9/7 From 1940 Through the 1980’s: Robby's Immaculate Inning; Maz Granny; Wood Says No; Game Stories; HBD Gorkys

• 1940 - The Bucs scored eight runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to rally past the Cardinals 14-9. Arky Vaughan‚ Terry Moore‚ and Vince DiMaggio all homered as Vaughan and DiMaggio combined for seven RBI at Sportsman’s Park. 

Vince DiMaggio - photo The Sporting News

• 1942 - The Pirates scored 11 runs in the sixth inning, reaching safely 10 straight times with two outs to top the Cards 11-6 in the first game of a Forbes Field twin bill. The Bucs had a runner on third when the seven-hit, three-walk outburst erupted, setting the franchise mark for most runs in a frame, and Pittsburgh didn't have an inning that big again until 1992. Bud Stewart led the attack with two hits in the frame, three RBI and a pair of runs. Rip Sewell was the fortunate recipient of the big frame, leaving the game on the wrong end of a 5-0 count for a pinch hitter. Apparently the barrage wore them out - they only had three hits during the rest of the game, and dropped the nightcap 6-4 for a Labor Day split. 
• 1948 - The Pirates chased Jim Hearn after two innings on the way to a 6-2 win at Forbes Field. Stan Rojek had twos across the board - two hits, two doubles, two runs, two RBI - to support Fritz Ostermueller. The game was noteworthy as it took Pittsburgh six more years and a dozen losses before they claimed another win against the St. Louis righty. 
• 1953 - The Pirates swept a twinbill for the first time that year‚ beating the NY Giants 9-7 and 5-3 at the Polo Grounds. Eddie Pellagrini had four hits‚ including a HR‚ to back Bob Friend in the opener. Lefty LaPalme was the winner in the nitecap as the Bucs beat Jim Hearn after 12 straight defeats at his hands. His last loss to the Bucs was exactly six years ago to the day. 
• 1962 - Bill Mazeroski hit a grand slam and drove home six runs to prime a 10-1 Bucco win against LA’s Stan Williams at Dodger Stadium. Earl Francis tossed a four-hit, complete game victory against the league-leading Dodgers. LA wasn’t totally left in the dust - with four steals, Maury Wills broke the modern NL record for stolen bases in a season with his 82nd swipe. 

Maz - 1962 TSN All Star

• 1973 - With a runner on first and two outs in the ninth, Al Oliver banged a single, beginning a Bucco run of six straight hits that would produce six runs, turning a one-run deficit into a 10-5 lead. The Pirates weren’t the only team with some rally left in them; the Phils answered with three runs of their own and had the tying run at the plate before Ramon Hernandez could shut the door at the Vet and secure a 10-8 win, with Bob Johnson earning the victory. Willie Stargell had four hits during the contest, including a game-tying, two-strike single against the shift. It was a wild beginning to Danny Murtaugh’s fourth and final stint as Bucco skipper. He had just replaced Bill Virdon, who was fired after the previous game. It was the first time he had won the opening game while managing, and the papers didn’t know whether “...to call it magic or call it luck.” 
• 1974 - The Pirates overcame a 4-0 deficit with a five-run seventh against Montreal at TRS, with seven straight Bucs reaching base. The Expos came back to take the contest into extra innings against Dave Guisti, but Dave Parker’s 12th-inning two-out, walk-off single plated Richie Hebner for a 6-5 Bucco win. Ramon Hernandez worked the last two frames for the win. 
• 1978 - The Pirates tried to set up a homecoming with LHP Wilbur Wood, claiming him off waivers from the White Sox, but the vet, citing his 5 & 10 year rights, vetoed the move. He had been with the Bucs in 1964-65 before being traded to the ChiSox for Juan Pizarro, and spent 12 campaigns with Chicago. Wood had a couple of rough years at the end following arm surgery, with ERA’s in the 5.00 range, and he retired rather hook up with another club. 
• 1982 - Jason Thompson hit his 30th home run of the season off Mike Scott in a 9-5 win over the Mets‚ becoming just the eighth player in history to hit 30 home runs during a season in each league. (He hit 31 home runs for the Detroit Tigers in 1977.) Richie Hebner and Mike Easler also went long at TRS. The day was a double blessing; his baby son arrived the night before. 

Jeff Robinson - 1988 Score

• 1987 - Closer Jeff Robinson tossed an immaculate inning, the first in Bucco history (Ross Ohlendorf and Juan Nicasio would later join him), when he K’ed Cubs Leon Durham, Andre Dawson and Rafael Palmeiro on nine pitches in the eighth. It was the first time since Bruce Sutter in 1977 that an immaculate inning was pitched. Of Robinson’s nine strikes, six were swinging, two called, and one fouled. He worked the ninth without any more punchouts to earn a save for Brian Fisher in a 3-2 win at Wrigley Field. It was his first save as a Pirate after joining the team on August 21st as part of the Rick Reuschel trade with the Giants. The Bucco runs came in on a Terry Harper homer, his first as a Pirate, and Bobby Bonilla’s eighth inning, two-out, two-run double. 
• 1987 - OF Gorkys Hernandez was born in Guiria, Venezuela. He was blessed with good wheels and a great glove, but his bat limited him to a couple of cups of coffee in Pittsburgh in 2012 and 2015, playing for three other organizations in between. He’s been with the Giants since his second Pittsburgh stint.

9/7 From 2000: Futility Record; Littlefield Axed; Game Stories

• 2006 - Chris Duffy had himself a day against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He went 4-for-4 (and all against LHP) with a homer, three runs scored and three RBI in Pittsburgh’s 7-5 win. He and Xavier Nady hit solo shots in the ninth to break a 5-5 tie to give Jonah Bayless the win. He didn’t break a sweat to earn it, facing just one batter in the eighth to get the final out. Salomon Torres, the sixth Pirates hurler, collected the save; the Cubs burned through seven twirlers. 

Chris Duffy - 2006 Topps Heritage

• 2007 - GM Dave Littlefield was fired. Brian Graham, the director of player development for the Pirates, served as interim general manager until Neal Huntington took over three weeks later, hired away from Cleveland by new President Frank Coonelly. Coonelly had replaced Kevin McClatchy as Bob Nutting put his own front office in place after becoming principal owner in January. 
• 2009 - The Pittsburgh Pirates set a new North American standard for consecutive losing seasons by a major sports franchise with their 4-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs (Daniel McCutchen took the L), extending their string of sub-.500 years to 17 in a row. The Pirates had shared the record of 16 consecutive losing seasons with the 1933-48 Philadelphia Phillies. The Bucs would extend the record by three more seasons until finally finishing with more wins than losses (94-68) in 2013. 
• 2012 - The Pirates committed seven errors, one less than the franchise mark set in 1939, in front of 32,699 dismayed fans at PNC Park and lost to the Cubs 12-2. Six of the Chicago runs were unearned with Starling Marte in the pasture and Brock Holt at second both misfiring on a pair of plays. 
• 2014 - Pirate bats ran wild over the Cubs at Wrigley Field as the Bucs ran away with a 10-4 decision. Their 19 hits were the most in a game since 2012. Every starter, including the pitcher, had a hit; seven players had multiple hits. Jordy Mercer & Andrew McCutchen banged back-to-back homers while Neil Walker and Gerrit Cole also went long. Cole lasted six innings, plenty long enough to pick up the win. It gave the Pirates a three-game sweep of Chi-Town, the first time Pittsburgh had swept a series at Wrigley Field since 2000. 

Willy's first win - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

• 2016 - Pittsburgh snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 4-3 win against St. Louis at PNC Park. It was a gritty performance coming off the heels of two-out, two-strike loss the night before. The score see-sawed back and forth until the eighth inning when Jung Ho Kang hit his third home run in two nights to put the Bucs ahead by a run. After being chased in the last loss, Tony Watson got back on the bicycle to earn the save for Trevor Williams, who made his first MLB appearance a winning one. Kang had three hits to lead the offense, with Josh Harrison and Gregory Polanco each collecting a pair of knocks.

Bucs Late Two-Out Lightning Strikes Cards As Pirates Take Opener 9-4

Alex McRae got into quick one-out hot water with a flare knock and walk, but a quick around-the-horn DP turned down the heat. The Bucs didn't get a ball out of the infield off Miles Mikolas. The Cards opened the second with a single off Redbeard's glove and Tommy Edman homered an out later to put St. Louis up 2-0. The Pirates got a walk, DP and K. The Redbirds drew a walk for their third inning action. Fraze singled to start the Pirates off. Mikolas hung a 3-2 slider to K-Man, and he ripped a double to chase Adam home with two away and halve the lead. McCrae had a three grounder fourth for his first clean inning; so far, so good. With two gone, two walks and a Joey O knock put Buccos on every base; Jake's fly to right kept them there. The Birds were quiet in the fifth, with a sweet sliding grab by Reynoldo in The Notch in front of the 410' mark. It was X-Rae's last inning. He tossed 91 pitches and did a solid job. Newman was plunked on a 1-2 pitch and Starling walked with two down before J-Bell fanned. Michael Feliz posted a walk and a whiff in the sixth. Tyler Webb spun a clean frame.

Marte in the middle of it all again - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Ric Rod got the seventh inning call and gave up a solo shot to Edman. A walk and two-bagger added another tally and brought in Wei-Chung Wang, who stopped the bleeding at 4-1. John Gant gave up a leadoff rap to Tuck and K-Man walked an out later. Andrew Miller was waved in and fanned Reynolds. Starling legged out an infield bingle to pack the sacks, then J-Bell dropped a bloop over first to chase home a pair. Melky tied the game with another rap that brought on John Brebbia. The switch didn't help the Cards; Joey O knocked in a run and Fraze tripled home a pair on a ball high off the Clemente Wall to put Pittsburgh up 7-4. Frankie Liriano worked the eighth. He was tapped for a single/double combo but no runs after some help, as Felipe came on with two outs and whiffed Edman to end the frame. Mike Mayers gave up a single to K-Man and two-bagger to Reynolds; Starling singled them both in, going to second on the throw home. J-Bell was given an intentional pass; that worked as Melky rolled into a DP. The Nightmare allowed a couple of singles before tucking the Redbirds in for the night. Raise the Roger.

Another nice night for Newman - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Big props to Alex McRae for keeping the Bucs hanging around. And hey, maybe there will be some September relevance; the Bucs do have games with the Cards, Brewers and Cubs left. Playing spoiler would be a fun way to cruise out of an otherwise meh campaign.

Notes:

• K-Man, Starling, Joey O and Fraze each had two hits. The nine Pirates runs were scored by eight different players; six Buccos had RBI.
• The Bucs sent 10 hitters to the dish in the seventh and banged out five straight two-out hits.
• The Pirates snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Cards. It was their first win over St. Louis at PNC Park this season.
• Tommy Edman hadn't hit a homer since August 18th; he had a pair tonight. It's his first MLB two-dinger game.
• If you're curious, Keone Kela was not available; he's out on paternity leave. We believe he's due back tomorrow.
• The announced Friday night crowd was 19,090.

Alex v Miles Mikolas, Lineup & Notes

Game: The series opens at 7:05. The match will be aired by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. It's free-tee night, Dollar Doggie Night, and Cancer Support Night, so lots going on at the ol' ballyard.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Jose Osuna RF, Adam Frazier 2B, Jake Stallings, Alex McRae P. Starling's back, so whatever was bothering him has settled down. (the lineup was late tonight waiting to see how Marte got through the trainer's checklist).

Alex gets the start - photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Alex McRae (0-3/9.98) starts the set against RHP Miles Mikolas (8-13/4.32). Big Joe Musgrove was scheduled to go tonight, but has right foot "discomfort" and is day-to-day. McRae has started one MLB game; he got four outs while giving up seven runs (five earned) against the Reds in late July. He faced the Cards last year, taking a loss while giving up three runs in 3-1/3 IP of relief work. Mikolas hasn't been very strong since August, going 1-2/5.50 in six starts. He's 2-1/3.66 this year against the Bucs in five outings.

Notes:

• The Cards have owned the Pirates; they're 12-4 against them this year and won the last eight games straight.
• Mitch Keller tossed a side session yesterday; we'll see how his wrist feels today. Of the guys out, Yefry Ramirez sounds like the only one who will be able to return this month.
• Per the Marlins, the Moran brothers, Colin and Brian, were the first since 1900 to face each other in an MLB at bat during a debut.

9/6 Through the 1940’s: Coop Debut; Glovely Day; Game Stories; HBD Johnny, Vince, Jack, Billy & Tommy

• 1892 - 2B Billy Gleason was born in Chicago. He played sparingly in the majors, spending two of his three years with Pittsburgh (1916-17) and batting .159 in 26 games before being traded to minor league Chattanooga. Billy was a career farm hand, beginning in the bushes in 1913 as an 18-year-old and still playing as late as 1934 with only one season (1918 - we assume he was in the service) off. 

George Merritt - 1901 Cameo/Pepsin Pin

• 1901 - The Pirates swept a doubleheader from the NY Giants, 15-2 and 13-4, to win their ninth and 10th straight games (they played four twin bills in five days and swept all four). The Bucs pounded out 22 hits in the opener, led by Ginger Beaumont’s 5-for-6 day, with a homer and 2B to grease the wheels for Sam Leever’s win. The Pirates rapped out 14 more hits in the nitecap, with Tommy Leach going 3-for-3 with a 2B. George Merritt got the win. It was the third straight double dipper they took from the Giants in three days, outscoring NY 80-23. The sweep was part of a 26-of-30 game roll as the Pirates boogied their way to the NL title, entering September with a 2-½ game lead and pulling away from the pack by 7-½ games at season’s end. 
• 1903 - IF Tommy Thevenow was born in Madison, Indiana. He played five years for the Pirates from 1931 until 1935, and came back to spend his last big league season, 1938, as a Bucco. Tommy batted .251 with 201 RBI for Pittsburgh as a good glove, so-so bat SS/3B. Tommy retired to his hometown after that campaign and ran a grocery store until he passed away at age 53. 
• 1910 - RHP Johnny Lanning was born in Asheville, NC. He tossed for the Pirates from 1940 until 1943, went in the service and returned for the 1945-46 seasons, finishing with a Pittsburgh line 33-29/3.44. Lanning wasn’t a flame thrower; his best pitches were variations of the curve, one hard, the other soft. Lanning came from a family of tobacco farmers and was known as “Tobacco Chewin’ Johnny” and “Johnny Tabaccy.” 
• 1912 - OF Vince DiMaggio was born in Martinez, California. He played center field for Pittsburgh from 1940-44 and hit .255 as a Bucco. He was named to the All-Star Game in 1943 and 1944, and in the 1944 Classic, he hit a home run, triple and single in three at-bats. Vince and his sibs Joe and Dom are the only brother trio to become All-Stars. 
• 1912 - In his major league debut, Wilbur Cooper shut out the St Louis Cardinals 8-0 at Robison Field. He gave up nine scattered hits with a walk and three K, the first of 216 wins for Cooper. Chief Wilson had three hits and scored twice to lead a balanced, 13 hit attack. 
• 1921 - 1B Jack Phillips was born in Clarence, New York. Jack put nine years in the show and spent from 1949-52 with Pittsburgh, hitting .264. Following his playing days, Phillips managed in the minors from 1960-64. Jack then became baseball coach, among other athletic department duties, for 24 years at his alma mater, Clarkson College of Technology, retiring after the 1988 spring season. The college honored Phillips by re-naming its baseball facility "Jack Phillips Stadium at Snell Field" in 2008. 

Kiki - photo via Baseball Hall of Fame Collection

• 1924 - Pittsburgh took two from the St. Louis Cards by 5-1 and 12-5 scores at Forbes Field behind the pitching of Emil Yde and Jeff Pfeffer. Kiki Cuyler provided the firepower with a homer and three RBI in the opener. Cuyler had another homer and three more runs batted in in the nitecap, Pie Traynor tripled and had three RBI, Rabbit Maranville homered with two runs batted in and Glen Wright drove in two more tallies and had a double. Max Carey scored once in the first game and three times in the second to touch home for his 15th straight game, a franchise record. He tallied 21 runs during the span, which began 8/23. 
• 1935 - Brooklyn took its lumps at Forbes Field as the Pirates pounded out a 13-6 win, whacking 21 hits and scoring in every inning against the Dodgers. Woody Jensen led the parade with four hits; Tommy Thevenow, Arky Vaughan and Paul Waner each added three while Bud Hafey homered. Cy Blanton earned his 17th win. 
• 1942 - The Bucs took a twinbill from the Cubbies at Forbes Field the easy way, tossing a pair of shutouts to take 6-0 and 5-0 decisions from Chicago. Hank Gornicki spun a four-hitter in the lid lifter, backed by Elbie Fletcher & Bud Stewart with three hits and Vince DiMaggio & Jimmy Wasdell with two raps. Luke Hamlin scattered seven hits in the nightcap, supported by Frankie Gustine, Bob Elliott and Al Lopez with a pair of knocks (Stewart was walked four times). The attack was balanced; five different players scored while five chased home runs. 
• 1947 - The Pirates banged four home runs, the last from Wally Westlake in the bottom of the 10th inning, to take a 7-6 victory from the Chicago Cubs at Forbes Field. Joining him in the long ball parade were Billy Cox, Jimmy Bloodworth and Clyde Kluttz. Rip Sewell worked eight innings of one run, six hit relief to earn the win. 
• 1948 - Lotta glove work going on as the Pirates swept a pair from the Cardinals‚ winning 2-1 and 4-1 at Forbes Field. The two teams struck out just twice in the doubleheader‚ a MLB record. They also turned 13 double plays‚ eight by Pittsburgh‚ to tie the MLB mark for a twinbill. Pittsburgh turned a record-tying six DPs in the opener, with 2B Danny Murtaugh in on five of them to equal the mark set by Detroit's Charley O'Leary. It wasn’t all roses for Murtaugh; his 23 game hitting streak ended when he went 0-for-2 with a walk in the opener. Bob Chesnes was the recipient of the glovely play, scattering seven hits to defeat Murry Dickson, who would become a Bucco next season. The winning blow was Ralph Kiner’s two-run homer. The big guns in the nightcap were Vic Lombardi, who spun a five-hitter, and 3B Eddie Bockman, who had two hits and three RBI.

Danny Murtaugh - 1949 Bowman

• 1954 - After losing 10 straight games‚ the Pirates took both ends of a twin bill from the Dodgers at Ebbets Field on "Back the Dodgers Day‚" winning the opener 9-6 in 12 innings and the second match by a 9-7 score. It was the Bucs first doubleheader sweep of the Dodgers since 1951. Vern Law and Jake Thies were the winning hurlers. 
• 1958 - The Pirates scored a lot of ways - on a bad throw from the outfield, a wild pitch, a sac fly, and a couple of two-out singles, but it took just one swing from Johnny Powers, who banged a solo, pinch hit homer in the eighth, to finally nail down the 7-6 win at Forbes Field against the Milwaukee Braves. Bob Friend and Bob Buhl were both chased early, and the bullpens restored order - Bob Smith and ElRoy Face tossed four innings of one-run ball for the Bucs, and the Braves Humberto Robinson went 3-1/3 frames with his only miscue being the Powers blast. The Pirates had five players collect two hits - Bill Virdon, Ted Kluszewski, Billy Maz, Dick Groat and Bill Hall - and seven different Corsairs either scored, chased home runs, or both. Smith got the win and the Baron of the Bullpen earned the save.

9/6 From 1960 Through the 1970’s: Groat Out; Wood to Bucs; Quail Canned; Game Stories; HBD Pat & Derrek

• 1960 - All-Star SS Dick Groat broke his wrist after being hit by a Lew Burdette pitch. The Pirate captain‚ second in the batting race‚ was sidelined until the final weekend of the season. Dick “Ducky” Schofield‚ his replacement‚ had three hits as the Bucs rallied for a 5-3 win. Ducky, a reserve infielder with a career .227 BA, hit .333 for the Pirates in 1960 and kept them rolling toward the title without skipping a beat. 

Ducky to the rescue - Topps 1960

• 1963 - Bob Veale picked up his first MLB shutout, downing the St. Louis Cards 5-0 at Forbes Field. Veale gave up just six hits and was backed by Bill Virdon and Ducky Schofield with three hits apiece. The big blow that opened up a 2-0 game was Willie Stargell’s two-run, eighth-inning rap. It was only Big Bob’s third start of the year; he had spent until mid-August working out of the bullpen. He also finished his career as a reliever because of arm woes, but in between managed to toss 20 shutouts in seven full seasons as a Bucco starter. 
• 1964 - The Red Sox sold RHP Wilbur Wood to the Pirates. The knuckleballer went 1-3/3.28 with the Bucs out of the bullpen in 1964-65. Pittsburgh sent Wood to the White Sox in the 1966 off season after he spent the year with AAA Columbus for Juan Pizarro. Wood saved 55 games in four years for Chicago, then was converted to starter where he won 106 games from 1971-75 and earned three All-Star berths. 
• 1965 - The Pirates swept Cincinnati, 3-1 and 4-2, at Crosley Field to close within four games of first-place Los Angeles. Seventh-inning doubles decided both games: Gene Alley's in the opener, driving in Bill Mazeroski with the go-ahead run, and Willie Stargell's bases-loaded, bases-clearing two-bagger in the nitecap. Roberto Clemente threw out Red runners in both ends of the double dip. Bob Veale went the distance to win the first game, striking out 12, and Al McBean tossed six innings in relief to take the second match. 
• 1968 - The Pirates won their fourth game in a row and Steve Blass claimed his fifth straight victory with a 2-1 win over the Mets at Forbes Field. Steverino scattered four hits over nine innings - his one mistake being a Jerry Grote homer - with seven whiffs to run his slate to 14-5. Freddie Patek manufactured the Bucs first tally when he led off in the first.The Cricket laid down a two-strike bunt single, stole second, tagged to third and came home on a sac fly. The game winner was a bit more traditional as Roberto Clemente’s solo shot in the fourth gave Blass all the pad he’d need. And if any old timer tells you he saw the game, take it with a grain of salt - there were only 4,085 fans in the yard. 

Pat had more Pirates trading cards than at bats - 1999 Pacific Revolution

• 1968 - IF Pat Meares was born in Salina, Kansas. He played for the Bucs from 1999-2001, hitting .238, was injured from 2002-03, carried on the DL for the last two years of his contract and never played again. It was an awkward situation; a foul off his hand was originally misdiagnosed as a sprain but ended up as severe ligament damage. He underwent surgery but the strength didn’t return. Meares said he would rehab and play through it but wouldn’t submit to the knife again, as the Pirates requested. Charges, grievances and general bad blood marked the relationship; Meares wanted released to play for another team, but the Pirates refused as they would then lose any chance of collecting insurance they held on him (they did eventually settle on the policy for an undisclosed sum). So he ended up DL’ed and on the payroll for his final two seasons with his $15M in dead money a roadblock for the financially struggling Buccos. 
• 1973 - The Pirates fired manager Bill Virdon after a 67-69 start and brought back Danny Murtaugh for his fourth (and last) stint at the helm. The Irishman went 13-13, but won the division twice and was runner-up in the next three years, winning 272 games. 
• 1974 - Dock Ellis allowed one run on three hits while tossing a complete game in a 2-1 win against the Expos at TRS. Each team scored a run in the first inning (Rennie Stennett led off with a triple and was chased home by Richie Hebner’s sac fly) and the Bucs plated the game-winner in the second when Ed Kirkpatrick led off the inning with a home run, followed by a lot of zeros. 
• 1975 - In a game that went back-and-forth between the Pirates and the Expos at Parc Jarry, the Bucs poured it on at the end by scoring seven times in the 11th inning to seal a 12-5 win. The big blow in the opening nine was Willie Stargell’s three-run blast off Steve Rogers. In the 11th, the Pirates strung together three doubles, three singles, two walks and two Expo errors to plate seven times with Al Oliver and Bill Robinson banging out two-run hits. Manny Sanguillen had three hits and Richie Zisk chipped in two knocks and two walks. Pops had two hits and four RBI; Robinson also had a pair of raps and chased home three runners. Ken Brett got the win. 
• 1975 - 1B Derrek Lee was born in Sacramento, California. Lee was at the end of a 15-year career when the Bucs pried him from Baltimore for Aaron Baker in 2011 for the stretch run; the Pirates were just 4-½ games out of first and alive for the wild card at the deadline, then promptly did a faceplant. Derrek started on fire by hitting two homers in his first game, then broke his wrist. He did come back for 28 games in all, hitting .337. He didn’t actually retire at the end of the season, but said he was looking for the “perfect situation.” It never came: Lee spurned both Pittsburgh and the Yankees, then retired. 

Derrek Lee - 2011 Just Fair Custom Card

• 1977 - Dale Berra stepped to the plate with two on and nobody out in the 11th and was supposed to bunt. But the Phils had the wheel play on and rather than hit into it, the Bucs had young Dale swing away. It paid off as his single to left was the walkoff bingo, scoring Al Oliver for a 5-4 Bucco win at TRS. Oliver had two hits, including a homer, with a walk. Goose Gossage tossed two innings for the win, set up by Kent Tekulve and Grant Jackson who put up zeroes in relief of Jerry Reuss. 
• 1978 - The Pirates concluded a remarkable streak by winning their 21st game in 23 outings by a 4-1 score over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. It was their 11th straight victory, primed by Don Robinson’s five-hit, nine-K effort. The red hot finish wasn’t enough, though, as the club finished the season in second, 1-1/2 games behind the Phillies. 
• 1978 - LHP Frank Brooks was born in Brooklyn. The Pirates picked him up from the Phils in 2003 as part of the Mike Williams deal. He worked through AA and AAA and got the call in 2004, going 0-1, 4.76. His line was blown up by two bad outings of the 11 he made; in the other nine appearances he gave up just two runs. But he was waived, got in one more game the following year with Atlanta and finished out his pro career in the indie leagues.

9/6 From 1980: #8 Retired; Lloyd Let Go; Young Signs; Game Stories; HBD Mike

• 1982 - Willie Stargell had his #8 retired in front of 38‚052 fans at Three Rivers Stadium. He had earlier announced that this campaign was his last go-around, and this was “Willie Stargell Day.” The traffic jam for people trying to get to the event delayed both Cap’n Willie’s pre-game ceremony and the game, as did a congratulatory call from President Ronald Reagan. The 41-year-old slugger delivered a pinch single in the Pirates' 6-1 win over the Mets. Over his 21-year career with the Pirates, he hit .282 with 2,232 hits, 475 home runs and 1,540 RBI while his clubs won six NL East titles, two NL pennants and two World Series crowns. Pops was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.

Mike got the Sudden Sam treatment - 1991 Topps 40 Years

• 1990 - RHP Mike York was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He started out as a rookie in 1990 for the Pirates, getting into four games with a 1-1/2.84 slash. York got a little more work with the Indians the following season after being traded for Mitch Webster and that was his MLB career. He did have a long shelf life in the minors, working on the farm from 1983-1998. But his Pirates stint was life changing. York was an alcoholic, and he got sober in Pittsburgh when the Bucs made his signing dependent on rehab with Sudden Sam McDowell, who after a lot of screaming and yelling (Sam began by using a confrontational technique on York) finally got through to him, and the pair remain close to this day. 
• 1997 - Tony Womack went 4-for-4, scored three runs, drove in another and tied the club record with four stolen bases in Pittsburgh’s 13-4 win at Cincinnati’s Cinergy Field. Womack went on to lead the NL with 60 stolen bases that season. Shawon Dunston and Freddy Garcia added homers for the Bucs. The club scored three runs in the eighth and added four in the ninth to turn a squeaker into a laugher for Francisco Cordova. The Freak Show Pirates moved to within 2-½ games of the division leading Astros with the win. 
• 1998 - The Pirates snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 10th-inning walk off homer by Jason Kendall to top the Cubs 4-3 at TRS. Skipper Gene Lamont told Paul Meyer of the Post Gazette after the game that he had ironically told Kendall “Just don’t try to do too much. Don’t try for a home run. Just get a base hit. He doesn’t follow orders too well, I guess.” JK’s heroics were set up by Jose Guillen, who smacked a two-run homer to tie the game in the sixth. Chris Peters started but didn’t get much fielding support; the victory went to Rich Loiselle. 
• 2000 - The Pirates signed their third round draft pick, RHP Chris Young of Princeton, to a $1.65M contract. The 6’10” Young was an excellent college basketball center, but gave up the final two years of his Ivy League career and a chance at the NBA draft when he accepted the lucrative deal. Bucs GM Dave Littlefield traded him in 2002 to Montreal for RHP Matt Herges, a player they cut before camp broke. Young made his debut in 2004 and broke out in 2006-08, but a string of injuries that began in ‘08 scuttled his career; he now works in the MLB offices as the VP of On-Field Operations, Initiatives & Strategy. 
• 2005 - Lloyd McClendon was let go as manager after posting a 336-446 (.430) record over five seasons. He was replaced by bench coach Pete Mackanin on an interim basis for the rest of the season, with Jim Tracy taking the reins in 2006. 

Lloyd - 2005 Topps

• 2014 - The Pirates got 14 shutout innings from seven different pitchers to take a 5-3 victory in 11 innings in the continuation of a suspended game and then a 5-0 win in the scheduled game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Tony Watson and Mark Melancon each worked a pair of innings in the suspended game, with Mark the Shark getting the win and rookie John Holdzkom picking up the save. The Bucs iced the game, suspended from the previous night at 3-3, on a Josh Harrison single and Tony Sanchez sac fly. The nightcap was largely the work of Francisco Liriano, who worked six shutout frames with nine K, allowing only one runner to reach second. Andrew McCutchen led a balanced attack with three hits and Jordy Mercer had a pair of knocks, including a homer and two RBI. 
• 2016 - The Pirates losing streak reached eight games with a brutal 9-7 loss to the Cardinals at PNC Park. St. Louis jumped ahead 5-0, but the Bucs rallied to take a 6-5 lead after a four-run fourth inning. Both bullpens had some shaky moments, but the score carried over into the ninth, when with two outs and facing an 0-2 count, Matt Carpenter hit a game-tying homer off Tony Watson, who then imploded, giving up a double followed by back-to-back homers. The Pittsburgh bright spot was Jung Ho Kang, who homered twice. The Bucs dropped 5-½ games behind the Redbirds in the race for the final wildcard with 26 games remaining.

Reynolds Bangs A Pair, But Pitching Pelted In 10-7 Loss

Dario Agrazal was touched for a single, bopped a batter, and an out later, Neil Walker's rap chased home a run to give the Fish the early edge. Elieser Hernandez lost it pretty quickly. K-Man squibbed a single and B-Rey bombed one into the shrubs. Redbeard doubled and J-Bell singled to put Bucs on the corners; an out later Pablo doubled in Colin, but Josh was thrown out at home (is there some rule the Pirates have to have someone cut down every game?) Fraze walked and Eli was bopped to jam the sacks. Dario's grounder to 2B was tossed astray; instead ending the inning, two more runs scored to make it 5-1. Harold Ramirez, an old Buc prospect, got one back with a leadoff homer in the second. Redbeard doubled but was stranded. A tapper, single and DP took care of the Miami third. Pablo walked to open and Dario singled with two away, but K-Man was in a chasing mood and fanned. Dario surrendered a walk in the fourth. Brian Moran, Colin's bro, took the hill for the Marlins. He plunked J-Bell and fanned his brother in a routine frame.

B-Rey has 16 homers and an OPS+ over 140 - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Then it fell apart in the fifth. Dario was banged for a double, three singles and a walk. That tied the score with one out and Michael Feliz got the call. Redbeard booted a ball, but K-Man made a great recovery to throw out the lead runner at home, almost - Eli dropped the ball and Miami took the lead. A strike out and unsuccessful try at a delayed steal of home finished off the frame at 6-5 Fish. Jeff Brigham tossed a shutdown frame. Geoff Hartlieb got the sixth; he loaded the bases, then walked a run in. Yacksel Rios was waved on and coaxed a pair of grounders; one plated another Marlin to make the score 8-5, and the next was an inning-ending DP. Jose Quijada gave up a Stalls single, then Miami booted another ball. He took the hint and struck out the next three Bucs. Parker Markel took the hill in the seventh. He gave up a walk and rap after an out, but Pablo came to the rescue, tossing out a Fish trying to take third, and a K ended the noise. Ryne Stanek tossed a spotless frame.

The leadoff batter reached via a wild pitch/whiff, and it got worse for Markie in the eighth. Three singles around an intentional walk added up to two more Marlin tallies, even though Neil Walker was thrown out at home by Melky to keep the count at 10-5. Tyler Kinley went three up, three down. For some reason known only to Clint, Ric Rod was called in for the ninth and he cruised. Jarlin Garcia was greeted by another Reynoldo dinger. With one away, J-Bell went long, too, and that's how it ended, 10-7.

Yacksel has had a couple of decent outings - photo via MLB.com

Entertaining series, but geez, some bad baseball...pitching, fielding, baserunning. It's easy enough to see why these guys are in their respective cellars.

Notes:

• B-Rey, Redbeard and J-Bell each had two knocks. Reynolds lost a pair of balls and Joshua added a solo shot. Bryan became the third Buc to homer from both sides of the dish in a single game. Bobby Bonilla did it twice and Dale Sveum once.
• Dario got his first MLB hit tonight.
• There were 26 hits, four errors, 11 walks (one intentional), three hit batsmen and a wild pitch tonight, with four GIDP's, three runners thrown out on the bases and a caught stealing with 18 stranded runners.
• Brian Moran not only K'ed his little brother, but earned his first MLB win.
• 9,642 was tonight's announced gathering.
• We're not sure what's up with Starling. Before the game Clint said he was down again tonight and with the trainers, so we assume he has a minor tweak that there's no sense in tormenting.
• The Cards come to town for a three-game weekend set to close out the homestand.
• If you're keeping score,with Alex McRae's promotion, the only guys on the 40-man who are eligible for call up (not injured or still in 10-day limbo) are Dovy Neverauskas and Luis Escobar. One of them may be in trouble (although there are a herd of likely suspects) if James Marvel gets the call for Sunday. He needs a 40-man opening, and it's full now.

Dario v Elieser Hernandez, Lineup & Notes

Game: No getaway game for Miami; the series finale is at 7:05 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. This one decides the series winner; both sides have split late-rally, one-run victories.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds CF, Colin Moran 3B, Josh Bell 1B, Melky Cabrera RF, Pablo Reyes LF, Adam Frazier 2B, Elias Diaz C, Dario Agrazal P. Starling's stil out; wonder whassup with that. B-Rey did do a nice job in center yesterday. Pablo gets a start, his first since August 21st.

Dario goes tonight - photo Associated Press

Pitchers: RHP Dario Agrazal (4-3/4.50) closes the series against RHP Elieser Hernandez (3-5/5.06). Agrazal is trying to get back his original groove; he's 2-4/6.92 since late July. Dario's first MLB game was against the Fish in June, when he went four innings and gave up three runs (two earned) in four innings before being given a surprisingly quick hook by Clint. It was a no decision for him in a game the Fish eventually took 4-3. Hernandez is in his second stint as a starter; he worked through June, went to the pen for a while, and in late June rejoined the starting staff. He's slashed 2-1/4.89 in the seven outings since. Elieser has one inning of relief against the Bucs from last year, giving up a run.

Notes:

• RHP Alex McRae (0-3/9.98 in Pittsburgh this year) got called up today. There's an open starting spot Sunday; he could be up for it. But the rumor mill reports that RHP James Marvel, who lit it up at Indy (7-0/2.67) after his call up but isn't on the 40-man, may be the man. To add some heat, Marvel is with the team though not officially on the roster.
• Pablo Reyes (26), Jason Martin (24) and Billy Maz (83) all are 9/5 birthday boys. Maz's statue is also celebrating its 10th season today.
• Greensboro CF Jonah Davis hit .318 with 10 HR in August and was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Month.

9/5 Through the 1950’s: Hopp Sold; Hans Night; Game Stories; HBD Maz & Lefty

• 1883 - LHP Paul “Lefty” Leifield was born in Trenton, Illinois. From 1906 to 1911, Leifield was part of the Pirate starting rotation, winning 15 or more games each season. In 1909, he went 19-8 as Pittsburgh won the NL pennant. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1912. Lefty was a Bucco for eight years from 1905-12, and his Pirate line was 109-84/2.38. In 1918, Leifield became a player-coach for the St. Louis Browns, turning full-time by 1920. Lefty helped lead the 1922 Browns squad to the best season in team history with 93 wins (still a game shy of the Yankees who won the flag). He also coached for the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. 

Erv Brame 1928 - photo Conlon Collection/Getty

• 1929 - Pittsburgh banged out a homer, two doubles and four three-baggers in a 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Redland Field. Lloyd Waner went 3-for-4 with two triples, two runs, and two RBI. His partner in crime was winning pitcher Erv Brame, who not only went the distance but also batted 3-for-4 with a homer, double, two runs and two RBI. 
• 1936 - Bill Mazeroski was born in Wheeling, WV. The Hall-of-Fame second baseman was one of the defensive wizards of his time and will be remembered forever in Pittsburgh baseball lore for his walk-off homer in the 1960 World Series. Maz has two high school fields named in his honor, belongs to several HoF’s, had his number retired, has a statue & street at PNC Park and still goes to Pirates camp every spring as an instructor and keeper of the flame. 
• 1950 - The Bronx Bombers bought 1B Johnny Hopp‚ who was second in the NL in hitting with a .340 mark‚ from the Pirates for an undisclosed amount of cash. Hopp was at the end of his career, and after 1950 he played as a bench piece through the 1952 season. 
• 1945 - The Bucs held a Honus Wagner night at Forbes Field. The Gunner MC’ed the pre-game ceremony which included old teammates, his Carnegie Elks buddies and an appearance by Al Schacht, the “Clown Prince of Baseball.” They could have used Hans in the lineup, even if he was 71-years-old, losing to the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-3 in 10 innings in front of 19,504 faithful. 

Hans Wagner - 1946 Sports Exchange

• 1958 - Bill Virdon hit a leadoff 10th-inning walk-off homer to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 win over Milwaukee in a classic pitching duel between the Braves Carlton Willey and George “Red” Witt, who tossed a five-hitter, at Forbes Field.