9/1 Games: Teke Plays LF, Sandy & Don Dropped, Quail Walk-Off, Pud Gem and More...

• 1877 - Jim “Pud” Galvin and the Allegheny edged St. Louis in 15 innings‚ 1-0. Two days earlier‚ they had beat Milwaukee by the same score in 12 innings, per Charlton’s Baseball Chronology. Both games were played in the International Association, making the Allegheny the first local minor league club; the other area nines were independent teams. The Allegheny finished the season with a 13-6 record, the second best record in the league. The club consisted of twelve players in 1877, all of which later made it the majors and was managed by Denny McKnight, a lifelong Pittsburgh native who also served as the International Association's president. The team folded the next season, not to return until the 1882 campaign.

Pud Galvin 1887 Old Judge

• 1890 - On Labor Day at Washington Park, the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, later known as the Dodgers, won all three games against Pittsburgh in the first tripleheader ever played. The home team swept the visiting Alleghenys, who were renamed the Pirates next season, 10-9, 3-2, and 8-4. The Alleghenys lost the next game to them 5-4 to run their losing streak to 23 games.
• 1917 - The Pirates lost their third straight 1-0 game to the St. Louis Cardinals at Robison Field. The Cards‚ behind the pitching of Red Ames, Oscar Horstmann and Milt Watson‚ outpitched Bob Steele, Wilbur Cooper and Hal Carlson. With the three-in-a-row 1-0 wins, the Cards tied the MLB mark and set the NL standard.
• 1927 - The Pirates tied for the NL’s top spot by beating the Cubs‚ 4-3 at Forbes Field. Joe Harris homered and doubled, with two runs and two RBI, to back Lee Meadows. The Waner brothers cut down Chicago runners at home and third. The Bucs whipped the Cards the next day to take the sole possession of first place and never looked back, winning a sizzling pennant race by 1-½ games.

Joe Harris 1927 (photo via Centerfieldmaz)

• 1963 - The “Quail,” CF’er Bill Virdon, hit a two-out walk off grand slam off Al Worthington to give the Bucs a dramatic 6-4 win over the Reds at Forbes Field. Willie Stargell drove in the other runs with a homer and double. Earl Francis, the third Buc pitcher, got the win.
• 1965 - The Bucs laid losses on aces Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale on the same day during a Forbes Field twinbill with last at-bat rallies. The Pirates defeated Koufax, 3-2, in 11 innings in the opener and then beat Drysdale, 2-1, in the nitecap. Joe Gibbon and Vern Law picked up the victories. Jim Pagliaroni doubled home Willie Stargell to claim the opener while Bill Virdon scored on a two-out error in the eighth to take the nitecap. It was the Bucs 12th win in 14 games and moved them within 2-½ games of LA in the NL pennant race.
• 1979 - Chuck Tanner sent reliever Kent Tekulve from the mound to left field and brought in southpaw Grant Jackson to face lefty Darrell Evans against the Giants with two down in the ninth. (He wanted Tekulve available in case Evans got aboard.) Evans hit a fly to Teke, who waved his arms although no one was within 100' of him and made the catch to finish the game, a 5-3 Bucco win in the opener of a DH at Candlestick Park. It was Teke’s only appearance in the field anywhere but on the mound during his entire pro career. Willie Stargell had two homers and Dale Berra added another in support of the Bruce Kison win. Jim Bibby pitched the Bucs to a 7-2 sweep in the nitecap, backed by Lee Lacy’s three hits, including a homer, two runs scored and three RBI.

Teke multi-tasked on this date - 1979 Topps

• 2008 - Andy LaRoche’s fifth inning, 45’ roller was the only hit against CC Sabathia in a 7-0 Brewer win in Pittsburgh. Sabathia picked up the ball dribbled up the right side and then dropped it. Scorer Bob Webb ruled it a hit almost immediately. Brew Crew players and coaches were livid it wasn’t ruled an error - all except for Sabathia, who blamed himself and not the scorer for LaRoche reaching base. It was the Pirates 10th straight loss.

Bucs Battle But Fall Short 6-5

J-Hay opened by getting aboard on a boot. Josh Bell cracked one to left, but with the wind blowing in at 19MPH, it held up for a routine out. Cutch rolled over and bounced one to third - sound familiar? - and the DP took Jason Hammel out of the inning. The wind didn't bother Kris Bryant; he absolutely hammered a hung hook over the LF wall that would have landed in the street on a calm night. Ryan Vogelsong got out with no further damage at the cost of 20 pitches. Starling dinked a double the opposite way with an out and died at third thx to a sweet stop by Bryant on S-Rod's ball to save a run. The Cubs went quietly.

Pittsburgh went down in order in the third as did Chi-town. Gregory tripled with two gone in the fourth and was left standing. Bryant opened with a single and moved up after a wild pitch. A grounder and two-out walk put Cubbies on the corners, then Addison Russell's single made it 2-0. S-Rod walked with one gone in the fifth and Vogey walked an out later. It cost him when J-Hay bounced one toward the hole and off Bryant's glove - he is human - to plate Rodriguez. Bell eyeballed another walk to load 'em for Cutch, who K'ed after falling in an 0-2 hole thx to a non-swing that was rung up. Chicago acted up with two outs with a triple and walk, but V-Song shut the gate.

Jordy had two hits, two RBI and scored (photo Jim McIssac/Getty)

Hammel tossed a 1-2-3 sixth frame, though at 104 pitches his night has ended. Jorge Soler opened with a two-bagger and the next pitch was lined into center to make it 3-1. That was followed by a walk and Antonio Bastardo was waved in. After an out, a wild pitch moved the runners up and a balk gifted a run. A double that Starling misjudged added to the tally; that was followed by a four pitch walk. He wriggled out with the score now 5-1.

Trevor Cahill took the ball in the seventh. Jordy legged out a knock with an out and Matt Joyce walked. J-Hay's single juiced the sacks. Justin Grimm climbed the hill to face Bell; he caught him looking, as Grimm got a pair of  way generous strike calls (the Strike Zone graphic said strike 3 was called a strike 2% of the time. Plate ump Tony Randozza is having a pretty poor night). Then he rang up a pair of outside strikes against Cutch, but he hung in long enough to eventually earn a pass and make it 5-2. Gregory's bloop to left looked dangerous, but Russell made a sliding grab on the line to save a pair of runs. Juan Nicasio took over and gave back the run with a leadoff walk, one out single and sac fly.

Travis Wood toed the rubber in the eighth. Fran doubled with an out, just missing a dinger, and S-Rod walked. Jordy caught a middle-middle cutter and doubled home the pair. Felix Pena came in against Freeser and walked him. J-Hay went down swinging on three pitches, but moved up the runners when the catchers pick-off throw went astray, putting the tying runs in scoring position. Bell's bouncer left them there. Jared Hughes jogged in and gave up a walk with an out, but a couple of liners found leather to end the frame quietly.

S-Rod manned the hot corner, walked three times and scored twice (photo Archie Carpenter/UPI)

Aroldis Chapman met the meat of the Bucco order in the ninth. Starling singled with two gone and moved up after a wild pitch; then he advanced 90' after another, and Fran knocked him home, singling off a 104 MPH heater. S-Rod walked, and Jordy fought a battle royale, finally doing down after 11 pitches on a nasty slider.

We know there is no try, but the guys ground this game into powder. The Cubs did their part, making a couple of run-saving stops on defense and adding on single scores to support a crooked number inning. But after two loses, the Pirates could have mailed this one in after falling four runs behind. Instead, they kept on keepin' on and fought to the last at bat. And who knows - with a ump that had a clue, they may have came all the way back. Tony Randazzo was an embarrassment tonight, bad for both teams but worse for the visitors, which is the usual MO. We'd hate to see an automated strike zone for many reasons (Russian hackers high on the list, lol), but games like this kinda make you wonder what Optimus Prime would look like in blue.

• J-Hay, Starling, Fran and Jordy had two knocks apiece and S-Rod walked three times. The Pirates had their chances, leaving 12 runners on base.
• The Cubs have scored in the first inning every game this series.
• Cutch ended an eight game hitting streak tonight.
• Chicago is 12-3 against Pittsburgh (8-1 at Wrigley); they've scored four or more runs 13 times.  The Pirates have score 4+ runs seven times in the series.
• @MITFitz noted that the Pirates haven't had a comeback win when trailing in the ninth since 2014.
• Might be bad timing, but the Pirates had a cake in the clubhouse to celebrate Vogey's 10th year in the show.
• Well, that was quick: after swinging a deal with the Pirates for Kyle Lobstein, the Orioles DFA'ed him two hours later to add Drew Stubbs to the roster.
• Neil Walker is "probably opting for surgery," Terry Collins says. The Pittsburgh Kid has a presser scheduled tomorrow to discuss his herniated disk.

Wednesday: Ryan Vogelsong v Jason Hammel, Lineup, Notes (Lobster Dealt, AFL Team)

Tonight: The series concludes at 8:05 and will be carried by Root Sports, ESPN (out of market) and 93.7 The Fan as the Bucs try to avoid the broom.

Pitchers: Ryan Vogelsong (3-3, 3.02) will toss the series finale versus Jason Hammel (13-7, 3.21). Ryan has been a dependable back-ender since he's joined the rotation, getting the Bucs into or through the sixth very competitively. Vogey's one iffy issue has been control; he's walked nine in his last 17 IP. He's faced the Cubs twice this year and was touched for a run in 3-1/3 innings with both outings in relief. Hammel flipped days with the originally scheduled starter, Mike Montgomery. He'll have a chip on his shoulder, as he was peeved at getting a quick hook in his last outing and let skipper Maddon know about it. Not that we can blame Joe - in Hammel's last two games, he's gone 5-2/3 IP, giving up nine ER (13 overall) on 15 hits. But he's beaten Pittsburgh twice this year, working 11-2/3 innings and yielding three earned runs, so we'll see which streak stays intact.

V-Song closes out the Cubbie set (photo Scot Tucker/SF Bay)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Cutch CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, Fran Cervlli C, S-Rod 3B, Jordy SS, Vogelsong P. Freeser's bat has been in the deep freeze this month, so Clint's giving him a day off and putting S-Rod at the hot corner.

• The Pirates traded Kyle Lobstein, who was just DFA'ed, to the O's for LH reliever Zach Phillips. He'll report to Indy but won't go on the 40-man roster. The 29-year-old southpaw slashed 9-3-1/4.45 with 12.5 K/9 against 4.5 BB/9 over 60-2/3 IP at AAA Norfolk, and has 19 MLB appearances over three seasons (last in 2013) with a 3.45 ERA and the same high K, high walk profile.
• The Pirates prospects assigned to the Surprise Seguras of the Arizona League were announced today. They are OF Austin Meadows, IF Eric Wood, C Jin-de Jhang, RHP Montana DuRapau, RHP Dovydas Neverauskas, RHP Edgar Santana & RHP Trevor Williams. It's a fairly loaded group; the Pirates usually send players who are more bubble-prospect types.

8/31 Happenings: HBD Red, Ray, Ramon; Ray, Mad Dog, A-Ram, Shawon, Diaz, Lindell Deals

• 1868 - RHP Phillip “Red” Ehret was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He played for Pittsburgh from 1892-94 and put up a 53-59/3.79 line in 109 starts and 15 relief appearances. Red also played some outfield and got 438 PA in that span (mostly as a pitcher), though he hit just .201. And yes, he was a redhead.
• 1907 - C Ray Berres was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was a Bucco back-up from 1937-40, a good glove guy that hit .225. After his playing days, he was the pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox from 1949 through 1966, then mid-season of 1968 through 1969, primarily under manager Al Lopez. He and Lopez had an interesting history together. Berres served as Lopez’s back-up coming up, and then was later traded to the Pirates for him.

Ray Berres 1940 Play Ball

• 1940 - LHP Ramon Hernandez was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The reliever tossed six years (1971-76) in Pittsburgh, going 23-12-39/2.51 after being signed by Howie Haak, and was a bullpen member of the Bucco division champs of 1972, 1974 and 1975 (he was a September call-up for the 1971 team). In a nine-season career, Hernandez’s line was 23–15-46/ 3.03.
• 1953 - The Pirates sold RHP Johnny Lindell to the Phillies. His knuckler fluttered wildly that year, leading the league in walks and wild pitches. He was listed as a pitcher with the Pirates, but was often used as a pinch-hitter and hit .286, once tying a game with a three-run ninth-inning homer. The Phillies released him in May 1954 after his hybrid pitcher-outfielder role proved to be a not very strong pairing. Lindell was an odd story. He entered the league in 1941 as a pitcher, then was converted to outfield, where he played from 1943-50, earning an All-Star berth once with the Yankees. Then tried to come back again as a knuckleball pitcher after a couple of years in the minors.
• 1981 - The Pirates acquired 2B Johnny Ray and two PTBNLs (pitchers Randy Niemann and Kevin Houston) from the Houston Astros in exchange for IF Phil Garner. Ray spent seven years in Pittsburgh, hitting .286, and was Rookie of the Year runner-up in 1982 to Steve Sax.

Johnny Ray 1982 Donruss

• 1985 - The Pirates traded former batting champion Bill Madlock to the Dodgers for prospects RJ Reynolds‚ Cecil Espy‚ and Sid Bream in a pretty solid deal for the Buccos. Madlock would last two more year in the show. 1B Bream spent six years in Pittsburgh, four as a starter, and hit .269 in that span. Reynolds, a platoon OF, also spent six seasons with Pittsburgh and also hit .269. Bench OF Espy spent a couple of campaigns in town, hitting .254.
• 1994 - In one of their better international deals, the Pirates signed 16 year old Aramis Ramirez as an amateur free agent. A-Ram was the Pirates' last significant signing from the Dominican until the Rene Gayo era began a decade later. Ramirez had a pair of stints with the Bucs to open and close his career.
• 1997 - The Bucs became buyers instead of sellers when they obtained SS Shawon Dunston from the Cubs to bolster the chances of the “Freak Show” team sneaking into the playoffs after Kevin Polcovich injured his ankle. Dunston hit .394 with five homers, but after an 18 game Bucco career was lost to the Indians in free agency after the season.

Shawon Dunston 1998 Fleer

• 2011 - Pittsburgh shipped OF Matt Diaz to the Braves for a PTBNL, P Eliecer Cardenas, who was quickly released. Diaz hit .259 in his brief spell as a Buc and spent two more bench years before hanging up his spikes after the 2013 season.

8/31 Games: ElRoy's Last Outing, 7 In A Row, Rallies...

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

ElRoy Face 1960 TCMA

• 1968 - Steve Blass got the first out against the Atlanta Braves‚ and then moved to LF. ElRoy Face, 40, was in the process of being sold to the Tigers (actually, it was a done deal; Detroit wouldn’t have an open roster spot until September 1), and the club sent him in for one last appearance (legend has it he was asked whether he wanted to start or relieve, and opted to make his last outing from the pen). He retired Felix Millan on one pitch to tie Walter Johnson's MLB record of 802 pitching appearances with one club. Then manager Larry Shepherd came out for him, Blass returned to pitch and the Pirates won 8-0 at Forbes Field.
• 1987 - The Pirates won their seventh straight game, defeating the Atlanta Braves 7-3 at TRS. Andy Van Slyke went 3-for-3 with a homer and walk, scored three times and drove home a pair as Mike Dunne went the distance, tossing a six hitter.
• 1991 - The Pirates rode six innings of perfect relief by Roger Mason, Bill Landrum and game winner Bob Kipper to a 3-2, 12 inning victory over San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium. The Buc tallies came in the second on Barry Bonds’ two-run shot and a leadoff homer to left by Don Slaught off Jose Melendez in the 12th.

Bob Kipper 1991 Fleer

• 1999 - The Bucs rallied in dramatic style to top the Rox at Coors Field in ten innings by a 9-8 score. Kevin Young gave the Bucs an 8-4 lead with a two out, first pitch grand slam down the LF line in the ninth. In the bottom half, six straight runners reached off Mike Williams to make the score 8-8, but Angel Echevarria was thrown out at home by Brian Giles to keep the game knotted. The Bucs came up with four hits and a walk in the tenth, but could only tally a run to take a shaky lead. With two away for Colorado, Dante Bichette singled off Jose Silva and was waved around on Vin Castilla’s double to left center, but was cut down by Al Martin to Mike Benjamin to Keith Osik (7-6-2) to preserve the win.

Hendricks Humbles Bucs 3-0

Kyle Hendricks tossed a 1-2-3 opening frame. Chad Kuhl had lead off hitter Javier Baez 0-2, then brushed his uni for a HBP. An loud out later, Anthony Rizzo got a sinker in the lefty sweet spot and lined it over the ivy to make it 2-0. It was three up, three down in the second for Pittsburgh. Kuhl had Addison Russell 0-2 and walked him to start the frame. He stole second on Fran and scored on a single; Kuhl cut the offline throw and chopped down Miguel Montero steaming into second. Two free runners to lead off turned into two runs.

Chad had a stormy start, then settled in (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bucs went down in order in the third; they've hit one ball out of the infield. The first Cubbie was retired, so the ensuing double (Josh Bell zigged when he should have zagged while tracking a soft bloop, but was in a tough spot because of the shift) and walk didn't cause any damage this time. J-Hay walked to open the fourth and promptly got picked off. Prob no diff as the guys behind him became garden variety outs. The Cubs got a two-out knock to turn the order over. Gregory singled to kick off the fifth. Starling hit into a force and then was nabbed trying to steal second; Pirate runners don't have much of a shelf life tonight. A whiff ended it. Kuhl spun a clean frame.

JJ doubled with two gone in the sixth and was left aboard. AJ Schugel came on; Chad was actually pretty solid after a rough start. The Cubs went down, stranding a leadoff rap. Cutch singled with an out in the seventh. He was forced by Gregory, who stole second. Starling followed with an opposite field liner, but it found leather. AJ spun another clean frame. Hendricks left after 99 tosses, replaced by Carl Edwards Jr in the eighth. Jordy doubled with two gone and Matt Joyce caught a 3-2 hung curve, but his liner to the CF ivy found a mitt, too. Jared Hughes took to the hill, giving up a walk and posting a goose egg.

AJ put up a couple of zeroes (photo USA Today)

Clint isn't the only skipper to use his closer with a three run lead; Maddon sent Aroldis Chapman out to face the top of the order, and 12 fastballs later, it was over.

Kuhl and the bullpen kept the game in reach, but this was the Bucs' toughest matchup. Hendricks is a soft tosser (he never hit 90) with five pitches and pin point control, and the Pirates have been traditionally a fastball hunting team. If a couple of bullets would have found grass, it may have been a different ballgame. They didn't, so just tip your cap to Kyle and hope Vogey has a day tomorrow.

• The Pirates brought up IF Alen Hanson and LH reliever Kelvin Marte from Indy just before tonight's game. Steven Brault and Jameson Taillion were optioned to Bristol, where they'll join Adam Frazier, at least on the roster. All three will be back Friday when the Appy League schedule ends, so neither Jamo nor Brault will miss a start. The Lobster, Kyle Lobstein, was DFA'd to clear space for Marte on the 40-man roster. Now the bullpen and bench are both at regular strength.
• The trainer told the press gang that Ivan Nova looks like he'll make his next start, and JHK should be able to take swings & play in games again shortly. Cole Train said he expects to back on the mound again this season and he's already starting some long toss. So all is good on the injury front.
• With the trade of Tito Polo and Stephen Tarpley, 1B Jose Osuna & RHP Edgar Santana land on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Pirates Prospects list.

Tuesday: Chad Kuhl v Kyle Hendricks, Lineup, Notes (MiLB: Nova PTBNL Named; Good, Bad & Ugly; Ex-Buc Notes)

Tonight: Opening pitch is slated for 8:05 and the contest will be aired by Root Sports, MLB Network (out-of-market) and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: Chad Kuhl (3-1, 3.50) takes on Kyle Hendricks (12-7, 2.19). Cool Chad has been as consistent as clockwork - in his last seven starts, six have gone six IP and he's given up more than two earned runs just once. His last performance showed some strong sinker action; he got 12 ground balls to six flies with five K. But (always a but, right?) that one bad outing was his only appearance against the Cubs when he was chased in the third frame, so we'll see what's he's learned since then. Hendricks, 26, has been brilliant this season and leads MLB starters in ERA. Since May 22, he hasn't given up more than three earned runs, and he's only been tagged for a three-spot twice over 18 starts. Kyle is tough at Wrigley, where he's 8-1, 1.31 in 13 games this season. He gave up seven hits and one run with 12 K over six frames in his only outing against the Bucs this year, back in June.

Chad has his work cut out tonight (photo Gary Vasquez/USA Today)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Josh Bell 1B, Cutch CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte LF, David Freese 3B, Fran Cervelli C, Jordy SS, Kuhl P, Clint's regular lineup.

• From @joe_block - Starling Marte's 17 outfield assists are the most for the Pirates since Dave Parker's 26 in 1977. He's tied for the MLB lead in OF assists with Adam Eaton.
• Gerrit Cole, on the DL until at least September 9th, has rejoined the team after his second opinion test confirmed elbow inflammation and nothing more sinister. 
• The Pirates sent OF Tito Polo and LHP Stephen Tarpley to the Yankees as the PTBNL in the Ivan Nova deal. Neither are among the Pirate elite, but both are young and solid High-A guys ranked among the Bucs Top 30 Prospects, so it's a decent haul for the Bronx Bombers. Polo, 22, slashed .289/.360/.415 with 16 HR over two A levels this year while Tarpley, 23, was 6-4, 4.32.
• Josh Bell was named to the International League postseason all-star team.
• Altoona OF Barrett Barnes was named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the second time this month. He hit .409  with three home runs, two doubles and seven RBIs last week and is slashing .311/.378/.478 for the campaign. 
• @piratesprospects reported that Gift Ngoepe and Dovydas Neverauskas were arrested in Toledo over the weekend during a bar fight. The Pirates have suspended the pair for the remainder of the season, which for Indy ends on September 5th. Tigers prospect Warwick Saupold was also arrested, per Danny Wild's more complete MiLB article.
• Neil Walker has a significant back issue that will need to be carefully managed for the rest of the season, meaning Walker will need regular time off and that it’s a matter of at least some long-term concern, per MLB Trade Rumors Jeff Todd. You could see it coming, but it's still pretty terrible timing for a guy that's approaching free agency.
• The Tigers called up JaCoby Jones, sent to Detroit last year for Joachim Soria, and sent down ex-Bucco Casey McGehee. Motown also outrighted Alex Presley with the intention of signing him to a minor league deal if he clears waivers.
• If you're curious, four is the break-even number of runs for most ball games per Baseball Reference.  Their numbers show that when a team gives up three runs, it wins 60% of its games; when they surrender five runs, it drops to 35%. Four runs win 49% of the contests.

8/30 Happenings: HBD Kiki, Arky Drowns, Gunner & Arlin, Martinez, Buechele Deals

• 1898 - OF Hazen Shirley “Kiki” Cuyler was born in Harrisville, Michigan. The Hall-of-Famer spent his first seven seasons (1921-27) as a Pirate, hitting .336 with a .399 OBP. The end of his Pittsburgh era was rocky. In 1927, Cuyler was benched for nearly half the season because of a dispute with rookie manager Donie Bush. The Pirates went to the World Series, but Cuyler was on the pine, and that November, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He played 11 more seasons and ended his career with a .321 BA. Per SABR, two explanations have been given for his nickname "Kiki." In one version, the players called him "Cuy" in the minors at Nashville, so when a fly ball was judged to be his play, the shortstop would call out "Cuy" as would the second baseman, and the echoed “Cuy-Cuy” caught on with the fans. A variant says that "Kiki Cuyler" was caused by his stuttering problem and was the way Cuyler's name came out when he pronounced it. 

Kiki Cuyler (artwork by Dick Perez)

• 1952 - Arky Vaughan, 40, and friend Bill Wimer drowned in California’s Lost Lake. While the two were fishing, their rowboat overturned. Wimer couldn’t swim, and both men went under when Vaughan tried to save his bud. Vaughan retired with 1,173 runs scored, 926 RBI, 118 steals, a .318 BA and a .406 OBP. His .385 batting average, .491 OBP, and 1.098 OPS in 1935 are Pirate team records, and the batting average is a 20th century record for NL shortstops. Arky was a Hall-of-Famer, included in the Ritter/Honig book The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time and cited by Bill James as the second greatest SS in history, behind only Honus Wagner.
• 1972 - Bob Prince turned the mike over to ex-KDKA announcer Harold Arlin, the first man to ever broadcast a live baseball game. The Gunner allowed him to call a few innings in Pittsburgh while Harold’s grandson‚ Steve Arlin‚ was on the mound for San Diego. Pap didn’t have much to brag about as the Bucs won 11-0, with Manny Sanguillen and Dave Cash combining to drive in seven runs on five hits.
• 1990 - The Pirates picked up vet OF/1B Carmelo Martinez from the Phillies for OF’s Tony Longmire, Wes Chamberlain and Julio Peguero. Martinez lasted less than a season with the Bucs, while the young outfield prospects ended up with bench roles during their brief careers, with Chamberlain the only solid producer of the three.

Carmelo Martinez 1991 Fleer

• 1991 - The Rangers traded 3B Steve Buechele to the Pirates for young pitchers Kurt Miller and Hector Fajardo. Buechele, a FA, signed with the Pirates after the season, but was moved at the next deadline for Danny Jackson after hitting .248 in 453 BA. Miller tossed off-and-on until 1999, appearing in 44 games for the Marlins and Cubs, while Fajardo was done in 1995 after pitching in 28 games for the Rangers.

8/30 Games: Baron of the Bullpen's #22, Andrew 20-20, 12 In-A-Row, Pitching Gems, More...

• 1921 - Dave Robertson connected for the cycle to lead the Bucs to an 8-2 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He scored twice and drove in three runs. George Cutshaw and Clyde Barnhart had three hits each as Whitey Glazner cruised to victory, scattering seven hits for the complete game win.
• 1929 - Pie Traynor went 5-for-5 to lead a 21-hit attack to take an easy 15-0 win from Chicago at Forbes Field. Heinie Meine tossed a three hitter as Pittsburgh dominated. It was the Pirates' fourth win over the Cubs in three days, with the Windy City snapping their losing streak with a 7-6 win the following day.

Pie Traynor 1929 R316 via Kashin Publications

• 1930 - The Pirates swept a twin bill from Cincinnati 5-0 and 3-2 to win their 12th game in 14 outings. The Waner brothers, Paul and Lloyd, scored all five runs in the opener, with George Grantham driving them in three times. Spades Wood tossed a six hitter for the win. Grantham was big in the second game with three hits, two runs and an RBI as Larry French outlasted the Reds’ Larry Benton.
• 1951 - The Pirates rallied from an 8-1 deficit to take a 10-9 victory from the Giants at the Polo Grounds. Frank Thomas hit his first MLB homer and Ralph Kiner won it with a long ball in the ninth. Gus Bell and Pete Castiglione also homered for the Bucs. Pittsburgh climbed back to take the lead in the eighth only to have the Giants tie it, but the G-Men were trumped by Kiner in the end. Murry Dickson blew the save but ultimately got the win, one of 20 he earned during the campaign.
• 1953 - Led by Jim Pendleton's three HR‚ the Milwaukee Braves tied the Yankees' 1939 MLB record for the most homers in a game with eight in their 19-4 pasting of Pittsburgh in the first game of a doubleheader. Eddie Mathews (2)‚ Del Crandall‚ Jack Dittmer‚ and Johnny Logan also went yard. The Pirates were also walloped in the nitecap by an 11-5 tally, giving up four more homers, making for 9,458 disappointed fans at Forbes Field and one very deflated pitching staff.
• 1959 - ElRoy Face notched his 17th straight victory of the year, earning a 10 inning win against Philadelphia 7-6 at Forbes Field after Dick Stuart’s two run double in overtime. The Bucs rallied from a five-run ninth inning deficit on the strength of Danny Kravitz and Stuart homers to sweep the doubleheader. They took the opener 2-1 behind Harvey Haddix’s arm and Bob Skinner’s two-out, ninth inning knock that scored Dick Hoak. Face had also won the last five decisions of 1958, giving him a 22 game winning streak. He finished the year 18-1, and his 18 relief wins remains the major league record. The Baron went a month (6/11-7/12) without giving up a run, and his 22 straight wins is second only to Carl Hubbell’s 24-gamer.

ElRoy Face (photo via SABR)

• 1960 - The Pirates defeated Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers 5-2 at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Bob Friend, with late help from ElRoy Face, picked up the win supported by homers from Dock Groat and Roberto Clemente, who was the only right handed hitter beside Frank Howard to hit one out of the Coliseum the opposite way during the season.
• 2005 - The Milwaukee Brewers fell 6-0 to the Bucs behind Paul Maholm’s four hitter at Miller Park. It was an oasis in an otherwise arid stretch of games that saw Pittsburgh lose 11-of-12 contests. The Bucs put up a five spot in the first inning, keyed by Jack Wilson’s three run, bases loaded double. The Bucs had the bases empty with two outs, but Doug Davis walked four of next the five batters, all on 3-2 pitches, before Wilson cashed in.
• 2006 - Pittsburgh scored three times in the 11th inning to come back against the Cubs 10-9 at PNC Park. Chicago scored twice off Marty McLeary (who got the win), but the Bucs scored on Jose Castillo’s single to cut the lead to one. Ryan Dempster walked Jose Bautista on four pitches to load the bases for Freddie Sanchez, who lined a two run, two out single to right for the win, giving him four RBI on the night. Castillo had four knocks while Jason Bay and Xavier Nady had three hits apiece.

Freddy Sanchez 2006 Upper Deck

• 2011 - Andrew McCutchen was a ray of sunshine in an otherwise dismal outing as he hit a ninth inning homer against the Houston Astros in an 8-2 loss at Minute Maid Park, becoming the eighth Pirate to ring up 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in one season, and the first since Nate McLouth in 2008.
• 2013 - The Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cards 5-0 at PNC Park behind Francisco Liriano’s two hitter and a 3-for-4 night by Garrett Jones, who had four RBI and was a triple short of the cycle. The HR was #100 of his career. Pittsburgh moved back into a Central Division tie for first with the Redbirds in front of a sellout crowd of 38,036.

!3 Inning Roller Coaster Ride Ends In 8-7 Bucco Loss

The canvas was dropped during some afternoon sprinkles, but it was a go for the contest as the tarp was rolled back up about an hour before game time, with possible scattered rain called for tonight. Tomorrow night is being forecast as the wet one, so that might become a long evening of ball.

Jake Arrieta had a 1-2-3 frame; he walked, natch, Josh Bell but he was banged out trying to steal (Josh is, umm, slow). Steven Brault gave up a lead off knock, then threw away a DP comebacker to put Cubbies on the corners. It cost him after a grounder chased home a run. Gregory just missed losing a baseball to open the second; the next two outs were routine. The Cubs added a couple of hits to the tote board, one hard and the other seeing-eye, without causing any damage.

Josh started things off with an opp field dinger (photo/MLB Pipeline)

Three grounders, three outs for the Bucs in the third. The first two Bruins walked, and an out later Jorge Soler lifted a heater to left for a run-scoring double that Marte appeared to give up on, fooling him off the bat. Still... A swinging bunt brought home another Cub to make it 3-0. Bell hasn't been around long enough to have the Jake shakes; he drilled an elevated fastball the opposite way, inside the pole and over the ivy in the fourth. The fourth straight lead off guy reached against Brault and two outs later, Steven brushed Kris Bryant, but he slipped out of it by getting Anthony Rizzo on his 92nd pitch.

Starling opened the fifth with a bloop to right. An out later, he stole second and went to third on an overthrow. Fran couldn't bounce the ball past Arrieta, Starling got caught off third and was picked off in a rundown. The Pirates challenged on a blocking the plate beef and lost, putting up a zero. Jared Hughes gave up a single and that was it. J-Hay singled with one gone in the sixth and swiped second ahead of another Bell walk. Cutch and El Coffee went after the first pitch; Andrew popped out and Gregory popped one into the LF bleachers. In spite of all the mistakes, the Bucs were up 4-3. AJ Schugel came in and hung a clean sheet, with a pair of K and a sweet snag by Harrison.

Gregory's blast turned the score around (photo Ron Chenay/USA Today)

Freeser opened the seventh with an infield rap and Fran worked a walk. With an out, Travis Wood took the ball to face Matt Joyce and won the southpaw showdown with a whiff. It didn't work so well against J-Hay, though, as he doubled home a pair off an 0-2 slider to make it 6-3. S-Rod went to first while Felipe Rivero got Kris Bryant and Rizzo before walking Ben Zobrist, but no blood, no foul.

Cutch greeted Spencer Patton with a single but was erased stealing on a very nice, quick tag by Javier Baez on a slightly off throw. Starling singled with two outs and committed some larceny. Freeser walked but Fran couldn't get the ducks off the pond. Neftali Feliz gave up a lead off two-bagger and a Wilson Contreras homer off a hung slider to make it a horse race again. Another double on a meatball turned up the heat even higher. Every ball hit has been a rocket - and no one is up in the pen. Feliz sucked it up and whiffed the next pair. A wild pitch put the tying run at third. Bryant walked on four pitches in an apparent work around - but to get to Rizzo? Guess that was the plan; he whiffed as Clint's confidence in Neftali paid off, against all odds.

Josh had three hits and three RBI (photo Getty Images)

Felix Pena took the hill for the ninth. J-Hay dropped one for a two-out knock to no avail. Tony Watson came in without a net. He coulda used one when Jorge Solter took him deep to center on an 1-2 fastball to take the game into extra frames. Aroldis Chapman took the ball in the 10th. Gregory walked with one gone and died at first. Jeff Locke gave up an opening dink into center, and an out later another grounder that was a step away from a DP put Cubs on the corner. Bryant was intentionally walked. Rizzo hit one to first; S-Rod stepped on the bag and threw home for the tag, which Fran laid on Baez despite an off-line tpeg from first. The Cubs challenged both outs and lost twice, so it's on to the 11th.

Trevor Cahill toed the rubber, and Jordy singled with one away. J-Hay reached on a boot chasing Jordy to third, with Locke up and no bench players remaining; they're one short after sending down Fraze for AJ. Locke did his job; Harrison didn't as he was hit by the batted ball for the third out (which the grounder probably would have been anyway). It didn't bother Jeff much as he tossed a clean frame. Justin Grimm took over and the middle of the Bucs order swung at everything, making for an easy inning for The Reaper. With an out, Baez tripled to the RC field gap, helped by a bad hop. Locke has became the master of the outre DP; Addison Russell flew out to left and Starling gunned down Baez tagging for home. The throw beat him cleanly and still went to a pointless review (Joe Maddon was being, well, Joe Maddon). This game has had more drama than a soap opera.

Freeser may be heating up; he had two hits and a walk (photo via ESPN)

Lefty Rob Zastryzny stirred for the 13th. Freeser and Fran opened with knocks, then Jordy walked to juice the sacks. S-Rod went up 3-0, took a strike and swung through two more, looking for a blast when a bloop would do. J-Hay came through with a well struck sac fly. Not putting up a crooked number in this situation has been a season-long bug-a-boo. Now it's up to Jeff Locke, in his fourth inning against the top of the Cub order. Dexter Fowler led off with a ground ball single, and Bryant took a tight pitch the other way to put Cubs on the corners. Rizzo singled to tie it, and an intentional walk loaded the sacks with no outs. A pinch hit single ended it.

Well, plenty of action. Locke shouldn't be faulted too much - he threw 76 pitches and went four innings for the first time in a month. Getting a four-inning start with a short bullpen (and they still used six relievers), gifting the Cubs three early runs and then having the back end of the bullpen implode was what lost this game. The team played hard, fought their way out of some tough spots and hopefully can rebound from a brutal loss.

• The Bucco streak of 139 consecutive wins when leading after eight innings was snapped tonight. The last late blown lead was on April 21st, 2015 v the Cubs.
• Gregory Polanco's homer was the 11,000th smacked in Pirates history, per the Bucs PR staff. As @JohnDreker points out, the club actually has 11,058 homers because the franchise started in 1882 as the American Association (considered a major league) Alleghenys. 1887 is the date the team uses because that's when they joined the NL.
• Gerrit Cole was placed on the 15-day DL (retro to August 25th) with posterior inflammation of right elbow, so no one is left standing from the original Cole, Liriano, Niese, Nicasio & Locke rotation that began the season. It also makes us wonder if this is related to his prior triceps injury, as that tendon attaches to the elbow. Anyway, if all goes well, Gerrit is eligible to return September 9th.
• Jung Ho Kang isn't with the Pirates at Wrigley as he was at Milwaukee. He went to Indy to continue his rehab (to clarify: not a rehab assignment yet, just where he's working out). The sniff test suggests that this may be a way to eliminate a potentially big distraction in Chicago as he's still under investigation, although the Pirates say it's just part of the long-range plan they have mapped out for his recovery.
•  Charlie Wilmoth of MLB Trade Rumors opines that Ivan Nova, who will be a FA after the season, could get a JA Happ-type contract offer if he continues to deal through September. Happ got a 3-year, $36M deal from Toronto after a strong 2015 finish in Pittsburgh.
• Nick Kingham worked six innings, allowing one run on three hits, one walk and four punchouts in his first rehab start for Altoona tonight as he works his way back from TJ surgery. The Pirates plan to keep him with the Curve through the AA playoffs.