5/28 TRS-PNC Park Era: Mack Celebrates Fatherhood; Four Homers; Jay's HR String; Motown Walk Off; Game Stories; HBD Alex

• 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.  

Barry Bonds 1988 Fleer

• 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, 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. 

Whack-A-Mack 2004 Topps Total

• 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.

Felipe & Feliz Flounder in Brutal 6-4 Loss To Cards

Matt Carpenter doubled to start the game and moved to third with two outs. He scored on Marcell Ozuna's left side bleeder that the speedster barely beat out, and it was 1-0. Austin Meadows legged out an infield knock with an out against Miles Mikolas. The Bucs remain frustrating; Starling got a pair of hung changeups but fouled them both before flying out and J-Bell saw one toss over the plate in seven pitches and still fanned. St. Louis went down 1-2-3 in the second, same for the Bucs. Carpenter banged another two-bagger in the third but was left aboard while the Pirates again went quietly. Jamo spun a clean fourth. Austin opened with a soft opp field single and stole second. After two quick outs (AM tagged to third on J-Bell's fly), Red Beard tied the game with a knock before Gregory K'ed for the second time. Jamo tucked the bottom of order away efficiently in the fifth with two K and eight pitches.

A good outing wasted (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Eli walked and Jordy followed with a single. With the Cards charging hard on the wheel play, Jamo took a cut, but flew out to right. Fraze had a great at bat, battling through 11 pitches before he found a slider he liked, and he banged it for a two-run three-bagger the opp way into The Notch. AM followed with a sac fly to put the Pittsburgh nine up 4-1. Carpenter walked to start the sixth; can't keep him off the sacks this series. A grounder moved him up, and another roller clanged off Red Beard's mitt; the boot put Redbirds on the corners. No sweat as Jamo picked him up by feeding Ozuna a 6-4-3 DP ball. The Pirates went quietly. Kolten Wong dribbled an infield knock with an out and Yairo Munoz followed with another rap in the seventh, and that brought Edgar Santana to the hill. JT gave up five hits, a walk and whiffed six after 85 tosses; he used his slider early and often today and it was effective. Santana uncorked a wild pitch and gave up a two-out a flare to Jedd Gyorko, and suddenly it's 4-3. Sam Tuivailala denied a Buc response and Michael Feliz was the eighth inning moundsman.

He surrendered a dying quail single and back-to-back walks. Feliz pumped out a K and Felipe Vazquez was called in and yep, another bloop single the opp way tied it. The Birds took the lead on a four-pitch walk, none of the tosses remotely close to the zone. A weak grounder chased home an insurance point and brought in Steven Brault (Vazquez went to the dugout cradling his elbow, so we'll see whassup with that) to get the third out, a whiff of Carpenter.  Jordan Hicks came on to twirl a clean inning. Brault put up a zero in the ninth despite bopping a batter and Bud Norris took the ball for the Cards. Three batters later, the brutal loss was in the books.

Felipe has hit on hard times (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bucs used to be among the best in closing games, but lately... In his last three outings, Felipe Vazquez has blown three saves, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks in 1-2/3 IP while Michael Feliz had given up seven runs on four hits and three walks and lasted two IP in his last three visits to the mound. Not only are the come-from-ahead losses brutal, but eventually they'll wear on the team ethos if they have no confidence in the back end holding onto leads.

Still, it's not as if the Cardinal voodoo wasn't in play - they stirred a mix of soft hits and walks into six runs; twice Pirate pitchers got a grounder with a runner on first that could have ended the inning if turned into a twin killing, but neither ball had enough pace and ended up scoring two runs, the margin of defeat. And the Bucco batters chased Mikolas, only to go nine up, nine down against three relievers; five hits isn't going to win a lot of games.

Notes:

• Austin Meadows has six multi-hit games in the nine he's played; today was his fourth straight.
• The Pirates became the second team to hang a four-spot on Mikolas; the Brewers did it twice.
• There was a late lineup change - Cervy has the flu, so Eli is catching and batting seventh; Austin Meadows was bumped up to second and Gregory to sixth in the order.
• Neal Huntington said on his Sunday radio show that the odds are in favor of Ivan Nova going on the DL, but they haven't decided who to use if he does among Nick Kingham, Steven Brault and Tyler Glasnow.

Looks like Nick is on for Tuesday (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

• He didn't commit to a time frame for how long Austin Meadows remains on the MLB roster, other than it will be for as long as they can get him regular playing time ("He needs to play.") The GM did say that AM isn't here as a fourth outfielder but as part of a four man outfield, so that bit of nuance bodes well for Meadows for the time being.
• Another slow day at the gate with 19,608 in the house.
• Cardinals bench coach Mike Schildt was smacked in the noggin by a smoked Starling foul and was taken, under his own power but dazed, to the clubhouse for evaluation. He suffered a contusion and was back on the bench two innings later, we're glad to report.
• Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register takes a look at Iowa-bred prospect Mitch Keller.

Pirates-St Louis Close It Out With a Rubber Match, Jamo v Mikolas & Notes

Today: The game's first pitch is at 1:35 and will be on AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. It's kids day outside and youngsters 14-and-under get a pair of camo socks.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Fran Cervelli C, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Austin Meadows LF, Gregory Polanco RF, Jordy SS and Jameson Taillon P. Not bad for a Sunday lineup. Corey D gets the first sit-down in the new OF rotation and red-hot J-Hay joins him on the pine while the slumping Gregory remains in the seven-hole. (EDIT - Cervy has the flu bug; he was a late scratch, with Meadows moving into the two hole, Gregory slides into the sixth spot and Eli is catching and batting seventh.)

This would be a good day for Jamo to pick up the pace (photo Pgh Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (2-4, 4.56) finishes the festivities against RHP Miles Mikolas (6-0, 2.24). JT was working on a pretty good May until the Reds derailed him in his last start; he struck out a season-high eight batters, but gave up a granny and six runs in six IP. He hasn't won a game since April 8th and the Bucs need for him to kick into gear. Jamo is 1-1/4.50 v the Cards lifetime in five career starts with four of those outings last year, when he slashed 1-1/4.71. Mikolas has been all that this year. He's working on an 11-2/3 IP scoreless streak and has been durable, too, lasting six or more frames in 7-of-10 starts. He does it by being aggressive and filling up the strike zone - his 14 pitches/inning in the league's most efficient and he walks a guy once every 10 frames. Miles has faced the Bucs once this year, when in April he went seven innings giving up two runs on six hits with seven K in a no-decision.

Notes:

• Starling comes into the day with a 10-game hitting streak.
• Josh Harrison has gone 10-for-28 (.357) with two doubles, a triple and four RBI in six games since returning to the lineup.
• Mr. Clutch: Cervy leads the majors with 22 two-out RBI.
• Bucco outfielders have the the best OPS in the NL (.862), second overall to Boston (.909). Pirates outfielders also lead the NL in total bases (311), batting average (.290) and RBI (92).
• Secret to success: Edgar Santana has issued just four walks in 21 IP and held lefties to a .122 BA. He's made 12 straight scoreless outings.
• Hard times: Gregory Polanco has gone 3-for-31 in his last nine games.

5/27: Brett's Big Day; Vinegar Bend Deal; 4-Homers; 18-Innings; Streaky Wilbur; Game Stories; HBD Ross, Jacob & George

• 1921 - Wilbur Cooper won his eighth straight game, this one by a 5-4 count at Forbes Field against Cincinnati when the Pirates pushed across a ninth inning run. All eight of Cooper’s victories were complete games. Rabbit Maranville’s sac fly brought in Walter Schmidt with the winning tally in the home half of the ninth. Maranville also tripled and scored twice for the Pirates. Between June and July, Cooper would go on an 8-of-10 win streak, and his two hot spells would carry him to a 22-win season for the Pirates. 

Wilbur Cooper (photo Harwell Collection/Detroit Public Library)

• 1927 - The Pirates overcame a 7-1 deficit by scoring six times in the sixth and seventh innings to defeat the St. Louis Cards in 10 innings at Forbes Field by an 8-7 count. They ran their victory streak to nine games; it reached 11 before being snapped. Kiki Cuyler had three hits to spark the Bucs. Guy Bush pitched three innings of one-hit ball for the win. 
• 1929 - RHP George O’Donnell was born in Winchester, Illinois. The epitome of a AAAA player, the knuckleballer was signed out of high school by St. Louis in 1948 but only got one MLB shot, for the Pirates in 1954 when he slashed 3-9/4.53. O'Donnell tossed in the minors through 1961 as part of the Browns, Pirates, LA Dodgers and Senators systems. In all, George appeared in 530 MiLB games w/1,948 IP and a career 127-93/3.44 line with two 20 win campaigns. He also played in Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. George retired to farm and then took a job with the state of Illinois. 
• 1956 - On the way home from a Philadelphia rainout, 1B Dale Long took a detour and stopped in NYC as a guest of Ed Sullivan on his show “Toast of the Town” after hitting homers in seven straight games. After the appearance, he hurried back to Pittsburgh and hit his eighth against Brooklyn. 
• 1955 - LHP Ross Baumgarten was born in Highland Park, Illinois. Ross tossed the last of his five big league campaigns with Pittsburgh in 1982, coming to town as the key piece of the Vance Law deal, and went 0-5, 6.75. Ross, who finished fourth in the Rookie-of-the-Year voting in 1979, hurt his arm as a Pirate, though the injury remains a mystery to even him. He told Ed Sherman of Spotlight Stories that “I went to see seven of the top doctors in the country, and I got like seven different diagnoses. In those days it was totally different than now. You know, there was no MRIs.” But he landed on his feet, using his U of Florida training to land a job in finance in 1984 and has been building portfolios ever since. 

Vinegar Bend Mizell 1977 TCMA

• 1960 - Pittsburgh acquired 29-year-old LHP Wilmer "Vinegar Bend" Mizell from the Cardinals‚ along with LF Dick Gray‚ for minor leaguers IF Julian Javier and RHP Ed Bauta. Javier started at 2B for the Cards for a dozen years, but he was blocked in Pittsburgh by a guy named Bill Mazeroski. Mizell went 13-5 for the Bucs with a 3.15 ERA, solidifying their staff during their World Championship run. 
• 1965 - OF Jacob Brumfield was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana. Jacob spent the middle part of his seven year career as a Pirate from 1995-96, traded here for Danny Clymer. He hit .268 in Pittsburgh before being dealt to Toronto for a minor leaguer. He’s best remembered for his head-on collision with fellow outfielder Dave Clark. The two met full speed ahead and Clark broke his collarbone while Brumfield had 15 stitches worth of cuts on his face. 1999 was his final MLB year, followed by a season in the minors and one more season playing indie ball before he hung ‘em up for good.
• 1974 - It was a big day for Ken Brett in a DH sweep against the San Diego Padres at TRS. In the opener, he carried a no-hitter into the ninth, settling for a two-hit, 6-0 win in a game that wasn’t decided until the Bucs put up a five spot in the eighth. With that, it took all of 1:38 to play. In the nitecap, his two-run pinch hit triple primed a five-run seventh that keyed the Bucs 8-7 victory (the match was eventually won in the ninth on a two-run, two out homer by Richie Hebner). Brett ended the day going 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and three RBI to go along with his two-hitter in one of the Bucs’ top “do it all” performances. 
• 2006 - The Pirates won an 8-7, 18-inning match at PNC Park against the Astros when Jason Bay flattened Astros' catcher Eric Munson to score on Jose Bautista’s shallow sac fly. The game time of five hours, 49 minutes tied it as the longest contest ever played in Pittsburgh. Bay also hit a homer in his fifth consecutive game, the first Pirate player to do so in 50 years. While not quite in Dale Long territory, he became the first player in club history to hit nine home runs in nine games for the team. 

  

  Jason Bay 2005 Donruss Studio

  
  
  • 2015 - The Pirates scored five times in the seventh against the Miami Marlins after the bases were empty with two outs to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 win at PNC Park for their sixth victory in a row. Chris Stewart, Jose Tabata and Josh Harrison singled, scoring a run. Pedro Alvarez dribbled one through the SS hole against the shift to bring home the tying tally, then Andrew McCutchen walked to load the bases. Starling Marte took a 3-2 pitch down and away for a run-producing free pass and the lead. Jung-Ho Kang drilled a final two run single, and that was the ballgame. Gerrit Cole got his seventh win while Mark Melancon earned his 12th save. 
  • 2016 - The Pirates banged out four homers, hit by Starling Marte, Jung Ho Kang, Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen, to defeat the Texas Rangers easily at Globe Life Park 9-1. Jon Niese went six innings for the win, with help from Wilfredo Boscan and Rob Scahill. They defeated former NL nemesis Cole Hamels, who had a 19-start streak without Texas losing (he personally went 12-0 during that span) snapped by the Buccos. 
  • 2017 - The Pirates saved the best for last, scoring in the ninth to send the game into extra innings and winning in the 10th with a two-out, two-strike walk-off knock. The victim in front of 31,658 fans at PNC Park was the New York Mets. The Metropolitans scored four runs in five innings off Gerrit Cole but missed golden opportunities galore, leaving runners on second and third four times in that span. Andrew McCutchen kept the Bucs in it with a two-run blast and doubled home another in the sixth. Pinch hitter John Jaso tied the game with an RBI knock in the ninth and delivered the game-winner an inning later, fouling off four 3-2 pitches before dropping a bases-loaded single into right. The Pirate bullpen worked five innings of two-hit ball, retiring 12 in-a-row at one point, to earn Tony Watson a true team win.

Willy, Bats Have Bad Day As Cards Even Series 4-1

Bad start for Willy; Matt Carpenter knocked his second pitch into the seats and that was followed by a Jose Martinez double. A grounder to short erased him when Martinez tried for third and Jordy picked him off; thank you sir. That was followed by a 4-6-3 DP, so no more blood was shed. Welcome back Starling; he smacked a two-out homer off Jack Flaherty and it was crushed, landing 447' away and clearing both bullpens. Trevor spun a clean second. Gregory walked with two outs but Jordy couldn't turn the order over. Eight hitter Yairo Munoz opened the third with a knock and was bunted up; it was key when Martinez stroked a two-out, two-strike single to score Munoz, though he was thrown out try to sneak into second. Cervy walked with two away and Starling legged out a roller to second, but J-Bell couldn't cash in. Tommy Pham yanked a slider down the line for a two-bagger to start the fourth; the Buc starters have been miserable against the leadoff hitters this series. A single and bopped batter (Fowler had to leave the game after taking one off the knee) around a pop juiced the sacks. A sac fly brought a run home and moved the runner at second up; he plated on a left side infield knock before the third out. Red Beard singled with an out and Gregory bounced into a DP after his safe call was successfully challenged by St. Louis.

Willy is still looking for answers... (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) 

Richard Rodriguez was given the ball in the fifth, ending another sloppy start by Willy. Carpenter led off with a bunt single in response to the shift and a strikeout on a wild pitch moved him up. Ric Rod worked out of it, but wasn't real sharp and burned 22 pitches. It was 1-2-3 for the Pirates and Tyler Glasnow got the sixth inning phone call. He gave up a rap and steal but no points. J-Bell doubled, but, ya know... The Cards got a fly out, single and GIDP for an easy seventh for Ty. Another Ty - lefty Tyler Lyons - came in for Flaherty. Moran singled to greet him and got to second on a wild pitch. Gregory fanned after being ahead 3-0, looking at strike three. Wild child Jordan Hicks of the 100+ MPH heater was waved in and got two grounders on three pitches to shut the door. Kyle Crick drew the short straw for the eighth. He gave up a leadoff knock, sheesh, but sailed through with a couple of whiffs. After an out, Cervy singled off Hicks, but two more worm burners took care of Pittsburgh. Edgar Santana worked the ninth without a hitch. Bud Norris came on for the save - we remember when he was a Pirates target to join the rotation way back when - and worked a 1-2-3 frame, with Polanco again striking out after being in a 3-0 count; this time he went after ball four and the resulting foul tip rung him up.

Ty had another good outing. (photo Pittsburgh Pirates) 

Give credit to Card youngsters Flaherty and Hicks, who both spun nice outings. On the other hand, the Bucco rotation is becoming a very large question mark. Guys step up, then fall back...the team could stand a string of solid starts if they're to win with any consistency. What looked like the strength of the club coming into the season has instead been an anchor. How the club handles the development/deployment of the young pitchers, including the bubble guys, will be crucial to not only this campaign but for seasons to come. Uncle Ray and Justin Meccage need to kick their charges up a notch.

Notes:

• The Pirates had six hits; Starling and Red Beard each had two raps.
• Amore has played 602 MLB games; this is the 10th time he's started in the two hole. 
• Colin Moran has flown under the radar with Gregory drawing all the fire for slumping, but since May 9th, even with two hits today, Red Beard has hit just .190
• The Cards put reliever Greg Holland on the DL and activated Tyler Lyons off it for today's game. Dexter Fowler, who left after taking a fastball off the knee, had an x-ray and is day-to-day with a bruise.
• Ripley's Fact - Jordan Hicks has touched 105 with his heater and averages 101.7, but has just 11 strikeouts in 24-2/3 IP while averaging 60% plus grounder rate. The 21-year-old never pitched at a higher level than High Class A before joining the Cards this year.
• Another slim showing at the gate as 22,133 spun the stiles.
• The Bucs upped their attack, but the leather is leaving them in a hole. Defensive Runs Saved within the division per Fangraphs are: Milwaukee (42), Chicago (21), Cincinnati (12), St. Louis (8) and the Pirates (-15). Pitching and glovework do go hand-in-hand...
• The Pitt bubble finally burst; they were ousted in the ACC semifinals, 5-2, by Louisville. It was a nice run by the Panthers.

Hot Takes On Outfield Rotation, Ivan Nova

A little more on the morning news...

Part One: It looks like an outfield rotation is how the Bucs will roll for now - Starling and Corey D both get some nap time, Gregory gets to work on his stroke, and AM will get his fair share of MLB swings.

A good problem to have and a plan in hand (photo Pgh Pirates)

We're not sure how they're going to roll the rotation out; sounds like it's an every fourth day off concept now. We're assuming it will adjust over time because of performance and injuries, and that makes it a pretty good flexibility thing seeing how the Pirates haven't had a true fourth outfielder since Matt Joyce. It also fits into two of Clint's preferences, regular playing time for all and down days for bod maintenance.

Part Two: Ivan Nova says his finger has been bothering him since late April, and mainly affects his breaking ball. He missed his bullpen session, so it seems likely that he'll miss Tuesday's start. Insurance policy Nick Kingham will go if he's DL'ed (he'll be a day shy of being eligible for recall otherwise), but if Ivan misses just one turn, it's likely to be Steven Brault, or maybe Tyler Glasnow, on the hill.

What to do with Ivan... (photo Pgh Pirates)

The date Ivan noted and his plunge into the dark side coincide. It seems like the Pirates medicos could have been a little more on top of this, unless Nova stonewalled them about the injury. Another smaller issue is that DL dates can be retroactive by 72 hours, so if he's not DL'ed until Tuesday, the team loses a couple extra days of his availability.

Cardinals - Bucs Back At It, Willy v Flaherty & Notes - Shook Lineup, Marte Back, Joey O Gone, Ivan Kinda Hurt, Manager Meetings + More

Today: The game starts at 4:05 and will be aired by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. The first 20,000 through the gates get a floppy camo hat to wear proudly when attacking the lawn (and also to keep their noggins dry if a passing rain cloud or two floats by).

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Fran Cervelli C, Starling Marte CF, J-Bell 1B, Corey Dickerson LF, Colin Moran 3B, Gregory Polanco RF, Jordy SS & Trevor Williams P. Cervy stays up top, Gregory drops down; pretty logical move at this point.

Willy on the rubber (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (5-2, 3.05) and phenom RHP Jack Flaherty (1-1, 2.31) mix it up. Willy has regressed after an unsustainable start; three of his last four games haven't even qualified as quality starts. So a little bounce back is hopefully due. Trevor is 2-2/6.85 in seven career appearances (four starts) against the Redbirds. He's 1-0 in one start this year, allowing two runs over six innings while winning a 6-2 decision against Flaherty in April at PNC Park. He was 0-2 in three starts last season. Flaherty is making his fourth start; he's given up one run in three of them. His last outing was a two-hit, one run, 13 K outing against Philly during a 7-2/3 inning stint. Flaherty keeps you guessing - his go-to is the slider, but he has a five-pitch repertoire. He faced the Bucs once this year, and gave up three runs in five innings in losing to Willy. The Pirates drew four walks that day; it's the only game that he's issued more than one free pass, and we'd expect the Pirates to work him at least the first time through the order.

Notes:

• The Pirates activated Starling Marte off the DL and optioned Jose Osuna to Indy, not a big surprise as Clint has glued Joey O to the bench lately.
• For those waiting on further Nick Kingham news, don't hold your breath. There won't be any more noise until the day he's added to the 25-man roster. But the Pirates report that Ivan Nova has a strained ligament in right index finger, so we'll find out more on Tuesday when he's scheduled to pitch. The team doesn't believe it's a major strain, so his status is TBD, as is Kingham's.
• Clint met briefly with Corey Dickerson and then Gregory Polanco behind closed doors. Three lefty-hitting outfielders precludes a platoon situation, so a playing rotation appears in the works, especially as Austin Meadows is the backup in center, too...

Looks like the Bucs are gonna work AM into the lineup (image Pgh Pirates)

• Meadows has 13 hits in his first seven MLB games. Only Jack Merson had more as a Pirate, recording 14 in 1951. Fred Kommers (1913) and Gregory Polanco (2014) also had 13 knocks in their first seven big league games.
• The Pirates are 12-5 against NL Central does so far this year; they were 33-43 in 2017, due mainly to a dismal 6-13 performance against the Reds.
• Seems like Richard Rodriguez gets more love from Emma Baccellieri of Sports Illustrated than he does from Clint.
• He finally wrangled it - Blue Jay's C Russ Martin will make his first career start at short today.
• Erik Kratz was traded to the Brew Crew by the Yankees for cash/PTBNL.

5/26 Expo Park-Forbes Field Era: Harvey's All-Time Gem; Hot Time In Cleveland; Max the Thief; Josh Bomb; HBD Chuck, Dan & Jack

• 1874 - RHP Jack Cronin was born in West New Brighton, New York. He tossed four games for the Pirates as a 24-year-old, going 2-2/3.54 after being purchased from Fall River of the New England League in July of 1898. He was released and ended up with the Reds the following year. Jack had a long pro career lasting from 1895 until he tossed his last inning for Reading of the United States Baseball League in 1912, including seven years in MLB, although he was only part of a regular big-league rotation twice in that span and appeared a dozen or fewer times in the other five campaigns. 
• 1894 - The Pirates were thumping Cleveland 12-3 in the top of the ninth when the crowd of 6,200 at League Park began to riot after being taunted by the 500 rooters had made the trip from Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Press wrote “A more disgraceful affair never occurred upon a ball field...when the disappointed Forest City fans, unable to endure the disgrace of defeat, attacked the Pittsburg club, the rivalry at white heat...In a second, cushions and pop bottles were flying in all directions...the crowd swarmed out of the stands...” and rushed the field. Red Ehret got the win, backed by an 18-hit Bucco attack. 

Max Carey 1925 Exhibits

• 1925 - Max Carey walked and then swiped second‚ third‚ and home during the Bucs 7-2 win over the Chicago Cubs. Kiki Cuyler added a two run homer and Al Neihaus drove in two more scores as Ray Kremer coasted to the win at Forbes Field. 
• 1942 - RHP Chuck Hartenstein was born in Seguin, Texas. After three years with the Cubs, he came to Pittsburgh in a minor deal and worked from the pen in 1969, slashing 5-4-10/3.95. He got off to rough a start in 1970 and was released, playing for the Cards and later Red Sox during the campaign. Chuck spent from 1971-76 in AAA before making a brief comeback in 1977 with the expansion Blue Jays. He coached and scouted afterward, finally leaving the game in 1995. The 5’ 11” 150 lb. Hartenstein went by the nickname “Twiggy” for fairly obvious reasons, bestowed on him by the Cubs’ Billy Willams. 
• 1946 - Josh Gibson launched another long blast, this one 440’ into the Yankee Stadium bleachers, as the Homestead Grays whipped the NY Black Yankees 11-8. It was the Grays’ fourth straight win and propelled them into first place in the Negro National League. 

Harvey Haddix 1960 Topps Insert

• 1959 - In baseball's ultimate pitching performance, Harvey Haddix threw 12 perfect innings against the Braves in Milwaukee’s County Stadium, only to lose the game, 1-0, in the 13th on a Dick Hoak error, sacrifice bunt, intentional walk and double that was a homer. (NL prez Warren Giles ruled that the final score should be 1-0‚ as runners Henry Aaron and Joe Adcock were ruled out, Aaron for leaving the field‚ and Adcock for passing him on the basepath. Adcock was credited with a double and not a HR.) In 1993‚ Bob Buhl admitted that the Braves pitchers were stealing the signs from C Smoky Burgess‚ who could not crouch down all the way because of his achy knees. They used a towel on the bullpen fence as a signal, making Haddix's effort even more remarkable. The only player who wasn’t impressed was Haddix, who told the Post Gazette afterward "My main aim all night long was to win. The perfect game would have meant something to me then. It's just another loss.” 
• 1959 - C Dann Bilardello was born in Santa Cruz, California. He spent most of his Pirates time at AAA Buffalo, hitting just .171 for Pittsburgh in 52 games played between 1989-90. Dann got some time at San Diego in 1991-92 and played his out his time at indie Winnipeg in 1994.

5/26 TRS-PNC Park Era: Ward Cycle, Steverino K-Fest; Streaky; Game Stories

• 1971 - Steve Blass carried the Pirates to 2-0 victory over Cincinnati at Three Rivers Stadium, recording a career-high 11 strikeouts while tossing a five-hitter for his second shutout of the season. Willie Stargell hit a two-run homer off Reds starter Tony Cloninger in the sixth inning that proved to be the difference in the game. 

Steve Blass 1971 Pirates Picture Pack

• 1980 - Lots of baseball fireworks as the Phils rallied to beat the Bucs 7-6 at Veteran’s Stadium. Bert Blyleven brushed back a couple of Phillies early on; Philadelphia reliever Kevin Saucier later plunked Pops to even the score. Then he went one better, bopping Blyleven, who charged the mound, bat in hand. A donnybrook ensued, and as it was breaking up, Phil’s coach Mike Ryan reignited things. Philly had the last laugh, scoring twice in the ninth off Kent Tekulve, who gave up four straight hits, to claim the victory. 
• 1997 - For the first time in twenty years, two inside-the-park homers were hit in the same inning when Sammy Sosa of the Cubs and Tony Womack both circled the bases five minutes apart in the sixth frame of Chicago’s 2-1 victory at Three Rivers Stadium. Francisco Cordova took the loss. 
• 2000 - Behind Francisco Cordova and a double steal gone awry, the Pirates bested the Colorado Rockies at Coors Stadium 2-1 in the second lowest scoring game played to date at the mile-high field. In a 1-1 game, the Rox tried a double steal; the lead runner, Tom Goodwin, stopped between second and third, and the back runner, Mike Lansing, turned and retreated to first as catcher Jason Kendall ran the ball toward him. The nimble backstop tagged Lansing and then threw to third to catch the slow-reacting Goodwin. Cordova celebrated by singling home Mike Benjamin with the game winner in the seventh. He was supposed to bunt, but the third baseman crept in too close, and Francisco took advantage by swinging away for the hit. Luis Sojo made a nice pair of plays at third in the final two frames to seal the deal, and the Pirates ended a five game losing streak thanks to Cordova’s four-hitter. 

Daryl Ward 2004 Topps Total

• 2004 - Daryle Ward hit for the cycle with a career single-game high of six RBI against St. Louis at Busch Stadium as the Bucs won 11-8. Ward and his dad Gary became the first father-son team to hit for the cycle. The Pirates used six pitchers to close out the game, with the win going to starter Kris Benson. 
• 2012 - The Cubs lost their 11th straight game, 3-2, to the Pirates, their longest losing streak since opening the 1997 season with 14 consecutive losses. The teams were tied in the bottom of the ninth at PNC Park when Jose Tabata led off with a single off Rafael Dolis. Two walks and two outs later, the aptly named “Hit Man” Matt Hague took a pitch in the ribs for a walk-off plunk. Joel Hanrahan earned the win in a game started by Kevin Correia.

Joe Musgrove, Bucco Bats Take Opener in Style 8-1 & Notes...Nick, Starling, More

Matt Carpenter greeted Joe Musgrove's debut with a shot off the wall; Gregory played it like a pinball wizard and held him to a single. The next three Cards went down quietly, as did the Buccos against John Gant. St. Louis got a leadoff knock in the second but Musgrove needed just two more pitches; the next was a sinking liner that a sliding Austin Meadows corralled, and the following toss was a 1-6-3 DP. J-Bell led off with a shift-beating rap but went nowhere. J-Grove served up a clean third; he's burned a mere 25 pitches so far. The Bucs looked sickly with a hopper to second and two comebackers; Gant at 34 pitches isn't laboring, either. It was a nine-pitch fourth for Joe, even with a two-out infield hit. The Pirates got a hard out from Gregory while Cervy and J-Bell K'ed. Dexter Fowler jumped on a changeup that hung and started fifth with a double. A grounder moved him up, but two swinging K's of the 8-9 hitters kept him there. Corey D opened with a rap but went nowhere.

Nice debut by J-Grove (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

It was 1-2-3 in the sixth for the Gateway Arch gang. J-Grove opened with his first MLB hit; shortly thereafter, he scored his first MLB run when J-Hay's two-base gapper sent him home. Gregory's right-side grounder moved Josh up a station, then Cervy was HBP. Lefty Brett Cecil got the call, and J-Bell lifted his first pitch into left for a sac fly and 2-0 lead. Corey D padded it when he tripled to right to plate Amore. Red Beard got a good swing off but it resulted in an at' em ball to second to end the fun; all three outs were rockets. Marcell Ozuna opened the seventh with a double; he made it into second by the skin of his teeth as Gregory's laser almost nailed him. The Cards got Fowler to third but couldn't cash him in. John Brebbia scaled the hill after Cecil gave up an infield knock to AM. He stole second and went to third on Jordy's infield bleeder. Fraze pinch hit for Joe and lined out - been that kinda night - then J-Hay whiffed on three pitches. Gregory walked to load 'em up and Amore cleaned them off with a three-run double the opp way. J-Bell legged out a soft roller before showtime ended.

Musgrove did pretty good; he gave up five hits and fanned seven on 67 pitches, 50 for strikes. Guess he does like to fill up the zone. At 6-0, Clint stayed tried and true by calling Michael Feliz to the slab in the eighth. He gave up a solo homer to Tommy Pham to make it 6-1. The Bucs responded against Greg Holland, getting back-to-back triples from AM and Jordy after an opening out. With two gone, J-Hay's rap plated Mercer. Kyle Crick got the ball for the ninth. He got four grounders, one sneaking into right for a knock, to put the game to bed.

Another big hit by Amore (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Well, can't ask more of Joe Musgrove in his first outing; we're guessing Clint had him on a innings/pitches leash. He does throw strikes and moves the ball around; the only nit we have to pick tonight was allowing four leadoff guys to reach. The Bucs bats were befuddled by Gant's changing of speeds; he left balls in the zone but the Pirates seemed a little defensive. But the game pivoted when the Cards waved in a lefty and the Pirates south-swingers all stung the ball. So good start; laissez les bons temps rouler.

Notes:

• Five Bucs (Jay-Hay, J-Bell, Corey D, AM & Jordy) had two hits tonight. Gregory & Red Beard were the only starters w/o a knock, and they both had a couple of barreled up outs.
• The Pirates got back into clutch mode, going 5-for-11 w/RISP; the Redbirds were 0-for-7.
• Indy reports that Nick Kingham was pulled after an inning last night (not because of injury), and is on his way to Pittsburgh. So...callup? Trade in the works? Need another guy in the post-game conga line? Stay tuned. 
• Starling could be back tomorrow. He had a couple of days of going hard at it, and if he wakes up w/o an achy side, he should be uniform. That will require a move to clear a roster spot; there are a couple of possible scenarios still in play.
• Not much of a Friday night crowd - 22,629 were in the yard tonight. We kinda feel bad for the 2,629 who didn't get a free tee.
• Pitt plays Louisville at 1PM tomorrow in the ACC semi-finals. H2P!