6/26 Games: Thompson 4-Homer Day; Lloyd Steals First; DP Day; Streakin' & Game Stories

• 1930 - Larry French tossed a seven hit shutout to beat Phil Collins and the Philadelphia Phils 1-0 in the opening game of a Forbes Field DH’er. The Buc bats woke up in game #2, pounding out an 11-5 win. Paul Waner had three hits, including a double and triple, scored four times and drove in a run to lead the attack. All nine Pirates had hits; seven different Bucs scored and seven had RBI. Erv Brame went the distance for the victory. 

Larry French 1930 (photo National Enterprise Association via Historic Images)

• 1935 - The Bucs swept a twin bill from Boston at Braves Field by 4-2 and 5-1 scores. It was their third doubleheader in five days (they went 5-1 in the three double dippers), and one that “Little Poison” Lloyd Waner was glad to have end so he could soak his overworked dogs - he set a record by running down 18 balls over the two games (nine in each contest) while collecting five hits. Guy Bush tossed a six-hitter in the opener, and Lloyd’s three knocks led the hit parade, with Pep Young (who homered), Woody Jensen and Gus Suhr adding a pair of raps. Bill Swift spun a four-hitter in the nightcap, chipping in with a pair of doubles along with two-knock outings by Waner, Jensen and Tom Padden. 
• 1984 - 1B Jason Thompson hit two homers in each game (a pair off Dennis Eckersley and then two more off Rich Bordi) during a doubleheader split with the Cubs at Wrigley Field, winning 9-0 behind a Rick Rhoden four hitter and dropping the nitecap 9-8. Thompson tied the club record (established by Ralph Kiner on 9/11/47) by hitting four home runs in a doubleheader. In the opener, the Pirates jumped to a quick 8-0 lead after three innings, with the only drama being Johnny Ray’s effort for a cycle (he fell a homer short). Doug Frobel joined the HR parade in the second match by also adding a pair of long flies, but the four homers were all solo shots and not quite enough to rally the Bucs from a six-run opening frame by the Cubbies against Larry McWilliams. 
• 1991 - The Pirates scored five times in the third inning and then hung on to defeat the Cubs at TRS in front of 41,389 fans by a final count of 7-6. Jose Lind had a three-run homer, Barry Bonds a two-run shot, and Jay Bell went 5-for-5 to prime the attack against Chicago. Bob Walk hung on for the win with Bill Landrum finishing up for the save. 

Lloyd Steals First (photo Mike Zarrelli/Getty)

• 2001 - On his 27th B-Day, Jason Kendall was ruled out at first, prompting the most famous steal in Pirate history. Manager Lloyd McClendon stormed out, put on a show for the 24,120 fans at PNC Park, and finally pulled the sack off its stanchion and carried it into the dugout in protest. As for the game, the Bucs came back to beat the Brewers 7-6 in 12 frames. They dodged a late bullet when Aramis Ramirez smacked a two-run, two-out eleventh inning homer to keep the game alive after the Brew Crew had taken the lead on back-to-back homers in their half off Mike Williams. Rob Mackowiak singled through a drawn-in infield to plate Kevin Young, who had opened the 12th with a double and moved to third on a ground out, to seal the deal for Omar Olivares and Pittsburgh. 
• 2004 - Randall Simon’s home run in the ninth was all the Pirate pitching needed as they edged the Reds 1-0 at GABP. Ollie Perez gave up three hits over seven frames while Mark Corey got the win and Jose Mesa earned his 17th save. 
• 2005 - The Pirates turned six double plays and beat the Cardinals in St. Louis 5-4 in 10 innings. The six twin killings were a club record and each was scored differently (2-4; 5-4-3; 9-4; 4-6-3; 5-2-3; and 6-4-3). Jason Bay hit a three-run HR in the third and a game-tying blast in the top of the ninth. Jose Castillo’s solo shot in the 10th iced the victory. During the game, starter Ollie Perez broke his toe when he kicked a laundry cart in the clubhouse, frustrated that he had been pulled in the seventh inning. He wouldn’t pitch again until September. 

Jason Bay 2005 Topps

• 2013 - The Pirates won their sixth straight game (they were in the midst of a nine game winning streak) on the road by a 4-2 count over the Seattle Mariners. It went to the wire, with Jordy Mercer’s two-out, two-run single giving Vin Mazzaro the win, iced by a Mark Melancon save. The Bucs tied the Cards for the lead in the NL Central with the victory, a spot they’d hold for the next 10 days and off-and-on through mid-September before ending the year with 94 wins, three games behind the Redbirds, and a wild card spot. 
• 2014 - Gregory Polanco went 2-for-3 with a walk and stolen base, hit his first PNC Park homer and had four RBI to lead the Pirates to a 5-2 win over the Mets. Vance Worley got the win.

J-Bell, Gregory Homer, Mets Bumble As Bucs Take 6-4 Victory

Quick start off Seth Lugo; Starling reached thanks to a Met bobble (he may have beat it out even if cleanly fielded), stole second and came home on a grounder followed by a sac fly. Red Beard's two-out double went for naught. Jamo walked two of the first three Mets (he was up 0-1 & 0-2 on them) but a 1-6-3 DP cured that bit of wildness. The Bucs added on in the second when Gregory was served a center-cut 3-2 heater and launched it 415' into the stands. NY got a leadoff knock for their action. J-Hay reached second in the third on 3B Luis Guillorme's second error with two away and Colin Moran took a free pass on a work-around. Eli waved the wand and singled in a third run. Joey Bats walked with two gone but a whiff left him stranded. Gregory opened with a walk, but the Bucco cash-in streak ended in the fourth. It was a quick, nine-pitch frame for JT.

Jamo won his fifth game tonight (photo MLB Pipeline)

J-Bell rolled over on an outside change to start the fifth but still got aboard on the Met's third error, this one by 2B Asdrubal Cabrero. He moved up on a grounder but was then nailed trying for third on a comebacker. Eli dropped a lob into center followed by a walk to juice the sacks, but Gregory couldn't break it open. In a bit of karma, Guillorme reached on an error by his counterpart, Colin Moran. Michael Conforto almost made it a big boot with a drive up the line; it slid just outside the foul pole and a review confirmed the foul call before he fanned. Tyler Bashlor made his MLB debut in the sixth, and welcome to the bigs - with two outs, he lost Starling, who stole a base and then jogged home after J-Bell went long the opp way, just hooking the ball inside the pole. The Mets got a knock but never threatened the scoreboard. Pittsburgh went quietly in the seventh.

NY started with back-to-back two-baggers, the second glancing off Red Beard's glove. Tyler Glasnow got the ball and gave up a walk and homer to Wilmer Flores. Nothing is easy for this team. Steven Brault went to the hill and walked his first batter. He fell behind Joey Bats 3-0, but a kind call and a fish for a low cutter fanned him, then Steven fed a big DP ball to Cabrera. Robert Gsellman toed the rubber in the eighth and tossed a 1-2-3 frame. Kyle Crick issued the Pirates sixth free pass with an out followed by a single before he settled down to put up another zero. Starling opened the ninth with a knock and J-Bell - what else? - walked. A J-Hay infield single filled the bases. Red Beard popped out, but Eli brought in an insurance marker with a fly to center for Felipe Vazquez.  His heater was money; he showed all three Mets something off speed while blowing the ol' number one past them, fanning the side. RTJR!

Eli is hitting .296 (image Positively Pittsburgh)

It wasn't exactly textbook baseball - a combined 13 hits, three of which left the yard, 11 walks, four errors and 328 pitches made for a 3-1/2 hour match that isn't destined for ESPN. But it snaps a five-game losing streak (the Mets have dropped seven straight) and maybe will lift a little weight off the backs of the struggling Buccos. We'll see tomorrow; it would be nice to see some carryover.

Notes:

• Eli had a pair of raps with a sac fly while Starling had a hit, walk, scored three runs and stole a base; J-Bell and Gregory homered. Still, the Buccos collected just seven hits although drawing five walks was promising.
• It took nine pitches, but Corey Dickerson worked his first walk since May 23rd. J-Bell hit his first homer of the month; he last time he hit a big fly was on May 31st.
• The grapevine has Altoona RHP Mitch Keller, the Bucs next big thing, moving on to Indy before the All-Star break. He's 8-2/3.00, averaging eight K and 3.5 walks per nine going into tonight's start, which only boosted his status as he went eight scoreless frames, giving up one hit and fanning six on 92 pitches.

Bucs Visit Mets, Jamo v Lugo & Notes - Top of the Order Shuffled

Today: The game starts at 7:10 at CitiField and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan.

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (4-6, 4.03) v RHP Seth Lugo (2-2, 2.85). Jamo has spent June alternating good starts with meh outings; the good news is he's due for a solid appearance tonight. He hasn't faced the Mets since 2016. Stepping in for Noah Syndergaard from the bullpen (and those are pretty big spikes to fill), Lugo has allowed eight earned runs in his last eight innings and is 1-1/4.00 in his four starts. This is his first call against the Pirates.

Jamo does the spinning tonight. (photo: Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Josh Harrison 2B, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Corey Dickerson LF, Gregory Polanco RF, Jordy SS & Taillon P. Looks like a Curly shuffle at the the top of the lineup; we'll see what the results are.

Notes:

• The Bucs have lost five games in a row and 24 of their last 34 games. The Mets are even worse, having lost 25 of their last 32 games, with six defeats in a row and dropping 10-of-13. So it's a series someone has to win in spite of themselves.
• Since May 18th, the Pirates pitching staff has a 4.47 ERA while the offense has produced a .233 BA and scored 123 runs (3.6 per game).
• J-Bell has reached base safely via hit/walk in 14 straight games.
• The Pirates have released reliever Johnny Hellweg, 29, from his minor league contract so that he can play in Japan. Kinda surprised at that; he had a 1.33 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 11 saves at Indy.
• MLB Pipeline's Prospect Team of the Week features two Pittsburgh puppies: WV Power SS Oneil Cruz, 19, & Bristol Pirates 1B Mason Martin, also 19. The Pirates are tied for most PTOW reps so far this year.

6/25 Expo Park-Forbes Field Era: Kiner Klubs; Big Bat Brooming; Yde Do-It-All; RIP Jake; Game Stories

• 1903 - Ed Doheny surrendered just four singles as the Pirates won at Philadelphia 4-3 in 10 innings to run their winning streak to 15 games. Hans Wagner had three hits while Ginger Beaumont and Fred Clarke each had a pair; Doheney helped his own cause by scoring twice. It would end later in the day as the Phils took the nitecap of the Baker Bowl twinbill by a 5-1 tally. 

Chief Wilson 1912 T207

• 1912 - The Pirates swept a DH from the Cards by 10-4 and 19-3 scores, banging out 35 hits over the course of the day at Robinson Field. Max Carey (he had six hits during the affair) and Chief Wilson hit grand slams (Wilson’s was thought to be the longest ball ever hit at Robison, clearing the park), and rookie Stump Edington came close, being thrown out at home after clearing the bases with a triple. The Bucs put up a 10 spot in the seventh inning of the nitecap. Claude Hendrix and King Cole were the winning pitchers. The Pittsburgh Press wrote “The Pirates slugged their way to a double victory… There appeared to be absolutely no style of pitching that the Corsairs could not solve.” 
• 1913 - What had been a tight pitching duel through nine innings turned into a laugher in the 10th when the Pirates erupted for eight runs against three St. Louis Cardinal relievers to take home a 9-1 win at Robison Field. The Bucs had five hitters with a pair of knocks (and all in a row, batting 7-8-9-1-2 in the order), including pitcher Marty O’Toole who scattered eight hits for the complete game win. The eight-run margin in extra innings is the largest bonus baseball spread in Pirates history. 
• 1918 - 1B Jake Beckley passed away in Kansas City. He spent 20 years in MLB, and during his first nine campaigns (1888-96), he wore Pittsburgh colors as an Allegheny, Burgher and Pirate. He hit over .300 for six of those nine seasons. During his six-team career, he batted .308 with a .361 OBP, scored 1,600 runs and chased home 1,575 teammates.  

Emil Yde 1924 (photo Conlon Collection/Getty)

• 1924 - Pitcher Emil Yde's bases-loaded double tied the score in the ninth inning and in the 14th, the Pittsburgh southpaw's two-run triple beat the Cubs at Forbes Field, 8-7. Beside the two hits and five RBI, Yde hurled 10-1/3 innings of one-run ball in relief to earn the win. 
• 1940 - The Bucs won for the fifth time in six games when they whipped the Philadelphia Phillies 9-7 at Shibe Park. Al Lopez had three RBI, Elbie Fletcher scored three runs and Bob Elliott went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Johnny Lanning got the win in relief of Max Butcher, with Bob Klinger getting the save. 
• 1944 - The Cards edged the Bucs 2-1 in the opener of a twinbill as Red Munger outpitched Rip Sewell. The second ended in a controversial 5-5 tie, called after nine innings because of the Pennsylvania Blue Law. Pittsburgh tied the game in the ninth on a pinch hit long ball by Virgil Davis that went through the screen in front of the RF stands. Cards manager Billy Southworth protested, claiming that the ground rules were that a fair ball stuck in the screen was a double and the same reasoning should apply. Ump Beans Reardon didn’t buy the argument and ruled that since it didn’t stick but went through the fence, it was a homer. 
• 1949 - The Bucs hit five home runs (Ralph Kiner twice, Wally Westlake, Ed Stevens & Dino Restelli) but the Dodgers banged out four of their own to leave Pittsburgh eating their dust at Forbes Field, winning a 17-10 slugfest. Rookie Restelli set a record as his four-bagger was the seventh in his first ten MLB games; he would only hit six more in his abbreviated big league career. 

Ralph Kiner 1949 Bowman

• 1950 - Ralph Kiner had a massive day as he led the Pirates to a 16-11 win at Brooklyn by hitting for the cycle. He went 5-for-6 with two homers, a double, triple, scored four times and drove in eight runs at Ebbets Field. Stan Rojek added four hits against the Dodgers, Gus Bell had three and Ted Beard homered. Cliff Chambers got the win in relief of Vern Law though both gave up five runs in four innings.

6/25 TRS-PNC Park Era: Lonnnng Ball; 9,000 & Counting; Five Homer Day & Game Stories

• 1971 - Willie Stargell hit the longest home run in Veterans Stadium history against Jim Bunning during a 14-4 win over the Phils. The spot where the ball landed in section 601 was highlighted with a yellow star with a black "S" inside a white circle until Stargell's 2001 death, when the white circle was painted black. The star remained in place until the stadium's 2004 razing. Teammate Richie Hebner quipped "I went up there after he hit that home run and I looked down. It looked like a $20 cab ride from there to home plate." 

Esteban Loaiza 1995 Bowmans Best

• 1995 - There was plenty of good pitching in the Bucs 1-0 win over Montreal at Stade Olympique, with the Pirates making a two-out unearned run scored in the opening frame hold up. Esteban Loaiza tossed seven innings of five-hit ball, then Jason Christiansen and Dan Miceli put it to bed. Jay Bell was the only Bucco batter with a clue, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and scoring the game’s only run. Kevin Young had a record-tying day at the hot corner with 11 assists. The recently converted 1B (he had 30 MLB appearances at third in his first three campaigns) handled bunts, dribblers, and started a key around-the-horn DP in the fourth after the first two Expos had reached base, the only real jam Loaiza faced that day. 
• 2002 - The Pirates won their 9,000th game with a 4-1 victory against the Montreal Expos at PNC Park, joining the Giants, Yankees, and Dodgers in that accomplishment. Kris Benson got the W and Kevin Young went 4-for-4 on the day. 
• 2003 - The Pirates broke a 3-3 tie by scoring three times in the ninth, then barely held on to claim a 6-5 win over Montreal at Olympic Stadium. The Bucs took the late lead on a Kenny Lofton sac fly and back-to-back two-out singles by Jason Kendall and Jeff Reboulet. It was just enough for Mike Williams, who gave up a two-run homer to Ron Calloway and had Expos leading off first and second before getting the last two outs. 
• 2008 - In the battle of the Bulldogs, LHP Justin Wilson held Georgia scoreless for seven innings and got the win as Fresno State won its first College World Series by a 6-1 score. Wilson was named to the All-Tournament team and became the Bucs fifth round pick in the draft, pitching for the big club from 2012-14 before beginning a trek around the league. 

Cutch 2009 Topps Chrome

• 2009 - After falling behind the Indians 2-0 at PNC Park, the Bucs chipped away, winning 3-2 on a walk off bloop single in the ninth by Andrew McCutchen that scored Jack Wilson. Cutch was clutch; he scored the first run of the comeback in the sixth and drove in the tying run an inning later by drawing a bases loaded walk on a 3-2 count off Cliff Lee. 
• 2011 - The Bucs downed the Red Sox and one-time Bucco hurler Tim Wakefield 6-4 behind a three-run homer by Lyle Overbay and a solo shot by Garrett Jones. Joel Hanrahan earned the save by striking out Adrian Gonzalez, who represented the tying run, in the ninth at PNC Park. 
• 2013 - The Bucs banged five homers for the first time since 2009 and rolled to a 9-4 win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Starling Marte led the Pirates' offense with a pair of home runs, his first career multi-homer game, and a triple. Russell Martin, Brandon Inge and Gaby Sanchez also homered. The Pirates went long three times in the second inning off Joe Saunders; Inge and Marte went back-to-back. Jeff Locke coasted to the win, and in the process become the first Pittsburgh lefty to win seven in a row since John Smiley in 1991.

6/25 Birthdays: HBD A-Ram, Paul, Alejandro, Bobby, John, Ken, Bill & Ralph

• 1895 - 2B Bill Webb was born in Chicago. His show time consisted of five big league games for the 1917 Pirates, going 3-for-15 as a 22-year-old. His late season Bucco try out had its up-and-downs. Webb was 0-fer in his first four games, but in his last go, he went 3-for-4 with a run scored as the Bucs beat Boston, 2–0, at Forbes Field. Webb did have a long minor league career, playing 14 seasons and went on to become a baseball lifer. He managed in the minors and then coached third base for the White Sox under Jimmy Dykes for five years before becoming their farm director, a position he held until he had a fatal heart attack at the age of 47. 
• 1902 - LHP Ralph Erickson (his middle name was Lief) was born in DuBois, Iowa. He went to Idaho State and toiled in the Class C Idaho-Utah League before the Bucs brought him to Pittsburgh in September, 1929. He lasted until mid-summer of 1930, getting into eight games with a 1-0/8.40 slash. Ralph was a workhorse starter on the farm after that trial and pitched through the 1934 season. He then went to Arizona and worked in the mining industry, which apparently agreed with him - he was MLB’s oldest living player until he passed away in 2002 at the ripe old age of 100. Erickson did have his moment in the sun: He tossed a no hitter in 1933 while pitching for Shreveport of the Texas League. He won the game, 2-0, against Houston, beating none other than Dizzy Dean. 

John Gelnar 1967 Topps Rookie Stars

• 1943 - RHP John Gelnar was born in Granite, Oklahoma. The Bucs signed Gelnar out of Oklahoma in 1963; a year later he got a cup of coffee with the Pirates, working nine innings and giving up five runs. He got into 10 games in 1967, going 0-1, 8.05, with most of his time spent with AAA Columbus. In 1969-70, after a couple of trades, John pitched fairly well for the Seattle Pilots and then the Milwaukee Brewers. He got off to a rough start with the Brew Crew in ‘71, was sent down to AAA and then retired at the end of the 1972 campaign. He did get some recognition from Jim Bouton in “Ball Four” when Bouton wrote Gelnar used to bring binoculars to the bullpen when the pair were with Seattle so they could watch girls. 
• 1951 - 3B Ken Reitz was born in San Francisco. He ended his 11-year career on a quiet note with the Pirates in 1982, going 0-for-10 with four whiffs. Ken had been a Cardinal mainstay at the hot corner for eight years, earning an All-Star spot, Golden Glove and the nickname “Zamboni” for his ability to scoop up grounders. 
• 1959 - RHP Alejandro Pena was born in Cambiaso, Dominican Republic. After helping whip the Pirates in the playoffs as a Brave in 1991, the Pirates signed him as a free agent after the 1992 season for $1.35M. He promptly sat out the year with elbow surgery and came back in 1994, going 3-2-7/5.02 and was released in June. The 15-year vet had a twisty road to join the Pirates - he was mentioned, along with Kevin Mitchell and a PTBNL, to be part of a 1992 pre-season deal for Barry Bonds with Atlanta. The swap was agreed to in principle by GM Ted Simmons but nixed by Jimmy Leyland, who went over Simmons’ head to plead his case with team President Carl Barger. So the club, which apparently thought highly of Pena, later signed him as a free agent even tho he sat out the 1992 Bravo post-season with tendonitis. 

A-Ram 1998 Bowman

• 1978 - 3B Aramis Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Pirates signed him in 1994 as a 16-year old, he debuted in 1998, and was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2003 in one of Pittsburgh’s more brutal contract dumps of the Dave Littlefield era. On July 23rd, 2015, he was traded back to Pittsburgh exactly 12 years after they first traded him away, and helped the Pirates in their wildcard run by hitting six homers and playing first base as needed for the first time in his 18-year career. He retired in November as a member of the team that first signed him two decades earlier. A-Ram spent a dozen years with the Cubs and Brewers in between and was a three-time All-Star who hit .286 and swatted 386 HR. 
• 1982 - LHP Paul Maholm was born in Greenwood, Mississippi. Maholm was selected by the Pirates in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2003 draft and debuted in 2005. He worked for the Bucs through 2011, slashing 53-73/4.36, and was released with the Cubs picking him up. He played for them, the Braves and Dodgers through 2014 when a shoulder injury ended his career. 
• 1986 - LHP Bobby LaFromboise was born in Downey, California. He had two brief MLB stops, working for the Anglels and then getting into 17 games for the Pirates in 2014-15 as a depth reliever and LOOGY, with no decisions but a fine ERA of 1.54. Still, he was waived and though he signed with several teams on a look-see basis, he’s been out of baseball since 2017.

Buc Bats Baffled Again As Snakes Sweep the Series 3-0

Hmmm...something totally different; a sprinkle pushed back the game time by 30 minutes. The time lag didn't change the Buccos' bad first inning vibes. An opening single was erased by a DP, just to be followed by another knock and a David Peralta bomb off Trevor Williams to make it 2-0. The Bucs went down in order against Clay Buchholz. In the second, John Ryan Murphy hit Willy's first pitch fastball over the wall. An ensuing boot by Red Beard didn't result in any more damage. For Pittsburgh, it was three up, three down. It was a clean third; S-Rod and J-Hay both made nice grabs behind Williams. The bottom of the Bucco order was no challenge to Buchholz. The Snakes opened the fourth with a rap, but a couple of K's evened it out. The Pittsburgh's finally got a runner when Starling doubled with two away before a whiff ended the short-lived rally. Willy looks settled now with another calm frame in the fifth. For the Bucs, another leading-to-naught two-out knock by J-Bell.

Willy had two pitches he'd like back... (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Trevor cruised through the sixth, and Andrew Chafin came on for Buchholz; we'll have to see what that's about, as Clay has a two-hitter after 53 tosses ('Zona announced later that his side tightened up). J-Hay doubled with one away but AM and Starling fanned behind him in not-very-disciplined efforts. Clay Holmes toed the slab in the seventh; Willy rallied to keep the Bucs in it after his two gopher balls. He gave up an opening walk but a DP cleaned it up.  After striking out the first two Buccos, Chafin was yanked for Yoshihisa Hirano, who finished it up. Clay spun a calm eighth. J-Bell opened the Bucco half with a knock; S-Rod rolled into a DP and another zip was on the board. Edgar Santana worked the ninth. A leadoff single moved to second after a grounder but went no further. Brad Boxberger came out with broom in hand; he gave up a one-out knock to AM before Starling hit into a game-ending DP to give the Snakes a four-game sweep.

Giving up three runs shouldn't be a death sentence, but for a Bucco attack that's managed just nine runs in the past six games, well, it's pretty close. Fives hits, with no two coming in the same frame, followed by two DPs don't leave a lot of runners to chase home. Plate discipline is the culprit, and that doesn't just include fishing expeditions, but balls in the hitting zone that are taken or fouled off. We're not sure if the Pirates have a Plan B, but they sure as heck better get crackin' on one - and don't look back; the last-place Reds are only four games from catching Pittsburgh.

J-Bell had two of the Bucs' five hits (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Notes:

• J-Bell had two hits; the Bucs had five total with no walks and nine whiffs. The D-Backs only needed 107 pitches to tuck Pittsburgh away.
• In a move announced just before game time, Michael Feliz was placed on the DL with right shoulder inflammation and Clay Holmes was recalled. He should be fresh and in sync; he was slated to start today.
• There were 19,027 in the house today.
• On his Sunday show, Neal Huntington said the current losing streak is something all young teams go through, and they're looking to bolster the roster as of now (although there have been "sources say" reports that the Pirates vets are being shopped). He added that the club still considers Steven Brault and Tyler Glasnow to be starting pitchers - someone should clue in Clint - and gave Joe Musgrove a vote of confidence. NH also has no problems with S-Rod being trotted out as often as he's been lately, though he did at least note that "...the batting average and production isn't where we wanted it to be, hoped it would be and thought it would be."
• LHP Oddy Nunez, who the Pirates signed as an 18-year-old out of the Dominican Republic in 2015, tossed a rain-shortened eight-inning no hitter today for Bradenton in a 5-0 win over Fort Meyers. It was the first no-no in Marauder history.

D-Backs Looking to Broom Bucs, Willy v Buchholz & Notes

Today: The game starts at 1:05 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. It's Bucco drawstring backpack day for the 14-and-under fans. Should be a great day outside for a ballgame.

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (6-4, 4.00) finishes off the set against RHP Clay Buchholz (1-1, 2.94). Just when everyone had stuck a fork in Willy, he turned it around and tossed a gem against the Brewers in his last outing. Whether that was an outlier or the start of a rebound is the question. This will be a good indicator; he hit rock bottom by giving up eight runs (just three earned) in a three-inning start in Arizona earlier this month, though he would have won a fortune had he sued his teammates for non-support in that contest. The good news is that he's been solid at home. In his last 18 starts at PNC Park, covering the last year, Williams has posted a 3.02 ERA while allowing two runs or fewer in 14 of the 18 assignments. Buchholz has made six starts for the D-backs and all but one was solid. The clinker was against the Pirates on June 12th when he allowed six runs (five earned) and lasted just four innings. So both guys are looking for a shot of redemption today.

Willy has the honors today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Austin Meadows RF, Starling Marte CF, Colin Moran 3B, Corey Dickerson LF, Elias Diaz C, Josh Bell 1B, Sean Rodriguez SS & Williams P. Jordy sits while S-Rod goes to short; guess it's a rest day. We are kinda surprised about Gregory; when he couldn't hit a beach ball, he was playing every day, but now that he's snapping out of it, he's glued to the pine. That four-man outfield thing could use a little tuneup, we think.

Notes:

• Cervy may be more than dinged up. His concussion effects - he's had at least four of them - are now cumulative rather than event-related, per Adam Berry of MLB.com. He's in a no-activity rehab phase at least through this weekend.
• Yesterday's three-inning outing was the longest of Ric Rod's MLB career.
• Following today's game, the Bucs go coast-to-coast. They'll kick off a 10-day, nine-game road trip beginning tomorrow night at Citi Field in New York, then off to San Diego and Dodgerland. They'll be gone til' July 6th.
• Sad news: Former player and long-time trainer Tony Bartirome passed away yesterday. 
• The rumor mill has the Buccos dangling all their vets on the market, so we'll see where that leads. Sure can't make for a comfortable locker room...  
• In his debut with the short-season West Virginia Bears, top draft pick Travis Swaggerty went 3-for-4 with a double and scored three times.
• RHP Edwin Jackson will make a start for Oakland in their upcoming Tiger series. The A's will be the 13th team he'll pitch for, tying Octavio Dotel's record. Jackson never hurled for the Pirates; Dotel did.

6/24 Through the 20s: Basebrawl; Hans Has A Day; Game Stories; HBD Jake, Rollie, Lefty & Kirtley

• 1867 - OF Jake Stenzel was born in Cincinnati. He patrolled center field for five years (1892-96) for Pittsburgh. Stenzel was a strong guy with the stick, putting up a line of .360/.429/.528 in his Allegheny years, adding 188 stolen bases. He was a monster in 1894, hitting .352 with 150 runs and 121 RBI, banging 13 HR, 20 triples, and 39 doubles while swiping 61 sacks. Stenzel scored 100+ runs in his final three seasons with Pittsburgh. Per John Dreker of Pirates Prospects, Stenzel is the only player in baseball history to produce a .350 BA, 80 RBI, 100 runs & 50 SB line in a season four times (Honus Wagner did it twice) and is the franchise leader in batting average and on base percentage. 

Jake Stenzel (photo source: Find A Grave)

• 1896 - RHP Kirtley Baker was born in Covington, Kentucky. He started a decade-long baseball odyssey with the Alleghenys in 1890 as a 21-year-old, going 3-19/5.60 in 25 outings with one outing as a pinch runner (he stole a base). Over the course of the next 10 years, he would pitch for Orioles and Senators between stops of a nine-team trip through the minors, hanging up the spikes after the 1900 campaign. 
• 1902 - The Bucs whipped the Orphans 7-2 at the West Side Grounds in a game that was highlighted by a brawl between Chicago’s Joe Tinker and the Pirates Wid Conroy. Steamed that Conroy had held him (literally) at second in the previous game, Tinker launched a punch at Conroy, who promptly retaliated before ump Hank O’Day could restore order. Conroy ended up with a 20 day suspension while instigator Tinkers was given a three day slap on the wrist. Pure baseball was at a minimum as the Pittsburgh Press described the game action as providing “an oversupply of bungling” and added that “neither team did sufficient good playing to deserve a victory.” Chicago picked up the nickname of Cubs during this season because of the youthfulness of their roster. They had gone as the Orphans since 1898, when their long time manager Pop (aka Cap) Anson was fired; the media called them the "Orphans" because they had lost their Pop. 
• 1907 - C Ralston “Rollie” Hemsley was born in Syracuse, Ohio. Rollie spent the first four years (1928-31) of his 19-year, eight club MLB stay with Pittsburgh, starting the last two and putting up a .264 BA. After being traded, he went on to have five All-Star years with three different clubs. After retiring, he was a coach for the Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators, also managing in the minors. He was selected Minor League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News in 1950 while serving as pilot of the Columbus Red Birds. 

Rollie Hemsley (photo source: Retro Images Archives)

• 1908 - Per the Pittsburgh Press: “The bright...star of the game was ‘Honus’ Wagner who clouted the bulb for a home run, a double, a single, scored two runs...and made a bold steal of home…” as the Pirates beat the Reds 5-3 at Exposition Park. The Bucs scored three times in the eighth to turn the game their way with Hans driving in the lead run and stealing home for an insurance marker, getting the jump when the Cincinnati catcher tried to catch the runner at first, Ed Abbaticchio, napping with a snap throw behind him. Abby was wide awake, tho, and got back safely as the Flying Dutchman took advantage to sneak home. Vic Willis got the win with Nick Maddux tossing the ninth for the save. 
• 1910 - The Pittsburgh Press described it as “...a contest marked by free and easy hitting by both sides, sensational fielding and mediocre pitching...” as the Pirates prevailed over the Cubs at Forbes Field by a 6-5 tally. Honus Wagner was the offensive spark plug, banging out three hits and sending four runners home; he had the game-winning blow, a three-run, bases-loaded double in the seventh that “did the cleanup act.” Howie Camnitz was the “mediocre” hurler, giving up five runs in four innings before Deacon Phillippe came to the rescue, spinning shutout ball for five frames while giving up three hits. The Bucs gave Redbird Solly Hofman the day off; he became the first NL first baseman to play an entire game without registering a putout. 
• 1917 - LHP Al “Lefty” Gerheauser was born in St. Louis. Lefty tossed during 1945-46 for the Bucs as a swingman, going 7-12 with a 3.93 ERA. He came to the Pirates from the Phils in exchange for Vince DiMaggio. Lefty spent six years in the show with another 13 seasons in the minors before hanging ‘em up. He got on with his life in Joplin, Missouri, and sated his baseball jones by coaching at the Mickey Owens Baseball School.

Lefty Gerheauser (photo source: Find A Grave)

• 1924 - Cincinnati’s Eppa Rixey retired the first 23 Bucco batters that he faced and had a 1-0 lead in a duel with Ray Kremer. But the Pirates scratched out a run in eighth and added three more in the ninth, with the big blow a two-run single by Kiki Cuyler, to take a 4-3 win at Redlands Field. The Reds almost came all the way back, scoring twice in their half of the ninth, with Edd Roush, representing the tying run, cut down at the plate on a strong relay by SS Glenn Wright. Pittsburgh was outhit 13-6 in the contest.

6/24 From the 30’s Forward: Arky Cycle; Sir Richard Acts Up; Face's Face on SI; Pops Pops Three; NY v Pgh 2.0; HRs & Wild Streaks

• 1933 - Arky Vaughan hit for the cycle against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. He went 5-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored in a 15-3 Bucco victory. He was (and still is) the youngest MLB player to hit for the cycle, at 21 years, 3 months of age. He had lots of help on this day as Pie Traynor had four hits, Gus Suhr three, and Adam Comorosky added a homer and double. Bill Swift cruised on his way to a complete game, six-hit victory. 

Arky Vaughan 1934 Goudey

• 1934 - The battle between Philadelphia’s Dick Bartell and Bucco Arky Vaughan, who replaced him at shortstop in Pittsburgh, went on at Forbes Field. Bartell held a grudge from the prior series when he was “beaned” by a Vaughan DP relay. After he popped out (both Dick and Arky had 0-fer days) he “exchanged pleasantries” with Vaughan, ending in a fist shaking demonstration. As a reward for his antics, Bartell was low bridged the next time up by reliever and eventual game winner Waite Hoyt. Not only were the Pirates riled at “Sir Richard,” but so were the fans. After the game, Bartell went into the seats after a heckler. Volney Walsh, Pittsburgh Press beat writer, wrote “He was stopped in this effort by the club trainer, who grabbed little Dick by the belt and hauled him away…” The Pirates won the day easily 11-5 behind Gus Suhr’s three hits and a Paul Waner homer. 
• 1963 - The baron of the Bullpen, ElRoy Face, was featured as the cover story of Sports Illustrated in an article titled “Baseball’s Best Reliever.” It might of jinxed the baron of the Bullpen - he went 3-9-16/3.23 that season after a strong 1962 campaign. 
• 1965 - Willie Stargell’s first career three homer game (the Bucs hit five dingers during the match, with Bob Bailey and Jim Pagliaroni also going yard) sparked the Bucs to a 13-3 romp over first-place Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. Pops also lined a shot off the outfield railing for a double, just missing his fourth long fly of the day. Roberto Clemente added three knocks while Don Cardwell tossed a four hitter to earn the win over Don Drysdale. 

Willie Stargell 1965 Topps

• 2008 - For the first time since Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, the New York Yankees visited Pittsburgh. Bill Mazeroski threw out the first pitch at PNC Park, and it was deju vu all over again as the Bucs broke out the bats to win 12-5. Freddy Sanchez had three hits and three runs scored while Ryan Doumit and Adam LaRoche also had three knocks with a pair of RBI each. The Bucs were the last MLB team to earn a regular season win against the Yankees. Also true to form, they were clobbered 10-0 by the Bronx Bombers the following day. 
• 2017 - The Bucs used a wild streak to ice a 7-3 win over the St.Louis Cards at Busch Stadium. Ahead 5-1 in the sixth thanks to a homer & three RBI from Jordy Mercer and a solo shot by Josh Harrison, the Pirates had a runner on second with two outs. Eight hitter Chris Stewart was intentionally walked and pitcher Gerrit Cole was unintentionally lost on a 3-2 pitch from Lance Lynn. John Brebbia relieved and plunked Adam Frazier in the foot on an 0-2 pitch to force home one run and the Fat Lady started warming up after J-Hay was smacked above the hip to plate another as the Bucs scored three runs on one hit. The Pirate bullpen struggled a bit, but brought the win home for Cole, who tossed a six-inning five-hitter.