8/4: HBD Jake, Paddy, Hicks, Luke; 45 Zippo IP; Salkeld Cycle...

• 1867 - 1B Jake Beckley was born in Hannibal, Missouri. “Eagle Eye” played eight seasons (1888-96) for Pittsburgh, with a year off in 1890 when he suited up for the Pittsburgh Burghers of the outlaw Player’s League. He hit 113 triples as a Buc and had four 100+ RBI years. Jake could glove it, too. He’s the all-time leader for putouts and top 20 in assists for MLB 1B’men. After his 20 year career was done, he was eventually selected in 1971 to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee with a lifetime .308 BA.
• 1879 - C Patrick “Paddy” O’Connor was born in Kerry, Ireland. A little used catcher for the Pirates from 1908-10, he hit .250. He played one more season in Pittsburgh, albeit with the Rebels of the Federal League, batting .228.

Paddy O'Connor 1910 Tip Top Bread series

• 1883 - RHP Lew “Hicks” Moren was born in Pittsburgh and attended Duquesne University. He pitched exactly two games for the Pirates between 1903-04, but was more successful with the Phillies, picking up 48 wins and 10 shutouts while pitching to a 2.88 ERA from 1907-10 before arm problems ended his career. He was one of the first to feature a knuckle ball, after its original practitioner, Eddie Cicotte.
• 1901 - Per Charlton’s Baseball Chronology, before Pittsburgh’s 6-3 win at Cincinnati‚ Reds and Pirates players were clocked while running from home plate to 1B. The fastest time for the 90-foot sprint was three seconds‚ by Bucco OF Ginger Beaumont. Though Beaumont was a lefty and was known for his wheels, scouts today consider 3.9-4.0 to be elite speed. The SABR Biography Project says he was once timed at 4.4, which seems a little more like it.
• 1909 - The Pirates’ Vic Willis lost a 1-0 pitching duel to the Brooklyn Superba’s Harry McIntyre at Forbes Field. Willis gave up just five hits, but one was a two out single by Tommy McMillan in the second inning that scored Whitey Alperman with the game’s only run. McIntyre was just as tough, giving up four hits and a pair of walks. Dots Miller had two of Pittsburgh’s four knocks.
• 1915 - 1B Luke Easter was born in Jonestown, Mississippi. The slugger played for the Homestead Grays from 1947-48. He hit .363 and led the Grays to a win over the Birmingham Black Barons in the 1948 Negro League World Series, the last one held. He went on to play for the Cleveland Indians, but age and injury limited him to just a couple of productive seasons.

Luke Easter 1948 (photo Richard Merken collection)

• 1931 - Heinie Meine started it and ended it. Pirate pitchers put together a streak of 45 consecutive scoreless innings, starting with Meine’s outing on July 27th and ending with Meine’s 7-1 loss to the Cards at Forbes Field after adding five more frames to the zero column. In between, Pittsburgh pitchers Larry French, Ray Kremer, Glenn Spencer and Erv Brame all tossed shutouts.
• 1945 - C Bill Salkeld went 5-for-5‚ hitting for the cycle‚ and driving in five runs‚ but the Bucs fell 6-5 to the Cardinals at Forbes Field, stranding 12 runners against St. Louis.
• 1958 - Roberto Clemente’s two out homer in the ninth off Juan Pizarro gave the Pirates a 4-3 win over the first place Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium. Clemente had three hits and scored three times to lead the attack as Roy Face saved the game for Curt Raydon.
• 1971 - OK, this is stretching Pittsburgh baseball history a bit, but... Tom Walker of Dallas-Fort Worth in the Texas League pitched a 15-inning no-hitter in a 1-0 win over Albuquerque. Tom is Neil Walker’s dad, and after spending six campaigns in the show, his last pro season was with Pittsburgh’s AAA Columbus club in 1978. He retired, got a job as a sales rep, moved to the City, and you know the rest.

Tom Walker (r) with Wayne Garland at DFW (photo via Texas League)

• 1990 - The Pirates broke open a tight 1-1 game in the tenth when Don Slaught doubled home Gary Redus and Chico Lind for the win at Veteran's Stadium. Bob Patterson gave up the Phils’ only run in the bottom of the ninth, but got the victory when Ted Power closed out the tenth. Starter Neal Heaton and Stan Belinda also put up goose eggs.
• 1998 - Fours were wild as 1B Kevin Young went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and four RBI during a 13-5 win over the Rockies at TRS. None of the Bucs went yard, but they did bang out nine doubles off four Colorado pitchers.
• 2006 - Tom Gorzelanny went eight innings of two hit ball and struck out seven as the Bucs beat the Cubs at Wrigley Field 6-0. Xavier Nady went 4-for-5 with three doubles, two RBI and two runs. Jose Castillo and Ronny Paulino homered, had two knocks and chased home a pair of runs apiece.

Frankie v Jon Lester; Lineup (Michael Morse Starting) & Notes

Today's Game - Francisco Liriano (7-6, 2.92) takes on Jon Lester (6-8, 3.26) in a southpaw soiree. Frankie has been the dude his last dozen starts, going 6-2/2.19 though he was a little roughed up in his last outing against the Twins. He has a no-decision this year against the Cubs, but was tough on them last year and is 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 10 career starts. One thing to watch is that the Windy City hitters have been patient against him, and often get his pitch count elevated in a hurry.

Lester has pitched at least seven innings in each of his past seven starts, going 2-2 with a 1.66 ERA over that stretch. In his last outing, he beat the Rox 3-2 and piled up 14 whiffs. The lefty beat the Bucs 4-1 earlier in the year, whipping Gerrit Cole. The game starts at 7:05 and will be on ESPN, Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

A little something to watch for, via ESPN Stats & Info: "The Pirates are scheduled to start Francisco Liriano, JA Happ and Jeff Locke (altho Clint said they may rethink that all-lefty lineup). All three rank in the top 12 in pitches thrown in the lower half of the strike zone. Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant are hitting .433 and .400 against lower-half pitches against the Pirates this season." And don't let the lefty matchups lull you - Rizzo ranks first in the majors in OBP among left-handed batters against left-handed pitchers at .458.

Michael Morse gets tossed right into the fire against a southpaw. S-Rod is at second; we advocated getting The Kid a day off as DH when the team was playing in AL cities, so we're glad to see he's getting some down time tonight. Same ol' otherwise; A-Ram is even at cleanup again.

• The FO sent Jaff Decker down to make room for Michael Morse. Pretty predictable, as Jaff was the only bench guy with an option left. That leaves Travis Ishikawa as the sole LH bat available off the pine, S-Rod as the fourth OF'er and three first basemen. There was no need for a 40-man roster move; the team had a space open on that list.
• Pittsburgh is 11-2 in their last 13 home games and are 35-17 overall at PNC Park this season. The Bucs are 4-6 overall against the Cubs, with a 2-2 record at PNC Park
• The Cubs come into town on a five game winning streak and have scored four or more runs in six of their last eight games. They're tied with the Giants for the second wildcard, four games behind Pittsburgh.
• Neil Walker hit his 10th home run of the season Sunday afternoon, extending his club record to six straight seasons of 10+ homers as a second baseman.
• The Cincinnati Enquirer noted that the Reds and Pirates have played 52 games during the past three seasons. In those games, 34 Cincy players have been hit by pitches and 28 Bucs have worn baseballs.

8/3: Cutch Drilled, The Ol' Switcheroo; Murtaugh In, Bragan Out; HBD Jim, Sid; Drabek Ever So Close

• 1905 - Pittsburgh ended the NY Giants 13 game winning streak with a 10-4 victory at a rockin’ Exposition Park. The Pittsburg Press reported that “...after little rooting in the first five innings,” when the Pirates took the lead in the sixth “The crowd went wild with delight (and) was on its feet for five minutes cheering with might and main and waving hats, canes and hankerchiefs.” In fact, one fan had a fatal heart attack during the action, and a Giant supporter had to be removed by the police after assaulting Pirate owner Barney Dreyfuss in his box; of all things, the attacker was a seminary student decked out in his clerical garb. 3B Dave Brain had three hits and four other Buccos had a pair of knocks apiece. Sam Leever, with help from Pat Flaherty, got the win over Iron Man McGinnity and reliever Sam Wiltse.
• 1914 - The Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federation League took their second straight 1-0 win from Chicago at Exposition Park. Not much info on the games, but Charlton’s Baseball Chronology reports that the Rebels had to lend the Chi-Feds a catcher, Skipper Roberts, to continue their road trip, as the two Windy City receivers were laid up with appendicitis and a broken finger. He played four games for them before returning to the Pittsburgh fold.

Skipper Roberts 1913 via Pgh Rebels snipview

• 1930 - The Pirates won their seventh game in eight outings when they whipped the Chicago Cubs 12-8 at Wrigley Field. Gus Suhr and Adam Comorosky had three RBI while Dick Bartell score three times. All nine Pirates in the lineup had hits for the second day in a row. Ery Brame went the distance for the win.
• 1941 - Ken Heintzelman started both ends of a doubleheader against the Giants at Forbes Field, and the Bucs took both games, 5-4 and 10-5. Heintzelman didn’t get the decision in either contest though; he lasted two innings total and was charged with seven runs. The victories went to relievers Dutch Dietz and Bob Klinger.
• 1952 - The last-place Pirates knocked the Giants 6-1/2 games behind the Dodgers by sweeping a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds‚ 7-0 and 10-8. The two wins matched the hapless Buccos’ longest win streak of the year. Murry Dickson came in for Paul La Palme in the third inning with the bases loaded and an out, getting a DP ball from Bobby Thompson and then cruising 6-2/3 IP with three hits and no runs. Gus Bell was a homer shy of the cycle and drove in a pair of runs. The Pirates jumped out to a 10-1 lead in the closer‚ scoring four times in the sixth, then having the Giants answer with seven scores of their own. The Bucs managed to hang on to the win when the game was called because of darkness.

Gus Bell 1952 Topps series

• 1954 - At Forbes Field‚ Reds manager Birdie Tebbetts started RHP Bud Podbielan‚ but Bucco skipper Fred Haney countered with an all-lefty Pirate lineup. Birdie then lifted Podbielan after one batter and brought in lefty Joe Nuxhall. The ploy worked as the Reds won‚ 7-2. Haney was fooled by an old gambit first pulled, memorably, by manager Bucky Harris in Game 7 of the 1924 World Series. (S/O to John Thorn’s “Old News in Baseball”).
• 1957 - The news that Danny Murtaugh replaced Bobby Bragan as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates was leaked to the press ahead of time‚ and Bragan heard it on the radio before GM Joe L. Brown could reach him. It wasn’t much of a surprise; the quirky Bragan had greased his own skids with an outre incident in Milwaukee when he strolled onto the field sipping a drink through a straw and offered it to the umps a couple of days earlier.
• 1958 - The Cards finally scored against Pittsburgh in a 2-1 loss in the second game of a twin bill at Forbes Field as Red Witt beat Vinegar Bend Mizell. Bob Skinner had both RBI. The Bucs took the opener 2-0 as Bob Friend outdueled Sal Maglie, supported by a Bill Virdon homer and run producing knock from Frank Thomas. St. Louis had nine hits in each game, but found home plate a difficult destination to reach. The day before, Vern Law beat Sam Jones 1-0 on a three hitter, making a lone first inning run stand. In the series opener, Ronnie Kline beat Bob Mabe 2-0, tossing a four hitter in a game that was scoreless until Pittsburgh tallied in the eighth. The Bucs whitewashed the Cards for 33 straight innings in the four game set, and gave up one run on 25 hits.

Bob Skinner 1958 Hires Root Beer promo

• 1959 - The second All Star Game of the year was held at LA Memorial Stadium with P Roy Face, C Smoky Burgess, SS Dick Groat and 2B Bill Mazeroski representing Pittsburgh. The AL won 5-3. Face went two innings, striking out two but was touched up by a solo shot off Rocky Colavito’s bat. Burgess and Groat both went 0-for-1 and Maz was planted on the bench.
• 1959 - RHP Jim Gott was born in Hollywood. Obtained from the Giants off waivers in mid-1987, the Bucs used him as a closer, and he saved 13 games with a 1.45 ERA. In 1988, he broke Teke’s franchise record with 34 saves. But he only appeared once the following year after an elbow injury, and signed with the Dodgers as a free agent for 1990. Gott came back to Pittsburgh for his final season in 1995.
• 1960 - 1B Sid Bream, the harbinger of the Bucco dark ages, was born in Carlisle, PA. Sid played first from 1985-90 for the Pirates with a .269 average, having three pretty solid years from 1986-88. He signed with the Braves in 1990, and in 1992...let’s not talk about it.
• 1961 - The Pirates ran away with a 19-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium for the largest shutout score in an NL night game. The Bucs banged out 24 hits against Al Cicotte, Bob Miller and Lindy McDaniel while Harvey Haddix tossed a four hitter for Pittsburgh. It was the most lopsided shutout in modern NL history at the time, tying a record first set in 1906. Smoky Burgess had six RBI with a pair of homers and Dick Stuart drove in five more, adding a long ball. Bob Skinner and Roberto Clemente scored four times. Clemente had five hits and Bill Mazeroski four.

Smoky Burgess 1964 Topps series

• 1975 - The Bucs eked out a pair in sweeping the Mets in a twin bill at TRS. Pittsburgh took the opener 5-4 in 15 innings when Duffy Dyer led off the extra frame with a homer off Bob Apodaca. Dave Giusti tossed five innings of two hit relief, Al Oliver went 4-for-6, and Larry Demery, the fifth Bicco hurler, got the win. The Pirates jumped to an early lead in the nitecap and hung on for a 4-3 victory, spurred on by Richie Hebner’s 3-for-3 day with a double, homer and four RBI to back John Candelaria.
• 1987 - On his birthday, the Bucs picked up Jim Gott off waivers from the Giants. In a season plus, he saved 47 games for the Pirates, but an elbow injury in 1989 limited him to one outing, and Pittsburgh let him go as a free agent.
• 1989 - A pair of unlikely offensive heroes, Rafael Belliard and Benny DiStefano, teamed up to give the Bucs an extra inning 1-0 win at TRS. With two down in the twelfth, Belliard singled through the left side off Andy McGaffigan, stole second and scored on DiStefano’s knock to left center. Bob Walk tossed eight innings of four hit ball, but the victory went to Doug Bair. 
• 1990 - Doug Drabek, who captured the 1990 Cy Young Award, was one out away from a no-hitter in Philadelphia when he gave up a single through the second base hole to Sil Campusano, who was hitting .188 at the time. The game was a bit lopsided; the Bucs outhit the Phils 18-1 and outscored them 11-0 at Veterans Stadium. Andy Van Slyke and Sid Bream each had a homer and double, and combined for seven RBI.

Doug Drabek 1991 Fleer Ultra series

• 1997 - Post Gazette Pirate beat writer Charley Feeney was inducted into the writer’s wing of the Hall of Fame after winning the 1996 JG Taylor Spink Award. Charley covered the Bucs from 1956-86.
• 1999 - The Bucs bopped the Atlanta Braves 7-1 at TRS. Brian Giles bombed a pair of homers good for four RBI while Al Martin, Kevin Young and Warren Morris added solo shots. Kris Benson went eight innings of four hit ball for the win.
• 2010 - The Pirates jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and held on to beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 at PNC Park. Neil Walker went 3-for-4 with four RBI while Jose Tabata had a pair of hits, two runs scored and one driven home. After Paul Maholm and Evan Meek barely kept the Bucs above water, Joel Hanrahan shut the door in the ninth with a pair of punchouts.
• 2012 - Not only did the Pirates lose 3-0 to the Reds at GABP, but Aroldis Chapman added insult to injury by drilling Andrew McCutchen with a 100 MPH heater with two outs in the ninth. It caused a public furor when the Pirates didn’t go old school and retaliate the next day with James McDonald on the hill. It only intensified when three Bucs were hit in the last two games of the series without a Red getting buzzed, with the fans believing that the lack of response affected clubhouse chemistry. The Pirates were 60-44 going into the game, but the loss started a 19-39 finish.

On Deadline Deals, AJ & Beanballs

On deadline day, the Bucs applied a little putty around the edges. Joakim Soria was the big pickup; he's not lights-out, but is a competent back-ender, and the Pirates needed one more late inning, high-leverage guy.

A-Ram was a necessary band-aid; tho he and Pedro as fielders at the corners, sheesh. In fact, they are pretty much clones at bat, too: Ramirez - .236/11/44; Pedro .233/15/51. Ramirez will be a bench piece when Josh and Jordy return. The FO got someone who was inexpensive in trade value, won't complicate the left side when Josh & Jordy are back, and serves a short-term need.

Joe Blanton came to town to provide the flexibility to the bullpen that Vance Worley couldn't. The Bucs carried Vance as an insurance policy for a long time. The deal made sense when it was struck, but now with AJ possibly done, it looks like the Bucs may have cancelled their policy a little prematurely.

JA Happ's get was purely reactionary on the FO's part after AJ went down; we don't believe they would have gotten him if Vance was still on the roster. And we don't think he'll have a very long leash; the Bucs will pick up someone, either internally (Radhames Liz?) or via an August deal if Ray Searage can't work his magic in a hurry. Those early season injuries to Jameson Taillon, Nick Kingham and Brandon Cumpton cut the Bucco depth down to the bone; that's why they kept Vance around.

Michael Morse? You tell us; maybe the Pirates feel some of that 2014 thunder is still in his stick as they continue their quest for Pedro's caddy. The fact he took the full three days to report isn't exactly the best way to show some enthusiasm; but we guess that can be excused with his recent dizzying journey from Miami to LA to Pittsburgh. At least he'll have a handful of frequent flier miles to cash in this winter.

Joakim Soria was the Bucs big pick up (Image: Root Sports)

The cost wasn't much - cash back and forth, Adrian Sampson, who profiles as a fifth starter, two upside but raw prospects in Yhonathan Barrios and JaCoby Jones, and Jose Tabata, who long ago wore out his welcome.

The Bucs did OK for the moment. Their bullpen is deeper and they put a patch on the left-side infield, especially with JHK playing an acceptable short. But they have to look at a rotation upgrade if AJ's arm is gone.

We wondered if something was amiss, altho AJ does go through dead arm periods historically in August. But his explanation is totally Burnett - he tried to soldier through some pain until it got to the point where he was hurting his club. He'll be tested tomorrow, and already said surgery is off the table. That makes sense; he'd be done for the year if cut, and he's made it plain that this is his swan song. Why go it through it for naught?

Options are awfully limited; Happ isn't a likely long-term answer. In-house, Radhames Liz is on a hot streak at Indy (3-3/1.02; 51 K in 44 IP), maybe they'd look at Angel Sanchez or Chris Volstad, too, or even a reunion with Worley. But depending on tomorrow's results for AJ, bet that they'll be keeping a close eye on the August waiver wires, even if Jeff Locke and Charlie pick up with their consistency.

As an afterthought following the Reds-Bucs rumble, there are two reasons Cutch gets clocked. One is the nature of the beast; the Pirates leading the league in hit batsmen correlates to Pittsburgh pitchers leading the league in hitting batsmen, due as much to pitching philosophy as a mean streak. Cutch is the man and the target; Starling is the #2 guy and not established enough yet to go after, tho he does wear his share of baseballs.

Beanball wars have been around as long as baseball. Byrd and Phillips were both hit hard & high, not with backfoot curves. Until someone outperforms Cutch, the payback cycle will remain the same.

Second, it's again pitching philosophy, but now from the other dugout. Cutch doesn't hit high stuff or inside balls very well, so where would you pitch him? Watch opponents work him; they back him off the plate inside and follow with stuff at the top of the strike zone and away. That's why when he's on top of his game, he's banging balls to right center. So Cutch has a double-ringed bullseye pinned to his jersey.

.

Morton Spins Gem; Brawling Buccos Split Series with 3-0 Win

Well, a whole lotta pitching going on in the first two frames. Rookie Keyvius Sampson had his way with the Bucs and Charlie with the Reds.

The first action was a one-gone double by S-Rod in the third, and an out later, Gregory walked on four wide ones. That set up Starling, who ripped a knee high fastball to center for a two run two bagger. Marlon Byrd (in CF today) slid to stop the ball from getting to the wall; no diff as Gregory was flying. Cutch reached after a 10 pitch at bat on an error by the SS Eugenio Suarez, but JHK bounced out on a nicely made, redemptive play by Suarez to end the music. Ivan DeJesus Jr singled to right with an out. Sampson K'ed trying to bunt him over. Good thing as Brandon Phillips singled. A grounder left the runners aboard.

The Kid opened the fourth with a first pitch triple to right; it was close enough to a long fly that the blue crew reviewed it, and then waved him around; it didn't hit a railing, but a bad-hands fan. The Bucs went down in order afterward, and so did the Redlegs. It was 1-2-3 for the Bucs in the fifth. With two Reds gone, DeJesus singled again. Rookie Kyle Waldrop grabbed a bat for Sampson and went down swinging in his first MLB at-bat.

Pedro Villarreal took the ball in the sixth and sat Pittsburgh down. Skip Schumaker singled with one down, but no damage came of it. Charlie is cruisin' at just 69 tosses. Villarreal 1-2-3'ed the Bucs in the seventh - they only have three hits - and Charlie took the hill for his red flag frame. Bunch of shifts for him - S-Rod moved to first, Pedro Florimon to short, and JHK to third. After two routine grounders, Suarez doubled to right. After a long at-bat, the second the Reds put together this frame, Charlie got his nemesis DeJesus swinging.

Charlie was done after laboring through the seventh and Jaff Decker hit for him. He walked on four pitches, the first runner Villarreal has allowed. A one-out tapper moved him to second. With two down and an open base, Cutch was plunked (likely payback for Byrd's beaning last night), but JHK couldn't cash in the runners; they're going soft on him today.

No, yo' mama! (image from Root Sports)

Tony Watson answered the phone. After an out, he plunked Brandon Phillips in the side; these teams just love each other. Phillips acted like, well, Brandon Phillips, and the benches emptied. No serious brawling broke out, altho some baseball swarming and milling about did take place along with yelling chest thumping and finger-pointing. S-Rod did manage to get himself thrown out, so Travis will get to play some 1B; Joey Votto hit the showers for the Reds along with Marlon Byrd; fair trade. The inning finished quietly.

Jumbo Diaz picked up a pair of whiffs in the ninth along with a tapper, and Mark the Shark took over. Not for long, tho. He gave up a leadoff double to Jay Bruce on a two-strike pitch he left upstairs. After an out, Fran set up inside on Barnhart, and the pitch clipped him in the elbow; the mild-mannered Shark was ejected in a pretty iffy bit of umping. Everyone pleaded their case, but Joe West said the crew had no choice after the warnings were given, and in came Joakim Soria. Ironically, it was only the second guy Mark had nicked all year. Joakim did his job, coming in cold, and a fly and bouncer later, he had his first save as a Bucco, his 24th of the season. That extra back-end arm sure came in handy today.

Seven innings, no runs, five hits, seven K; when Charlie throws strikes and keeps the ball in the park, he's a front liner. Let's hope this outing gets him on a roll so he can step up and replace AJ. As for the brouhaha, live by the sword...the Pirates are the most hit team, and the pitchers lead the league in hit batters. One other noteworthy stat: Pittsburgh had three hits today and needed all that good pitching to win.

Anyway, there's something about Cincy that seems to bring the pot to a boil. Now it's back home to meet the Cubs; Frankie is slated to meet Jon Lester.

• Charlie got a break today, as the afternoon game was a break day for Billy Hamilton and Joey Votto. Not only are both murder on the Bucs, but they're both LH batters, too.
• Michael Morse reports tomorrow; interesting decision to see who gets the ax when he arrives.
• OF Keon Broxton has reached base safely in 26 straight games, the longest Indy streak since Brian Bixler's tear in 2009.
• SS JaCoby Jones, who the Bucs traded to Detroit for Joakim Soria, hit three homers in AA today.

Charlie v Keyvius Sampson; Lineup (Shuffled) & Notes

Today's Game - Charlie Morton (6-4, 4.61) tackles rookie call-up Keyvius Sampson. Streaky Charlie has been scuffling of late; his return to form would be a huge dog-days boost. He hasn't faced the Reds yet this year (he was on the DL early in the season) and is just so-so against Cincy lifetime, with a 5-7 record and 4.34 ERA compiled in 16 starts. But his woes have been at home. In his last five starts at Great American Ball Park, Charlie Morton has gone 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA and the Pirates have won all five games

Today will be Sampson's first career start and second MLB appearance. That outing was against the Pirates on Thursday, and he pitched a clean frame with two whiffs. He features a 94 MPH heater, and his biggest issue, as with many young guys, is control. He was a fourth round draft pick of the Padres in 2009, and Cincy got him off waivers from SD in January. The game starts at 1:10 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

JHK back to cleanup (photo: Tommy Gilligan/USA Today)

Today's Lineup - Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, Cutch CF, Jung-Ho Kang SS, Neil Walker 2B, Fran Cervelli C, Pedro 1B, Sean Rodriguez 3B, Morton P.

Bit of a shake up today, and not because it's a day game. A-Ram sits his first game since returning to Pittsburgh; S-Rod is a better gloveman behind Charlie, and Ramirez's 4-for-30 start (at cleanup, yet) hasn't done much for his Pirate cred. Also, the order is shifted a bit to get better average guys lined up, maybe conceding one inning in the hopes of stringing together one crooked number frame. 

• Power surge: The Pirates have homered in six straight games and 13 times in the last nine games after hitting a total of six long balls in their previous 13 games.
• John Sickel rates all the MLB deadline trades; he gives the Bucs good grades for the A-Ram, Joakim Soria and even JA Happ deals (Morse & Blanton were unrated).
• Tyler Glasnow went 5-2/3 IP for Indy with mixed results. He fanned seven but gave up four runs (one earned) and nine hits. Josh Bell went 1-for-6 in his AAA debut with a walk and the walk-off winner in the 13th inning as Indy won 6-5.
• Greenfield guy Larry Lucchino is stepping down as Bosox CEO at the end of the season. No bad blood; he'll remain part owner and a member of the exec team, but at age 70 is looking for some lower leverage appearances out of Boston's FO bullpen.

8/2: HBD Bucky, Tim; 14 In A Row; Matty, Willie, Cobra Cover Boys; Temper Tantrums

• 1881 - RHP Frederick W. “Bucky” Veil (he went to Bucknell) was born in Tyrone. He only pitched two MLB seasons (1903-04), both for the Bucs, as his career was cut short by malaria bouts. He did have a good arm; Honus Wagner predicted "...A brilliant future for the promising star..." in the Pittsburg Press, although his health held him to just five career victories. He does hold the distinction of being the first relief pitcher in a World Series, when he tossed seven innings against Boston in 1903 after replacing an injured Sam Leever in game two, giving up just one run.

Bucky Veil 1903 (image via SABR)

• 1894 - The Pirates set a club record by scoring in 14 straight innings during a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Browns when they plated a run in the first. They started the streak on July 31st, beating Cincinnati 11-10 while scoring in the last five frames, and then tallied in all eight frames on August 1st against the Reds, winning by a 15-5 count. The games were played at Expo Park.
• 1905 - Temper, temper, Hans: In the course of a 3-1 loss to the New York Giants, Honus Wagner was called out on a bang-bang play at first. Hot at the decision, he fired a baseball past umpire George Bausewine’s noggin during warmups the next inning. The Flying Dutchman was ejected, suspended for three games and fined $40.
• 1919 - Wilbur Cooper allowed two runs on five hits in eight innings in a 4-2 win against the Boston Braves at Forbes Field. Dana Fillingem had the Bucs shutout going into the eight. But a couple of knocks and a couple of walks put Pittsburgh on the board, and Vic Saier’s triple unjammed the sacks to give the Pirates a 4-2 lead.
• 1928 - The Pirates scored 12 runs in the first three innings and ran away with an 18-4 laugher over the Phillies at the Baker Bowl. Glenn Wright (five RBI) and George Grantham (who scored four times) cranked out early three-run homers to pace the attack. Three more runs were driven in by both Pie Traynor and Fred Brickell. Burleigh Grimes coasted to the win.

Fred Brickell 1933 Goudey series

• 1960 - The Pirates defeated the Dodgers 3-0 at Forbes Field behind Vern Law’s five hitter. There was plenty of leather; Roberto Clemente threw behind Norm Larker at first to catch him rounding the base too far after a single, and then Duke Snider robbed Clemente with a one-handed grab in center. A close game was broken up in the seventh when Bill Mazeroski rolled a single up the middle to score Joe Christopher. But the backbreaker came when Dodger hurler Stan Williams mishandled a bunt, leading eventually to a two-out, two-run double by Dick Groat.
• 1966 - Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield was born in Melbourne, Florida. The RH spent his first two seasons (1992-93) as a Buc and went 14-12 with a 4.17 ERA. After a fairly terrible year in AAA Buffalo in 1994, he was released and then spent the next 17 years in Boston, winning 187 games and making an All-Star appearance before hangin’ ‘em up after the 2011 season at the age of 44.
• 1969 - Matty Alou was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Pirate Treasure.” He was a treasure in his second All-Star season, leading the league in hits (231), appearances (746) and at-bats (698).
• 1970 - Pittsburgh outslugged the Braves 10-7 at Atlanta Stadium behind the hot sticks of Bob Robertson and Johnny Jeter. Robertson went long twice and drove home six runs; the other four runs were plated by Jeter, who also homered. Dock Ellis got the win, although Dave Giusti made it interesting in the ninth, giving up three runs on back-to-back Bravo home runs.

Johnny Jeter 1970 Topps series

• 1971 - Willie Stargell was the cover boy for Sports Illustrated as part of the feature article “Pittsburgh Overpowers the East.” The Bucs did take the division that year, and Captain Willie led the way with 48 HR, 125 RBI, .295 BA and a .628 slugging %.
• 1975 - Dave Parker was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Lethal Punch.” In his third big league season, the Cobra put up a .308/25/101 slash for the division-winning Pirates.
• 1977 - The Pirates scored twice in the ninth inning to tie the score 3-3 against Houston at the Astrodome before Bill Robinson hit a two-out, game-winning three-run homer off Dan Larson in the top of the 10th to win it. Robinson had tied the game with a single with Dave Parker aboard the frame before; the throw to third to try to get The Cobra went through third baseman Enos Cabell and both Parker & Robinson scored on the misplay. Larson threw a complete game in a losing effort, giving up just six hits, with five coming in the final 1-⅔ innings. Grant Jackson pitched the final three innings for the Pirates and allowed just one hit to earn the win.
• 1985 - The last-place Pirates dumped a trio of players, trading pitchers John Candelaria and Al Holland along with OF George Hendrick to the Angels for OF Mike Brown and pitchers Pat Clements and Bob Kipper to add some youth to the roster.

Mike Brown 1986 Fleer series

• 1993 - The Cubs beat the Pirates‚ 12-10‚ at Wrigley Field in a game marked by seven HRs‚ six ejections‚ three brushbacks and a brawl. Carlos Garcia had a pair of homers and was beaned in his next at-bat in the sixth by Bob Scanlon, instigating the meet-at-the-mound scrum. Lloyd McClendon and Al Martin also went long for Pittsburgh.
• 2002 - The Bucs walked off with a 6-5 win over the SF Giants at PNC Park. Down a run with two outs in the ninth, Jason Kendall lined a single and Jack Wilson followed with a bloop. Brian Giles drilled Rob Nenn’s 1-2 pitch into left center to plate them both for the win. Adam Hyzdu & Rob Mackowiak homered for the Bucs while Brian Boehringer got the win.
• 2007 - It took 11 innings, but Pittsburgh whipped the SL Cards 6-5 at PNC Park. With two down, Jose Castillo's single scored Ryan Doumit from second. Ronnie Paulino had a homer and double while Salomon Torres picked up the win after two innings of shutout ball.

Bucs: Too Little, Too Late - Reds Hang On For 4-3 Win

Raisel Inglesias had an easy inning to open, with a tapper and walk sandwiched around a couple of whiffs. It was an easy one for Gerrit, too with a punch out and walk, oh and another great diving play by Marte to rob Bruce of a gapper and possible RBI. It was a 1-2-3 second for Inglesias. Marlon Byrd opened with a triple, taking a slider the opposite way to right center. Cutch got caught 'twixt a catch and a hop, and the ball skipped past him. A sac fly made it 1-0.

Gregory singled in the third, but was stranded. Billy Hamilton singled in the Reds half and stole two bases, but one of them wasn't home so it remained 1-0. But not for long; JHK drilled a slider into the second deck in left to tie the game in the fourth. Again, not for long. With an out, Marlon Byrd blooped a single, then Brayan Pena singled off Pedro's glove. Cole got ahead of Eugenio Suarez 1-2, then hung a fat curve over the dish that turned into an RBI double. He escaped, tho, allowing just the one run.

In the fifth, Pedro fouled off two balls down the middle and eventually grounded out by rolling over on ball four. Stew went down looking and Gerrit swinging. Phillips was jammed to open Cincy's half, but fought it off enough to roll a single to right. It took 10 pitches, but Cole punched out Votto. A passed ball moved Phillips to second. Todd Frazier whiffed chasing a full count slider, but it wasn't enough. Jay Bruce rocketed a 97 MPH heater for a double, scoring Phillips before Byrd went down.

Gregory had two more hits tonight (photo Brian Kerbey/Getty Images)

The Bucs went down in order in the sixth. Arquimedes Caminero took over; Cole was at 98 pitches and had a long inning in the fifth, altho he didn't look happy at the news on the bench. Arqie worked a quiet frame. In the seventh, A-Ram tapped out to the pitcher on ball four; he also fouled a couple of fastballs that were center cut. An out later, The Kid lined a knock to right, and Pedro walked. Ishy hit for Stew, and it paid off when he banged one off Inglesias' mitt into center to plate Walker. Burke Badenhop took over, and caught pinch hitter Fran looking; he never took the bat off his shoulders. Joe Blanton called his first call as a Bucco, and got through Hamilton, Phillips and Votto.

JJ Hoover got the call for the Redlegs in the eighth. Gregory greeted him with a dink single. Starling lined out trying to bunt and Cutch K'ed on a foul tip. A-Ram popped out, and that ended that minor threat. Blanton came out for a second frame. After whiffing Frazier, Jay Bruce yanked a changeup to right for a double. and Byrd got plunked high by the next pitch; Balnton will fit right in as a Pirate. Pena rolled over on a changeup, but it bounced into right to load the bases. A sac fly brought in an insurance run.

Aroldis Chapman took the hill. After JHK flew out deep to center on a catch Hamilton made look easier than it was, The Kid dropped a flare for a knock. Clint let Pedro hit against Aroldis looking for him to run into one (there is only one righty left on the bench, S-Rod, and he'll surely hit for Blanton); he didn't, as El Toro went down swinging at a nasty slider.

Rodriguez did get his at bat, and singled Walker to third. Fran dropped a soft shot into center; Neil scored and after the ball was tossed around, the Bucs had runners at second and third - and lefty Gregory Polanco up. But El Coffee had a great, disciplined at bat and drew a 3-2 walk. But Starling didn't have an answer; Chapman worked triple digit heat upstairs and Marte swung through three of them, all which were strikes under the letters.

The Pirates left some plays in the field tonight, a season-long issue for a team that's built on catching the ball, and missed quite a few pitches that were begging to be banged. Cole deserved a little more help as all three runs had a fielding lapse involved, although this whole Reds thing may be messing with his mind, too -  he left a couple of two strike pitches down the middle instead of burying guys. Have no doubt, this is one they should have taken.

• Gerrit Cole has 21 starts; 17 were rated as quality starts; four haven't - the four against the Reds. The Pirates still haven't won a game he's started against Cincinnati.
• El Coffee and The Kid had a pair of hits each tonight.
• Starling's hitting streak ended at 10 games. Bad night for it; he left five runners on base.
• Geez, that was quick. JA Happ is suited up tonight, so Bobby LaFromboise was optioned back to Indy after a 24 hour call up.
• Bad year for John Holdzkom. He's back on the DL with a shoulder sprain, the same thing that slowed him down for most of the summer.

Gerrit v Raisel Iglesias; Lineup & Notes

Today's Game - Gerrit Cole (14-4, 2.14) matches up against Raisel Iglesias. Gerrit has gone 9-2 with a 2.15 ERA in his last 12 starts, averaging seven innings per outing, and has been charged with two or fewer earned runs in 16 of his first 20 assignments. He's a bear away from PNC, too, going 6-2 with a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts this year on the road. But his nemesis is Cincy. Cole is 0-3 with a 5.53 ERA in five career starts against them, and is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in three tries this year, averaging less than five IP per start, all against Mike Leake.

Gerrit hopes to add Cincy to his bucket list (photo Ronald Martinez/USA Today)

Iglesias, a 25 year old rookie right-hander, hasn't faced Pittsburgh and doesn't have a quality start in three outings since missing six weeks with a strained oblique. He's been tough on hitters the first time around the order, but then batters seem to solve him. He can get some swings and misses, tho; he's K'ed eight batters twice. A Cuban defector, he throws a fastball, slider, and curve. The game starts at 7:10 and will be on Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Today's Lineup - Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte RF, Cutch CF, A-Ram 3B, Jung-Ho Kang 3B, Neil Walker 2B, Pedro Alvarez 1B, Chris Stewart C, Cole P.

Normal gang, except Stew's behind the dish with Gerrit on the hill.

• The only team Cole has faced more than once and hasn't beaten is Cincinnati. In fact, the team has lost all five career games the Cole Train has started against the Reds.
• Per Elias, JHK finished July with a .379 BA & 13 extra-base hits, the most productive month for a Pirate rookie since Paul "Big Poison" Waner hit .381 with 14 multi-basers in September, 1926.
• The homer last night was the first run, earned or unearned, that Jared Hughes has given up since June 9th against the Brewers. He's allowed just 2-of-20 inherited runners to score over that span.
• 1B Josh Bell has been sent to Indy from Altoona. He'll join Tyler Glasnow, who was recently promoted and making his first AAA start today. LHP Jeremy Bleich also was bumped up to the Tribe.

8/1: Starg On A Rampage; Cutch Sets HR Mark; Derrek Lee Debut; Lotta Zeroes; Rip's 11 In A Row; HBD Milt, Freddy, Pete; Rally Time

• 1893 - Pittsburgh crushed St. Louis‚ 25-2 in game one of a twin bill‚ then won the second game‚ 6-1 while banging out 17 hits at Robison Field. Frank Killen won both games against the Browns en route to a 36-win season and even had a homer. Jake Beckley had six hits during the day while Jack Glasscock and Denny Lyons added five more apiece.
• 1904 - Charlie Case gave up 11 hits but shut out the Cubs 4-0 at Exposition Park. The difference was in the fielding; Chicago made four errors, all leading to Pittsburgh scores, while the Pirates played flawlessly and occasionally brilliantly behind Case. Ginger Beaumont had three hits for the Bucs, while Tommy Leach and Honus Wagner each added a pair of knocks.
• 1906 - After pitching 10-2/3 innings of no-hit ball at Washington Park, Brooklyn’s Harry McIntyre was touched for a single by Pirates 2B Claude Ritchey. Only 31 Bucs faced McIntyre in the first 10 frames, but Pittsburgh beat the Superbas in the 13th when Bob Ganley singled, went to third on Honus Wagner’s double, and scored on Joe Nealon’s knock to take a 1-0 decision behind Lefty Leifield, who went the distance while tossing a nine hitter.

Joe Nealon 1906 (image via George Burke)

• 1918 - Pittsburgh and Boston played a record 20 scoreless innings before the Pirates won in the 21st by a 2-0 score at Braves Field. Art Nehf went all the way for Boston, while Erskine Mayer worked the first 15 frames for Pittsburgh, followed by Wilbur Cooper. Cooper scored on Max Carey’s two-out knock and Billy Southworth doubled Carey home with an insurance tally.
• 1931 - The Pirates stopped the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 at Forbes Field as Glenn Spencer’s three hitter was the team’s third straight shutout. Paul Waner drove in Pie Traynor in the seventh for the games only run.
• 1943 - Rip Sewell won his eleventh straight start (he did drop a decision as a reliever during that streak) 7-1 over Boston at Forbes Field, tossing a three-hitter. Every game during the skein was a complete game victory.
• 1950 - C Milt May was born in Gary, Indiana. May began (1970-73) and ended (1983-84) his career as a Pirate, batting .261 as a reserve catcher. He was a member of the 1971 World Series club and 1972 pennant winners, and hit .400 (2-for-5) as a pinch hitter in the postseason.

Milt May 1985 Topps series

• 1951 - Pete Mackanin was born in Chicago. He never suited up for the Bucs as a player, but spent several season with the club as skipper and coach. After managing the Hickory Crawdads and Lynchburg Hillcats in 2001 and 2002, he became the Bucco bench coach in 2003. After Lloyd McClendon was fired, Mackanin served as the Pirates' interim manager for the last month of 2005, leading the team to a 12–14 record. He spent the next season managing in the Pirates' minor league system at Bradenton before moving on to work for other clubs.
• 1951 - The Dodgers took a 7-2 lead after three innings against Murry Dickson at Forbes Field, but it wasn’t enough as Brooklyn lost to the Bucs 12-9. The Pirates scored four in the fourth and four more in the eighth‚ sparked by Ralph Kiner's 27th homer‚ and snapped da Bums’ winning streak at 10 games. George Strickland drove home three and homered. The win went to Bill Werle and the save to Ted Wilks.
• 1970 - Willie Stargell smoked three doubles and two home runs against the Braves at Fulton County Stadium. Captain Willie had six RBI and tied a MLB record with five extra base knocks as the Bucs won 20-10. The team set a club record with 14 extra-base hits. Bob Robertson added five more knocks, making Pops and Big Red the first Bucco duo to collect five hits in a game.
• 1972 - 3B/LF Freddy Garcia (not to be mistaken for the veteran AL pitcher) was born in La Romana, Dominican Republic. He played for the Bucs in 1995 and then from 1997-99 as bench depth, hitting .221 over that span.

Freddy Garcia 1995 Upper Deck Top Prospect series

• 2003 - Trailing the Rockies 11-6 with one out and nobody on in bottom of ninth, the Pirates rallied for the win at PNC Park. Four straight runners reached before Abraham Nunez bounced out. With two down, pinch hitter Jeff Reboulet walked, Tike Redman tripled home a pair to tie the game, and Jason Kendall lined a single to left for the win. Deaner Sanchez got the victory.
• 2009 - Andrew McCutchen tied a club record by homering three times in Pittsburgh’s 11-6 victory over the Washington Nats at PNC Park. Cutch became the 10th player in club history to go long three times in the same game, the first since Aramis Ramirez did it on April 8th, 2001, and the first Buc rookie to collect three bombs in a single game. He added six RBI. He hit a solo home run in the first inning to lead off the game against starter Craig Stammen, a two-run shot in the fourth inning off Tyler Clippard and then a three-run homer in the sixth off Logan Kensing, falling a grand slam short of a natural home run cycle.
• 2011 - Derrek Lee was the first Pirate August buy since SS Shawon Dunston in 1997, and made his Pittsburgh debut memorable with two home runs at PNC Park in a 5-3 loss to the Cubs. The excitement was short lived as he was injured soon afterward and missed nearly a month of play, but he came back to hit .337 for the Bucs. There would be no triumphant return in 2012; he retired rather than sign with Pittsburgh.

Derrek Lee 2011 Just Fair series

• 2014 - Behind 4-0 in the fifth, the Pirates went on a late rampage to bury the Arizona D-Backs 9-4 at Chase Field. Pittsburgh scored three runs in the eighth, keyed by Pedro Alvarez’s two run pinch hit double. The Bucs exploded for five more tallies in the ninth. Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer led off with doubles, Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked and four of the next five Pirates connected for singles. Harrison, Mercer and Cutch batted 1-2-3 and had six hits, two walks and seven runs scored in the win. Tony Watson claimed the victory.