Bullpen Blows Up Late; Walks & Two-Out Knocks Give Brew Crew a 5-3 Win

The Bucs went quietly against Jhoulys Chacin; the Brew Crew opened with a single and got nada more off Jamison Taillon. Pittsburgh drew an opening walk in the second and nothing else. The Brewers had two runners on with an out via a pair of soft hits, but a timely 4-6-3 DP cleaned it up. Fraze and Gregory got a knock and a walk with two out in the third, but Starling couldn't keep the party going. Milwaukee had runners on the corners with an out, but the bacon was saved when a pop to short right was hauled in by Fraze, who then tossed out a tagging Lorenzo Cain to keep it at zeroes. The Buccaneers went without a peep in the fourth; the Brew Crew turned a walk and double into the game's first run. Pittsburgh went down 1-2-3 in the fifth, as did Milwaukee. Fraze & Gregory opened with knocks to put runners at first and third, and Starling came through with a tying sac fly. El Coffee swiped second but stayed put. Edgar Santana got the ball - Jamo was laboring and at 85 pitches - and sat the Brewers down.

Jamo looked close to his old self today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Jeremy Jeffress toed the slab in the seventh and Cervy worked him for an opening walk. A force and wild pitch moved pinch runner Cool Chad to second where he died. Kyle Crick answered the bell - two walks, a wild pitch and a two-out knock gave the Brew Crew the lead and a passed ball gave them an insurance run. Another walk and wild pitch left Brewers at the corners and brought Steven Brault to the hill to close it down. Josh Hader claimed the mound and struck out the side in the eighth, but in between the K-Fest he walked Gregory and surrendered a game-tying bomb to Starling. George Kontos was banged for a leadoff two-bagger; two outs later, a walk to .105 hitter Eric Sogard left Brewskis at first and third. That brought up Ryan Braun, who doubled home a pair off a center-cut slider. Kontos had been playing with fire; a meatball cutter served two pitches earlier was swung through. Hader had a drama free ninth, save a snap-out by Amore over a called third strike - ump Jeff Kellogg was not having a good day for either side with his calls - and had to be dragged back to the dugout by Clint. So it's back to the ballyard tomorrow for the rubber match.

The Bucs bullpen usage again has to be questioned; Kontos is showing himself to be a middle-guy, not a high-leverage performer, and to use Santana in the sixth after a short start by Jamo, who may have had an inning left in him, while sitting Richard Rodriguez & Michael Feliz for Crick, well... The big hurt was the inability to hit Chacin, who wasn't dazzling today (or most days). Still, the series is the thing, and that will be decided tomorrow afternoon.

Notes:

• Fraze had two of the four Pirates hits; Gregory had a knock, walked twice and drove in all three runs.
• In his pre-game presser, Clint said Nick Kingham's status is still TBD; they plan to reach a decision during the Monday off-day.

Pirates and Brew Crew, Jamo v Chacon & Notes

Today: The opening toss is at 7:10 with the game carried by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Corey Dickerson LF, Fran Cervelli C, Colin Moran 3B, Jordy SS & Jameson Taillon P. Clint's A-Team in action.

Jamo looking for bounceback (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (2-3, 4.83) & RHP Jhoulys Chacin (2-1, 4.54) match up in round two. Jamo was a little better in his last outing, but his last three games have not been up to expectations. A return to form would be quite a Bucco boost. He's 1-3/3.73 in six career starts against Milwaukee. JT went 1-1 in two starts at PNC Park last season, winning a 4-2 decision over Jimmy Nelson and losing a 3-0 match to Brent Suter. Chacon doesn't get deep into games - he's made it to the sixth three times in seven starts and never gone past that frame - and is a good guy to be patient with, as he throws a lot of pitches and gives up walks in bunches. He's 2-3/5.35 in six starts against the Pirates lifetime, so the Buccos have had luck against him. Zach Davies was supposed to get tonight's start, but ended up on the DL w/an inflamed rotator cuff; he's expected to just miss this start with the time off retro to 4/30.

Notes:

• Corey D extended his on-base streak to 13 games last night.
• Cervy has hit safely in his last eight games against the Brewers, going 13-for-27 (.481) with a double and two homers. 
• Fekipe Vazquez tossed 20 pitches in his five-out save last night; he should be good to go, if needed, tonight.
• Kyle Crick has allowed two hits in 21 at bats (.095) with runners on base.

5/5 From the 50s Forward: No ID, No Entry; Stairs Goes Upstairs; Ole Cinco de Mayo; Game Stories

• 1958 - The Bucs were up by ten runs entering the final frame, but hung on by a gnat’s eyelash to claim an 11-10 win over the Giants. Pinch-hitter Don Taussig popped out with the bases loaded to end the game at San Francisco's Seals Stadium. The Giants sent a record six pinch hitters to the plate in the frame‚ and three scored. Don Gross, the fourth pitcher of the inning, got the save for Vern Law. The Pirate attack was led by RC Stevens and Frank Thomas, who both homered and combined for five RBI. 

Don Gross 1959 Pirates

• 1960 - Things looked bleak after six innings for the Bucs at Wrigley Field with the score 7-2 Cubbies. But the Buccos put up a five spot in the seventh (Roberto Clemente’s two-run homer was the biggest blow) to tie it and Bill Virdon won the game with a two-out, two-on triple in the ninth as the Pirates rallied for a 9-7 win. The real heroes were pitchers Jim Umbricht, Fred Green and ElRoy Face who combined to hold Chicago to one run over the final seven frames. 
• 1972 - Dock Ellis and teammates Rennie Stennett and Willie Stargell missed the team bus to Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium. When they arrived late, the security guard asked for identification. None of the trio had any proper papers on them, but they all had their World Series rings engraved with their names and tried to use that as ID. The guard refused to accept that as legit, Dock verbally abused the officer (“I gave him a thousand bleep-bleeps” he told the Pittsburgh Press), had a gun pulled on him (quickly holstered) to quiet him down and then was maced when the guard claimed Ellis cocked his fist at him. The guard also alleged that Ellis was drunk and had a bottle of wine with him; Dock denied that charge. They all eventually got in and Dock was later hauled into Cincinnati Municipal Court for disturbing the peace (the charges were later dropped). To make it a perfect day, the Bucs lost the game 5-4, their eighth defeat in 10 outings.
• 1987 - Behind four long balls, the Bucs defeated the Padres 10-8 at Jack Murphy Stadium. The four-baggers were smacked by Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke, RJ Reynolds and surprisingly, Rafael Belliard, his first career shot. Belliard had two hits and three RBI, and wouldn’t hit his second and final MLB homer until a decade later in 1997. 

Jeff King 1993 Stadium Club

• 1993 - Jeff King went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs as the Pirates beat the Braves and Cy Young winner Greg Maddux 4-1 at Three Rivers Stadium. King’s two-run double in the sixth gave the Bucs the lead and his eighth inning single chased home the final run. Bob Walk allowed one run in seven innings to pick up the win while Stan Belinda earned the save. 
• 1998 - Feliz Cinco de Mayo! The Pirates defeated St. Louis, 5-2, at Three Rivers Stadium as Francisco Cordova became the first Mexican born Pirate pitcher to start a game on Cinco de Mayo for the Bucs since Vicente Padilla (who didn’t factor in the decision) in 1992. Francisco got the win and his Veracruz amigo Ricardo Rincon picked up a hold. Jermaine Allensworth had a pair of hits and two RBI to go with Jose Guillen’s homer in a game the Bucs led from the first inning onward. 
• 2003 - Matt Stairs homered off Houston’s Wade Miller, launching a blast that was estimated to travel 461’ to become the longest ball hit in the history of Minute Maid Park. It was Pittsburgh’s only bright spot as the ‘Stros mauled Kris Benson on the way to an 8-1 victory. Miller carried a perfect game into the sixth until it was broken up by a one out Pokey Reese single and tossed an eight-inning three hitter.

5/5 Through the 40s: Bad Inning; Beanballing; Burleigh's Bops Boston; Takin' Two; HBD Wattie, Eude, Jose & Tommy; RIP Denny

• 1858 - Pirate manager Bill “Wattie” Watkins was born in Brantford, Ontario. In 1898, Watkins was hired as the manager of the Pirates and his club finished in eighth place (out of twelve teams) with a 72–76 record. Watkins returned in 1899 but resigned in May after the team began the season with a 7-15 record. He was known as a strict disciplinarian in an era of free spirits and was also among the first skippers to give signs to hitters from the bench. 

Wattie Watkins (photo Goddwin & Company)

• 1883 - OF Gene “Eude” Curtis was born in Bethany, West Virginia. His MLB resume consists of a 1903 stop with the Pirates, and the Western League call-up tore it up for five games, going 8-for-19 (.421) with a walk, three RBI and two runs scored. The WVU player went on to a seven-year career in the minors, playing for 13 different teams. 
• 1891 - Talk about your bad inning in Chicago: LF Pete Browning bunted into a triple play in the top of the sixth frame and then booted a ball to allow the game’s only run in the bottom half as Pittsburgh lost to the Chicago Colts 1-0. Ed Stein, who tossed a two hitter, took the decision over Pud Galvin, who surrendered six knocks. As the Pittsburgh Press wryly noted of the Pirate hitters: “Sluggers who don’t slug...will rarely win victories.” 
• 1894 - Beanballs go back a long way. Per the Pittsburgh Press: “In the fifth (St. Louis P Pink) Hawley acted as though he were trying to hit (Pirates SS Jack) Glasscock with a pitched ball. Two (pitches) came dangerously close to Jack’s chin and when the third went under his head the shortstop said ‘I’ll throw my bat if you do that again.’ Hawley put the fourth in the same spot and to the surprise of everyone Glasscock sailed his stick toward the pitcher’s box. Hawley got out of the way but did not run when Glasscock rushed up. The men did not come together, however, as (Pirates Captain Patsy) Donovan promptly parted them and restored order. Glasscock was fined $10 for the act.” The article went on to add that “The governor was not asked to order out the militia, but Umpire McQuaid could not have preserved order at Exposition Park had it not been for the timely assistance of Captain Donovan.” The game was as exciting as the sideshow. It was tied 5-5 in the ninth when Donovan made a diving catch in right to close the frame and save a run, then the Pirates won it in their half when Glasscock’s two-out knock scored Patsy from second. Gotta love karma! 

Peacemaker Patsy 1898 (image Whitehead & Hoag)

• 1900 - Executive Denny McKnight passed away in Pittsburgh at age 52 and was buried in Allegheny Cemetery. He owned the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, the predecessors of the Pirates, and helped form the American Association, a major league, serving as the AA’s president until 1886. He was ousted after a rhubarb regarding the contract of Sam Barkley; some say that incident played a role in the Alleghenys jumping to the National League in 1887 with McKnight retaining ownership interests until 1890 when he returned to the business world after William Kerr & Phil Auten became co-owners.
• 1929 - The Boston Braves played their first Sunday home game in history. Apparently they still considered it a day of rest as they lost to Pirates, 7-2, before 35,000 fans. P Burleigh Grimes aided his own cause by starting a third inning triple play. Five Bucs had a pair of knocks each, and the Waner brothers, Paul and Lloyd, each tripled at Braves Field. 
• 1935 - Pirate infielder Jose Pagan was born in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico. After spending seven years with the Giants, the infielder played in Pittsburgh for the next eight seasons (1965-72). He was used in every position but pitcher and center field during his time here and hit .263 as the Bucs super-sub. Pagan played four games in the 1971 series and doubled home Willie Stargell with the eventual winning run in the eighth inning of Game Seven. 

Jose Pagan 1971 Dell Stamp

• 1941 - IF Tommy Helms was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. Helms spent 1976 and a bit of 1977 in Pittsburgh (.242 BA as a utilityman) as part of his 14-year MLB resume. The Pirates got him from Houston for Art Howe, sold him to Oakland a year later, got him back four months after that in the Phil Garner mega deal, then released him in June. He finished the 1977 campaign with Boston to conclude his major league stay. He coached and managed for the Reds briefly, leaving the organization after feuding with owner Marge Schott. 
• 1946 - The Bucs took two from the first place Brooklyn Dodgers, 5-4, in 11 innings and 4-3 in a six-inning game shortened by the Sunday curfew. The game drew an overflow crowd of 37,953. The SRO folk were on the field behind ropes, and the teams combined for nine ground rule doubles that ended up in the sea of unseated fans at Forbes Field. Jack Hallett won the opener and Preacher Roe took the nightcap. Billy Cox had the hot stick, with four hits, including a pair of two baggers, and three RBI over the course of the afternoon.

Bucs Ride Corey D, Starling & Freeser Homers To 6-4 Win

Gregory worked Junior Guerra for a one-out walk, coming back from 0-2, and Starling singled him to second. A wayward pickoff try by catcher Manny Pina moved them up 90' with two away and a Corey D walk juiced the sacks. A Cervy walk made it 1-0 before Colin Moran K'ed, swinging at a splitter in the dirt. The Bucs got some but left some. The Brewers drew a two-out walk off Nick Kingham before he ended the frame. He was a little wild, too, using 21 pitches. Guerra had an easy second with two grounders and Fraze's second K. Pina made amends for his throwing error by taking a first-pitch four seamer long to tie the game. J-Bell singled with two outs in the third. Two pitches later, Corey D pounded a heater into the second deck to retake the lead. Cervy walked and went to second on a passed ball, but Red Beard couldn't cash him in. The King cruised through the Brewers.

Pretty good deal to get him, no? (graphic Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bucs were quiet in the fourth. A one-out double and wild pitch set up the Brewskis, but a whiff and bouncer cleaned it up. Gregory opened the fifth with a knock and sprinted home when Starling banged a stand-up, inside-the-park job to left center that took a Bucco bounce off the angled wall; the ball wasn't back to the infield when Marte touched home. With two outs, Cervy almost legged out a double; originally ruled safe at second, the inning ended with a successful Brewer challenge of the tag. Milwaukee got an infield knock but had no other answer. Brent Suter calmed the Buc bats in the sixth while Kingham ran into problems; a double/single combo to open the frame plated a run. An out later, a hung 0-2 slider to Domingo Santana was dropped into the seats to make it a one run game and brought on Edgar Santana, who shut the gate.

S-Rod opened with a single and Gregory was bopped to start the seventh, but Sutter shut it down, with the third out a Corey D at 'em ball to first. Michael Feliz gave up a soft flare to open, then struck out the side, with a little drama added thanks to a two-out walk. Matt Albers got the eighth; Moran singled with an out and Jordy bounced into a DP, rolling over on a slider off the plate. George Kontos got the Brew Crew's 4-5-6 hitters. After an out and a knock, Felipe Vazquez was waved in for a five-out save. He walked the first guy he faced, but a nice running catch by Gregory and a whiff shut the window. Taylor Williams fell behind Freeser, 2-0, to start the ninth; David then smoked a heater the opposite way for a dinger and a little more room to breath. S-Rod walked, as did J-Bell two outs later. A wild pitch moved them up, but a fly ball left them on ice. It's never easy; the Brewers opened with a knock on a 50-50 ball to center; no diff - a DP and K made it time to RTJR.

This guys been pretty good himself... (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lots of action tonight and lots of opportunities for both clubs. It's nice to see the Pirates continue to play strong in the division (9-of-11 so far) and another solid start from Nick Kingham, who was one pitch away from another strong outing.
You have to wonder if George Kontos' eighth inning role isn't winding down; he's struck out just two of the 60 batters he's faced this year. We're wondering if bringing in Felipe was a change of thinking for Clint or just a no-confidence vote for Knotos.

Notes:

• Starling's inside-the-park homer was the Bucs first of the year; the last was Adam Frazier's on September 9th, 2017 v the Cardinals at Busch Stadium, also a stand-up four-bagger. Marte had two hits on the night; Cervy reached base three times with a knock and two walks.
• Corey Dickerson's homer was the first of the year surrendered by Guerra and Cory D's fifth of the campaign.
• Albert Pujols got his 3,000th hit tonight, a single to right off Mike Leake. Tip o' the cap to Sir Albert, who tortured the Bucs for a quite a spell.

Bucs @ Brewers, Kingham v Guerra & Notes

Today: The game starts at 8:10 as the Bucs begin a three-game set at Miller Park. AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan will carry the action.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Corey Dickerson LF, Fran Cervelli C, Colin Moran 3B, Jordy SS & Nick Kingham P. The usual suspects.

The King looking to keep it rollin' (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Nick Kingham (1-0, 0.00) opens the series v RHP Junior Guerra (2-1, 0.82). Nick was about as good as you could be in his first outing and could make things interesting decision-wise for the FO when Joe Musgrove returns if he can stay sharp; his slider was a revelation. He's replaced Steven Brault in the rotation but will have his hands full against Guerra. The 33-year-old Junior started in AAA, but in four starts since his call up has given up just two earned runs on 13 hits and eight walks with 21 whiffs in 22 IP. He had a miserable 2017, but went to work in the winter leagues and returned sharp. In five starts against Pittsburgh, his line is 1-0/2.86, so he's got a good resume v the Bucs.

Notes:

• Milwaukee has won 11-of-15 and lead the NL Central ay 19-13, two games ahead of the Bucs. The Pirates, tho, should be glad to return to meet an old foe - they're 8-2 against NL Central rivals.
• Mad Max made his big league debut here at Miller Park on 7/31/16. He went 4-for-12 last year against the Brewers.
• AJ Schugel had a recurrence of right shoulder discomfort. His Indy rehab stint has ended for now and he'll get reevaluated.
• Ke'Bryan Hayes was presented with the 2017 MiLB/Rawlings Gold Glove Award for being the best defensive third baseman in the minors before last night's Altoona Curve game.
• Writer John Perrotto had cancer surgery; we're wishing the hard-working scribe a quick recovery and return to the beat.
• That was quick: the Braves, who had just signed Joey Bats two weeks ago, called him up today as a third baseman.

5/4 From the 50s Forward: Big Innings; Roman Launches Three; Jose's Streak, Bucco Stories; HBD Ken & Jason

• 1951 - Pete Castiglione tripled on the second pitch that NY hurler Sal Maglie tossed and that would be the only hit The Barber surrendered in a 5-1 Giant win at the Polo Grounds. It wasn’t a gem, as Maglie walked five, but he had the Buccos’ number - it was his seventh straight win over Pittsburgh. 

Roberto 1955 Topps

• 1955 - Sweet redemption: After going hitless and making a ninth inning error, Roberto Clemente climbed the wall in right to take away extra bases from George Crowe with Braves on second and third to close out a 5-4 Pirate win over Milwaukee at Forbes Field. Dale Long and Gene Freese had a pair of RBI apiece while Bob Friend saved the game for Max Surkont. 
• 1956 - IF Ken Oberkfell was born in Highland, Illinois. Ken played 16 years in the majors and spent the second half of 1988 and the early weeks of 1989 in Pittsburgh, where he made the transition from a 100-game-per-year player to a utility bench guy. He got into 34 games as a Pirate and hit just .181 before being sent to the Giants. He coached for 14 years in the Mets system, took a break and at last check was coaching a hometown indie league squad while tending to family duties. 
• 1958 - At Seals Stadium‚ Roman Mejias hit three HRs in the nitecap of a DH with San Francisco to lead Pittsburgh to a 6-2 win and a split after losing the opener 4-3. Mejias hit two more homers the rest of the season. His four RBI helped Ronnie Kline to victory, with ElRoy Face coming on in the ninth for the save. 
• 1963 - Another Bucco winner: Chateaugay, owned by Pirates owner John W. Galbreath and bred on his Darby Dan racing farm, won the Kentucky Derby. 

Maz brought his bat 1967 Topps

• 1967 - The Bucs ran away from the Dodgers by scoring seven runs in the seventh to take a 9-3 victory over LA at Forbes Field. They literally pounded Dodger ace Don Drysdale; Roberto Clemente drilled a liner off his hand and Donn Clendenon smacked one so hard off his ankle that it bounced to first for the putout. He had to leave, battered and bruised, after six, and the Bucs rallied for the win the next inning against a trio of LA relievers. Bill Mazeroski had three RBI while Clemente and Maury Wills collected three hits each to help Bob Veale earn the W. 
• 1976 - OF Jason Michaels was born in Tampa, Florida. The outfielder spent 11 seasons and over 1,000 games in the show, playing in Pittsburgh in 2008 and batting .228 while getting into 102 games after the Bucs had claimed him from the Indians in May. Houston picked him up in the off season and he spent his final three MLB years as an Astro. He coached briefly in Washington and now runs a consulting business in Tampa. 
• 1992 - The Bucs scored 11 runs in the sixth inning after falling behind 5-1 to whip the Reds 12-5 at TRS. Don Slaught, Jose Lind and Cecil Espy all had a pair of raps in the frame. Andy Van Slyke led the hit parade with four knocks; Jeff King added three. It was the first time since 1942 that the Pirates scored 11 runs in an inning. Zane Smith gave up five runs in five innings; Dennis Lamp, who got the win, Bob Patterson and Stan Belinda had to finish up. 

• 1992 - Barry Bonds hit the daily double, being featured on the cover of both The Sporting News (“You Thought What?”) and Sports Illustrated (“Bonds Away.”). BB was a fitting selection - Bonds slashed .311/34/103 and won the MVP in his last Pirate campaign. He would be the last Pirate on SI’s cover until 2013, when Jason Grilli won the honor. 
• 2005 - Jose Mesa set a record by earning his 10th save in a 6-4 win over the Astros at Minute Maid Park; it was the longest streak of saving every team win (the Pirates were 10-16 after the victory) to start a season. Pittsburgh fell behind 3-0 and it took them the whole game to get the lead back; they scored three times in the ninth thanks to Jason Bay and Daryl Ward homers to take a 6-3 lead. Jose was tapped for a run on a double that eventually came around but it was plenty good enough a performance to close out a win for Salomon Torres, who came on to spell Mark Redman. Rob Mackowiak had three hits while Bay and David Ross each added a pair. The streak ended the next day when the Pirates beat Arizona 6-2 without any Mesa intervention.  
• 2011 - Ryan Doumit blasted a third-inning grand slam as the Bucs put up six runs in the frame (all unearned; the Friars booted back-to-back balls to start the inning) on the way to a 7-4 win against San Diego at Petco Park. The other run was manufactured via two walks and a stolen base, with Neil Walker scoring when SD couldn’t turn a DP. Kevin Correia got the W with help from Chris Resop, Daniel McCutchen and Jose Veras.

5/4 Through the 30s: Babe's Day; Hans Tribute; Stopper Vic, HBD Smokey, Zip, Vic & Lou

• 1875 - OF Lou Gertenrich was born in Chicago. His MLB career consisted of six at-bats, half with the 1903 Pirates as he went 0-for-3. He was somewhat of a semi-pro legend in the Windy City who played sporadically in the pros as he was a well-off businessman (his family was in the chocolates business) besides ballplayer. He got his day as a Bucco when the Pirates were in Chicago. Manager Fred Clarke, who was injured, had given outfielder Jimmy Sebring three days off for his wedding and being a man down, the Buccos used Gertenrich for the match. He went hitless, but did lay down a bunt and played the pasture flawlessly. Though he did stay local, he dabbled in the pro ranks off-and-on until 1913, closing his career out with the then-independent Federal League Chicago Keeleys. After that season, he continued to play semi-pro ball in The Windy City until he passed away in 1933. 

Lou Gertenrich 1922 Ad Card

• 1891 - 1B Vic Saier was born in Lansing, Michigan. Vic took over first base for Frank Evers (Tinker-to-Evans-to-Chance) in 1911. He had six good seasons for the Cubs before he broke his leg in 1917, missing almost all that year and 1918, when he worked in a defense factory. The Bucs took a chance on him in 1919, but Saier hit only .223 in 58 games and was released before the season was over; some say the performance was because he was unhappy that he was no longer a Cub. 
• 1892 - OF John Edgar “Zip” Collins was born in Brooklyn. Collins started his career in Pittsburgh in 1914-15 and also played with the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Athletics during his five-year big league run. He came to Pittsburgh as a 22-year-old hotshot out of the Texas League and he did hit .276 during his Pirates tenure before being sold to Boston late in the 1915 campaign. Zip got his nickname because of his strong arm; he had 20 assists for the Pirates, but his 18 errors offset his rifle arm. 
• 1908 - After losing three in a row at Cincinnati’s Palace of the Fans, Vic Willis tossed a five hitter to top Billy Campbell and the Reds 1-0. Honus Wagner tripled in the seventh and a grounder by Ed “Abby” Abbaticchio brought him home. 

Babe Adams 1909-11 T206

• 1909 - The Pirates won their fourth straight over the Cubs by beating Mordecai “Three-Finger” Brown 1-0 in 11 innings at West Side Park behind a Dots Miller RBI and Babe Adams shutout. It was the second time in three weeks that the Pirates defeated the hard-luck Brown 1-0 in extra innings. 
• 1913 - Pitcher Babe Adams was a one man wrecking crew at Redland Field. He threw a two hit shutout against Cincinnati and drove home the game's only run with the Pirates only hit, a triple. The 31 year old Adams (he pitched until he was 40) was the team ace that year, winning 21 games with a 2.15 ERA while working 313-⅓ innings. 
• 1931 - P/SS Lenora “Smokey” Mandella was born in McKeesport. She played for four different clubs in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League between 1949 and 1951. She got her break when she impressed AAGBL scouts in a tryout at Renziehausen Park and from there went on to start her baseball career with the South Bend Blue Sox. After the league dissolved (she finished 4-8 on the hill with a .127 BA between 1950-51 w/no record of her first-year stats), Smokey stay involved with softball in the Steel Valley, coaching for 30 years. Her nickname was due to her strong arm and smokin’ hot fastball. 

Smokey Mandella 1949-51 Fritsch

• 1933 - The Brooklyn Dodgers tossed a Honus Wagner tribute day at Ebbets Field for their legendary foe. 10,000 showed up for the affair, and the Pirates didn’t spoil the day for their first-year coach, rallying for a 2-1 win behind the pitching of Heinie Meine and Tony Piet’s three hits. It was the first time Wagner appeared in Brooklyn since his playing days ended in 1917. Hans received a proclamation at City Hall, and when the crowd outside clamored for a speech, Honus told them diplomatically that his memory of Ebbets Field and the Dodgers was that “Sometimes you got me out and sometimes you didn’t” before a motorcade parade took him to the ballyard.

DC Homers Lead To Sweep, 3-1

Gregory doubled with an out against Jeremy Hellickson, who promptly whiffed Starling and Freeser. Willy tossed a 1-2-3 frame. Corey D singled to open the second, then Eli grounded into a DP, so what else is new? The Nats again went down quietly. It was three up, three down for Pittsburgh in the third. The DC nine used a knock and a walk to make some noise in their half, but no damage was done except to Trevor's pitch count. It was eight-in-a-row for Hellickson after four, and Willy kept pace with a clean inning. Make it 11 straight after five for the Bucs and it was quiet again for Washington, too. Fraze broke the sit-down string with a two-out rap in the sixth; Sammy Solis came on to retire El Coffee. The Nats lit the board when a single and Trea Turner line-drive dinger that made it 2-0. With two outs, Ryan Zimmerman smoked another big fly, bringing on Edgar Santana.

Willy had given up one homer going into today's 6th inning
(photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Brandon Kintzler took the ball in the seventh. Freeser singled off Turner's glove with an out; he never got off first. Michael Feliz climbed the bump and had a no drama frame. Ryan Madson bopped Red Beard to open the eighth and pinch hitter J-Bell singled an out later. Fraze didn't have much of an at-bat, but the Nats bobbled his potential DP grounder to load the sacks. That triggered a call for Sean Doolittle, their closer, for a five-out save. He gave up a run when Gregory beat the rap by a hair on a possible twin killing grounder and Starling flew out, so advantage Nationals, blowing a pair of double plays yet escaping with just one run. George Kontos gave up a leadoff walk and nothing else. The Pirates went down 1-2-3 and Washington broke out the brooms.

Hellickson has always pitched well against the Bucs, but we have to wonder why Clint is so married to the batting order. In 11 of the past 20 games, they've scored two runs or fewer (they're 6-11 since J-Hay was injured, if you're wondering). But ours not to question why...and now it's off to Miller Park.

Notes:

• Pittsburgh had five hits; no runner reached base more than once. Seems familiar...
• The Pirates have been swept in their last two road series by the Phils and Nationals eight games-to-zip; looks like this year the NL East is their poisoned apple.
• The Nats were into Bucs and pucks today. They showed the Tuesday game-winning Caps goal on the big screen a couple of times and one of their racing presidents carried a hockey stick and "Beat Pittsburgh" sign (Honest Abe even cross-checked The Rough Rider over an infield railing, shades of Tom Wilson!)
• Jose Osuna was named the MiLB.com Class AAA Player of the Month for April.
• The Goose is on the loose again. IF Phil Gosselin was claimed by the Braves after being released by the Reds.
• The Mariners announced today that Ichiro is retiring and moving to a front office role where he’ll serve as a special assistant effective immediately. 44-year-old Icharo was hitting just .205, but with 3,000+ knocks is a sure Hall-of-Famer.

Pirates-Nationals Close Out Series, Willy v Hellickson & Notes

Today: It's getaway day in DC with first pitch due at 1:05. The game will be aired by the MLB Network and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, David Freese 1B, Corey Dickerson LF, Elias Diaz C, Colin Moran 3B, S-Rod SS & Trevor Williams P. Eli, Freeser & S-Rod are on the getaway day card, and Fraze is back. Starling got his day off; J-Bell is the last Bucco to get a blow. Still, we can't figure why Clint won't adjust his lineup; Fraze is on the second-baseman's leadoff line, Freeser was slid into Bell's cleanup spot, Eli into Cervy's six spot and Sean into Jordy's eight hole.

Willy looks to be the stopper today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (4-1, 2.29) concludes the set v RHP Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 4.11). Willy will try to salvage a game; he's been Mr. Consistent (he's been the poster child for six-inning, two-run starts) for the Bucs, with a formula of soft contact, few homers, lotsa walks and a handful of whiffs working so far. For stat combers, he has a .222 BABIP and 3.68 FIP, so the data churn says he's due to regress. He's faced the Nats once, and it wasn't pretty -  a run on a hit and two walks in 2/3 IP in 2016. Hellickson replaced a struggling AJ Cole in the rotation and has been middle-of-the-road by performance, but better than his miserable 2017 campaign. He's been quite good against the Pirates with a 3-1/2.86 line in five starts. His outing last year with the Phils lasted six innings and he gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits.

Notes:

• Elias Díaz has hit safely in each of his first seven starts this season, going 15-for-27 (.556) with a pair of home runs.
• : The Pirates have scored a total of 149 runs coming into today, which ranks tied for fifth in MLB.
• MLB Trade Rumors Jeff Todd takes a look at the NRI pitchers who were available this year and how they're doing. Everyone, it seems,was on Tyson Ross, but a couple of other guys are filling in back end roles competently.