Tuesday: Bucs at Cubs, Chad v Jake, Lineup, Notes

Tonight: The first pitch at Wrigley will be at 8:05 with the match carried on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan'

Lineup: Starling Marte LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, John Jaso RF, Jordy Mercer SS, Chris Stewart C, Chad Kuhl P. Looks like Clint decided to play the starters tonight.

Chad climbs the bump tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: Chad Kuhl (6-9, 4.52) takes the bump opposite Jake Arrieta (13-8, 3.49). Cool Chad's last start was a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers at PNC Park Thursday when he lasted just four frames; he walked five, the third time in six outings that Chad has hit that figure. Despite that, he's been pretty solid since June with a 5-4/3.60 line in his last 15 starts. The Bucs are looking for some more length from Kuhl; he's gotten through the sixth inning just three times in his last nine efforts. The Cubs have treated him like a red-haired step child. He's 0-3/13.20 in five lifetime starts and lost 14-3 early in the year, chased before he could get six outs, then working an abbreviated three-inning game (emergency start on two days rest) that the Bucs won 14-3. We need no introduction to Jake Arrieta, who has a 1.78 ERA in the second half of this season. But Jake is 0-2/4.50  in three starts against Pittsburgh this season and has been human in the past couple of campaigns against the boys (in the last six meetings against Arrieta, the Pirates have won five of six, batting .287 w/nine homers, dealing Jake a 7.29 ERA), so we'll see.

Notes:

• It was announced that Jung Ho Kang will play winter ball with the Aguilas Cibaenas of the DWL, managed by Manny Acta. One of his teammates will be one-time Pirates prospect C Reese McGuire, now with Toronto.
• Speaking of winter ball, the Bucs are sending RHP Mitch Keller, SS Cole Tucker, LHP Taylor Hearn, 2B Kevin Kramer, RHP JT Brubaker, LHP Brandon Waddell and OF Logan Hill to the Arizona Fall League.
• Phil Coyne, the Bucs 99-year-old usher from Oakland (he's been working at Forbes Field, TRS and PNC Park for 81! years) was honored with a "Phil Coyne Day" declaration by City Council, 

8/29 Happenings: HBD Jimmie, Woody, Pep, Dode & Billy; Byrne & Ray Deals; RIP Big Poison & More...

• 1883 - UT Jimmie Savage was born in Southington, Connecticut. Savage appeared in a the show for three seasons, including 1914-15 when he played for the Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federal League. Jimmie, then 30-years-old, played mostly in left but filled in at short and third base as needed. He finished his Rebel days with a .278 BA. He stayed local, dying in New Castle, but returned to his family roots and was buried in Southington. 
• 1892 - OF Roy “Woody” Wood was born in Monticello, Arkansas. Roy started his three-year career with the Pirates after playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He hit .286 in a short stint and left baseball after the 1916 season to become a naval aviator in WW1. Woody went back to Fayetteville afterward, opened a dry goods store and was a mover in the town’s civic affairs before passing away at home in 1974.

Pep Young 1940 Play Ball

• 1907 - IF Lemuel Floyd “Pep” Young was born in Jamestown, North Carolina. He played eight years (1933-40) for the Bucs, hitting .264 and playing mainly second, but with some short and third thrown in. The high tide of his career was in 1938, when he received some votes for the NL MVP after hitting .278 in 149 games. As fate would have it, he hurt his knee the next season, and played just 93 games over the final three years of his career (1940-41; 1945). He came by his nickname honestly. Per the Harrisburg Daily Independent "He is the sort of player...who is on his toes all the time, chock full of life and ginger. It was his great display of energy in the minors that earned him the nickname of 'Pep.'" 
• 1909 - The Pirates traded 3B Jap Barbeau, 2B Alan Storke, and cash to the Cardinals for 3B Bobby Byrne. Byrne had his best years as a Buc, playing through the 1913 season and hitting .277 while helping the Pirates to the 1909 World Series title. Barbeau and Storke finished the year strong but both were near the end; Storke was done after 1909 and Barbeau in 1910. 
• 1918 - C Joe “Dode” Schultz Jr. was born in Chicago. He played for the Bucs from 1939-41, hitting .231 as a seldom used reserve and pinch hitter. His dad, Joe Sr., was also a Pirate, donning the Bucco uni in 1916. Dode went on manage the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and replaced Billy Martin as the Tigers skipper in 1973 to cap a long minor league coaching career. As for his nickname, Rory Costello of SABR wrote “As a child, Joe’s parents nicknamed him Dode, although the boy (Joe) ‘had no idea what it meant, if anything.’” The book “Detroit Tigers Lists and More” by Mark Pattison & David Raglin claims Dode is shorthand for “Dodo.” No wonder Joe pleaded ignorance. 

Billy Cox 1941 (photo: Pirate promo)

• 1919 - SS Billy Cox was born in Newport, located in central Pennsylvania. He got a September call-up in 1941, spent four years in the service and became the starting Bucco shortstop in 1946-47, batting .280. He was traded to Brooklyn, moved to the hot corner, and played seven seasons for them and in three World Series. 
• 1953 - TV station WENS (Channel 16) kicked off its entry into the Pittsburgh market by being the first to televise a Pirate game from Forbes Field. There were two high cameras (one behind home, the other on the first base line; eventually, a third field-level camera was added) and the radio announcers, Rosey Rowswell & Bob Prince, did the play-by-play. Oh, the Bucs lost to the St. Louis Cards 5-4 in front of 3,145 that Saturday afternoon despite 2B Johnny O’Brien’s three hits. WENS chose the ballgame to start as they were heavily into sports, televising not only the Bucs but Duquesne basketball and Pittsburgh Hornet hockey. WENS (W-Entertainment, News, Sports) was an ABC affiliate and went off the air in 1957 after Channels 4 & 11 were licensed. 
• 1965 - Hall of Fame OF’er Paul “Big Poison” Waner died in Sarasota, Florida at age 62. Among his many marks were a .333 lifetime BA, 3,152 hits with eight 200+ hit seasons, and a 1927 MVP award. His #11 was retired by the Pirates in 2007. After his playing days, he owned a batting cage establishment in Harmarville. One of the guys he helped develop there was rookie shortstop Dick Groat of Wilkinsburg. 

• 1970 - Dave Giusti was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Pirate Cutthroat.” He finished his “cutthroat” season 9-3 with 26 saves and a 3.06 ERA, working 66 games/103 IP as a multi-inning finisher. 
• 1987 - The Pirates traded 2B Johnny Ray to the Angels for two minor leaguers, 3B Bill Merrifield and LHP Miguel Garcia. With Jose Lind in the wings, the Pirates thought Ray was expendable after seven years and a .286 BA. Maybe he was, but they Bucs sure didn’t get much - Merrifield never played for Pittsburgh and Garcia made 13 Pirate appearances with a 7.71 ERA. Meanwhile, Ray won an All-Star berth and hit .296 in four seasons for the Halos before closing his career in Japan.

8/29 Games: Friend-ly Day, Firsts, So Close..., J-Hay's Day, Robby Does It All, Game Stories

• 1958 - The Bucs squeaked out a 3-2 win against Milwaukee at County Stadium. Dick Stuart went long to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the first inning and Bob Skinner made it 2-0 in the fourth with another solo homer. Pittsburgh pushed across the winning run in the seventh when Hank Foiles brought Frank Thomas home to give Bob Friend the win with ninth-inning help from Don Gross. 

Bob Friend 1958 Hires Root Beer

• 1959 - Bob Friend helped himself by driving in three runs with a two-out, bases loaded double and tossed a nine hitter against the Phils in an 11-1 romp at Forbes Field. Smoky Burgess also chased home a trio of runs with a pair of homers while Dick Groat added four hits. 
• 1984 - God helps those who help themselves: RHP Don Robinson pitched two scoreless innings of relief, knocked in the go-ahead run and scored the insurance marker as the Pirates beat the Astros, 4-2, at The Astrodome. Robinson broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 9th inning with a two-out single and touched home for the fourth run after Tony Pena followed with a double. 
• 1987 - Lotta firsts: Andy Van Slyke hit his first career grand slam off Larry Andersen with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to ice an 8-2 win against the Houston Astros at TRS, extending the Bucco win streak to five games. Mike LaValliere also went deep for the first time on the season and Mike Bielecki picked up his first win of the campaign while tossing the first complete game of his career. His six-hitter topped Nolan Ryan and Larry Anderson. Bobby Bonilla added three hits, including a double, and chased home three runs. 

Andy Van Slyke 1987 Topps

• 1988 - LHP Dave LaPoint became the first Pirate starter to begin his career here with three one-run or fewer starts when he whipped the Reds 8-1 at Riverfront Stadium. He was obtained for reliever Barry Jones in August from the White Sox, finished the year 4-2, and then signed with the Yankees as a FA the following season. 
• 1990 - Barry Bonds went 3-for-4 with five RBI to lead the Bucs to a 10-0, rain-shortened seven inning win over the Braves at Atlanta-Fulton Stadium. Jeff King added three RBI, two off sac flies, as Doug Drabek won his 17th game. The game ended a four game losing streak and followed a clubhouse meeting held by manager Jim Leyland after a lackadaisical 9-0 loss the night before. 
• 1995 - RHP Paul Wagner came within one strike of a no-hitter with a one-hit, 11K, 4-0 win over the Rox at TRS. With two away in the ninth, 1B Andres Galarraga chopped a 3-2 pitch past the mound and over second, where Nelson Liriano made the grab but couldn’t beat The Big Cat to first with his throw. For Wagner, it was just his third win against 13 losses, and the win snapped a six game Pittsburgh losing string. 
• 2000 - Kris Benson shutout the Giants 8-0 at TRS. He gave up one hit in eight frames, a first inning single to Barry Bonds. The Pirates banged four doubles (two by Enrique Wilson), a triple and a homer (John Vander Wal) off Livian Hernandez, who only managed six outs before getting the hook. 

Kris Benson 2000 Bowmans Best

• 2006 - The Pirates scored twice in the 11th on an error and bases loaded walk to defeat the Cubs 7-6 at PNC Park. Matt Capps, the sixth Pirate pitcher, picked up the win while Xavier Nady went 3-for-5 with a double and couple of runs scored. The Cubs had jumped out to a 4-0 lead; the Bucs tied it in the sixth, then the clubs exchanged tallies in the seventh to set up some bonus baseball. 
• 2012 - The Pirates made their last push of the year by dropping the Cards by a 5-0 score behind Wandy Rodriguez at PNC Park. Pedro Alvarez banged a three-run homer to lead the attack. The Bucs moved within a game of the wildcard, having shut out the Redbirds 9-0 the day before with Petey adding another pair of homers and four RBI in support of James McDonald. It was just a tease; Pittsburgh finished September 7-21 and ended the season with just 79 wins. 
• 2014 - It was Josh Harrison day at PNC Park against the Cincinnati Reds. Presented with the Heart & Hustle Award before the game, J-Hay had the key hit in the Pirates come-from-behind, 2-1 win. His triple off Jonathan Broxton scored Andrew Lambo to tie the game in the eighth inning, and Josh came home with the game winner on Jose Tabata’s chopper through a drawn-in infield. Not only did J-Hay have three hits, but made several web-gem plays during the contest, the best of the bunch being a diving stop that he turned into a 5-3 DP and a hustling chase of a bad relay that led to a cut down runner at home. Edinson Volquez had a no-hitter through six frames, but was in line for a loss after Tony Watson, in relief with two outs in the eighth, allowed a soft single to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. Watson got the win (funny game sometimes) and Mark Melancon tossed a perfect ninth for the save. The game was played before a sellout crowd of 37,209 fans.

Pirate Batters Dominated, Fielding Falters In 6-1 Thumping by Cubs

Should be a quick game tonight; Mike Montgomery served up five pitches and Trevor Williams spun nine more to get through the first. Pittsburgh stranded a couple of second-inning raps, but not Chi-town. An Anthony Rizzo double and Ian Happ rap made it 1-0. Trevo left a couple more on in the third. The Cubby pitcher opened the fifth with an infield knock; of course he eventually scored on a sac fly (actually, an extra-base hit denial by a flying Cutch) to make it 2-0. Steven Brault got the call in the sixth. With the bases loaded thx to an intentional walk that set up a lefty-lefty showdown and two outs, Alex Avila bounced a ball weakly to second. S-Rod airmailed the shoulda-been inning-ending toss and by the time the Pirates quit throwing the ball all over the lot (Stew, backing up, fired the apple into center) and the Cubs stopped running, three Bruins had plated. Jordy went deep in the eighth to chase Montgomery and bring on Carl Edwards. Angel Sanchez was tapped for an eighth-inning run, then Wade Davis turned out the lights.

Jordy had half the Bucco hits tonight (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Well, by the looks of the scorecard Clint handed the ump before the game, audition time has started for Pittsburgh as he turned in a Sunday lineup. If you're not going to play your best eight in their most productive order against the team you're chasing, what else could it be?

Notes:

• Jordy had three hits tonight and Freeser chipped in a pair; the rest of the team added one more.
• S-Rod made two errors at second tonight; he made two errors at short yesterday. That may be an indicator that he may not be all the way back from shoulder surgery yet.
• DL'ers Wade LeBlanc & Joaquin Benoit will pitch sim games tomorrow.
• 1B Edwin Espinal was named to the Eastern League All-Star team. Espinal had a .283/15 HR/72 RBI line in 95 games with Altoona before being bumped to Indy.

Monday - Pirates & Cubs, Trevo v Mike Montgomery, Lineup (Hi JL & Dovy, Bye Fraze & JB), Notes

Tonight: The first pitch at Wrigley Field will be delivered at 8:05. AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan will air the contest.

Lineup: S-Rod 2B, Jose Osuna RF, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, David Freese 3B, Starling Marte LF, Jordy Mercer SS, Chris Stewart C, Trevor Williams P. S-Rod & Joey O batting one-two with Freeser & Starling hitting five-six, which thumbs the nose at our old-school sensibilities. We're assuming J-Hay has a scheduled off day, tho we sorta thought this series would be all-hands-on-deck.

Trevo toes the slab tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: Trevor Williams (5-6, 4.40) opens against lefty Mike Montgomery (4-6, 3.43) Trevo ran between some raindrops last outing but got back on track by trading zeroes with Rich Hill for eight frames. He does have some history to overcome - he's considerably worse pitching on the road (4-4, 4.85) and he's 1-1/5.25 in four career appearances (two starts) against the Cubbies, all coming this year. Montgomery will make his second start in place of the injured Jon Lester. He's fit right in, going 2-0 with only one run allowed in 10-1/3 IP (0.87 ERA) in two outings (one in relief, one start) as his replacement. His success has been fueled mainly by a 59% ground ball rate. Monty has faced the Pirates three times from the pen this year, giving up two runs in five IP with four hits, four walks (he can be wild) and four K.

Notes:

• The Pirates have brought back OF Jordan Luplow and RHO Dovydas Neverauskas. Fraze went to the DL (right hammy strain) and Johnny Barbato was optioned back to Indy.
• Don't boo Stew - he's posted a team-best 3.70 catcher’s ERA this season and has been behind the plate for six of the team’s last seven shutouts.

Stew has shepherded his flock well this year (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

• The Pirates have used the fewest starting pitchers (six) in the MLB this year after using 14 different starters last season. The club record for fewest starting pitchers used in one season is seven (1902, 1972 and 1997).
• Indy IF Erich Weiss was named the International League Player-of-the-Week for the week of August 21-27 after hitting .462 with 3 homers, 8 RBI and 9 runs scored. Weiss is the fifth member of the Indians to earn the honor this season, joining LHP Steven Brault (May 15-21 and August 7-13), RHP Tyler Glasnow (July 24-30), INF/OF Joey Terdoslavich (July 13-16) and infielder Jason Rogers (May 15-21).
• With one week left to play, Indy is in first place with a 6-1/2 game lead and Altoona is in first place with a one game lead. With nine games left, Indy's magic number is three. Altoona can clinch a playoff spot as early as today, as the top two teams in the division advance to the Eastern League postseason.
• Bradenton Marauders OF Logan Hill (.266 - 16 HR), SS Cole Tucker (.285 - 36 SB), and RHP Pedro Vasquez (9-6/3.37, 1.152 WHIP) have been named End-of-Season All Stars by the High Class A Florida State League.

8/28 Happenings: HBD Chauncey, Jolly Cholly, Wally & Howie; Schmidt, Oberkfell Deals; Donie Resigns; Brown's Win Streak

• 1873 - IF “Chauncey” Bill Stuart was born in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Bill was a two-sport star, playing halfback for Penn State. He got into 19 games and collected 77 at-bats in 1895 with the Pirates, batting .247; he would get one more major league plate appearance in 1899 with the NY Giants. He retired after that and went into oil speculation. He died in Fort Worth, but was buried at State College. 

Charlie Grimm 1929 (photo Bain News Service/Library of Congress)

• 1898 - Charlie “Jolly Cholly” Grimm was born in St. Louis. The 1B played six years (1919-24) in Pittsburgh, hitting .286, but made his reputation with Chicago in the following dozen years after a big 1924 trade sent him to the Windy City. Charlie became a manager after his playing days with stops in Boston/Milwaukee and the Cubs. He earned his nickname for his cheerful, upbeat manner, ala Chuck Tanner. 
• 1902 - OF Wally Roettger was born in St. Louis. Wally ended his eight-year MLB career (mostly with the Cards and Reds) in Pittsburgh in 1934, hitting .245. A college hoopster beside ballplayer, Wally went on to become the baseball skipper at the University of Illinois from 1935-51 and an assistant basketball coach from 1936-49; he started on that trail when he coached hoops at Illinois Wesleyan during the baseball off-season. His tale had a sad ending; at age 49, with heart problems and failing eyesight, he took his own life. 
• 1911 - Pirate super scout Howie Haak was born in Rochester, NY. Pittsburgh discovered much of its legendary Latino talent from the mid-1950s through the 1980s thanks to Haak's efforts. He recommended that Pittsburgh draft Roberto Clemente from the Brooklyn system and signed Manny Sanguillen, Omar Moreno and Rennie Stennett of Panama; Julian Javier, Tony Pena, Jose DeLeon, and Cecilio Guante of the Dominican Republic; Al McBean of the Virgin Islands and Roman Mejias of Cuba. 

Howie Haak (photo via SABR)

• 1929 - Donie Bush resigned as the Pirate manager, replaced by coach Jewel Ens. Bush took the team to the World Series in 1927, where they were swept by the Murderer’s Row Yankees and played without Kiki Cuyler, who Bush had benched. The Pirates had lost 8-of-9 when Bush resigned and were 14-½ games behind the eventual titlists, the Chicago Cubs. 
• 1940 - Homestead Grays RHP Ray Brown earned his 27th consecutive victory over a two year span when he shut out the Baltimore Elite Giants 5-0 on three hits, bringing his record to 12-0 (he finished 15-4). Brown played for Cum Posey's Grays from 1932-45 and again in 1947-48 (in fact, he married Posey’s daughter Ethel), winning 109 games in his career. He was selected for the Hall of Fame in 2006. 
• 1988 - The Atlanta Braves sent IF Ken Oberkfell and cash to Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Tommy Gregg. Oberkfell spent a season and change with the Bucs as a seldom used reserve while Gregg played nine more years, mostly as a reserve outfielder. 

Jason Schmidt 1997 Circa Thunder (back)

• 1996 - LHP Denny Neagle was traded to the Atlanta Braves for RHP Jason Schmidt, OF Corey Pointer and 1B Ron Wright. Schmidt continued the series of starters developed by the Bucs (like Neagle) who blossomed elsewhere because of salary constraints in Pittsburgh.

8/28 Games: Scoring Large, Tag Team Catch, Streak-Busters, Byrd, El Toro Deliver, Game Stories

• 1925 - The Pirates hung on to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-9 at the Baker Bowl. Kiki Cuyler had four hits, including a pair of inside-the-park homers, Eddie Moore and Clyde Barnhart added three knocks apiece and George Grantham homered. Babe Adams and Tom Sheehan gave up five runs in the bottom of the ninth and Ray Kremer had to come on to get the final out with the bases juiced. He retired pinch hitter Nelson “Chicken” Hawks, who was batting for the second time in the inning and already had a hit and run under his belt. 

Gus Suhr 1933 Goudey

• 1930 - The Pirates scored in double figures for the third straight game, beating the Cincy Reds 11-2 at Forbes Field in the second game of a twin bill after winning 16-12 in the lid lifter. The club started the streak at Wrigley Field with a 10-8 win over the Chicago Cubs. Gus Suhr went 7-for-13 with six runs, eight RBI, two homers, two triples and a double over that span. 
• 1951 - The Bucs ended the New York Giant’s winning streak at 16 games, the longest since 1935, when LHP Howie Pollet tossed a six-hit shutout for a 2-0 win at the Polo Grounds. The Pirates only had three hits (two by rookie Frank Thomas), but were issued eight free passes (three to Ralph Kiner), and both Bucco runs were unearned. 
• 1956 - The Pirates spotted Warren Spahn and the first place Milwaukee Braves a four-run lead at County Stadium, then scored four times in the seventh to tie the game on the back of Dale Long’s three run homer. The Pirates took command the next frame when Dick Groat’s two-out infield knock to the SS hole plated Frank Thomas. A tag team sixth-inning catch may have ignited the Bucs: per the Milwaukee Journal's Cleon Walfoort "Clemente and Bill Virdon robbed Spahn of an extra-base hit and the Braves of one or more runs. Clemente got his glove on the ball against the fence and Virdon grabbed it as it squirted out. It was just after this remarkable catch that the Pirates came to life." 

Roberto Clemente 1958 Topps

• 1959 - Vern Law whitewashed the Philadelphia Phillies 9-0 on five hits at Forbes Field, striking out seven and supported by three solo homers off the bats of Roberto Clemente, Smoky Burgess and Rocky Nelson. Clemente’s was an inside-the-park four-bagger that hit off the flagpole in left center 457’ away on one hop, the deepest part of FF. Pittsburgh banged out ten hits and drew nine walks. 
• 1967 - Roberto Clemente had three hits, including two homers, to lead the Bucs to a 4-3 win over the Braves. He hit the game winner with two out in the tenth at Atlanta Stadium. Denny Ribant got the win, and Juan Pizarro the save. 
• 1974 - The Giants banged out 14 hits at Candlestick Park, but the Bucs took home the win 3-1 in 11 innings on Ed Kirkpatrick’s two-out double. San Francisco stranded 16 runners as Jerry Reuss and game winner Dave Giusti bent but didn’t break. It was Pittsburgh’s sixth straight win and nudged them 1-½ games ahead of the Cardinals. 

Ed Kirkpatrick 1975 SSPC

• 2012 - Pedro Alvarez hit the longest homer by a Pirate to date at PNC Park, bombing a sixth inning Brandon Dickson delivery 469’. The shot cleared the seats in center and bounced onto the Riverwalk beside the Allegheny River during the Bucs 9-0 win over St. Louis. El Toro also added a 422’ shot in the third off Jake Westbrook as James McDonald got the win. 
• 2013 - Newly acquired Marlon Byrd hit a homer and tallied three RBI in his first game with the Bucs to ice Pittsburgh’s 7-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park, with Charlie Morton getting the victory. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Byrd was the third Pirate player to hit a home run and have at least three RBI in his first game with the team after playing for another MLB team earlier in the season. Derrek Lee hit two dingers and had three RBI on August 1st, 2011 after being traded from the Orioles and Shawon Dunston hit two long balls and drove in four runs on September 2nd, 1997 after being acquired from the Cubs.

Pirates Take Series With Down-to-the-Wire 5-2 Decision

The Bucs gift-wrapped a run in the second when Scooter Gennett doubled off Jamo, went to third on a wayward pickoff try by Eli and scored on a sac fly. The Pirates tried to answer in the third off Tyler Mahle, but Fraze's GIDP w/runners on the corners and an out muffled the effort. To boot, Adam hurt himself (looks like a hammy) on the play, bringing Mad Max into the game. Then the Reds punched back, loading the bases with no outs; Jamo worked out of it with a K, pop and fly. Pittsburgh did come back in the forth thx to the J-Gang - J-Bell walked, J-Hay was bopped, and both scored on JJ's two-bagger. Again, the Reds put runners at second and third, thx to S-Rod's two-out mishandle of a grounder, but again JT wiggled out. The cushion was padded when Starling singled, was bunted up and plated on Cutch's knock. The Reds did finally push a run in with a bloop, walk - Jamo was swapped out for AJ Schugel after that - wild pitch and grounder to make it 3-2. It was another bad day at the office for Jamo - four IP, five hits, four walks & four K while tossing 108 pitches.

Felipe added a little drama but brought it home (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Kevin Shackelford and AJ traded zeroes in the sixth. Drew Storen and Huddy did the same in the seventh. The Bucs blew a golden opp in the eighth against Micheal Lorenzen. A Cutch walk and J-Bell double put runners at second and third. After a J-Hay lineout, JJ was given an intentional pass to load 'em.It proved a good move when S-Rod banged into a 6-4-3 DP and a potential crooked number turned into another goose egg. Juan Nicasio also put up a zip the more traditional 1-2-3 way. Raisel Iglesias gave up  a single-double combo to Eli and Freeser to open the ninth, and this time the Bucs cashed in on a two-run rap by Starling. He stole second and moved to third on a grounder, but surprisingly didn't tag on Cucth's medium fly to right and ended up stranded. Felipe came on and a single, later followed by S-Rod's two-out misthrow (he's not having day to write home about), brought up Joey Votto as the tying run. He walked for the fifth time, taking a borderline 3-2 heater to load the bases. But a bouncer later, it was all good and the Jolly Roger unfurled.

JJ chased the first runs home (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Not a thing of beauty, to be sure. 19 runners were left aboard between the two clubs. The Bucs struck out eight more times, bringing the series total to 33. The staff walked seven more after losing six in the opener, a disturbing trend as of late. But hey - they're 3-of-4 in their little league unis; we say make them the alt jersey.

Notes:

• Starling had three hits, JJ a knock and two walks and the trio of Cutch, J-Bell & Eli had a rap and a walk. Partay and Jaso both had a pair of RBI. Marte, btw, has played in just 50 games but holds the team lead in stolen bases with 13.

Marte Partay! (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• Joey Votto walked five times. He tied the MLB record for most pitches seen in five plate appearances with 43 (D'Angelo Jimenez, SD - 2001) since 1988 when pitch count records were first officially kept. Of course, Joey has the teensiest strike zone in the league; he'll be hugely out-of-luck when the robo-umps arrive.
• In his radio show, Neal Huntington said the Bucs may go to a six-man rotation or skip some starts to create innings for Brault/Glasnow and that Austin Meadows will not get a call up. They want him, as previously noted, to play winter ball. (Austin was pulled from the Indy game for undisclosed reasons about the same time Fraze was injured, so NH may have spoken too soon). He said September call-ups will be two-tiered, with an early call followed with some later post-playoff additions.
• Going into today, Juan Nicasio leads the majors in appearances with 64; Felipe Rivero is sixth at 61 though neither is top ten in bullpen innings worked. Both, btw, worked an inning today. Seven of the top 12 pitchers in games pitched come from the NL Central.
• Tyler Mahle's C Chad Wallach was also making his big league bow. Chad is familiar with Tyler as they were the Louisville battery, so while green, there was a comfort zone between the pair. It's the second time this year that Cincy has fielded a MLB debut battery.
• The Tigers recalled OF JaCoby Jones from AAA Toledo. He was dealt to Motown in 2015 for Joakim Soria, and Jones has developed into a good glove, bad bat CF'er.

Sunday; Pirates - Redlegs Finale; Jamo v Tyler Mahle, Lineup, Notes

Today: The Bucs meet Cincinnati in the rubber match at 1:10. The game will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Starling Marte LF, Adam Frazier 2B, Cutch CF, Josh Bell 1B, Josh Harrison 3b, John Jaso RF, S-Rod SS, Elias Diaz C, Jameson Taillon P. Yep, a Sunday lineup. Jordy's b-day gift is a day off.

Jamo looking for a turnaround today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: Jameson Taillon (7-5, 4.85) concludes the set against Tyler Mahle (0-0, 0.00). Jamo walked five and gave up five runs in five innings in his last outing, so we're hoping the strike zone isn't a moving target for him today. He's been through a rough patch, going 2-3/8.24 in the eight starts since the break. Cincy won't be a walk in the park for him - JT is 1-2/7.01  in five career starts against the Reds and been bopped this year. He's 0-2/9.82 in three starts this campaign, so this isn't the ideal nine for him to start a rebound against. Mahle will make his major league debut (he's Cincy's #4 minor-league prospect) and is projected as a mid-rotation arm. He uses four pitches and depends on location rather than sheer stuff. The 22-year-old was promoted to AAA Louisville and was 3-4/2.73 with a 1.10 WHIP, showing good control and some ability to miss a bat. So we'll see what he's got today.

Notes:

• By our count, this is the fifth time that Eli has been called up to the Pirates.
• Felipe Rivero notched his 15th save last night, tying him with Tony Watson for the second-most games save by a Pirates lefty in a season. Mike "Gonzo" Gonzalez had 24 in 2006. Felipe has converted 15-of-16 save opps and worked five multi-inning saves.
• The Pirates have nine walkoff wins (five by homer) this year. Two have been delivered by J-Hay with seven other Bucs playing the hero in the others.
• Following the game today the Pirates head for Chicago, where they are slated to begin a three-game series Monday night. Pittsburgh, believe it or not, has posted a 5-1 record at Wrigley Field so far this season.

8/27 Happenings: HBD Eddie, Cholly, Mike & Jordy; Byrd's the Word; Pedro Reserved; Tiny's Last Start; ASG, Ouch

• 1887 - The Alleghenys gave up the most runs in franchise history when they were bombed by the Boston Beaneaters 28-14 at North Side's Recreation Park. It was the sixth season of the franchise and its first in the NL, where the Alleghenys finished sixth with a record of 55–69. 
• 1894 - IF Eddie Mulligan was born in St. Louis. Mulligan had a long and strong minor league career with short MLB interludes. He made his big league debut with the 1915-16 Chicago Cubs, then returned to the minors. In 1921, he joined the Chicago White Sox after the Black Sox scandal and after two seasons there, he went back to the minors with the San Francisco Seals. Five years later in 1928, Mulligan spent his final season in the majors as a utility infielder for the Pirates, batting .233. Eddie returned to the Pacific Coast League, this time for another decade. He spent 17 years overall in the PCL for eight teams, banged out 2,574 hits. He was elected as a member of the PCL Hall of Fame and was later presented with the King of Baseball award given by Minor League Baseball. 

Eddie Mulligan 1928 (photo Conlon Collection/Getty)

• 1903 - IF Charlie “Cholly” Engle was born in New York City. Cholly had a couple of cups of coffee in the show, then got his only real taste of the bigs with Pittsburgh in 1930 when he got into 67 games, playing 2B, SS & 3B while hitting .264. Cholly played in the minors for eight years after that, then managed on the farm through the 1950 season. Engle then ran a bar/restaurant in San Antonio for 25 years after his baseball days. 
• 1939 - Game Two of the Negro League East-West All-Star game was held at Yankee Stadium. The East, behind Homestead Gray C Josh Gibson’s four RBI, won 10-2. Teammate Buck Leonard also started. Held in addition to the All Star Game played in Chicago each year, the second ASG gave more fans an opportunity to eyeball the action in the pre-TV days. 
• 1949 - Pitcher Ernie “Tiny” Bonham won his last MLB start by an 8-2 count over Philadelphia. The ten year vet had complained of stomach problems, and died September 15th at the age of 36 after surgery performed the week before at Presbyterian Hospital uncovered intestinal cancer. His wife Ruth was the first baseball widow to collect a death benefit under the new player pension plan, receiving $90 a month for the next 10 years. 

Mike Edwards 1977 Topps

• 1952 - IF Mike Edwards was born in Fort Lewis, Washington. Mike was drafted four times, finally signing with the Bucs in 1974 as a seventh-round selection from UCLA. He got his first taste of the bigs with Pittsburgh briefly in 1977 before he was shipped to Oakland as part of the Manny Sanguillen trade. He had a good year in ‘78, but 1980 would be his last MLB campaign. Mike closed out his career playing in Mexico and Japan. 
• 1986 - SS Jordy Mercer was born in Seiling, Oklahoma. He was third-round draft choice in 2008, and the Oklahoma State product also played for Team USA. Mercer rode the pine in 2012, but saw some playing time in 2013 and won the starting job the next season, a spot he still holds. He’s been a dependable if not particularly rangy fielder with a slow-starting bat (he usually ends the year hitting .255-.260) and some occasional pop. 
• 2008 - Pedro Alvarez was placed on the restricted list after the MLBPA filed a grievance against MLB over draft picks being signed minutes after the August 15th deadline (Petey had made a verbal agreement). On September 22nd, Álvarez and the Bucs settled on a four-year major league deal at $6.4M that resolved the complaint to everyone’s satisfaction. 

Marlon Byrd 2013 (photo Mike McGinnis/Getty)

• 2013 - Looking to strengthen the roster down the stretch, the Pirates pulled off a waiver deal with the NY Mets for vets OF Marlon Byrd, C John Buck and $250K for minor league IF Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later (RHP Victor Black). The deal was triggered by Starling Marte’s hand injury, which kept him out of action for three weeks (he returned September 9th) Byrd (.318, three HR, 17 RBI in 30 games) helped the Bucs to a wildcard spot (he last played in 2016 for Cleveland prior to receiving a second PED suspension) while Buck hit well in Pittsburgh (.333 in nine games) before retiring after the 2014 campaign. Dilson has bounced around (he’s in the Reds system now) and Black, after a good showing with the Mets in 2013-14, has been injury-bitten and is now with the SF Giants organization.