4/20: Steve Swetonic, Gus Suhr, Rip Sewell, Starg, Teke, Ohlie & More...

Happy Easter!

Steve Swetonic, Gus Suhr, Rip Sewell, Starg, Teke, Ohlie & More...

• 1930 - Long-time baseball writer Irwin Howe of the Chicago Tribune picked his all-time MLB team, and it included SS Honus Wagner and 3B Pie Traynor. Howe was the secretary for the Chicago chapter of BBWAA and the AL’s official statistician. 
• 1932 - Mt. Pleasant native and Pitt grad Steve Swetonic came as close as any Pirate pitcher (Bob Moose matched his feat in 1968) to toss a no-hitter at Forbes Field. He surrendered a two-out knock in the eighth by the Card’s George Watkins to spoil his bid. Though he gave up a couple of anti-climatic ninth inning singles, he cruised to a 7-0 victory. His career was short circuited after five years as he had to retire at the age of 28 because of a chronic sore arm. 
• 1936 - Overcoming an early six run deficit, the Bucs’ Gus Suhr slugged a two-out, three-run homer in the ninth off Roy Henshaw to give Pittsburgh a 9-8 win over the Cubs at Forbes Field. 
• 1946 - Rip Sewell spun a four hitter to win a duel against the Cards Bucky Walters 2-1. Walters scored his clubs’ only run by stealing home, but RBI from Bob Elliott and Elbie Fletcher sent the Forbes Field crowd of 27,891 home happy. 

Bowman 1949 series

• 1948 - Rip Sewell did it all; he tossed a complete game six hitter and homered as the Bucs won their home opener 3-2 over the Cubs. Rookie second baseman Monty Basgall had the game winner, his first big league homer, in the sixth inning. 
• 1970 - Willie Stargell belted a homer off Jim Bouton that cleared the RF roof at Forbes Field as the Pirates took a 3-1 decision from Houston. 
• 1980 - CF Chris Duffy was born in Brattleboro, Vermont. Duffy hit .269 in his three Buc years (2005-07) but butted heads with manager Jim Tracy, who wanted him to change his batting style. Duffy stormed home after a closed-door session with the skipper, and his career pretty much sank after that affair. He played one more season for Pittsburgh, and in 2008 was injured and released. He would play just 13 more MLB games. 
• 1985 - Kent Tekulve’s Pirate career ended after a dozen seasons when he was traded to the Phils for Al Holland. He became a set up man there and remained remarkably rubber-armed, appearing in 291 games in four years. 
•  1986: The Pirates and Cubs played 13 innings, only to have their game at Wrigley Field suspended due to darkness after four hours and 48 minutes and the score tied 8-8. The Cubs scored three times in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings. The contest was completed on August 11th with the Bucs winning 10-8 in 17 innings. The total game time from start to finish was six hours and nine minutes. 
• 1995 - The Pirates released knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. He was picked up by Boston, where he spent 17 seasons and won 186 games. 
• 1998 - Carnegie dedicated a memorial at the site of Pirate hall of famer Honus Wagner's birthplace in his original Mansfield neighborhood. 
•  2009 - Ross Ohlendorf tossed the Bucs’ fourth shutout of the season, giving up two hits in seven innings in an 8-0 win over Florida, ending the Fish seven-game winning streak. The Bucs had recorded just two shutouts in all of 2008. Nate McLouth gave Ohlie all the support he needed by driving in four runs, three touching home after a sixth inning homer.

Pirates Lose Battle of the Bullpens to Braun and Brew Crew 8-7

Wandy couldn't get off to a better start; six pitches and three very routine outs. Matt Garza was sharp, too, getting a pair of K and a Cutch at 'em ball to Carlos Gomez in center.

In the second Wandy left a fastball up, and Jonathan Lucroy ripped it into RC for a double, just over JT's glove; he wasn't positioned very deep. The next pitch was a hung curve, and Khris Davis spanked it into left to give the Brew Crew an early 1-0 lead. The Bucs used some two-out lightning to tie it. Ike Davis got his Pirate career off to a flying start by slicing a soft double the opposite way with an inside-out swing, and The Kid brought him in with a liner into center.

The Brew Crew, with a huge assist by the Bucs, flashed their own two-out chops. Jean Segura drove a ball to the base of the bullpen fence for a double. Ryan Braun hit a broken bat grounder to third. Instead of going to first, Pedro went after Segura, and he ducked the rundown tag of Neil Walker (it was ruled a fielder's choice rather than an error). With both runners going, Aramis Ramirez rolled a curveball at his shins into center to plate a run; another high heater to Lucroy was drilled into left to plate Braun and make it 3-1, all because El Toro wouldn't take the easy out at first. The Bucs went down in order.

Mark Reynolds led off the fourth with a bomb to right center, crushing a fastball down the middle. Ricky Weeks fell behind 0-2, but worked a lengthy 12-pitch walk. Wandy recovered after that, but it was now 4-1 Brewers. Fortunately, Milwaukee was in a giving mood, too.

Cutch walked, and Pedro banged a custom-tailored DP ball to Ricky Weeks, who let it under him. JT hit a two-hopper to third that A-Ram tried to backhand; he missed and the Bucs scored. Davis walked, and after a short fly to right by Walker, Clint Barmes singled home a pair and went to second on an ill-advised throw by Go-Go that would cost. Travis Snider hit for Wandy, and with the infield in singled home another pair. When the smoked cleared, it was 6-4 Bucs with Bryan Morris on the hill for the fifth.

Braun greeted him and infield single to the left side and went to second on a wild pitch, bounced off the ump. He got to third with an out after a chopper to Pedro, and another grounder brought him home. The Bucs tried to plate late again. After two were gone, JT and Ike had back-to-back knocks and The Kid walked, by Barmes worked it but was out out magic and bounced out on a 3-2 pitch.

Morris gave up a leadoff walk and another infield bleeder, but a DP in between kept the board clean. Rob Wooten survived a Jordy Mercer shot that was pulled in just short of the 399' mark, but succumbed to the two-out Buc attack when Martin singled off his foot and was chased home after Cutch doubled off the Clemente Wall, just over Braun's mitt. Tony Watson took the hill in the seventh with a 7-5 edge. Braun lined a homer off him into the bullpen to make it 7-6; it left the building quicker than Elvis. Tony survived Lucroy's two out double, his third of the night, and the Pirates were back to work.

Wooten got JT to chase a slider, and then was swapped out for Zach Duke, who K'ed Ike and got Walker on a routine fly. Mark the Shark made his appearance. He was sharp, whiffing a pair and getting a soft grounder. Jim Henderson took the hill for the Brew Crew. Starling Marte lined a single to left with two down and stole second without a throw, but Russell check-swung a tapper back to the hill.

Jason Grilli climbed the bump. He whiffed Gomez and had Segura 0-2, but the SS reached out for a ball down and away and sent a soft flare that just cleared Barmes' mitt. The next pitch was a fastball, belt high and on the inside half to Braun, and he crushed it into the bullpen to give the Brewers the lead 8-7.

Francisco Rodriguez took the ball for the Brewers. After getting Cutch on a routine bouncer, he plunked Pedro in the front foot with a slider. JT spanked the next pitch to second, and the 4-6-3 ended the game.

Another bad start for Wandy. His velocity is 89-90, which is pretty much his range, but his location is horrendous. Tonight the pen couldn't pick him up, thanks to Braun. The Brewers pen did the job, and that was the ballgame.


Marco Estrada and Gerrit Cole go at it tomorrow afternoon, as Pittsburgh works for the split.

• Jason Grilli had two blown saves last season; he has two in six tries in 2014.
• 1B Ike Davis sported #15 for the Bucs. His plate song, appropriately, is "Start Me Up" by the Stones. He had two hits and a walk in his Pittsburgh debut, scoring twice.
• Jordy Mercer's ankle is improving; he was OK to pinch hit tonight (and did). 
• Last night's game marked the first time since 2005 that the Brewers committed four errors and won a ballgame.
• Ex-Bucs: 3B Brock Holt is getting a chance with the Red Sox. C Chris Snyder retired.

Pre-Game Lineup - Stewart and Davis In, Sanchez to Indy, Ishikawa DFA'ed

Matt Garza (0-2, 3.43 ERA) matches up with Wandy Rodriguez (0-2, 7.31 ERA); neither guy has notched a W yet this year.

The lineup: Starling Marte LF, Russ Martin C, Cutch CF, Pedro 3B, Jose Tabata RF, Ike Davis 1B, Neil Walker 2B, Clint Barmes SS and Wandy P. Martin stays in the two hole, JT gets a start and bats fifth to break up the lefties Pedro and Ike, Jordy Mercer gets the day off with a sore ankle, and of course Davis is written into a Bucco lineup for the first time.

The game begins at 7:05 and will be aired by MLB Network off the Milwaukee feed and 93.7 The Fan as the Pens bumped the Bucs off Root Sports tonight.

• C Chris Stewart finished his rehab, and was recalled to the big team. Tony Sanchez will go to Indy and start catching everyday again. Tony flashed a big-league stick, but still has a way to go behind the dish.
• Travis Ishikawa was DFA'ed as expected, and Ike Davis slid into his locker.
• Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweeted "The player to be named later in Ike Davis deal is expected to be a 2013 pirates draftee. Hearing that's key piece." Assuming Reese McGuire and Austin Meadows are off the table, we'd speculate (and it's only speculation) that CF/SS JaCoby Jones, a third round pick from LSU, may be PTBNL. The Bucs also have a pair of high-round lefties, Blake Davis and Cody Dickson, that could interest the Mets. Of course, it could be anyone - Jim Callis of MLB.com in his speculation says it could be a player like the injured OF Harold Ramirez.

4/19: Hans, Boots, Bottles, Rip, RJ, St. Mary's Joe, Tim Foli, Zachster, Wandy's Gem...

Hans, Boots, Bottles, Rip, RJ, St. Mary's Joe, Tim Foli, Zachster, Wandy's Gem...

• 1900 - The Pirates lost their opener to St. Louis 3-0 at Robison Field as Cy Young pitched a five hitter and K’ed nine. The game was auspicious because it marked the Pittsburgh debut of SS Honus Wagner, who had played for Louisville of the American Association for three seasons. He didn’t disappoint, getting two of the Bucs five hits. 
• 1902 - The Cardinals booted 11 balls in a 10-4 loss to the Bucs at Sportsman Park‚ setting a NL record. The Pirates mishandled four more plays to help set a single game NL error record. The Pittsburg Gazette called it a “game that would make amateurs blush.” 
• 1948 - At Cincinnati‚ the Reds opened the season with a 4-1 win over the Pirates in a game delayed by a shower of bottles in the eighth frame. The Bucs went down fighting when Cincy’s Babe Young doubled and got tangled with Buc SS Stan Rojek. Young went after Rojek, failing to note that the ball was back in play, and was tagged out. A fan jumped the railing to go after ump Jocko Conlin, who had rung Young up. First base ump Beans Reardon came over to help get things in order, but instead got into a fight with the riled fan. Police restored peace while the Queen City faithful pitched a few bottles the Buccos’ way. The fighting fan, btw, was allowed to return to his seat. 
• 1949 - Rip Sewell whipped Dutch Leonard 1-0 in front of Governor Adlai Stevenson and Chicago Mayor Martin Kennelly at Wrigley Field. It was the third time Sewell blanked the Cubbies on Opening Day. The Pirates scored in the ninth when pinch-hitter Les Fleming’s grounder scored pinch runner Jack Cassini for an unearned run; he was in for Dixie Walker, who reached on an error. 
• 1959 - Robert James “RJ” Reynolds was born in Sacramento. The switch-hitter spent six seasons with the Pirates, hitting .269 as a platoon outfielder and pinch hitter from 1985-90. He often played with Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke, but age and Bobby Bo’s emergence was the beginning of the end for RJ, who finished his career playing in Japan and Mexico. 

Topps 1987 series

• 1977 - Joe Beimel was born in St. Mary’s PA. The lefty from Duquesne University started his career in Pittsburgh (2001-03) and made another stop in 2012. He was 11-20 in his four campaigns with the Bucs, pitching to a 5.03 ERA. The Bucs released him after he had TJ surgery in 2012. 
• 1979 - The Mets traded Tim Foli and minor league prospect Greg Field to the Pirates in exchange for SS Frank Taveras. Foli solidified the infield for the eventual World Champs, batting .291 and appearing in 133 games. 
• 1983 - LHP Zach Duke was born in Clifton, Texas. He spent the first six years of his career in Pittsburgh and put up a line of 49-75/4.99. Called up in July of 2005 after being named the Bucco Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2004, he went 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA, but never posted an ERA south of four after that as a Pirate. 
• 1986: Happy birthday to me! Leadoff hitter RJ Reynolds celebrated his 27th birthday with a grand slam off Chicago’s Scott Sanderson in the fourth inning at Wrigley Field during a 14-8 Pirates win. The game featured six home runs (three by each team) and 28 hits (14 by each team). 
• 2013 - Wandy Rodriguez tossed seven innings of one hit ball as the Bucs beat the NL leading Atlanta Braves 6-0 at PNC Park. The Bravos ended up with two hits, and both were erased on DP balls. There were no walks or errors, and the three Pirate hurlers (Wandy, Mark Melancon, Vin Mazzaro) faced the minimum 27 batters.

Bucs Go Down 5-3

The Brewers went down 1-2-3 to Charlie Morton to open the game. The Bucs jumped to a 1-0 lead on Starling Marte's flying feet. He reached first when two Brewers ran into one another on a short pop, stole second, went to third on an overthrow and came in on Russ Martin's grounder to short.

After exchanging zeroes, the Bucs had Jordy Mercer on third and Marte on first with an out in the third. Russ Martin's bloop chased home a run and sent Marte to third; Martin went to second when Gomez couldn't come up with the ball cleanly. Cutch walked on five pitches. Pedro couldn't cash in; he took a pair of sliders for strikes and waved at a high heater. The Kid popped out, and the Bucs left a flock of ducks on the pond.

It hurt. Ryan Braun opened the fourth with a double, followed by a walk and HBP. A fly out stemmed the bleeding, but Scooter Gennett doubled to plate two; a third run was cut down at the dish, JT to The Kid to Russ. But they weren't quite done; the eight hitter, Martin Maldonado, knocked in another and it was 3-2 Milwaukee. Nothin' like getting killed by the bottom of the order.

To open the fifth, Carlos Gomez hammered a changeup out of the yard to make 4-2. Lohse walked Cutch with two outs and a runner on first to get to Pedro; he tapped back to the hill. In the sixth, three Brew Crew singles, the big one a two-out RBI knock by Gomez, made it 5-2. The Bucs went quietly.

Stolmy Pimentel took the bump in the seventh. He gave up a walk to Braun, but erased him on a line drive DP and whiffed his way out of the inning.  An error and a walk set up Martin with one away, and Tyler Thornburg was handed the ball. He got Russ to fly out on a first pitch curve. TT pitched to Cutch, and Andrew responded with a run-scoring double, leaving runners at second and third for Pedro. That brought on LHP Will Smith. El Toro struck out looking at a hung slider under the letters.

Pimentel held the Brewers to a two-out single in the eighth. Smith hit Walker in the knee with an 0-2 slider to open the Bucco half. Gaby lined one to left that was nicely played by Elian Herrera for a loud first out. Josh Harrison made up for that by dropping a soft liner to right for a knock. That rang the bullpen phone for Jim Henderson. Travis Ishikawa grabbed a bat for Clint Barmes (leaving Harrison as the SS) and it took three heaters to send him back to the bench. Snider walked on four pitches to load the bases with two down for Marte. He popped out, and the Bucs left the sacks juiced once again.

Justin Wilson was waved in for the ninth. He fell behind Go-Go 3-0, but came all the way back to K him looking. Jean Segura beat out an infield bleeder to second as Walker was shaded to the middle, but was nailed stealing. Braun popped out, so it's down to the last cuts for the Bucs.

Francisco Rodriguez entered looking for the save. Martin drew a leadoff walk. We're not sure what Cutch was looking for. He took two heaters above the knee for strikes, then swung through a change up. Pedro got ahead 3-0, then had the green light and went after a changeup right down the middle. Even seeing nothing but slow stuff from K-Rod, he rolled over on it a bounced out to first. The Kid lined out on a rocket to third, and the Bucs went down 5-3. Rodriguez started off by throwing eight straight fastballs; his last ten pitches were eight changeups and two curves.

The Bucs were 3-for-12 with RISP and stranded 11; even four Brewer boots didn't help the cause along.  But it's hard to blame the bats; the starting pitching has to pick up their game. Wandy Rodriguez and Matt Garza get it on tomorrow night.

• The Bucs picked up Ike Davis for Zack Thornton and a PTBNL; the story is in the post below.
• Pedro had one of those nights: he's stranded eight runners, struck out twice and grounded out to the mound and first.
• Tyler Thornburg had retired 21 straight batters before Cutch doubled off him in the seventh.
• Jordy Mercer left the game after the third inning; he was spiked on a play at second in the Brewer half of the frame. He stayed around long enough to single and score before limping into the trainer's room.
• C Chris Stewart has a four game hitting streak at Indy; he should be good to go from his rehab assignment shortly.
• Gregory Polanco has driven in a run in six straight games with his RBI double tonight.It was a good night for Indy; Brandon Cumpton tossed seven shutout frames and Polanco ended up with three RBI as they beat Louisville 9-2.

Ike Davis, Bucco

The Pirates announced that they have acquired 1B Ike Davis from the Mets in exchange for RHP Zack Thornton and a PTBNL, demonstrating that NH is a patient but persistent suitor as he stared down the market for Davis' services.

Thornton, 25, is well regarded as a back end reliever, but with Pittsburgh he was just another depth guy at Indy. He had a 2.63 ERA with 10.8 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9 in 75-1/3 IP at Indy last season, and is off to another strong start this year. The Bucs were pleasantly surprised he wasn't lost in the Rule 5 draft this year, and at least turned him into a trade piece, one who could join the Mets' bullpen this season.

The PTBNL is the juicy sidebar to this deal. A NY report: "Source says the player to be named will be 'more significant' return on Ike than Z. Thornton." That sounds scary - Tim Williams at Pirates Prospects speculates that it could be a 2013 draft pick. So the price tag is still up in the air.

With Davis, the Bucs have a LH power bat who clubbed 32 HR in 2012, but has been damaged goods thanks to injuries over the past two years (he's recovered now). We suspect he's the guy they've had their eye on all during the off season and the poster boy for some change-of-scenery. With an .824 OPS v RHP, he and Gaby should fall into the cookie-cutter platoon contemplated during the spring. Davis is also a guy who draws walks (.334 OBP in five seasons) and can play the position.

He has a $3.5M contract this season, with two arb years ahead of him, so he's under team control through the 2016 season. It's apparent that the Bucs are hoping he's more than a bandaid.

As far as affecting the Pirate roster, Gaby looks like he's back to swinging against lefties. Travis Ishikawa is the obvious man out and would clear roster space for the 27 year old Davis. Also unstated but crystal clear is that Andrew Lambo's status as heir-apparent has tumbled way downhill.  Well, at least we won't have to put up with any more Kendrys Morales rumors.

Pre Game Lineup, Notes, Edinson, Pedro, Polanco

Kyle Lohse (2-1, 3.05 ERA) will climb the bump to take on Charlie Morton (0-1, 3.32 ERA) tonight. Lohse is just coming off a dominating performance against the Bucs while Morton has been solid for the Pirates so far this season. His last start was a 4-1 loss to Lohse at Miller Park last Sunday afternoon.

The lineup: Starling Marte LF, Russ Martin C, Cutch CF, Pedro 3B, Neil Walker 2B, Gaby Sanchez 1B, Jose Tabata RF, Jordy Mercer SS and Morton P. 

The game starts at 7:05 and will be aired by Root Sports, the MLB Network and 93.7 The Fan.

• Jim Benedict, Ray Searage and Clint Hurdle all saw something in Edinson Volquez that we certainly missed. But as a cautionary note, remember the hot starts of Jeff Locke, J-Mac and Eric Bedard in recent seasons past. The dog days will tell the tale.
• Marcus at Hidden Vigorish posted that the early burst by Pedro is supported by some strong sabermetric measurements that point to a remade El Toro.
• The Bucs had their third four or more HR game of the season; no other club has done it more than once so far.
• Pittsburgh starters have gone six or more IP 13 times in 16 games. 
• Jim Callis of MLB.com wrote "...no Minor Leaguer is more deserving of a promotion right now than (Gregory) Polanco. And the Pirates would be best served by making that happen pronto." 
• Baseball America's Hot Sheet features Polanco and ex-Bucco prospect Dilson Herrera; on the not-so-hot ledger is SS Alen Hanson, who's having a rough start at Altoona.
• The Pirates just hired Drew Cloud, former NBA team marketing and business opportunities VP, as their executive VP/chief sales and marketing officer. He's a local guy who is an Allderdice grad.
• Ex-Bucs: Hanny threw yesterday in front of 16-18 team reps. The general consensus is that he should be ready for a June return.

4/18: Opening DH, Howie Camnitz, Steve Blass, Ralph Kiner, Under the Lights, Pie Traynor, Craig Monroe & More...

Opening DH, Howie Camnitz, Steve Blass, Ralph Kiner, Under the Lights, Pie Traynor, Craig Monroe & More... 

• 1886 - The Alleghenys played the only Opening Day doubleheader in Pittsburgh baseball history at Sportsman’s Park. It’s easy to see why it never caught on; the North Siders dropped both ends to the eventual American Association champion St. Louis Browns. They lost the opener 8-4 with Ed “Cannonball” Morris on the bump and went down 10-5 in the second game with Hall of Fame pitcher James “Pud” Galvin toeing the rubber. It was the last season the team played in the AA, moving on the the NL in 1887. 
• 1909 - Howie Camnitz spun an eight hit shutout as the Bucs whipped the Cubs 1-0 in twelve innings, besting Three Finger Brown at the West Side Grounds. The run scored on an error by Joe Tinker, but the Pirates wouldn’t need much help that season as they won 110 games and the World Series from the Ty Cobb-led Detroit Tigers. 
• 1942 - Happy Birthday, Steve Blass, who was born on this date in Canaan, Connecticut. The Bucco announcer was an All-Star and World Series clinching pitcher for the Pirates from 1964-74. The righty won 103 games for Pittsburgh during his career to go with two Series victories against Earl Weaver’s Orioles in 1971.
• 1946 - Rookie Ralph Kiner smacked his first big league homer off Howie Pollet in the eighth inning of a 4-2 loss to St. Louis at Sportsman Park. He would end his career with 369 long balls, 301 belted as a Bucco.
• 1947 - The Pirates took the home opener from the Reds 12-11. The Bucs had added Hank Greenberg to their roster and shortened LF at Forbes Field for him. It kinda worked. Pittsburgh blasted five homers - Wally Westlake had a pair - and three landed in the new Greenberg Gardens. Greenberg himself (and for that matter, Ralph Kiner) didn’t go long, tho the other Bucs apparently took a liking to the short porch. The season opener at Forbes Field drew a record crowd of 38,216. 
• 1950 - Pittsburgh played the first MLB season opener under the lights at St. Louis' Sportsman Park. The Cards won, 4-2, as Bob Chesnes gave up homers to Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst in the loss to Gerry Staley. Johnny Hopp had both Bucco RBI. 
• 1952 - In their home opener at Forbes Field before 29‚874‚ Bob Friend shut out the Reds‚ 5-0‚ on five hits. It is the second win in a row for the Pirates‚ and the “Rickey-Dinks” wouldn't have a win streak longer than that all season‚ a 20th century MLB record for futility. 

Topps 1956 series

• 1955 - In his first major league appearance, 25-year old reliever Al Grunwald got just one batter out. He gave up a single to Don Mueller‚ a double to Monte Irvin‚ a triple to Willie Mays‚ and a homer to Whitey Lockman. The NY Giants “cycle” led to an eight-run fourth frame and eventual 12-3 victory over the Pirates. But there was a bright spot. Rookie Roberto Clemente hit his first home run, an inside-the-park 445’ shot that the weirdly configured Polo Grounds kept in the yard. 
• 1957 - The Bucs lost a ho-hummer to the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-1 at Ebbetts Field. The game marked the last time a Pirate pitcher batted eighth (Luis Arroyo, with Bill Mazeroski behind him) for over 50 years, until June 30th, 2008 when Paul Maholm batted ahead of Jack Wilson. Bobby Bragan made a habit of batting pitchers early in the fifties; who knows what John Russell had up his sleeve? 
• 1972 - Pie Traynor’s number 20 was retired at TRS posthumously on Opening Day in front of 47,489. The Bucs could have used Pie, losing 6-4 to the Chicago Cubs despite Richie Hebner’s homer and Manny Sanguillen’s double and triple. 
• 1987 - Mike Schmidt hit his 500th career home run‚ a three-run shot off Don Robinson in the top of the 9th inning, to give the Phillies an 8-6 win at TRS. Schmidt became the 15th MLB player to reach the 500-HR mark. And though the Pittsburgh-Philly rivalry was pretty bitter during that era, the fans give him a warm ovation. 
• 2004 - Kris Benson tied a MLB record with 4 sac bunts as the Bucs topped the Mets 8-1. He became the seventh player to accomplish the feat‚ and only the second since 1920. For all of that work, none of the four runners Benson advanced scored. Craig Wilson did the heavy lifting, going 3-for-5 with a homer, two runs and two RBI. 
• 2009 - In the first Saturday afternoon game in Pittsburgh since 2005, Craig Monroe hit two three-run home runs in consecutive innings to give the Pirates their first back-to-back victories of the season by a 10-0 count over the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. Ian Snell went seven innings and gave up three hits for the win. 
• 2011 - Seven Pirates had two hits as the Bucs spread the attack around in drubbing the Reds 9-3 at GABP. Kevin Correia went the distance, scattering four hits.

Bombs Away In Pittsburgh, PA...Bucs Win 11-2

Edison Volquez and Yovani Gallardo picked up where they left off from their last duel. It was 2-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, both righties overcoming shaky starts. The Brewers plated the first run, an RBI single by Aramis Ramirez, who has turned into a RISP monster this year, in the opening frame. The Bucs came right back to take the lead three batters later when Cutch bombed a 2-2 fastball over the CF wall.

The Brew Crew tied it in the third when Jonathan Lucroy singled home Ryan Braun, who had led off with a double; both Milwaukee runs scored with two down. That's how it stayed, at least on the Milwaukee ledger. Both pitchers left in the seventh for pinch hitters with the score still two-all.

The Brewers got the short end of that deal as Jordan Shafer whiffed in Eddie's final frame hitting for Gallardo, while Josh Harrison banged a curve for a two-run shot of Rob Wooten while batting for Volquez to give Pittsburgh the lead. Harrison had been 0-for-the season before failing to get a bunt down, followed by his line-hugging drive over the LF fence. Starling Marte added another with an infield single, a stolen base that got him to third on a bad throw and a trot home on a grounder to make it 5-2.

Mark the Shark pitched a perfect eighth, and Milwaukee's Rule 5 pick, lefty Wei-Chung Wang, plucked from Pittsburgh, took the hill. He had been roughed up in his first two outings, and his NL initiation continued.

Gaby greeted him with a homer, JT doubled in another run (guess he's feeling better after kissing the wall yesterday) and a Russ Martin grounder brought Tabata home. Pedro iced the cake with a two-out, three run opposite field shot on a 1-2 fastball. Bryon Morris cruised through the ninth, and the Bucs had an 11-2 win to open the series.

Volquez's line was seven IP, his longest start of the season, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk with three K's after an economical 77 pitches; he retired 20 out of 28 batters out on three pitches or less. Tonight's victory was his first as a Bucco.

Charlie Morton takes on Kyle Lohse tomorrow night.

Jordy Mercer and Starling Marte each had a pair of hits (Marte also added two steals), hopefully signalling an end to some recent slumping. Russ Martin and Pedro Alvarez also had a pair of knocks.

Martin threw out a pair of attempted base stealers.

For such a nice night, the crowd was a disappointing 17,584.

The Brewers bullpen’s ERA rose from an MLB-best 1.33 to 3.16 tonight.

Jason Grilli and Iron Mike Tyson, who threw out the first pitch

Pre-Game Lineup, Notes

Edinson Volquez (0-0, 1.29) and Yovoni Gallardo (2-0, 0.96) get together again. Volquez is trying to become another trophy in Ray Searage's case, and is off to a good start, while Gallardo has always been a pain to the Buccos.They hooked up five days ago at Miller Park, both leaving a 2-2 game after six frames in a match that the Brewers eventually won 3-2.

The lineup: Starling Marte LF, Russ Martin C, Cutch CF, Pedro 3B, Neil Walker 2B, Gaby Sanchez 2B, Travis Snider RF, Jordy Mercer SS and Volquez. After starting the year in cookie-cutter mode, Clint has reverted to his mad scientist ways again.

The game starts at 7:05 and is on Root Sports, the MLB Network and 93.7 The Fan.

• Jose Tabata left yesterday's game with concussion-like symptoms after banging into the wall to make a grab. It was termed "mild," but no update yet. If it affects him, he could be a candidate for the seven-day concussion DL. (EDIT - he's OK and on the bench tonight.)
• Cutch, Pedro and The Kid have started all 15 games; Starling Marte has appeared in all fifteen. 
• The Buc pitching staff has an ERA of 3.74 with the starters at 4.25 and the bullpen at 2.74. The Brewers pitching staff has a team ERA of 2.17 with the starters at 2.52 and the bullpen at 1.33. Guess that explains the standings.
• Nicholas Minnix of Fangraphs is a big fan of Edinson Volquez.
• The former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Mike Tyson, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch before tonight’s game. He's in town to promote an upcoming fight card.
• Holy social media! Guess what minor league team has the most Twitter followers? Yep, it's the Indy Indians.