5/30 From 1990: Kenny's 26-Gamer; Zeroes Galore; Mondesi Finale; Game Stories

• 1998 - Jason Kendall hit a walk off, bases-loaded single to cap a three-run ninth and give the Pirates an 8-7 win over the Montreal Expos at TRS. It was Kendall’s third hit of the day and his second RBI. Manny Martinez hit a two run homer and Kevin Young banged out four hits. Three Pirate relievers tossed four goose eggs, with Jason Christiansen earning the victory. 

Kenny Lofton 2003 Topps Gallery

• 2003 - Kenny Lofton homered against the Cards in a 7-3 win by Jeff Suppan to keep his 26-game hitting streak alive, tying Danny O’Connell’s modern-day mark set in 1953. He would go 0-fer the next day against the Cards Woody Williams and Jeff Fasaro, falling a game short of tying the club record, set by Jimmy Williams in 1899, during a 5-4 Pirate victory tossed by Kip Wells. 
• 2004 - The Raul Mondesi saga officially ended when the outfielder signed a $1.75M deal with the Anaheim Angels. He left the Pirates on May 7th after signing as a free agent ($1.15M) to return home to deal with a lawsuit and family safety issues. He never came back; it was all a ploy to get out of the Pirates agreement and head for greener pastures. Pittsburgh could have opted to keep him on the restricted list until the cows came home (and in hindsight, should have; that way they might have gotten some compensation for his flip) but instead washed their hands of him when he failed to report on the team-mandated “drop dead” date of May 18th, terminating his contract the next day. 
• 2006 - The Bucs walloped the Milwaukee Brewers 12-1 at PNC Park behind a pair of Jose Castillo homers. Jose added a single & double to chase home six runs while scoring three times. Freddy Sanchez also had four knocks and Jack Wilson added three as the Pirates collected 17 raps, seven for extra bases, to help Victor Santos to victory. 
• 2013 - For the second time in three days, the Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers, 1-0 in 11 innings. The Bucs used four pitchers - Mark Melancon got the W - and a Neil Walker homer to win at Comerica Park on the 28th, then came home to PNC Park and won with Bryan Morris and five other pitchers, cinched by a Russell Martin walk-off single off the wall in left center field. This one was a stolen win as the Tigers stranded 11 runners during the game. The squeaker was the club’s fourth 1-0 win in an 11 game span and their 16th win in the past 20 contests. 

Gregory 2016 Topps Bunt

• 2016 - The Pirates rolled over Miami at Marlins Park 10-0. Gregory Polanco hit his first MLB grand slam, Sean Rodriguez added a two-run blast, and David Freese went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. The big story was lefty Jeff Locke, who pitched a complete game shutout, the first time he had gone the distance in 101 career starts. It was the Bucs first CG since 2014, when Vance Worley went wire-to-wire. Locke gave up three hits without a walk, and thanks to two DPs, faced the minimum amount of batters until two were gone in the ninth when he was touched for a bloop single. It was a textbook example of pitching to contact; the Pirate southpaw had just one K.

Brault Beauty, Bell & 'Beard Bombs Boost Bucs to Series Split, 7-2.

The game start was delayed to 2:30, then 2:45; this season has been a cluster in several ways, weather high up on the list. It did get going roughly about then, and Bryan Reynolds became the first runner, drawing a one-out walk off Anthony DeSclafani. Starling threw away another walk by fishing for sliders and ended up popping out, then a grounder ended it. Steven Brault filled up the strike zone and was rewarded with a clean, nine-pitch frame. Eli singled with two gone in the second and K-Man hustled out an infield knock to turn the order over. The Reds went down quietly. There was no Bucco bangin' in the third. It was nine-up, nine-down, for Cincy. Melky singled with an out in the fourth; Redbeard banged into a 3-6-3 DP. A leadoff single was advanced to second with two gone; Yasiel Puig was walked intentionally to get to Derek Dietrich; Steven fanned him for the second time. K-Man stroked a one-out rap, was bunted up and died at second in the fifth.

Steven had it going on today - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

The Reds used a pair of singles and bunt to mount their first threat against Steven, with ducks on second and third and two gone. No prob; Nick Senzel tried to get cute with a sneak attack bunt; it ended the frame, thank you for not swinging. Bryan started the sixth with a knock, and an out later, J-Bell's rap put Bucs on the corners. Melky hit a shallow fly to freeze them, but Redbeard picked him up, launching a changeup into the opp field LC seats. Eli singled and Michael Lorenzen was waved in to finish up. A leadoff walk was followed by an out and a new pitcher, Ric Rod, after Steven hit the 74-pitch mark.  RR did his job, fanning Puig. Then Frankie got the summons to face Dietrich, and Cole entered to play SS while K-Man, 2-for-3, was double-switched out. A bloop put Reds on first and third, but Frankie had it under control, getting an 0-2 fly to tuck it in. Tuck opened the seventh with a two-bagger and was bunted up (Fraze gave it a run; the play went to review at first). Bryan Reynolds made the effort count with a rap to make it 4-0. Then Starling singled and J-Bell lifted one deep the opp way to start piling it on. Frankie retired a lefty and Clay Holmes took over, giving up a single between garden variety outs.

Matt Bowman worked the eighth, giving up a Tuck single with two outs. Clay bopped Eugenio Suarez in the hand, who then trotted halfway to the mound, had a few words, and then zig-zagged to first as manager David Bell came out to froth a little before being ejected. A whiff was followed by a walk, and a single plated a run. Holmes and the strike zone continued their barely nodding acquaintance, but he got out with no more damage. Raisel Iglesias got the ninth. He buzzed Bryan but won with a whiff before Starling singled. Josh dropped a flare to left and a passed ball moved them up, but the Bucs couldn't cash in after a K and at 'em ball. Nick Senzel sent one into the bleachers off Holmes with two outs before a comebacker finished it. Raise the Roger.

Colin's blast gave the Bucs a lead they never relinquished - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Well, Steven is good against the Reds and usually good when he throws strikes; he did both today to give the Bucs a boost. A couple of three-run jacks are pretty handy, too. Nice bounceback and now back to the 'Burg and the big bad Brew Crew,

Notes:

• J-Bell, Starling and Bryan had seven hits at the top of the lineup while Eli and K-Man had four knocks at the bottom. That'll usually play.
• GABP's bandbox played well for the Pirates today; Colin's dinger went 356' and out in left center and Josh's dropped gently into the first row in left; both were oppo field shots.
• Steven Brault has never lost to the Reds (4-0/1.01) and has a 19-2/3 IP scoreless streak v Cincy.
• All we got on Jordan Lyle's sore leg from the club is that he's playing catch today, FWIW, and isn't on the IL, so that's all good. 
• JHK is expected to get some time at SS during his Indy rehab.
• By the way, a couple of old Bucs are rehabbing for the Tigers - Jordy is playing in AAA to prep after a long stint with a quad injury, and J-Hay is on his second IL posting, this time with a partially torn hammy that could keep him out 4-6 weeks (the first was a shoulder injury).

Steven Brault v Anthony DeSclafani, Lineup & Notes

Game: The getaway day game starts at 12:35 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. It's a rainy day in Cincy, so we'll see how that goes. The forecast is for 40-50% chance of passing t-storms in the afternoon after precip all morning. Beats a tornado watch, though; prayers for Celina and Dayton, both of which were banged yesterday.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera RF, Eli Diaz C, Colin Moran 3B, Kevin Newman SS, Steven Brault P. The top two batters in the today's lineup were hopping around on sore tootsies last night, so that's good news for a banged-up club that they're back in action. Eli goes behind the dish day-after-night again.

Steven on the slab - Photo Joe Guzy/Pirates

Pitchers: LHP Steven Brault (1-1/7.11) closes the set against RHP Anthony DeSclafani (2-2/4.99).  Steven will start today sans an opener to set the table, after holding the Dodgers to two runs in 5-1/3 IP. He hasn't met Cincy yet this year, but saw them plenty in 2018, when he went 3-0/0.55 in seven outings (one start) covering 16-1/3 frames. So that's a trend that would be nice to continue. DeSclafani hasn't made it to the fifth in his past three starts and given up seven dingers in the 11-2/3 IP he's lasted. He went against Pittsburgh in April and was chased in the fifth, charged with six runs, and is 2-5/4.53 in 10 career starts against the Bucs. So he'll be heading to the hill in search of his mojo.

Notes:

• After today's game, the Pirates come home to take on the Brewers for four games, get a day off, and close the homestand with three contests against the Bravos. The Atlanta series will begin another 13-game stretch without a break, with the final 10 bouts on the road.
• The Pirates have lost 7-of-9 and are 26-27; they're 13-13 during May. Even with the back-to-back losses here, they're 6-3 v the Redlegs over the season and 16-12 on the road.

5/29 Through the 1910s: Big Bill Visits; Beckley Blast; Game Stories; HBD Jim

• 1884 - The Pittsburgh Alleghenys were no-hit by Columbus Buckeyes hurler Ed “Cannonball” Morris at Recreation Park during a 5-0 whitewash. Morris walked just one in a near perfect performance. The Alleghenys had been no-hit just five days earlier by Al Atkinson of the Philadelphia Athletics, who hit the first batter and was perfect the rest of the way. Cannonball joined the Alleghenys the following year and won 129 games over the next five seasons. He played a final year with the Pittsburgh Burghers of the Players League in 1890 before retiring to run his North Side bar.

Jake Beckley - 1994 Origins of Baseball

• 1895 - Jake Beckley blasted a three-run homer in the ninth to give the Pirates an 8-6 win over the Washington Senators at Boundary Park. The 1B ended the year with five homers, second on the team to Jake Stenzel’s seven, with a club-leading 111 RBI. The win left the Pirates in first with a 22-8 slate, but it wouldn’t last. They had a piece of the top spot last on July 18th, then finished the rest of the year at 30-34 and in seventh place, 17 games behind the Baltimore Orioles (the NL version of the O’s were contracted out in 1899 when the league cut teams and was then reorganized and resurrected in 1901 as an AL franchise).
• 1901 - 3B Jim Stroner was born in Chicago. Jim hit .367 w/42 HR for Wichita in 1928 and the Pirates brought him to camp the following season to take Pie Traynor’s place; manager Donie Bush wanted to move Pie to SS to replace Glenn Wright. Despite the bona fides and the tutelage of Traynor, Stroner only lasted six games (he was 3-for-8 hitting, but made three errors in seven chances at the hot corner) before he was sent to the minors. He had a convergence of tough luck - he wasn’t nearly at 100% physically, having undergone an appendectomy in the off season, and he wasn’t quite there mentally either, still recovering from the loss of his mother and wife, both who had passed away in the past year. Stroner never got another shot at the ring; he played in the minors through 1939 before retiring. As for Pie, the SS thing didn’t work out; he hurt his back and moved back to third.
• 1905 - Dave Brain tied a modern-day MLB record with three triples in the same game when the Pirates lost a 6-3 decision to the St. Louis Cardinals at Exposition Park. Brain would repeat the feat in a game against Boston later during the season, becoming the first player to accomplish the triple-triple twice in one season. Oddly enough, it was feast or famine in regard to three-baggers for the infielder; they were the only six triples he hit during the campaign, the only one he spent with Pittsburgh.

Dave Brain - 1909-11 American Tobacco

• 1909 - President William “Big Bill” Taft visited Exposition Park (Forbes Field would open a month later) to catch a Bucs-Cubs match, and made himself at home in the cheap seats, delighting the 14,091 fans. The Pirates weren’t so delightful, tho, as they went down to Three Finger Brown in 11 innings, 8-3, with Lefty Leifield taking the loss. The Prez must have made the Buccos nervous as the loss was the only time the team was defeated in a 19 game stretch.

5/29 From 1920 Through the 1950’s: Bucs Pick Up Stuffy, Earl; The Supremes; Game Stories; HBD Hitch

• 1921 - At Redland Field‚ Clyde Barnhart hit a ninth inning inside-the-park homer to tie the game with the Reds 2-2. He scampered to his first ITPHR after his ball was swallowed up by the right field tarp, considered in-play by the ground rules. It didn’t help in the long run as Pittsburgh lost 4-3 in 13 frames. But the freaky dinger did spoil what would have been the longest no-homer streak of the modern era - it was the only four-bagger that Cincy twirler Eppa Rixey allowed in 301 IP. 
• 1922 - In a decision that was pretty big for the Pirates as well as MLB, the US Supreme Court ruled that organized baseball was a sport, not a business, and exempted it from antitrust and interstate commerce laws. 

Stuffy McInnis 1925 - Photo George Bain/Library of Congress

• 1925 - 1B Jack “Stuffy” McInnis was signed as a free agent. The veteran was a reserve, getting into 106 games over two seasons, starting 64 of them. But his bat still held up; in 1925-26, he hit .337 for Pittsburgh, and .286 in the 1925 World Series against the Washington Senators. He played one more game after leaving Pittsburgh for his original club, Philadelphia, in 1927 before hanging ‘em up.
• 1928 - 2B Norma “Hitch” Dearfield Whitney was born in McKeesport. She played fast-pitch softball as a youth and after tryouts at the hometown Renziehausen Park, Hitch got to play with the All American Girls Professional Baseball League’s Chicago Colleens in 1949 and the South Bend Blue Sox in 1950 (no stats available). An injury while with South Bend in 1950 forced her to retire. She returned home, coached girls softball and was a member of the board of directors of the McKeesport Softball League. 
• 1929 - The Pirates leapfrogged the Cubs into a first place tie with the Cards after a 7-2 win at Forbes Field, their eighth victory in a row. Paul Waner had a triple, two runs scored, and two RBI. Pie Traynor added a pair of knocks with a three-bagger and three runs chased home; Dick Bartell also had a two hits. Rookie Steve Swetonic held the Cubs scoreless for seven frames before fading and got the W with help from Carmen Hill. Though the Bucs would jockey for first throughout July, they finished the campaign with 88 wins, 10-½ games behind the Cubs. A blah August (13-16) dropped them out of contention. 
• 1931 - C Earl Grace was traded by the Cubs with cash to the Pirates for C Rollie Hemsley. Grace caught five years for the Bucs and hit .275 over that span, retiring after 1937. Hemsley ended up playing 15 more seasons for five teams, hitting .262 and playing on five All-Star teams. 

Earl Grace 1933 - Photo Pittsburgh Press

• 1955 - At the age of 20 years and 284 days, Roberto Clemente became the second youngest player to hit three doubles in a game in MLB history, behind the Braves’ Eddie Mathews (ironically against the Pirates in 1952). The Bucs beat the Phillies 11-5 at Forbes Field; the young Clemente was the leadoff hitter, and banged his two-baggers off three different pitchers while going 5-for-5. Every Pirate starter had a hit. Dick Groat had four knocks, Frank Thomas went long and Max Surkont got the win. It was the back end of a doubleheader. The Buccos dropped the opener 5-2; Thomas had a home run in that contest, too.

5/29 From 1960: Tanner's #1,000; Zane 1-Hitter; Game Stories; HBD Charlie

• 1965 - Despite allowing three runs in the first inning, the Pirates rallied to defeat the New York Mets 7-4 at Shea Stadium. The Buccos were led by Roberto Clemente, who went 4-for-5, collected two RBI, scored three runs, and finished a home run shy of the cycle. The Pirates put the game away in the seventh when a two-out walk followed by four singles plated three runs. Don Schwall took the win and Al McBean got the save. 

Charlie Hayes - 1996 Upper Deck

• 1965 - 3B Charlie Hayes was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Charlie manned the hot corner and played a little first base for 14 big league seasons for seven teams (and three of them he played for twice), spending most of 1996 with the Pirates. He hit .248 as a Bucco starter before being sent to the NYY for a minor-league guy. The deadline deal worked out great for Charlie; he ended up a member of the Yankees ‘96 World Championship club after leaving the Buccos, a Central Division bottom feeder that campaign. Hayes now runs the Big League Baseball Academy in Texas, and his son Ke'Bryan was selected 32nd overall by the Pirates in the 2015 draft and is one of their hot prospects at his dad’s old spot, 3B. 
• 1979 - Don Robinson scattered five hits over eight innings to lead the Bucs to an 8-0 win over the Cubs at TRS. Dave Parker led the offense with three hits, a dinger and two two-baggers, and three RBI. Phil Garner had two knocks, also going deep, while Omar Moreno, Tim Foli, Willie Stargell and even hurler Robby had two knocks each as part of a 15-hit attack. 
• 1983 - Chuck Tanner claimed his 1,000th win as a manager (his skipper career began in 1970 with the White Sox) after an 8-5 victory over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium. The game wouldn’t make any coaching textbooks - the Bucs committed three errors and ran the bases like ninnies - but behind a 15-hit attack, the Pirates left themselves a lot of wiggle room. Tony Pena went 4-for-4 and four other Corsairs (Lee Mazzilli, Bill Madlock, Jason Thompson & Dave Parker) had two knocks while Manny Sarmiento tossed three shutout innings to seal the deal in relief of Larry McWilliams. 
• 1991 - The Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-0 at Busch Stadium as Zane Smith threw the second one-hitter of his career, striking out five to earn his seventh win on the season. Orlando Merced led the attack with two hits and two RBI for the Bucs. 

Zane Smith - 1991 Topps Stadium Club

• 1992 - Pittsburgh rocked the San Francisco Giants 13-3 at TRS. Barry Bonds went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI, Jose Lind chipped in with three runs driven in and Andy Van Slyke had three hits to give Vicente Palacios the win and Bob Patterson a save for tossing the final three frames. The Pirates used a 13-hit, 10-walk attack and an eight-run seventh inning to pull away. 
• 2000 - The Pirates put on a show for the 17,282 fans at TRS in a 10-4 romp over the Florida Marlins. Every Bucco starter reached base safely, including winning pitcher Jason Schmidt who walked, while John Vander Wal, Kevin Young and Pat Meares combined for eight RBI and every starter but Meares scored. Pittsburgh had 13 hits and the Fish hurlers aided the cause by issuing seven walks.

Dietrich Dingers Spark Reds to 11-6 Bucco Spanking - Jordan Hurt, Mitch Optioned Back, Ric Rod Stays

Lucas Sims had a lots better opener than Mitch did last night; he tossed a 1-2-3 frame, helped when Starling singled and was thrown out trying to stretch the blooper. Jordan gave up a two-out walk on a borderline call and shrugged it off. J-Bell roped out to right and the next pair fanned; not much plate patience on exhibit. A Jose Iglesias triple and well-placed tapper got the Reds on the board. Two more Bucs whiffed in the third; their free swinging is making it easy for Sims so far. It was a clean frame for Jordan. A couple of more Bucs fanned in the fourth, while the Reds opened with a two-bagger. Derek Dietrich pounded the next ball out of the yard. He finished up the inning, though the trainers came out to check on him briefly; looks like his groin is bothering him. J-Bell opened the fifth with a double, drilling what would have been ball four into right (good choice). After a pop out, Redbeard smoked one up the middle - and into an unassisted DP. In further good news, Geoff Hartlieb took the hill in the fifth; another pitcher down.

Hey, another pitcher hurt - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

He gave up a one-out double off a two-strike meatball that Starling misread, judging by his route. The fourth run came home on another two-bagger. After a second out, another Dietrich homer followed, then a single, double, single, single with the inning ending on a throw-out at second by Starling and an 8-0 count. The Bucs answered with a walk in the sixth and Cincy went quietly. Starling doubled in the seventh and was left on the pond. After a double, another Dietrich dinger and one-out walk got Hartlieb yanked and in came Rookie Davis, who stopped the leakage. Lucas' fun day ended in the eighth. Bryan Reynolds and Eli singled (the catcher legged out an infield knock), then with an out, Joey O got bopped. K-Man swatted his first MLB homer, and it was a granny. Robert Stephenson took the ball and stilled the bats. Jose Peraza pounded one out against Rookie. Jake singled with an out in the ninth and Bryan walked, with a wild pitch in between. Reynolds pulled up gimpy *does it ever end* and Big Joe ran for him. Eli doubled them both home before the final curtain fell.

Well...the Pirates have drained Indy. Wonder if they'll loot Altoona or Bradenton next? Steven Brault goes tomorrow to try to take home a split in the series.

Notes:

• Eli and Starling each had two hits tonight
• Jordan Lyles departed the game with "left hamstring discomfort." Bryan Reynolds said a foul off his ankle was causing him some pain, so he left as a precautionary move. He'll get a protective shield for his leg and plans to soldier on.
• Derek Dietrich has nine hits against the Pirates. Seven are homers.
• The Pirates optioned RHP Mitch Keller back to Indy and recalled RHP Richard Rodriguez, who was just sent down (on paper) after being yesterday's 26th man. Nick Kingham and Steve Brault get to hold their starting spots. As for Mitch, hard to say if that brutal first frame of Super Two time cut his stay short (or maybe some of both), but we expect he'll be back soon enough.

Jordan v Lucas Sims, Lineup & Notes - First Starts, Fraze Sits

Game: The game begins at 6:40 at GABP. It will be broadcast by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Kevin Newman 2B, Gregory Polanco RF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera LF, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Cole Tucker SS, Jordan Lyles P. Guess Fraze did bruise his foot yesterday, and that leaves the middle infield kinda thin w/just Joey O (no word yet on Adam's availability; his foot was reportedly wrapped in the locker room).

Pitchers: RHP Jordan Lyles (5-1/2.81) goes against Lucas Sims (0-0/0.00). Jordan had his inning from heck last outing, but he's still the bedrock of the rotation. He faced the Redlegs once this year in April before he was fully stretched out, and still got five innings of three-hit, shutout ball for a 2-0 win. Sims, a former first-round pick of the Braves, was called up from AAA Louisville for the start, where he was 3-0/4.08. It's not his maiden MLB voyage; he been in 23 big league games (10 starts) with a 3-6/6.01 slash. His command has improved greatly this year in the minors; he's averaging 13 K and three walks per nine in AAA, so we'll see what the 25-year-old has to offer today. Sims tossed once against the Bucs last year, going 1-2/3 IP with a whiff, walk and bop.

Jordan gets the call tonight - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

First Outings:

Thought we'd take a look at how the more-or-less current staff's starting debuts matched up with Mitch's first trip:

• Jordan Lyles took his bow against the Cubs while with the Astros in 2011 and won 7-3, going seven frames w/5 hits, 2 ER, 4 K and 0 W.
• Archie's first go was in 2012 as a Ray v the Nats. He dropped a 3-2 decision, going six IP w/3 hits, 1 ER (three overall), 7 K and 1 W.
• Big Joe's debut was in 2016 as a 'Stro against Texas. Musgrove got a no decision in a 5-3 loss, tossing seven innings w/5 hits, 1 ER, 6 strikeouts and 1 W.
• Jamo opened in 2016 v the Mets. Jameson had a no decision in a 6-5 loss, twirling 6 frames w/6 hits, 3 ER, 3 K and 2 W.
• Chad Kuhl met the Dodgers in 2016 and won 4-3. His line was five IP, 4 hits, 3 ER, 5 K and 4 W.
• Steven Brault's maiden voyage was against St. Louis in 2016. He got a no decision in a 5-2 win, spinning four innings w/4 hits, 1 ER (two surrendered), 5 K and 2 W.
• Willy first started in 2016, taking on the Reds, and he had no decision in a 7-3 win. Trevor lasted four innings, w/5 hits, 3 ER, one strikeout and 0 W. 
• Everyone remembers Nick Kingham's 2018 outing v St. Louis. He fired a seven-inning one-hitter with nine punchouts, winning 5-0.
• Mitch Keller met Cincy last night and took an 8-1 loss, giving up 6 ERs in four frames, w/7 hits, 6 ER, 7 K and 2 W. His first inning was brutal; afterward he retired 10-of-11 Reds while tossing shutout ball.

Interesting? Yep. Predictive? Nah.

The King's 2018 debut hasn't quite translated yet - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Notes:

• As the 26th man, Ric Rod went back to Indy today after working in both ends of yesterday's twin bill.
• For those wondering if Mitch is another Bucco starter with a history of first-inning yips, the short answer in no; it was more likely a case of debut butterflies. What he does have is a history of taking a few starts to adjust when he advances to higher levels, so we'll see how steep his learning curve is at the pinnacle.
• As unlikely as it seems, the Pirates 26-26 record is the same as the Cards, and they're still just four games behind the Cubs in the Central Division.
• LHP Sean Burnett, drafted by the Bucs in 2000, announced his retirement. His last MLB posting was in 2016.

5/28 Through the 1950’s: Long Streak Hits 8; Protest That Worked; Reddy Debut; HBD Kirk, Sarge, King & Steve

• 1881 - RHP James “King” Brady was born in Elmer, New Jersey. King worked two of his five MLB seasons with the Bucs in 1906-07, and didn’t get much work, going 1-1, 2.16 in four starts but giving up an average of 11.5 hits every nine innings, and was shipped to the minors early in 1907 after taking a liner off the bean. He spent eight years on the farm, winning 85 games. The source of his nickname is uncertain, although it’s thought that a Pittsburgh writer gave it to him after a good outing. 

Reddy in his Buffalo days - photo via Find-A-Grave

• 1903 - OF Romer “Reddy” Gray‚ brother of author Zane Grey (they were both originally Grays; their dad changed the spelling allegedly to dodge some bills), made his MLB bow as a Buc. He went 1-for-3 in his only big league game as the Pirates beat Boston 7-6. Gray scored a run, knocked in another, drew a walk, and caught the only ball hit his way in the OF. He played on loan from the nearby Worcester minor league club as the Pirates, due to some injuries and personal issues, found themselves short handed for the game against the Beaneaters at the South End Grounds. Gray was an early AAAA ballplayer; he never found a home in MLB but had a career .311 minor league BA. His author brother was also a ballplayer in his younger days; he even played at Pitt briefly. They were teammates on both the Jaxons and Findlay Sluggers of the Interstate League in 1895, and Zane went on to pen several baseball themed stories. 
• 1919 - LHP Steve Nagy was born in Franklin, New Jersey. Steve was teammates with a couple of famous folk, notably TV star Chuck “The Rifleman” Connors (who played for the Dodgers and the Cubs before going on to Hollywood) at Seton Hall University and Jackie Robinson as a Montreal Royal, but their fame didn’t provide him with any coattails. He pitched briefly in the majors for two years, spending 1947 as a Pirates reliever and going 1-3, 5.79. Steve missed some time during WW2 while in the navy, but still managed to play 14 minor-league campaigns before he retired from the game after the 1958 season. 
• 1921 - Pittsburgh protested their 4-3‚ 10-inning loss to the Reds and won. After Reds P Dolf Luque misfired the ball into the Cincinnati dugout‚ Clyde Barnhart was called out going to third when the ball was tossed back into the field. The Pirates said no way; it was a dead ball, and NL president Heydler agreed. The game was later replayed from that point (it was 3-3), and the Bucs took full advantage of their second chance, turning the table to win 4-3 on June 30th. 

Clyde knew he was safe... photo 1921 The Sporting News

• 1923 - LHP Bob “Sarge” Kuzava was born in Wyandotte, Michigan. Bob spent 10 years in MLB, stopping in Pittsburgh for four appearances lasting two innings and giving up two runs in 1957. It was the last big league season for the 34-year-old; he was sold to the Cards and got three final outings. He began his career as a starter and finished it as a reliever/spot starter, with his highlights in 1952 when he went 2-2/3 no-hit innings for the Yankees to save the seventh game of the World Series against Brooklyn, a 4-2 win after saving the clinching sixth game the year before with a perfect ninth inning to defeat the Giants, 4-3. Kuzava was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. He got his nickname of Sarge after spending three years during WW2 in Burma. 
• 1956 - First baseman Dale Long added to his major league record by hitting a home run in his eighth consecutive game, a 3-2 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers at Forbes Field. The liner was hit off of Carl Erskine in front of 32,221 Forbes Field fans who didn’t settle down until the big first baseman made a curtain call, said to be the first in MLB history. The record was later tied by Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey, Jr. (1993). Brooklyn’s Don Newcombe closed out the string the following day as Long went 0-for-4. Dale finished the season with a career-high 27 long balls, the first of four 20+ HR seasons in five years, not a bad mark for a guy who didn’t get a chance to play every day until he was 29 years old. Oh, and Bob Friend helped, tossing a complete game two-hitter. 
• 1957 - OF Kirk Gibson was born in Pontiac, Michigan. He spent 1992 as a Pirate toward the end of his 17-year MLB run, coming over from KC in a swap for P Neal Heaton, and the 35-year-old was released in May after hitting .196. He closed out the final three years of his career with the Tigers after Sparky Anderson talked him out of retirement. The 1988 World Series hero has since worked as a coach, manager and announcer.

5/28 From 1960: Memorable Mack; Roberto Riled; Bay Six Pack; Game Stories; HBD Alex

• 1960 - More Destiny’s Darlings lore: Roberto Clemente was on third and Hal Smith on first with two outs in the eighth with Maz up at Forbes Field. He fanned on a ball that hit in the front of the plate, ricocheted off ump Al Barlick and straight to Phillies pitcher Jim Owens. Maz froze, Smith jogged to second and Clemente went halfway down the baseline. Owens chased Roberto as his bench called for him to throw to first, which he either didn’t hear or ignored. In the run-down‚ Clemente knocked the ball out of C Jim Coker's glove to score the tying run. The Pirates won 4-2 in the 13th on Don Hoak's two-run HR. 

Roberto was involved in some antics OTD - 2018 Upper Deck

• 1963 - Called out at first on a close play for the second time in the game‚ Roberto Clemente twice jostled ump Bill Jackowski while arguing the decision. Clemente was ejected‚ and skipper Danny Murtaugh got his Irish up, challenging the man in blue to duke it out until he was pulled away. The Great One was fined $250 and suspended for five days by the league. To top the day off, the Pirates lost 5-1 to the Phils at Forbes Field. 
• 1977 - OF/1B Alex Hernandez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Alex was taken by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 1995 draft and spent two campaigns in Pittsburgh, getting into 27 games and hitting .183 in 2001-02. He spent his last couple of seasons playing indie ball and in the Puerto Rican Winter League before retiring in 2006. 
• 1988 - The Pirates whipped the Reds 5-2 at Riverfront Stadium behind an unstoppable leadoff man Barry Bonds. BB went 2-for-2 and was walked three times, scoring three runs with a RBI to rev the Bucco engine. Bobby Bonilla and Darnell Coles both added a single and double to help Bob Walk to the win with a Bob Kipper hold & Jeff Robinson save. 
• 1990 - Memorial Day seemed like it was going to be more memorable for Dodger pitcher Tim Belcher, who was working on a one-hitter through eight innings at TRS, than anything the Bucs would do. But in the end, the Pirates provided the holiday fireworks, scoring five times in the ninth off two Dodger relievers to take an improbable 6-5 win from LA. The Bucs trimmed the lead to 5-3 and loaded the bases with two down in the final frame. Jose Lind spanked a 3-2 liner through the right side and RF’er Hubie Brooks tried to cut down the tying run, Gary Redus, at the plate. The throw was up the line and C Mike Scioscia tried to pick the ball and swipe the runner. It didn’t pan out; he missed the throw entirely and it rolled to the back wall, allowing Don Slaught to lumber in from first to plate the game winner for Bill Landrum, who had worked the ninth for Pittsburgh. 

• 2004 - In the lidlifter of a twin bill, utilityman Rob Mackowiak smacked a two-out, walk-off grand slam for a 9-5 Pirates victory barely nine hours after his wife, Jennifer, gave birth to their first child, Garrett Matthew. Chicago’s Matt Clement had a tough outing with a wild pitch and plunks of Bobby Hill, Jason Kendall and Craig Wilson in the fifth frame of the opener (the three HBP in an inning tied the modern era MLB record), opening the gates to a four-run frame. In the second game, Mack drilled a two-run shot in the ninth, the 500th homer at PNC Park, into the same right center field seats as the one he hit three hours earlier to send the nitecap into extra innings, later won by Craig Wilson’s 10th inning homer, for a 5-4 sweep of the Cubs. It was the first time since 1967 that a doubleheader was won by walk-off homers. 
• 2006 - The Pirates lost to the Astros 5-4 at PNC Park. Houston scored four times in the ninth off three different Pirate pitchers to tie the game, then won it in the tenth on a Preston Wilson knock off Salomon Torres. The game did have a bright side. Jason Bay homered off Fernando Nieve in the fourth inning to run his consecutive game HR streak to six contests, the second longest in Pirate history after Dale Long’s 1956 eight-game streak. It started on the 22nd against Arizona’s Orlando Hernandez. Bay had a pair of bombs on the 20th, too, giving him nine home runs in eight games. 
• 2011 - Four Pirates (Andrew McCutchen, Lyle Overbay, Chris Snyder and Ronnie Cedeno) went long as Pittsburgh whipped the Cubs 10-1 at Wrigley Field. Paul Maholm tossed a three-hitter for the complete game victory. 
• 2013 - The Bucs rode strong pitching and an 11th-inning home run by Neil Walker off Jose Ortega to edge the Tigers at Comerica Park 1-0, despite striking out 14 times. Jeanmar Gomez and Rick Porcello started the game while Jason Grilli finished it in style with swinging strikeouts of Motown’s Torii Hunter, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder in order to earn his 21st save and Mark Melancon’s first win as a Pirate.