Shakin' and Bakin' Buccos - Vin & Jared Up, Brandon Cumpton Down, Stolmy on the DL

Jared Hughes and Vin Mazzaro are in the clubhouse today, and that meant the game was afoot. And it was - Stolmy Pimentel was put on the 15 day DL with shoulder inflammation, clearing up Hughes (he could only return as an injury sub) and sending Brandon Cumpton down for Mazzaro. Cumpton, who was slotted to take Wandy's place in the rotation, became excess baggage in the short-term because the rainouts in Baltimore screwed up his five-day rest.

Hughes has been an off-and-on Pirate, logging 121 IP, since 2011. He's made two appearances for the Bucs so far this year, and is 1-0 without allowing a run. Mazzaro was unscored on in 10-1/3 frames at Indy, and was 8-2-1 with a 2.81 ERA with Pittsburgh last season. Vinsanity wasn't on the 40-man roster, but that presented no problems, as the Bucs had an opening.

And it's a logical time to bring in fresh arms; the bullpen has logged some innings of late with the twin bill and short outing yesterday.

Wandy Rodriguez was also spotted tossing in the outfield, but the Pirates had no comment on his rehab progress, so Monday's starter is still a coin flip. It could be Wandy or it could be Jeff Locke, who was pulled after two innings Wednesday to leave him in play. Or there could be a Plan C; the Buc FO has all kind of tricks up its sleeve.

Pitchers, Lineup, Vinsanity, Jared, Starling, Jordy, Joey Bats, Hats...

RA Dickey (2-3, 5.09 ERA) goes against Francisco Liriano (0-3, 3.97). Dickey, a knuckleballer, depends on control. When he keeps the walks down, he's tough to hit. Dickey will also work in the occasional fast ball and curve. Liriano is back after being yanked early last game with dizziness caused by a nosebleed, and while pitching OK, is still looking for his first win of 2014. On the DL for the early part of last season, he didn't notch his first win last year until May 11th, so he's still on track in a way.

The lineup: Josh Harrison RF, Neil Walker 2B, Cutch CF, Pedro 3B, Gaby Sanchez 1B, Starling Marte LF, Tony Sanchez C, Clint Barmes SS and Liriano P. So this is what RF and SS have become.

The game starts at 7:05 and will be aired by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

• Vin Mazzaro and Jared Hughes are back, or at least in the clubhouse. We'll post later when any corresponding moves are announced; as of now, the Bucs say everything is "pending."
• Since being dropped in the order on May 1st, Starling Marte is 7-for-12. His BA has jumped from .229 to .265 and his OPS from from .612 to .702.
• On the other side of the coin, Jordy Mercer is in an 0-for-25 freefall and batting just .151.  Clint Barmes hasn't proven much of an alternative with a .133 BA.
• Jose Bautista has a 12-game hitting streak and has reached based in all 29 games he’s played this season. This series is the first time he's been back to PNC Park since being traded in 2008.
• The Blue Jays are 3-8 in their last 11 games, but over that time the offense is hitting .281  with 22 doubles and 17 home runs. Gotta pitch to win.
• Tonight the first 25,000 fans at PNC Park will receive a Pirates fedora, compliments of PNC Bank. They're kinda snappy, in a hipster way.
• John Dreker of Pirates Prospects reported that the Bucs traded minor league IF Benji Gonzalez, a good glove, no-hit guy, to San Diego for an unnamed return.
• Ex-Bucs: Toronto recalled C Erik Kratz.

5/3: Can't Do That, Hot Honus, Hot Pitching, Gunner's Last Hurrah, Turner Gate-Crashes, Walk Off, Whiffs & More...

Can't Do That, Hot Honus, Hot Pitching, Gunner's Last Hurrah, Turner Gate-Crashes, Walk Off, Whiffs & More...

• 1899 - OF Jack McCarthy hit a ball that went through an open gate in the Exposition Park outfield wall, and a helpful fan shut it to give him an uncontested three run, walk-off homer in Pittsburgh’s 7-6 win against the Louisville Colonels. The league frowned on the play and ordered a replay of the game. 
• 1909 - The Bucs whipped Chicago‚ 9-2 at the West Side Grounds. Honus Wagner went 5-for-6 during the game. He was repeating what he did the day before, also going 5-for-6 in a 6-0 victory over the Cubs. Chicago was Pittsburgh’s hottest competitor and finished second to them in the NL, 6-1/2 games off the Pirate pace. 

1961 Fleer Baseball Greats series

• 1927 - Paul Waner went 3-for-4 with a triple, walk, three runs scored and four RBI as the Pirates outlasted the St. Louis Cardinals 11-10 at Forbes Field. Earl Smith had three hits, including two homers, to add three RBI to the pot and Glenn Wright also had three knocks and plated three times to give Ray Kremer, the Pirates fourth pitcher, the win. 
• 1928 - Ray Kremer lost his first home start of the season to the Boston Braves at Forbes Field 5-4 in 11 innings, ending a MLB record streak of 22 straight home victories begun in 1926. 
• 1947 - The Pirates traded OF Al Gionfriddo and $100,000 to Dodgers for P Kirby Higbe, P Cal McLish, IF Gene Mauch, P Hank Behrman, and P Dixie Howell. Gionfriddo was remembered for his 1947 World Series grab of a Joe DiMaggio blast for Brooklyn and Red Barber’s call that he was going “back back back back back” for the catch, which Chris Berman of ESPN later adopted as his home run call. Some analysts believe that Branch Rickey made the deal to send a message to the Dodger players about his support for Jackie Robinson by sending some gripers to Pittsburgh, though he may have just been housecleaning; none but Higbe had any impact with the Pirates. 
• 1953 - Johnny Lindell, a converted outfielder‚ pitched the Pirates to their fifth straight win‚ beating the Cards‚ 6-2. Lindell earned his first win since 1942 when he was a Yankee reliever, his last season on the mound before this year. 
• 1985 - The Gunner, Bob Prince, returned to the booth after a 10 year absence (he had been fired by KDKA). Prince got a standing ovation from the crowd, and when he took over the mic in the fourth frame, the Pirates erupted for nine runs, earning him another O after the inning. It was a short comeback as The Gunner died of cancer on June 10th. 
• 1986 - A skunk wandered onto the field at San Diego in the 7th inning at Jack Murphy Stadium and held up the Padres-Pirates game for several minutes. It was rumored that a group of skunks lived under the stadium‚ feeding on peanuts and other fan debris; guess that’s one rumor that proved true. The Bucs scored three times in the 8th and added another in the 9th to beat the Padres‚ 7-6. 
• 1991 - The Pirates defeated the Astros 1-0 in a one hour‚ 45 minute contest at TRS‚ the NL's shortest nine inning game since 1981. Zane Smith threw a complete game four hitter while the 'Stros Pete Harnisch went the distance and gave up only two knocks, one being Orlando Merced’s first homer of the year in the third inning. Harnisch threw 89 pitches and Smith 92 during the contest. 
• 1998 - Turner Ward literally crashed through the right field wall at Three Rivers Stadium while running down Mike Piazza’s long fly in a 10-5 loss to the Dodgers. And yes, he hung onto the ball in a play that is still considered one of the great all-time MLB catches and an ESPN go-to clip, though he had to leave the game with bruises and some fiberglass splinters. The kid was a gamer; he crashed through the wall while LA was ahead 9-0. 

 Turner Ward from MLB.com

• 1999 - The Bucs scored four times in the ninth on homers by Warren Morris and Brian Giles and a two-out walk off single by Brant Brown to surge past the Giants 9-8 off reliever Robb Nenn at TRS. Giles had three hits and five RBI while Jason Kendall went 5-for-5 with a pair of doubles. 
• 2012 - The Pirates set a club mark by striking out 17 in nine innings during their 6-3 win over the Cards at Busch Stadium. Erik Bedard did the heavy lifting, whiffing 11 in five frames and setting a franchise record with seven consecutive K’s. Four Pirate relievers added six more K in the final four innings. Jason Grilli and Joel Hanrahan picked up a pair of punchouts apiece in the eighth and ninth.

Buc Bombs Spark 6-5 Walk-Off Win v Jays

While, the Pirate streak of scoring first ended quickly when Joey Bats and Edward Encarcion hit back-to-back two out doubles off Gerrit Cole in the first to put Toronto up 1-0. The Bucs tried to do the same when Cutch doubled with two down against Brendan Morrow, but Pedro's bouncer to second kept the Pirates off the board.

The Jays went down 1-2-3 in the second; the Pirates loaded the bases with no outs on a trio of singles. Big inning? Nah. A Jordy Mercer 6-3 DP plated a run but killed the frame. Toronto went down without a score in the third; the Bucs went ahead. With one down. Neil Walker doubled, Cutch followed with an RBI knock and Pedro singled. Big inning? Nah. Gaby rolled into an around the horn DP.

The Blue Jays regained the lead in the fourth on a Juan Francisco double and Colby Rasmus dinger. Pittsburgh opened with back-to-back knocks. Big inning? Nah. Mercer again banged into a DP, this time 4-3. He has the grounder up the middle, where he's being played, down pat.

In the fifth, Jose Reyes singled, stole second and came in on a Jose Bautista double. The Kid opened the Bucco half with a ground rule double; it just missed leaving the park and stock in the padding of the wall. Cutch singled him home and stole second. Big inning? Nah. A pop up and two weak grounders ended the frame. 

It became a battle of the bullpens in the sixth. Justin Wilson gave up a hustle Baltimore chop double to Brett Lawrie, then fell behind 3-0 to the next two batters, but came back to get them. Not so with pinch hitter Steve Tolleson, who tripled to the Infinity sign in right center. The inning ended with just one Jay run after Pedro made a diving grab of a Reyes smash. Steve Delabar came in for Toronto. With two down, Travis Snider singled, Tabata doubled and Walker was hit in the back foot by a pitch. That ended up a break for the Jays, as the ball was ticketed for the backstop, and was big when Cutch bounced out to short.

Casey Sadler finally got his call in the seventh. He was nervous in his debut and fighting the strike zone, but outside of a two out walk, put up a goose egg in his first MLB inning. The Bucs left Marte aboard in their hlaf; he singled with two down against Brett Cecil. Sadler gave up his first big league hit, a leadoff single to Lawrie, and stranded him at third by picking up his first two big league K's. Cecil tucked the Bucs away in order.

Mark the Shark pitched a scoreless ninth, and Sergio Santos, the oddball closer, came on. He had an ERA of over eight, and like Morrow is a high strikeout, high walk guy. He gave up a bloop single to Walker, then K'ed Cutch on a slider. Pedro decided to do something the Bucs had all but removed from their attack; he lost a fastball over the ketchup sign, and the Bucs had a tie game. Ike Davis flew out, and then Marte came up and blasted a high heater over the wall in center, and the Pirates had an improbable 6-5 win over Toronto.

Well, long overdue. Let's see if this starts something while the season is still in hand. Francisco Liriano takes on knuckleballer RA Happ tomorrow.

• For Pedro, it was his first long ball since April 17th, and for Starling Marte, since April 14th. The Pirates had gone over a week and almost 300 at-bats without a homer before the ninth tonight.
• Marte had four hits; Neil Walker and Cutch three. Marte is liking batting lower in the order, it seems.
• For an offensive club, the Jays are about pitching - they're 13-1 when giving up three or fewer runs, and haven't won when surrendering more than four runs.
• Cory Giger of the Altoona Mirror noted that the Bucs featured "all homegrown talent. 8 of 9 starters played for the Altoona Curve (all but Gaby), matching most ever."
• The Pirates had a pretty nice attendance, considering everything: 24,547 was the announced crowd.

Lineup, Locke, Homestand, Jays, Two Hitter, Hanny Signs w/Tigers

Gerrit Cole (2-2, 3.18) takes on Brandon Morrow (1-2, 6.04). Cole seems to be getting a little stronger the more he works while Morrow is a big K guy who also can have problems finding the dish.

The lineup: Jose Tabata RF, Neil Walker 2B, Cutch CF, Pedro 3B, Gaby Sanchez 1B, Marte Starling LF, Tony Sanchez C, Jordy Mercer SS and Cole P. Clint has put together a much more traditional lineup tonight

Should be no prob getting the game in. It's supposed to be chilly, but with just a chance of passing showers. It's a pucks and Bucs night; guess who loses? No one - the game will be aired by Root Sports (only the networks get the Pens from now on) and on 93.7 The Fan.

• Jeff Locke is coming back to Pittsburgh, maybe. He was pulled Wednesday after two innings to put him in line for Wandy's spot, but there's been no formal announcement yet one way or another.
• Jose Bautista has reached base safely in all 28 of Toronto’s games this season.
• The Pirates begin a nine-game, 10-day homestand with the Blue Jays, Giants and Cards.
• We were critical of the Bucs for not calling up another LH bat yesterday, but mea culpa. We found out that teams can only call up a 26th player for the second game of a day-night doubleheader, but not for a back-to-back games DH'er. Sheesh.
• The Blue Jays are 8-8 on the road and 3-7 in their last 10 games, while the Pirates are riding a three game (and six straight series) losing string. Pittsburgh is 9-1/2 games behind the Brewers in the Central Division, tied for last with the Chicago Cubs.
• Neil Paine of FiveThirtyEight adds more ammo to the "bat Cutch second" movement. 
• Ex-Bucs: Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweets that Hanny has signed with the Tigers. The Orioles sent Evan Meek the other way, as he was optioned to the minors today.

5/2: Pud, AA Opener, Prez Taft, Big First Frames, Trip-Trip-Triples, Lee Walls, Zachster & More...

Pud, AA Opener, Prez Taft, Big First Frames, Trip-Trip-Triples, Lee Walls, Zachster & More...

• 1877 - The Alleghenys beat the Boston Red Caps, the eventual International Association champs, 1-0 behind do-it-all Pud Galvin. He tossed a one-hitter and bombed a homer thought to be the first ball to clear the fence at Union Park. 
• 1882 - The Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the American Association played their first MLB game (The AA was an alternative major league to the NL in the early years) against Cincinnati at the Bank Street Grounds. The Alleghenys whipped the Red Stockings by a 10-9 tally. The club would join the NL five years later. 
• 1887 - The Alleghenys’ OF Fred Carroll hit the franchise’s first NL homer off Detroit Wolverine pitcher Lady Baldwin as part of his cycle at Recreation Park in an 8-3 win. Motown had won 31 straight exhibition games and three regular season games‚ but met their match in Pud Galvin. 
• 1909 - Talk about small ball! Honus Wagner stole second, third and home while his teammates added three additional stolen bases, two walks, a plunked batter, two errors, and two hits for a five-run first frame in the Bucs' 6-0 victory in the opener of a twin bill. They also won the second game 5-2 against the Cubs at the West Side Grounds. 
• 1910 - President William Taft attended the Pirates 5-2 win over the Cubs. The team set a then-attendance record of 20,265 at Forbes Field due to President’s appearance. 

President Taft at Forbes Field in 1911 (picture by Frank Bingaman)

• 1925 - The Pirates scored seven times in the first frame and plated 14 runs by the third to romp over the Cincinnati Reds 18-3 at Forbes Field. Clyde Barnhart, Pie Traynor and Earl Smith combined to drive in 10 runs while the top of the order, Max Carey, Kiki Cuyler and Eddie Moore, scored nine times. Lee Meadows tossed a five hitter for the victory. 
• 1943 - Behind hurlers Wally Hebert and Bob Klinger‚ the Pirates claimed a twinbill from the Cubs‚ 3-0 and 1-0 at Forbes Field. In the second game‚ Cubs hurlers Dick Barrett and Lon Warneke combined on a one-hit loss: Vince DiMaggio's hit in the fourth was the only Bucco knock; the Pirate run was unearned. Klinger answered the bell with a four-hit gem of his own. 
• 1953 - OF Carlos Bernier hit 3 consecutive triples in a 12-4 win over the Redlegs at Forbes Field‚ the Bucs fourth straight decision. Bernier added a single and a stolen base. In a stretch of 11 at bats‚ Carlos banged four triples‚ two doubles‚ and two singles. It was a good start to his only MLB season; he finished the year hitting .213. 
•  1954 - The Bucs and Cubs split a DH at Wrigley as Pittsburgh lost the opener 5-3 and won the nitecap 18-10. Frank Thomas had seven straight hits on the afternoon. Bob Friend, winner of the second game, drove in three runs to win his first of the year and set a backhand standard: Not until Vida Blue in 1979 had anyone else allowed 10 runs and still won. 
• 1956 - Lee Walls went 5-for-5 in a losing effort against St. Louis at Busch Stadium. The Bucs fell 10-9 in 10 innings despite Wall’s three doubles, three RBI and three runs. 
•  2006 - Zach Duke tossed a five-hitter for his first MLB complete game and shutout in the Pirates' 8-0 win victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Freddy Sanchez had three hits with three RBI and two runs scored to lead the attack supporting the Zackster. 
• 2012 - AJ Burnett gave up 12 runs in 2-2/3 innings as the Cardinals clocked the Pirates 12-3 at Busch Stadium. AJ had shut them out two weeks earlier, 2-0, at PNC Park. He allowed the most runs by a Pirate hurler in 80 years and surrendered more earned runs in under three innings than anyone else since earned runs were first an official stat in 1913. "I stunk," Burnett told the AP. "There is nothing more I can say.” AJ got over it, going 16-10 with a 3.51 ERA during the season.

Bucs Blow 4-0 lead, Drop 6-5 Decision In Ten Innings

The Bucs looked they were starting where they left off in the second game, delayed by 45 minutes due to rain. They loaded the bases in the first with an out. Gaby made Chris Tillman work; but popped up his 14th pitch to him.  It may have had a silver lining, tho, as Tillman followed with walks to The Kid and Starling Marte, and it was 2-0. Buck Showalter must be old school; he let Tillman twist for 49 pitches in the frame.

The game went quietly on for a bit. The Bucs stranded a pair in the third; the Orioles did the same against Brandon Cumpton in the fourth. Pittsburgh tacked on a two-out run in the fifth when Gaby tripled home Cutch, finally ending Tillman's night at 112 pitches.

The Bucs kept chipping away, again turning Oriole control problems into runs. Clint Barmes was hit with a pitch by Evan Meek and Travis Snider walked. An out later, Ike Davis dropped an excuse-me flare barely onto the outfield grass in left to plate Barmes and make it 4-0.

The Birds put up a four-spot in their half on a couple of balls that just missed being snagged. Nick Markakis flared one to left, and Marte made a strong run on a ball that was both dying and slicing away from him, but his dive left him just short of a great grab. Two soft rollers later, a mistake to Adam Jones was pounded to right center. Travis Snider made a run with his back turned and the ball hit him over the shoulder in the glove, but wouldn't stick and fell for an RBI double; it could just as easily been ruled an error.

Matt Weiters went the opposite way for a knock, and Steve Pierce did the same, putting O's at second and third when Pierce just beat Snider's throw into second. Bryon Morris came on and gave up a single to left to JJ Hardy, and the game was tied; Pierce again was fortunate at the play at the plate. Marte's throw beat him, but was up the line and Chris Stewart couldn't corral it for the tag, allowing the tying run.

Lefty John Patton was on the hill, coming in last inning to retire Pedro. Gaby greeted him with a double, and to the grumbles of the fans, The Kid was up to bunt. This one worked out well, tho, as he killed the ball beautifully and beat out a hit to put gold on the corners. Marte brought in Gaby by lining a single to center off new pitcher Ryan Webb. Barmes tried to bunt, failed, and then hit a fly to right that moved the guys up a station. But it's the Pirates; Stewart and Snider both K'ed, so no insurance to back up the 5-4 lead.  And some insurance would have been nice after Nick  Markakis belted his second homer of the day to tie in in the Baltimore half.

Brian Matusz got two outs on two pitches, then lost Pedro, gave up a double to Gaby and intentionally walked Neil Walker. Darren O'Day came in to face Marte, and the submariner got him to pop up to short right center; the Pirates have stranded 14 runners so far tonight. It was the Birds turn in their half; with two down, Tony Watson gave up a walk, a flare to right and a hit batter to bring up Markakis. He got ahead of him 0-2, hung a couple off speed pitches that were fortunately fouled off, and K'ed him. But Watson threw over 30 pitches in the inning; looks like he'll be off for the Toronto opener, at this point later tonight.

O'Day had no trouble with Barmes, Stewart and Snider; Justin Wilson took the mound and tossed a clean ninth. In the tenth, O'Day walked Cutch with an out, and the sidewinder was replaced by closer Tommy Hunter. No prob for him; he K'ed Pedro and got the hot Gaby on a broken bat roller to third. Stolmy Pimentel took the ball; his second pitch was a high heater to Weiter, and he tucked it inside the RF flag pole to give Baltimore the walk-off win.

The difference between the 2013 Bucs and 2014 edition? Snider makes the catch and it's an easy win. This year, they just can't make the play, in the field or the plate. The Pirates had 20 hits, but stranded 28 runners in the two games. It's back home to face Toronto, where Gerrit Cole and Brandon Morrow match up.

• Tonight was the fifth career four-hit game for Gaby Sanchez, his first as a Buc.
• Ike Davis picked up his first RBI since hitting a grand slam on April 21st.
• Travis Snider earned the golden sombrero tonight, whiffing four times. Instead of Gregory Polanco, might it not be time for Andrew Lambo?
• This is the first time Brandon Cumpton has allowed more than three runs in a start.

Game #1 Same Old Bucs; Birds Win 5-1 - Second Game Lineup

Well, if the off days gave the Bucs a well needed rest, it didn't give them a fresh start. One big inning with some insurance for the Orioles and a 1-for-14 RISP performance by Pittsburgh, along with a pair of costly boots, gave the Bucs and Charlie Morton (0-4) yet another loss in the gloam of Baltimore.

The Pirates left runners on second and third in the first, a pair of runners on the pond four other times, and had a runner on second thrown out at third on a grounder to short while the bottom of Baltimore's order, Steve Pearce and Ryan Flaherty, each had a pair of RBI to go with Nick Markakis' first homer.

It was 1-0 going into the fifth, with the Bucs scoring in the third on a Pedro single before the wheels fell off. A single and a walk were followed by a sac bunt that Pedro one-hopped to first; Neil Walker couldn't come up with the pick, and a pair of ground ball singles made it 3-0. It's more than possible that Charlie Morton, who had been rolling, just sat too long after a 21-minute rain delay before the O's at-bat.

A Neil Walker muff was followed by a pair of singles in the sixth to make it 4-1, and Markakis' homer off Jeanmar Gomez provided the final run in the seventh.

Brandon Cumpton will go against Chris Tillman in the nightcap. The lineup: Travis Snider RF, Ike Davis 1B, Cutch CF, Pedro 3B, Gaby Sanchez 1B, Neil Walker 2B, Starling Marte LF, Clint Barmes SS and Chris Stewart C. Snider and Davis one-two? Ask Clint, because we don't have a clue why. The game will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

We are a bit surprised that the Bucs, allowed to call up a 26th man, didn't bring up LH Andrew Lambo for the day. We're supposing Clint wanted to give Gaby the at-bats.

EDIT - the teams are in yet another rain delay between games.

• Pedro went 3-for-5, while Cutch and Starling Marte each went 2-for-3 with a walk.
• Tony Sanchez's eight game hitting streak ended. 
• This was Steve Pearce's first game back with Baltimore after being DFA'ed and re-signed. He had three hits and two RBI against his old teammates.
• This was the first time in six tries that the Orioles won  at Camden Yards after giving up the first score.
• The appeals of the suspensions dealt out to Travis Snider (two games) and Russell Martin (one) after the Milwaukee brouhaha for will be heard next week.

Pre-Game: Starters, Game 1 Lineup, Wandy, In Trouble?, Hanny, Wei-Chung Wang

Charlie Morton will start the 4:05 PM game against Bud Norris while Brandon Cumpton will start the nightcap against Chris Tillman, scheduled 20-30 minutes after the opener concludes. (Spoiler alert: some of the next two paragraphs are from Tuesday's pre-game; why waste material, lol?)

Morton is still struggling to find his 2013 groove, and hasn't won an interleague game since 2008. Norris has seen the Bucs plenty from his Astro days, with a 4-5 record and 3.48 ERA to go with 71 K in 62 IP.

Lineup: Jose Tabata RF, Ike Davis 1B, Cutch CF, Pedro 3B, Gaby Sanchez DH, Neil Walker 2B, Starling Marte LF, Tony Sanchez C and Jordy Mercer SS. Dropping Marte in the order caused quite a mash up in the lineup. Ike is hitting second instead of Walker, possibly in an effort to jump start him by having Cutch covering his back. We're a little surprised Gaby got the DH call against a RHP instead of Travis Snider, tho Clint may be keeping him up his sleeve for a late inning PH role.

In game two, Cumpton has been the cavalry to the rescue when the Bucco rotation blows a tire. He's 2-2 with a 2.12 ERA and .956 WHIP as Pittsburgh's thumb in the dike over the past two seasons. Tillman has been pretty steady for the Birds. He's a fastball guy who will flip to offspeed when he has command issues. Tillman is also a homer; he's posted an 0.69 ERA at Camden yards this year.

Lineup: TBD

Both games will be broadcast on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

• This is the first time the Pirates have lost back-to-back games to the weather since 2007, and the first time the Orioles were postponed at home on consecutive days since the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
• The Pirates have scored two runs or fewer in six of their past eight games. 
• The Orioles reinstated 3B Manny Machado from the 15-day DL. 
• Wandy Rodriguez made a rehab start with Altoona today. Wandy has been on the disabled list since April 21 with knee inflammation. If all goes well there, he could be reinstated to the active list in short order. However, his line was 74 pitches (48 strikes) in 3-1/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, and that was after a 1-2-3, 11 pitch first frame, so we'll see.
• Scott Allen of the Outside Corner thinks the Bucs are one of five teams that are in trouble this season. Pittsburgh is in some pretty good company, tho.
• Ex-Bucs: The market for Joel Hanrahan, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, includes the Tigers, Yankees, Rangers, Red Sox and Rockies per Jon Heyman of CBS'  Baseball Insider. The Brewers are debating whether or not to return Rule 5 draft pick Wei-Chung Wang to Pittsburgh, per Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel.
  
  

5/1: The Count of Luxemburg, Johnny Berardino, Arky Vaughan, Ray Searage, Stu, 9-In-A-Row, Dock-tor, Mad Dog & More...

The Count of Luxemburg, Johnny Berardino, Arky Vaughan, Ray Searage, Stu, 9-In-A-Row, Dock-tor, Mad Dog & More...

• 1885 - RHP George McQuinlan was born in Brooklyn. He was a decent pitcher for low-scoring teams, going 29-33 from 1913-15 with a 3.06 ERA for Pittsburgh. 
• 1886 - C Bill Kelly was born in Baltimore. He came to the Pirates from minor league St. Paul in 1911, becoming their third catcher but personal caddy to P Marty O’Toole. He played here through 1913, hitting .293 with 20 RBI’s in 102 games. 
• 1895 - Bill Hart hurled a one-hitter in a 4-1 victory over Cincinnati at Exposition Park. CF Jake Stenzel and C Joe Sugden had a pair of knocks to lead the Pirates and SS Monte Cross made several nice running catches of short outfield flares. As the Pittsburg Press noted succinctly of the Reds: “One hit will not win many games.” 
• 1896 - Heinie Meine was born in St. Louis. The RHP spent six seasons with Pittsburgh (1929-1934), going 66-50 with a 3.95 ERA. Between 1931-33 he was a workhorse, throwing 663-2/3 frames in 96 games, going 46-30. In 1931, he led the NL in wins (19), innings pitched (284), and was fourth in ERA (2.98). He was an interesting guy, known as "The Count of Luxemburg" because he ran a speakeasy/tavern in the Luxemburg section of St. Louis. 

1933 Goudey series

• 1917 - 2B Giovanni “Johnny” Berardino was born in Los Angeles. He got a couple of cups of coffee with the Bucs in 1950 and 1952, but his claim to fame wasn’t at the ballyard but rather in the back lots, as he went on to become soap opera star Dr. Steve Hardy of General Hospital. 
• 1933 - Arky Vaughan and Earl Grace became the first pair of Pirates to hit grand slams in the same game when they did it against the Phillies at the Baker Bowl to lead Pittsburgh to a 10-0 win. 1953 - The Pirates defeated the Reds‚ 8-3‚ at Forbes Field for their third win in a row‚ their longest streak since August, 1951. Bonus baby Paul Pettit was the winner in his first MLB start. It was his only win, as he never recovered from arm injuries suffered the previous year in the minors, and spent most of his career as a minor league outfielder. 
• 1955 - Pirate pitching coach Ray Searage was born in Freeport, NY. The West Liberty State grad coached Buccos for the Williamsport Crosscutters in 2003-04, the Hickory Crawdads in 2005, the Altoona Curve in 2006-07 and the Indianapolis Indians in 2008-09. In 2010, he joined the MLB staff during John Russell’s final season. He was a reliever in his seven year MLB career, spinning the cowhide for four different clubs. 
• 1957 - The Cubs sent 1B Dee Fondy and 2B Gene Baker to the Bucs for 1B Dale Long and OF Lee Walls. Fondy hit .300 while Walls and Long combined for 45 Chicago HRs in 1957. 
• 1959 - Dick Stuart hit one of the longest shots ever launched at Forbes Field, carrying well over the scoreboard and landing deep in the parking plaza when he caught a 2-0 curve off Jim Brosnan. Alas, the almost 500’ two-run, two-out drive in the ninth only made it close as the Bucs went down to the Cards 7-6. Big Stu had three hits, including a double, in the loss.

 Topps 1959 series

• 1960 - The Pirates won their ninth straight game, their longest string since 1945, against the Reds 13-2 at Crosley Field. Roberto Clemente had a grand slam and Maz added a three run shot. The streak would end the next day against the Cards and Ronnie Kline by a 4-3 count. 
• 1964 - Jose Lind was born in Toabaja, Puerto Rico. In six seasons with the Pirates (1987-92), the 2B hit .255 and appeared in three NLCS bouts. Chico was considered a top flight defender, and won a Gold Glove in 1992. A coke addiction drove him out of the game and into several clashes with the law, but he came clean and participates in the Bucco fantasy camps now. 
• 1973 - The Giants scored seven runs with two outs in the ninth to claim an 8-7 win at Candlestick Park. Bob Moose started and got the first two outs in the ninth, but Ramon Hernandez and Dave Giusti gave up three hits and two walks trying to close out the game, the capper being Chris Arnold’s pinch-hit bomb off Hernandez. The Bucs wasted Stargell’s three hits and three RBI. 
• 1974 - Dock Ellis hit the Reds’ Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, and Dan Driessen in the top of the first inning; Tony Perez ducked several times and drew a walk as Ellis tied a MLB record for consecutive beaned batters before Danny Murtaugh yanked him. Ellis later revealed that he was high on pep pills as the Bucs lost 5-3 to the Reds, and was trying to counter what he saw as the Reds intimidation of the Pirates. 
• 1980 - Bill "Mad Dog" Madlock was fined $5‚000 and suspended 15 games by NL president Chub Feeney for poking umpire Jerry Crawford in the face with his glove after being called out on strikes with the bases loaded. Madlock appealed‚ but finally withdrew the protest and began serving the suspension on June 6th after the NL umpires threatened to eject him from every game he tried to play.
• 1994: The Pirates completed a three game sweep of the Braves as Paul Wagner defeated Atlanta’s Tom Glavine 4-1 for his second career complete game in front of 30,614 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. Wagner allowed just three hits while losing his shutout bid in the ninth inning on a home run by David Justice