although Bell's ball was hauled down at the wall for at least one loud out. Gennett bounced a one-out single and was erased on an around-the-horn DP, started very nicely by Freeser.

The sixth opened with back-to-back throwing errors by Villar to put Bucs on the corners. Starling doubled one run home. Freeser whiffed on a fishing expedition and Fran was intentionally walked. That was a mistake. Jordy, who had already K'ed twice, got a juicy 0-2 slider and drilled it over the wall in LC. He was so pumped he almost overran Fran while circling the bases as Garza unloaded a lusty F-bomb from the hill. That brought in ol' bud Rob Scahill, who gave up a walk but finished the frame without any more blood-letting.

Jordy connected on career grand salami #1 (photo Jim Isaac/Getty)

An opening walk by Vogey wasn't the ideal response, and Keon Broxton's one-gone two-bagger put Brewers at second and third. Clint saw enough, and Jared Hughes double-timed it to the hill. He should have slowed down some; Orlando Arcia hit his first MLB homer on Hughes' first delivery, followed by a four-pitch walk. An out and single later, Antonio Bastardo came in and shut it down with a punchout.

Blaine Boyer took the ball in the seventh and was greeted by an Andrew double. Freeser singled with two away; Chris Carter knocked down the ball to halt Cutch at third, and the runners died at the corners. S-Rod went to first as Felipe Rivero toed the rubber and worked a clean inning with two K. Tyler Cravy worked a quiet eighth, surviving a loud out by Matt Joyce. Neftali Feliz was waved in and walked Broxton, who promptly swiped second. After two outs, he stayed there when Gregory made a lunging catch to save a run and shut the gate on the inning.

Jhan Marinez retired the Bucs without a peep in the ninth. Tony Watson gave up an infield knock and walk with two gone, followed by a double steal before putting an end to the production with a pop.

Tony is the Evel Knievel of closers, but he's been effective (photo Joe Sargent/Getty)

The Pirates could make it easier on themselves by chipping in an extra run or two after a crooked inning, and the pitchers could so the same by not walking seven and bopping a batter. But hey, two straight wins at Miller Field are rare and beautiful things, and we'll take them, drama and all.

• The Pirates had seven hits from seven different players. Gregory was the only starter without a knock.
• Jordy's base-cleaner was his first career granny. 
• Matt Garza set his season high for K's tonight with nine whiffs. Seven was his previous 2016 high-water mark.
• Wilbur Miller of Bucs Dugout takes a reasonable guess at the players who are likely to be called up in September and who are the b-list guys.

Friday: Ryan Vogelsong v Matt Garza, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The first pitch is due at 8:10, and the contest will be carried by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: Ryan Vogelsong (2-3, 2.98) and Matt Garza (4-5, 5.27) get it on. Since coming off the DL, Vogey has been a solid six-inning guy, giving up one or fewer earned runs in three of his four starts. Control has been a bit of an issue the last couple of outings, so that may bear some watching. V-Song has yet to work against the Brew Crew this year and is 4-0, 2.53 in his last six outings (five starts) against them. Garza hasn't been all that for the past couple of campaigns, though he did string together five pretty solid outings until Seattle chased him last time out. He's 1-1, 4.50 against the Buccos in 2016, lasting five frames in both games, and overall he's 3-4, 4.37 in 11 career rounds v the Pirates.

Ryan Vogelsong claims the bump tonight (photo via MLB.com)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Cutch CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, David Freese 3B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy SS, V-Song P. The day after he drew three walks, Josh Bell (.565 OBP) got kicked upstairs to the #2 spot in the lineup. Makes sense; Marte has done much better in the middle of the order, with a .324/.385/.520 slash from the 4/5 positions. Now if they'd just switch J-Hay (.307/.349/.412 in the seven hole this year) and Fran (.271/.377/.313 overall for the campaign, hasn't hit in the top two spots this season)...

• In six starts by Vogey, the Pirates have won three when they've scored four or more runs and lost three when they've scored three or less runs. 
• Paul Sporer of Fangraphs looks at some of the stuff that may be fueling a resurgent Ivan Nova's performance in Pittsburgh.

8/26 TRS/PNC Era: Hit All Day, Bruce's Granny, HBD Eric, Knucklers, Jay Bay+Ollie, Hero Ike

• 1975 - The first eight Pirates hit safely against the Braves’ Jamie Easterly and Ray Sadecki - Frank Taveras (triple), Rennie Stennett (single), Al Oliver (single), Willie Stargell (single), Richie Zisk (single), Dave Parker (single), Richie Hebner (single) and Duffy Dyer (single) - before P Larry Demery flied out‚ tying the MLB record. The Bucs scored six runs in the frame on their way to an 8-2 victory at TRS.
• 1979 - Bruce Kison tossed seven strong innings and smacked a grand slam off Bob Shirley, the first Bucco hurler since Al McBean in 1968 to launch a grannie, to lead the Bucs to a 9-2 win over San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium. He’s one of five Pirates twirlers to hit a grand salami, joining McBean, Deacon Phillippe (1910), Don Robinson (1985) and Denny Neagle (1995). Bill “Mad Dog” Madlock had a big day at the dish with four knocks, a pair of RBI, and two runs.

Bruce Kison 1979 Topps

• 1985 - C Eric Fryer was born in Columbus. He came to Pittsburgh as part of the Eric Hinske deal in 2009 and got a couple of cups of coffee with the Bucs in 2010-11, getting into 16 games as a C, PH, & OF. He returned in 2016 when injuries cut down the Pirates catching depth.
• 1992 - Pirate rookie Tim Wakefield defeated Tom Candiotti of the Dodgers 2-0 in the first matchup of knuckleballers in the NL since 1982 when Phil Niekro and Joe Niekro faced off in a Braves-Astros game. Wakefield scattered six hits for the victory. Jose Lind provided the offensive spark with a pair of hits, an RBI and a run scored.
• 2003 - The Pirates shipped Brian Giles to San Diego for Jason Bay, Ollie Perez, and Corey Stewart. Pittsburgh had wanted Xavier Nady in the deal, but SD refused and threw in Bay instead. He worked out pretty well, as Bay ended up the NL Rookie of the Year in 2004 and the Bucs reeled in the X-Man in 2006.

Jason Bay 2004 Rookie of the Year (poster via Sports Collectibles)

• 2014 - Gerrit Cole pitched six no-hit innings at PNC Park, but a seventh inning St. Louis rally tied the score at 2-2. Things looked bleak when both Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez left the game with injuries soon after, but Ike Davis brightened up the room in the eighth. With Gaby Sanchez and Starling Marte aboard, he crushed a two out, two strike change up from Seth Maness off the back fence in right center 442’ away to lead the Pirates to a 5-2 win. Tony Watson got the win and Mark Melancon earned a save.

8/26 Expo Park-Forbes Field Era: Trips Wilson; Big Poison, Pie, Wally, Ralph & Frank Had Days; More...

• 1892 - The Bucs mauled the Philadelphia Phils 11-3 at Exposition Park. Elmer “Mike” Smith, Doggie Miller and Jake Beckley led the way with a pair of hits each. Smith, usually an OF’er, was the pitcher (he appeared in 17 games, starting 13), and per the Pittsburg Press, the “(Phils Ed) Delahanty found a package of lard in centerfield and the Phillies tried to work up a story that the ball had been greased...” The Pirates pleaded innocent, and the game stood.

Jake Beckley (artwork by Dick Perez)

• 1912 - In a doubleheader split against Boston at Forbes Field, Chief Wilson collected three triples. He finished the year with 36, which is still the league standard. Pittsburgh won the opener 5-4 and dropped the evening game 8-4.
• 1926 - Paul Waner went 6-for-6 with two doubles and a triple as the Pirates beat the New York Giants 15-7 at Forbes Field. He used six different bats to collect the hits. Pie Traynor and George Grantham each had three hits; Traynor and Johnny Rawlings added three RBI apiece.
• 1927 - The Boston Braves defeated the Pirates‚ 6-4 at Braves Field. Paul Waner‚ who went 4-for-4 the day before‚ started off with three more consecutive hits off two Brave pitchers before ending his streak at seven.

Paul Waner 1927 Spaulding promo

• 1934 - Chester Williams of the Pittsburgh Crawfords led the East with three hits in the East-West Negro League All-Star game at Comiskey Park. The East won 1-0 in front of 30,000 fans when Jud Wilson drove in Cool Papa Bell in the eighth inning, giving Crawford Satchel Paige the win.
• 1935 - Player-manager Pie Traynor blasted a grand slam and ended the day with five hits and six RBI as the Bucs battered the NY Giants 10-2 at the Polo Grounds. Woody Jensen and Tom Padden also homered to smooth the path for Ralph Birkofer’s win.
• 1947 - The Pirates scored four times each in the first and second innings and added seven more in the fifth as they rolled over the Brooklyn Dodgers 16-3 at Ebbets Field. Wally Westlake homered, doubled, and drove home five runs as Billy Cox and Cutley Rikard added long balls. Ralph Kiner went 5-for-5 with a walk and Frank Gustine added four hits to help Fritz Ostermueller cruise to victory. Brooklyn’s Dan Bankhead, via the Negro League Memphis Red Sox, became the first black pitcher to work an MLB game when he came on in relief of Hal Gregg. The Bucs beat him up on the hill, scoring eight runs in his 3-1/3 frames, though he did swat a two run homer in his first big league at-bat to help even out his rough debut. 

Wally Westlake (artwork Gerald Carpenter)

• 1951 - The Pirates scored eight runs in the seventh frame to overcome a 9-2 fifth inning deficit and rally past the Dodgers‚ 12-11 at Ebbets Field in the opener of a twin set. Pete Castiglione and Bill Howerton had three RBI each to lead the comeback. The club dropped the nitecap 4-3 in 10 innings.

Cutch Chases Them All Home In 3-2, 10-Inning Win Over Brew Crew

J-Hay started off with a knock against Wily Peralta and went down six pitches later as the back end of a strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP. Didn't bother Cutch, who yanked a hung 3-2 slider over the fence in left to give Pittsburgh an early leg up. It was a quick 1-2-3 opener for Chad Kuhl. Josh Bell went from 0-2 to a walk with an out in the second and was bunted up a station when Fran tried to drop one for a hit. It almost worked, but Peralta was quick to the ball. Jordy also walked after being down 0-2, getting a generous call on ball four, but they were left aboard. Kuhl was clean again; he's used 19 pitches over two frames.

With one gone in third, Starling legged out an infield knock and swiped second. He came in when Cutch rolled a sinker into right center against the shift. A tapper moved him up, but he stayed rooted at second. With an out, Manny Pina turned on an elevated inside sinker and doubled to left. A couple of bouncers kept him there. Bell walked to open the fourth and Fran singled, both dying in place. Ryan Braun singled with one gone, followed by a walk an out later. A steal put Brewers on the corners before Chad cajoled the third out.

Chad was brilliant until he hit the wall in the seventh (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Starling reached on a boot to start the fifth. He was caught stealing with the Bucs challenging the out call. Marte looked like he did beat the rap and NY agreed. It didn't help; Pittsburgh is 1-for-9 w/RISP instead of giving Kuhl some elbow room. A walk opened the Brewer half, but a liner and 6-3 DP cleaned that up. Milwaukee figured it had pressed its luck sufficiently and called out Jhan Marinez for the sixth, who served the Bucs three soft outs. Chad also had an easy frame, and is at just 73 pitches.

Marinez spun a clean seventh. Time caught up to Chad. After an out, he was tagged for a double and then a homer by Kirk Nieuwenhuis on a hung slider. Then he gave up another two-bagger; his pitches are all up this inning. Kuhl was done after pitching a six inning gem and Felipe Rivero took over. He got a whiff, gave up a walk (on a blown call by ump Dale Scott, who's had a rough night all around), and finished with a pop to shut the gate. Corey Knebel took the hill for the eighth and mowed down the Bucs, who have sat down 12 times in a row. Neftali Feliz struck out the side.

Tyler Thornburg claimed the hill in the ninth, and Bell drew his third walk; quite an eye for a youngster. Adam Frazier ran for him, but a fly and 4-6-3 DP ended the fun. The Bucs have gone five innings w/o a hit and just two runners. Antonio Bastardo stepped on the mound and lost Keon Broxton with one away after a loud foul that almost was a walk-off. He stole second an out later but stayed planted. It's time for some free baseball.

Cutch was clutch tonight (photo David Zalumbowski/Associated Press)

Carlos Torres started the 10th and gave up the Bucs first hit in a blue moon, a John Jaso opposite field, broken-bat dink. He was bunted to second and a grounder got him to third. Bless Andrew; he spanked another ball through the right side to give the Bucs the lead. Tony Watson came in for the kill and got it without a bit of drama.

The offense is still in the doldrums, but it was nice to see Cutch happening tonight; it was even nicer to see him to to right a couple of times. Chad Kuhl tossed another solid game and the back end of the pen was money. But it's never easy in Miller Park.

•  Cutch had three RBI for Pittsburgh and three of the team's seven hits. The Bucs also drew four walks; three of them were to Josh Bell.
• Starling Marte set a personal single-season high with his 42nd stolen base. He added #43 a bit later.
• Tonight was the first time Chad Kuhl worked into the seventh inning as a Pirate, even though he did only get one out before being chased. 
• What a stat line - Felipe Rivero has worked 12 IP for the Pirates. He's issued 10 walks and fanned 20.
• Tyler Glasnow's bullpen session went fine, and he's expected to make a rehab start for Indy on Saturday.

Thursday: Chad Kuhl v Wily Peralta, Lineup, Preview, Notes

Tonight: The game and series starts at 8:10 at Miller Park, and will be carried by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: Chad Kuhl (3-1, 3.62) opens the set against Wily Peralta (5-9, 6.00). Chad has given the Bucs solid work; five of his last six starts have resulted in two or fewer earned runs allowed. This will be the first time he's faced Milwaukee. Peralta was sent to the minors for a couple of months of tinkering after a very rough start. He's 1-2, 3.50 in three starts since returning, so he's not the train wreck his 2016 numbers would suggest. Wily has taken on the Bucs six times in his career, going 2-2, 3.55, but hasn't seen them since last season.

Chad Kuhl climbs the hill (photo Gary Vasquez/USA Today)

 Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Starling Marte LF, Cutch CF, Gregory Polanco RF, David Freese 3B, Josh Bell 1B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy SS, Kuhl P. Back to basics tonight.

Preview: The Pirates have lost nine straight matches at Miller Park and dropped 5-of-6 on their recent home stand while Milwaukee is on a season-high four game roll, not a very promising combination of events. The starting pitching has come around for Pittsburgh (and good thing; the Brew Crew has scored six or more runs in five of its last seven games) so maybe the sticks will find a little thunder to support the arms. But the hidden vigorish doesn't seem to come into play very often in this series. Since 2007, Milwaukee is 103-56 overall against Pittsburgh, a 65% winning percentage, and 64-17 at home.

• Seven of the Pirates next 10 games are against the Brewers, with a visit to Wrigley in between.
• Pittsburgh is 17-15 (.531) in one-run games this season. Last year, they were a phenomenal and quite fortunate 36-17 (.679). 
• The Player's Association named David Freese as the Pittsburgh winner of the 2016 Heart & Hustle Award. He was presented with a crystal trophy before yesterday's game. Josh Harrison took the honor last season.
• Nick Kingham's rehab is moving along. He's been promoted to Altoona after tossing in the GCL and at then Bradenton.
• Jon Niese will be scoped to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee. The Bucs checked him out in early July for knee pain but found nothing notable. We're supposing that his medical report went to NY before the deal.

8/25 TRS-PNC Era: Redus Cycle, Roberts Escape, Walk-Offs & More

• 1979 - The Bucs scored twice in the ninth after two were out and no one aboard to send the game into extra innings, eventually winning 4-3 in 19 frames over the Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium. Dave Roberts pitched out of a pair of bases loaded jams to earn the win. He wriggled off the hook with the sacks juiced and no one away in the 17th inning after escaping in the 16th, when the bases were juiced with two outs and he went 3-0 to opposing pitcher John D'Acquisto. The Friars stranded 26 runners in the match, one short of the MLB record. The contest lasted six hours and twelve minutes, the longest Pirate contest until the Jerry Meals 19-inning game at Atlanta in 2011.

Dave Roberts 1980 Topps

• 1982 - The Pirates gave up a 4-1 lead at TRS, allowing San Diego to edge ahead in the eighth. But they tied the game in their half when Tony Pena’s grounder scored Lee Lacy and walked off with a ninth inning victory over the Padres when Jim Morrison singled in Enrique Romo, running for Willie Stargell, with the game winner. Kent Tekulve claimed the W.
• 1987 - Mike Dunne fired a two hitter as the Bucs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 at TRS. Dunne made a first inning Johnny Ray RBI single that scored Andy Van Slyke stand up. He struck out seven, allowed just one runner to reach second, and retired the last 10 batters.
• 1989 - OF Gary Redus hit for the cycle in a 12-3 win over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium, scoring three times and driving in four runs as the Pirates won their fifth game in a row. Barry Bonds homered and Andy Van Slyke banged a pair of doubles to pave the road for Jeff Robinson and Mike Smith.

Gary Redus 1989 Upper Deck

• 1991 - Pittsburgh banged out four homers from Cecil Espy, Jay Bell, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla to whip the SF Giants 8-3 at TRS. Bell scored three times with a pair of RBI while Espy added three RBI and a run to back John Smiley’s win.
• 1992 - Andy Van Slyke had three hits, including a homer and double, and drove home four runs while scoring twice as the Bucs beat LA 10-3 at Dodger Stadium. Leadoff hitter Alex Cole had three hits and scored three times as Danny Cox got the win in relief of Danny Jackson.
• 1997 - Joe Randa and Mark Smith homered in the ninth inning for a 4-3 walk-off win over the Dodgers at TRS to give the Bucs a DH split. Both blows came off Todd Worrell, who didn’t record an out, giving up a walk and then the back-to-back bombs. Marc Wilkins, who worked the last two frames, got the win. Pittsburgh was clobbered 8-2 in the opener.

Mark Smith (photo via Best Sports Photos)

• 2009 - Andrew McCutchen hit his first walk off homer in the ninth to beat Philadelphia and Brad Lidge 6-4 at PNC Park. Brandon Moss had tied the game moments earlier with a single and trotted home with the winning run ahead of Cutch. Matt Capps gave up a pair in the ninth for the rare daily double of a blown save and win.

8/25 Expo Park-Forbes Field Era: Bobby, Wilbur, Ding-Dong, Suitcase & More

• 1910 - In the 12th inning at Washington Park, Bobby Byrne legged out a hustle double, stole third, then swiped home to beat the Brooklyn Superbas, 4-3. It was the NL's first twentieth century extra-inning steal of home. The Superba’s skipper, Bill Dahlen, decided to intentionally walk the bases loaded after the steal of third (a decision that did not sit well with his pitcher, George Bell) to set up the force rather than face Fred Clarke and Hans Wagner. Bell got two strikes on John Flynn, then Byrnes took matters in his own hands and bolted home; the 0-2 pitch was wide and eluded the catcher, so Byrne’s timing was right. As for the Superba strategy, Ralph Davis of the Pittsburg Press wrote “...fans were calling Dahlen a dub, whereas if his plans had worked out right, they would be hailing him as a real genius and wonderful thinker.”

Bobby Byrne (photo Lantern Press)

• 1912 - The Pirates traded for 20 year old LHP Arley “Wilbur” Cooper from Columbus of the American Association for a pair of PTBNL. He was arguably Pittsburgh’s best franchise pitcher. He’s the Pirates all-time leader in wins with 202, lasting 13 seasons (1912-24) as a Bucco, starting 369 games and appearing in 469 outings with a 2.74 ERA. He began his pro career in 1911 with minor league Marion, a club that was owned by newspaper publisher and future US President Warren Harding. Legend has it that Harding was the person who recommended Wilbur to the Pirates.
• 1929 - The fans were able to hear the calls of home plate umpire Cy Rigler, who was wired for sound, a first in major league history. Wearing a mike and metal-plated shoes, standing on a flat metal sheet, Rigler's calls were broadcast over the Polo Ground speakers as he somehow avoided electrocution. The Giants topped the Pirates, 10-5 as the Bucs committed three errors and allowed six early unearned runs as the clang of their mitts resounded unaided throughout the Polo Grounds.
• 1952 - 18 year old RHP Bill “Ding Dong” Bell tossed his third no-hitter as a member of the Pirates Class D Appalachian League affiliate Bristol, winning 4-0 in a seven inning game against Bluefield. Bell is one of two professional pitchers to toss three no hitters in the same season. He was called up in September by the Bucs after posting an 11-3/2.09 slash, though he did have one big red flag - in 112 IP, he had 194 whiffs, but also 113 walks. Ding Dong made it back to Pittsburgh for a short while in 1955, but his wildness continued - Bell was 0-1, 4.32 in his MLB career with 14 walks in 16-⅔ IP.

(photo via Diamonds In The Dusk)

• 1959 - The White Sox sent 3B Bob Sagers and OF/1B Harry "Suitcase" Simpson packing to Pittsburgh in exchange for vet 1B Ted Kluszewski, looking to improve their bench. Klu hit .297 during the rest of the season and .391 with three homers in the World Series for the Sox. Simpson retired after the season and Sagers was a career minor leaguer.
• 1962 - The Pirate players called off a threatened walkout in objection to a rained out game that was rescheduled as part of a Saturday doubleheader with another doubleheader already scheduled on Sunday. Bob Friend, team rep, was irked that the players were bypassed in rescheduling the game. Friend lost the opener 3-2 to St. Louis at Busch Stadium, giving up a run with two down in the ninth. The Bucs took the second game 4-0 behind Earl Francis, who tossed a three hitter and was backed by homers off the bats of Dick Groat and Dick Stuart. They also split the next day’s twin bill.
• 1967 - Euclides Rojas was born in Havana. He was the Cuban National Team's all-time leader in saves before he left his homeland by raft in 1994, was rescued by the US Coast Guard, and emigrated to America. He’s been the Buccos bullpen coach since 2010, having served in the same position for the Red Sox and briefly, the Marlins. Rojas spent six years (2005-2010) as the Pirates Latin American Field Coordinator and also worked for Pittsburgh as a roving minor league instructor in 2002 with an emphasis on the club's Latin American program. Prior to that job, Rojas spent five seasons as a coach in the Florida Marlins organization.

Bucs Can't Climb Out Of Early Hole, Drop Astro Rubber Match 5-4

The first frame went quietly. Gerrit Cole tossed a clean frame and Collin McHugh surrendered a walk. The second, not so much. Carlos Correa opened with a knock and then Evan Gaddis launched a down-the-middle fastball into the shrubbery. Cole Train was tagged for a two-bagger before closing down the inning. The Bucs went down in order. In the third, Gerrit regained his bearing and Jordy got one of the runs back when he jerked a curve into the LF stands.

Correa opened the fourth at second base when Jordy threw a ball away that he should have probably eaten, w/o much help at flagging it down by Josh Bell. The extra base didn't matter much after Marwin Gonzalez smoked a one-out triple, though Gerrit did strand him. Bell legged out a two-out rap followed by a Fran dying quail, but S-Rod couldn't cash them in.

Jordy touched 'em all today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

In the fifth, an Astros single, a double off the 3B sack and a pair of sac flies made it 5-1. Jordy started off with a rap and John Jaso followed with another. Josh bunted them up; we're guessing he was looking for a hit rather than the sac. Starling singled in Jordy with two gone and Gregory's knock through a shift chased JJ home before last call. Jared Hughes took the ball in the sixth and worked a calm frame. Pat Neshek took over for McHugh, so it's already a battle of the bullpens. With two gone and S-Rod aboard on a knock, Adam Frazier grabbed a stick and the 'Stros countered with lefty Chris Devenski, who won the matchup by coaxing a fly to right.

Juan Nicasio hit the hill in the seventh for a 1-2-3 outing. Matt Joyce doubled and scored on Gregory's two-out triple into the RF corner; the Astros had him played to go opposite field. Bell walked, but Fran's grounder left the corners occupied and the score 5-4. Felipe Rivero answered the phone for the eighth. Two outs were followed by two walks just to add some drama before the third out. Will Harris twirled for Houston. Cutch pinch hit and lined a two-out rap and was left aboard.

Gregory keeps bangin' away (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Tony Watson rubbed the rosin in the ninth and served up a calm, eight-pitch frame. Ken Giles was sniffing for a save and had it 10 tosses later, whiffing both Starling and Gregory to close it out in style after lucking into an at 'em ball to short by Joyce.

The Bucs chipped away, but being unable to dent McHugh early on hurt, as did Gerrit Cole's continued slide. Dropping 5-of-6 wasn't exactly the homecoming they were looking for, especially with a four game set at Miller Park Noah's Ark  followed by a three game series at Wrigley Field. A west coast trip rejuvenated the club last week; let's see if this one can do the same.

• Gregory and Jordy had a pair of hits, while Josh Bell had a knock and a walk.
• @joe_block noted that Cutch had his first pinch-hit since 8/8/2013. Andrew, of course, isn't available off the bench very often. 
• Jordy Mercer is quietly having a quite competent year at the dish - he's hitting .266 and is fifth in RBI (45)/runs scored (52) on the team. His stat line is comparable to middle infield partner Josh Harrison's (.272, 49 RBI, 47 RS).