Phils Drop the Ball, Bucs Take Late 5-4 Decision

Drew Smyly had a tough start; K-Man tripled, B-Rey homered and Starling doubled to open the game. He settled in after that, but the Bucs were off to a quick 2-0 edge. Steven Brault tossed a clean frame. Eli opened the second with a knock for all the Bucco noise. The ol' mateys gave Steven problems as Corey D doubled and S-Rod got plunked. Of course it hurt when the eight hitter knocked in a run with two away and stole second, but Smyly rolled out weakly to end it. J-Bell singled in the third for the lone Bucco runner. Steven continued to struggle; an opening hit was erased on a DP, but a knock, walk and a Dickerson rap tied it. Pittsburgh went in order in the fourth and the ex-Bucco curse continued - S-Rod doubled and scored on Andrew Hasely's single, the eight-hole guy's second RBI, with Steven spearing Bryce Harper's bullet shot at him to end the frame. With two gone in the fifth, Reynolds singled and Marte doubled, but J-Bell couldn't get them home. The Phils went down quietly.

Colin's 13th HR was a key blow tonight - image Pittsburgh Pirates

The Bucs regained the lead in the sixth when Joey O singled and Redbeard pounded one into the night to put the Pirates up 4-3. Two outs later, Blake Parker was given the ball and was greeted by a Pablo rap. He was nabbed stealing; why they run against JT Realmuto is beyond us. Kyle Crick was ushered in and gave up a two-out solo dinger to Logan Morrison. Ranger Suarez tossed a clean seventh. Keona Kela gave up a leadoff two-bagger to Realmuto but shut down the meat of the order. Jared Hughes came on with an out in the eighth; he gave up a walk and then coaxed a DP from Colin. Frankie Liriano got the call and was tagged for an opening double. He got two routine outs and Felipe was next up, posting a strikeout to send it into the ninth. Hector Norris walked Fraze and Melky with one gone. K-Man hit an apparent DP ball, but 1B Rhys Hoskins dropped the relay, allowing a heads up, hustling Fraze to plate. B-Rey singled before it finished. The Nightmare faced Hoskins, Realmuto and Harper, and Felipe won,capping it with a swinging K. Raise the Roger.

The Bucs have won 4-of-5, and three have been by one run. Maybe they're finally getting in sync. One thing to notice - the pitching has been a little better; that may have something to do with the defense being fairly solid this week.

Notes:

• B-Rey had three raps and Starling a pair while Joey O had a walk and a knock.
• Kyle Crick has given up nine homers in his last 27-2/3 innings. He's also walked 23 hitters with 37 punchouts; lotta three-true-outcome results for him.
• Philly scored five of its six runs with two outs last night; they scored three of its four tallies tonight with two away.
• S-Rod was booed when his named was announced in the starting lineup, despite busting out of a 1-for-21 slump with the game-winning homer last night, after he chastised the Philly boobirds following his walk off. The crowd even cheered when he was HBP early in the game. Tough crowd.

Steven v Drew Smyly, Lineup & Notes

Game: The game starts at 7:05 and will be on AT&T SportsNet, MLB Network (out of market) and 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Josh Bell 1B, Jose Osuna RF, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Adam Frazier 2B, Steven Brault P. Pretty much same ol'; looks like Joey O has bumped Melky in RF. If you're wondering why Redbeard and Fraze are in against a southpaw, it's because Drew Smyly has a huge reverse split so far this year, with lefties batting .346 against him.

Brault on the bump - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: LHP Steven Brault (3-3/3.98) takes on LHP Drew Smyly (2-6/6.99) in the middle game. Steven keeps grinding out solid six-inning starts and has been the glue man of the staff, giving up two or fewer runs in 13 of his 16 starts. He missed the Phils in July when he was on the IL and faced them twice last year, going 1-0 while yielding two runs in eight IP. Smyly hasn't had much to smile about lately, going 0-1/7.45 in his past four starts with seven homers swatted in 19-2/3 frames. But he was sho' enuff good against the Pirates in July, giving up a run on four hits with eight whiffs over six innings.

Notes:

• Things we learned after Clint had four guys in the bullpen on ice last night - Kyle Crick was definitely out after back-to-back outings, Felipe Vazquez could be used but only for a save, and the Pirates prefer not to use Keone Kela in consecutive games. Yeh, hard to keep straight, and it does lead to questions regarding KK's arm, overall Pirates pitch count limits and role playing.
• Speaking of the bullpen, the Bucs optioned RHP Parker Markel back to Indy and recalled RHP Yefry Ramirez.
• Mitch Keller was named the International League's Most Valuable Pitcher. Kells went 7-5/3.56 with 123 strikeouts in 19 outings covering 103-2/3 innings for the Tribe. He was the fourth Indy pitcher selected as MVP. Steven Brault, tonight's starter, was the most recent before Mitch, winning in 2017.
• Even with the Reds sweep, the Bucs are still 11-31 since the All Star break.

8/27 Through the 1920’s: Zippos; Game Stories; HBD Cholly, Eddie & David

• 1875 - RHP David Wright was born in Dennison, Ohio. He had a slim MLB resume, working one game for the Bucs in 1895 and giving up six runs in two innings featuring a pair of wild pitches, then tossing a barely more successful outing for the Chicago Colts two years later. 
• 1887 - The Alleghenys gave up the most runs in franchise history when they were bombed by the Boston Beaneaters 28-14 at North Side's Recreation Park. It was the sixth season of the franchise and its first in the NL, where the Alleghenys finished sixth with a record of 55–69. 

Eddie Mulligan 1928 - photo Conlon/Getty

• 1894 - IF Eddie Mulligan was born in St. Louis. Mulligan had a long and strong minor league career with short MLB interludes. He made his big league debut with the 1915-16 Chicago Cubs, then returned to the minors. In 1921, he joined the Chicago White Sox after the Black Sox scandal and after two seasons there, he went back to the minors with the San Francisco Seals. Five years later in 1928, Mulligan spent his final season in the majors as a utility infielder for the Pirates, batting .233. Eddie returned to the Pacific Coast League, this time for another decade. He spent 17 years overall in the PCL for eight teams, banged out 2,574 hits. He was elected as a member of the PCL Hall of Fame and was later presented with the King of Baseball award given by Minor League Baseball. 
• 1903 - IF Charlie “Cholly” Engle was born in New York City. Cholly had a couple of cups of coffee in the show, then got his only real taste of the bigs with Pittsburgh in 1930 when he got into 67 games, playing 2B, SS & 3B while hitting .264. Cholly played in the minors for eight years after that, then managed on the farm through the 1950 season. Engle went on to run a bar/restaurant in San Antonio for 25 years after his baseball days. 
• 1917 - In the fourth inning in New York at the Polo Grounds, Max Carey beat out a bunt and moved to second on a single by Tony Boeckel. Both runners stole on the next pitch from Rube Benton and when Boekel and the Giants 2B Buck Herzog got jumbled up at second, Carey steamed home before they could untangle. Wilbur Cooper made that one run stand up to top Benton and the G-Men, 1-0. It was Carey’s 13th swipe of home; he would set the NL standard of 33 steals of home during his career. The loss didn’t slow down NY, which won the NL title with 98 victories. The Pirates went the opposite way, winning just 51 times and finishing in the cellar, 47 games behind the Giants. 

Max Carey 1918 - photo Bain/Library of Congress

• 1925 - The Bucs tossed their second straight shutout against Boston at Braves Field, winning 1-0. The Pirates Vic Aldridge and Boston’s Larry Benton traded four-hitters; Pie Traynor drove in Eddie Moore in the third with the game’s only run. The day before, Lee Meadows threw a nine hit, 2-0 whitewash of the Braves, and did it without striking out a soul.

8/27 From 1930 Through the 1960’s: Tiny's Last Win; Game Stories; HBD Mikes

• 1936 - The Pirates beat the Brooklyn Dodger 6-3 at Forbes Field. The highlight came after the game, when losing pitcher Van Lingle Mungo, in a snit because of the four errors the Dodgers made that led to four unearned runs, left the team and returned to Brooklyn. He would later become famous when the 1969 song "Van Lingle Mungo" by Dave Frishberg hit the charts. 

Josh Gibson - 2001 Upper Deck Hall of Fame

• 1939 - Game Two of the Negro League East-West All-Star game was held at Yankee Stadium. The East, behind Homestead Gray C Josh Gibson’s four RBI, won 10-2. Teammate Buck Leonard also started. Held in addition to the All Star Game played in Chicago each year, the second ASG gave more fans an opportunity to eyeball the action in the pre-TV days. 
• 1948 - The Phillies lost on a walk off homer by Bucco pitcher Kirby Higbe, who went long in the ninth at Forbes Field to give himself a 4-3 win after working a scoreless inning of relief behind Elmer Riddle. It was the last of three career homers for Higbe. 
• 1949 - Pitcher Ernie “Tiny” Bonham won his last MLB start by an 8-2 count over Philadelphia. The ten year vet had complained of stomach problems, and died September 15th at the age of 36 after surgery performed the week before at Presbyterian Hospital uncovered intestinal cancer. His wife Ruth was the first baseball widow to collect a death benefit under the new player pension plan, receiving $90 a month for the next 10 years. 
• 1952 - IF Mike Edwards was born in Fort Lewis, Washington. Mike was drafted four times, finally signing with the Bucs in 1974 as a seventh-round selection from UCLA. He got his first taste of the bigs with Pittsburgh briefly in 1977 before he was shipped to Oakland as part of the Manny Sanguillen trade. He had a good year in ‘78, but 1980 would be his last MLB campaign. Mike closed out his career playing in Mexico and Japan. 
• 1961 - RHP Mike Maddux was born in Dayton, Ohio. Maddux had a 15-year MLB stay and spent a few weeks with the Bucs in 1995, getting in eight games and going 1-0/9.00. He was released in May and signed with the Red Sox. He retired in 2000 and has since coached in the Astros’ system and on the big league level with the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and St. Louis Cardinals. 

Bob Friend - 1963 Topps

• 1963 - The Pirates topped the Mets 2-1 as Bob Friend went wire-to-wire with a seven-hitter, mowing down six Mets, to best Grover Powell and Galen Cisco at Forbes Field. NY had a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth when Manny Mota’s little league homer walked off the game. With Ducky Schofield aboard after a one-out walk, Mota singled. The ball scooted past center fielder Duke Carmel, allowing Ducky to score. The ball was run down by RF’er & former Bucco Joe Christopher, who airmailed it to the plate. Mota sailed home for the win as Cisco, backing up the play, slipped while chasing down the toss and his throw home was a step late. Ironically, Christopher was a late-inning defensive sub for Duke Snider. 
• 1965 - The Bucs scored six times in the ninth at Forbes Field to take the Astros into extra frames, eventually winning their seventh game in a row in 11 innings 10-9. Andre Rodger’s two-run knock was the key blow in the ninth; Harry Walker sent him up to pinch hit for Willie Stargell against lefty Danny Coombs. Al McBean, the Pirates sixth pitcher, took home the win. Roberto Clemente threw out a runner going from first to third the hard way. The Pirates ran a wheel play with runners on first and second, and Bob Lillis rolled the ball through the vacant infield. Bill Mazeroski described what followed to Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press "Roberto raced in from right field, dove for the ball, and with his face in the dirt threw out the (back) runner going to third base!" Walker told Biederman that “Clemente made the doggondest (sic) play I ever saw.” It kept the ‘Stros from running away with the game; Houston banged out two more hits after his play.

8/27 From 1970: SI Willie; Oberkfell-Gregg; Byrd/Buck-Herrera/Black; Pedro On the Clock; Game Stories; HBD Jordy

• 1974 - Dock Ellis went gate-to-gate pitching and swung a mean stick, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, in Pittsburgh’s 13-2 win over San Francisco at Candlestick Park. The Giants scored two runs in the first inning before the Bucs put the game away with nine runs (on three hits - the rest of the Bucco runners were aboard via free passes, HBP and boots; Giant hurler Ed Halicki walked two guys with the bases loaded) in the third. Al Oliver went 3-for-5 with five RBI and Ed Kirkpatrick added three knocks and two walks, plating three times. The Bucs had 12 hits (10 were singles) but were helped greatly by nine walks, two plunked batters and two Giants errors. And for those that think Pittsburgh is the only town with spotty attendance, the game was played in front of a crowd of 3,273.

• 1979 - Willie Stargell shared the cover of Sports Illustrated with a gang of grizzled all-stars for the feature “Golden Oldies.” Pops may have been 39 but still hit .281 with 32 long balls. He won the NLCS & World Series MVP awards, and was co-winner of the MVP award with St. Louis' Keith Hernandez. He later shared SI's "Sportsmen of the Year" award with the Steelers’ Terry Bradshaw. 
• 1983 - Lee Tunnell and Ken Dayley tossed five-hitters at TRS with the Bucs coming out on top 2-0 behind a two-run blast by Bill Madlock in the third inning. Both hurlers were in complete command. Tunnell, who went the distance, faced down his only real threat in the second when he left the bases loaded with an out by whiffing the pitcher and getting a Brett Butler bouncer to escape. Lee Lacy had two hits for Pittsburgh and scored ahead of Mad Dog’s dinger. Both teams were leading their divisions at game time but would finish the year in second behind the Phils and Dodgers. 
• 1988 - The Atlanta Braves sent IF Ken Oberkfell and cash to Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Tommy Gregg. Oberkfell spent a season and change with the Bucs as a seldom used reserve, batting .181 in 34 games, while Gregg played nine more years, mostly as a reserve outfielder. 
• 2009 - The first and last Bucco hits left the yard, and that was enough for a 3-2 win against the Phils and future Bucco JA Happ at PNC Park. Cutch opened the game with a long ball, and Garrett Jones ended it with a two-run walkoff shot in the ninth. Denny Bautista got the win in relief of Charlie Morton, with Matt Capps earning a save. 
• 1986 - SS Jordy Mercer was born in Seiling, Oklahoma. He was third-round draft choice in 2008, and the Oklahoma State product also played for Team USA. Mercer rode the pine in 2012, but saw some playing time in 2013 and won the starting job the next season, a spot he still holds. He’s been a dependable if not particularly rangy fielder with a slow-starting bat (he usually ends the year hitting .255-.260) and some occasional pop. 

Jordy Mercer 2018 - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

• 2008 - Pedro Alvarez was placed on the restricted list after the MLBPA filed a grievance against MLB over draft picks being signed minutes after the August 15th deadline (Petey had made a verbal agreement). On September 22nd, Álvarez and the Bucs settled on a four-year major league deal at $6.4M that resolved the complaint to everyone’s satisfaction. 
• 2013 - Looking to strengthen the roster down the stretch, the Pirates pulled off a waiver deal with the NY Mets for vets OF Marlon Byrd, C John Buck and $250K for minor league IF Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later (RHP Victor Black). The deal was triggered by Starling Marte’s hand injury, which kept him out of action for three weeks (he returned September 9th) Byrd (.318, three HR, 17 RBI in 30 games) helped the Bucs to a wildcard spot (he last played in 2016 for Cleveland prior to receiving a second PED suspension) while Buck hit well in Pittsburgh (.333 in nine games) before retiring after the 2014 campaign. Dilson has bounced around (he’s back in the Mets system now) and Black, after a good showing with the Mets in 2013-14, has been injury-bitten and was last playing indie ball.

Old Philly Phriends Drop Bucs In 11 Innings, 6-5

B-Rey singled off Jason Vargas with one gone; Joey O tried to bring him in with two away, but his drive was gloved at the 369' mark in left center. Philly went down in order. In the second, Redbeard singled but was on the back end of a strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP. The Phils produced a pair of knocks but no runs. The third inning was 1-2-3 for both sides. Reynolds opened the fourth with a leg hit, went to second on a wild pitch and was left on the pond. The Phils struck when Brad Miller popped a two-run, two-out homer to draw first blood. The Pirates had some two-out thunder themselves; Fraze doubled and came home on Big Joe's knock (only a single because it ricocheted off the base of the wall so hard he had to pull up after rounding first) to halve the lead in the fifth. The Phils left a leadoff single aboard. The sixth was six up, six down.

Ric Rod couldn't hold the lead for Big Joe - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Melky singled and scored on Redbeard's two-bagger to start the seventh; it needed an ump review as it hit the very top of the wall. Stalls walked and Jose Alvarez took the ball. A bunt moved them up and pinch hitter J-Bell was intentionally walked (great strategy, Clint). Jared Hughes was then waved in. He got a grounder from K-Man, but it found a hole to plate a pair and give the Pirates their first lead. Starling walked with two away to juice the sacks but Joey O couldn't add on. Frankie Liriano came on a put up a zero. Ranger Suarez got the eighth inning nod; a single by Melky was erased by a GIDP from Erik Gonzalez and a liner ended it. Ric Rod, and Bryce Harper did his thing by dropping a two-out homer into the seats. That was followed by a Realmuto infield rap, leisurely played by Gonzalez at third, and Corey Dickerson homer as the Bucs are now on the wrong end of a 5-4 score.

Hector Neris got the ninth inning beckon, and after an out, J-Bell, who stayed in the game, took one deep to tie the match. K-Man singled and then was quickly caught stealing; a K put it to bed. Chris Stratton took the hill. He walked two of the first three hitters he faced, and the next singled to pack the sacks. A pop up brought up Harper. He got ahead 3-1, but Stratton came back to get him swinging. It's bonus baseball time. Mike Morin answered the 10th inning bell. Starling bunted for a knock and was thrown out trying to steal; maybe someone should tell Clint and the boys Realmuto is pretty good. That was all the noise. The Phils got a leadoff rap and walk off Stratton. Then Jean Segura got a 3-2 heater down Broadway; he lined it center; Starling slid to grab it and doubled up the runner at second. That was followed by another walk, but liner to second kept it even.

S-Rod back when he was a good guy - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

With two away in the 11th, Fraze's single and J-Bell's walk gave the Bucs a glimmer; K-Man's fly to center dimmed the glow. Michael Feliz came in, hung a 1-2 curve to S-Rod, and he dumped it in the seats. Fun while it lasted.

Nothing like getting beat by your old mateys, unless it's giving up four homers, three with two outs.

Notes:

• Five Bucs had two hits - K-Man, B-Rey, Redbeard, Melky and Fraze. J-Bell had a homer and was walked twice on his day off and Starling had a knock and a walk.
• The TV crew announced that Keone Kela, Kyle Crick, Felipe Vazquez and Michael Feliz were all supposedly unavailable tonight. That's amazing to us: Crick worked consecutive nights; the others all worked yesterday but had Saturday off, and none tossed over 18 pitches. Feliz did come on in the 11th for four pitches.
• The Altoona Curve's 21-year-old LHP Domingo Robles (4-6/4.13) tossed a 95-pitch complete game tonight, shutting out Akron on five hits. It was his third complete game and the Curve's sixth; it was also the club's 17th shutout. The Pirates have one CG, and that was by Jameson Taillon, to go with six whitewashes.

Big Joe v Jason Vargas; Lineup & Notes - J-Bell Day Off

Game: The Bucs visit Citizens Bank Park with first pitch at 7:05. The game will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Kevin Newman SS, Bryan Reynolds LF, Starling Marte CF, Jose Osuna 1B, Melky Cabrera RF, Colin Moran 3B, Jake Stallings C, Adam Frazier 2B, Joe Musgrove P. Nothing wrong with J-Bell; just a day off.

Josh is getting a down day - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers: RHP Joe Musgrove (8-12/4.74) starts it off against LHP Jason Vargas (6-6/3.99). Joe just can't seem to string together any consistency. However, he was Good Moose in his last outing against the Phils in late July, holding them to an unearned run on two hits with eight K in a six-inning stint. Vargas has been the opposite, a dependable six-inning guy who keeps the club in the game and is quite good at times, holding foes to two runs or fewer in 12 of his 23 outings. He took on the Bucs in late July as a Met, getting the win after going 5-2/3 IP while surrendering three runs on six hits.

Notes:

• The Pirates were 1-2 against the Phils in mid-July at PNC.
• Corey Dickerson is batting .275 with three homers and 19 RBI in his 18 games with Philadelphia. He joined Jared Hughes, Sean Rodriguez and Phil Gosselin as ex-Bucs who are now Phils, with Juan Nicasio (10-day) and Cutch (60-day) on their IL.
• Connor Byrne of MLB Trade Rumors takes a look at the Pirates catching spot, this season and next.
• Bradenton 1B Mason Martin was picked as Baseball America's Pirates Minor League Player of the Year. His 34 homers show his potential; his 31% K-rate shows where progress must be made. They also touch on a couple of up-and-coming twirlers.
• Indy 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes was named the International League POTW and Greensboro SS Ji-Hwan Bae was named the same for the South Atlantic League.

8/26 Through the 1920’s: Big Poison Six & Seven Packs; 1917 Swap; Game Stories; HBD Sparky & Frank

• 1888 - LHP Frank Allen was born in Newbern, Alabama. Allen spent six years twirling big league ball; the Federal League Pittsburgh Rebels picked him up at the end of the 1914 campaign from the Brooklyn Robins, then rode him the following year when he slashed 23-13/2.51 after 37 starts and 283-1/3 IP. Allen authored the FL’s first no-hitter as a Reb against the St. Louis Terriers, winning 2-0 at Handlan Park in the Gateway City in 1915. He tossed for two more MLB seasons afterward with the NL Boston Braves. Allen’s minor league history is hit-and-miss as far as documentation, but he started out in 1909 for Mobile of the Southern Association in 1909 as a 20-year old and hung ‘em up after tossing for Gadsen of the Georgia-Alabama League in 1928 as a 39-year old (and going 12-6/2.46). 

Mike Smith - Ars Longa Art Card

• 1892 - The Bucs mauled the Philadelphia Phils 11-3 at Exposition Park. Elmer “Mike” Smith, Doggie Miller and Jake Beckley led the way with a pair of hits each. Smith, usually an OF’er, was the pitcher (he appeared in 17 games, starting 13), and per the Pittsburgh Press, the “(Phils Ed) Delahanty found a package of lard in centerfield and the Phillies tried to work up a story that the ball had been greased...” The Pirates pleaded innocent, and the game stood. 
• 1894 - 2B Earl “Sparky” Adams was born in Zerbe, Pennsylvania. He played in Pittsburgh in 1928-29, filling in around the infield as needed and even taking some innings in the pasture while hitting .272 in 209 games. He was well thought of; he came from the Cubs in a trade for Kiki Cuyler. His Pirates time was in the middle of his 13-year career; he went on to have several good campaigns with the Gashouse Gang in St. Louis until a bad knee finally forced his retirement after the 1934 season. He got his nickname because he was a little bundle (5’4-1/2”) of energy on the field. 
• 1910 - It was a great day for outfielders to work on their tans at Forbes Field. Babe Adams, who took the hill in spite of a stomach bug, tossed a six-hitter to top Carrick native Elmer Knetzer (who came home in 1914-15 to pitch for the Pittsburgh Rebels) and Brooklyn 4-2. The Dodger and Pirate outfielders combined for one putout and one assist all afternoon (Pittsburgh’s Chief Wilson gloved a fly to right and the Dodgers’ LF Zack Wheat threw out Bobby Byrnes trying to stretch a double into a triple) to set the MLB record for the least pasture action for two teams in a game. 
• 1912 - In a doubleheader split against Boston at Forbes Field, Chief Wilson collected three triples during the two contests, and would bang another three-bagger the next day. Chief had a three-game triple streak earlier in the year, with a five-game string put together in mid-June. He finished the year with 36 triples, which is still the league standard. Chief caught lightning in a jar, as he never hit more than 14 three-baggers in any other season. Pittsburgh won the opener 5-4 and dropped the evening game 8-4. 

Fritz Mollwitz 1917 - photo Charles Conlon Collection

• 1917 - Kansas City of the American Association sent Fritz Mollwitz to the Bucs in a deal that would stretch into the next year. In February, Pittsburgh received RHP Roy Sanders as a PTBNL and sent the Blues infielders Alex McCarthy & Ike McAuley, along with 1B Ray Miller. Fritz gave the Bucs two decent years, batting .266, then faded in 1919 and was sent to St. Louis to complete his final MLB campaign. Sanders also gave Pittsburgh a solid year, going 7-9/2.60 in his final big league season. McCarthy and Miller never played in the show again, while McAuley got a final hurrah in 1925 with the Cubs. 
• 1926 - Paul Waner went 6-for-6 with two doubles and a triple as the Pirates beat the New York Giants 15-7 at Forbes Field. Pie Traynor and George Grantham each had three hits; Traynor and Johnny Rawlings added three RBI apiece. Big Poison used six different bats to collect his hits. Per Dom Forker’s “Baseball Brain Teasers” that was because Waner had been moved up to the second spot in the lineup rather than his customary three-hole slot. Apparently he didn’t check the scorecard and was caught by surprise when he was called to the plate, so he grabbed the first stick he could reach from the bat rack. He banged out a hit, so he went with random bats the rest of the game, each producing a knock. He tried it again in the following contest, went 1-for-3, and returned to his regular twig. 
• 1927 - Boston defeated the Pirates‚ 6-4 at Braves Field. Paul Waner‚ who went 4-for-4 the day before‚ started off with three more consecutive hits off two Brave pitchers before ending his streak at seven.

8/26 From 1930 Through the 1980’s: Hitting Clothes On; Buster's Big Date; Game Stories; HBD Jeff

• 1934 - Chester Williams of the Pittsburgh Crawfords led the East with three hits in the East-West Negro League All-Star game at Comiskey Park. The East won 1-0 in front of 30,000 fans when Jud Wilson drove in Cool Papa Bell in the eighth inning, giving Satchel Paige the win.
• 1935 - Player-manager Pie Traynor blasted a grand slam and ended the day with five hits and six RBI as the Bucs battered the NY Giants 10-2 at the Polo Grounds. Woody Jensen and Tom Padden also homered to plow the road for Ralph Birkofer’s win.

Pie Traynor  - 1935 National Chicle

• 1947 - The Pirates scored four times each in the first and second innings and added seven more in the fifth (as Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press noted “The Bucs simply had their hitting clothes on...”) as they rolled over the Brooklyn Dodgers 16-3 at Ebbets Field. Wally Westlake homered, doubled, and drove home five runs as Billy Cox and Cutley Rikard added long balls. Ralph Kiner went 5-for-5 with a walk and Frank Gustine added four hits to help Fritz Ostermueller cruise to victory. Brooklyn’s Dan Bankhead, via the Negro League Memphis Red Sox, became the first black pitcher to work an MLB game when he came on in relief of Hal Gregg. The Bucs beat him up on the hill, scoring eight runs in his 3-1/3 frames, though he did swat a two-run homer in his first big league at-bat to help even out his rough debut.
• 1951 - It was a down-to-the-wire twin bill: The Pirates scored eight runs in the seventh frame to overcome a 9-2 fifth inning deficit and rally past the Dodgers‚ 12-11 at Ebbets Field in the opener of a twin set. Brooklyn loaded the bases with an out in the ninth, but Murry Dickson weathered the storm to save the win for Vernon Law. Pete Castiglione and Bill Howerton had three RBI each to lead the comeback; Pete homered twice and Bill once. The club dropped the nitecap 4-3 in 10 innings with Preacher Roe topping Ted Wilks, pitching in relief of Bob Friend.
• 1965 - IF Jeff Richardson was born in Grand Island, Nebraska. Richardson spent parts of three seasons (74 games total) in the show, with six games coming in 1991 for the Bucs; he went 1-for-4 during that time with three K. He spent a decade in the minors, closing out his career in 1995 with the Pirates AAA Calgary club. Richardson managed in Pirates farm system from 1996-1998, then took over as head coach at Louisiana Tech University in 1999. He resigned following the 2002 season to devote more time to his family and bar business in his hometown of Grand Island.
• 1968 - The Bucs beat the Atlanta Braves for the seventh straight time as Steve Blass dodged several bullets to toss a complete game shutout, 4-0. He had only one clean inning, giving up nine hits and a pair of walks but kept the scoreboard dark. Manager Larry Shephard said of his young hurler “He went from my fifth starter (at the beginning of the year) to the top spot” after the win. The Pirates had a small-ball attack: they scored on two sac flies, an error and an infield single. Freddie Patek, Maury Wills and Gene Alley each had two raps.
• 1975 - The first eight Pirates hit safely against the Braves’ Jamie Easterly and Ray Sadecki - Frank Taveras (triple), Rennie Stennett (single), Al Oliver (single), Willie Stargell (single), Richie Zisk (single), Dave Parker (single), Richie Hebner (single) and Duffy Dyer (single) - before P Larry Demery flew out‚ tying the MLB record. The Bucs scored six runs in the frame on their way to an 8-2 victory at TRS.

Buster - 1978 Topps

• 1977 - The Bucs rode Bruce Kison’s arm and bat to a 3-1 win over the Padres at San Diego Stadium. Kison gave up a run over seven innings, had three hits, a run scored, the game-winning RBI and a stolen base before Goose Gossage came up to earn a two-inning save. It was Kison’s first win in eight weeks and 11 starts. Frank Taveras chipped in with four hits and the insurance was provided by Dave Parker’s sixth-inning homer. Both guys had base-running blunders to atone for; Frank was thrown out trying to stretch a double and The Cobra was picked off first twice. Pittsburgh cut Philly’s NL lead to 5-½ games, but that’s about how it finished as Philadelphia won 101 games, finishing the year five games better than the Bucs.
• 1979 - Bruce Kison tossed seven strong innings and smacked a grand slam off Bob Shirley, the first Bucco hurler since Al McBean in 1968 to launch a grannie, to lead the Bucs to a 9-2 win over San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium. He’s one of five Pirates twirlers to hit a grand salami, joining McBean, Deacon Phillippe (1910), Don Robinson (1985) and Denny Neagle (1995). Bill “Mad Dog” Madlock had a big day at the dish with four knocks, a pair of RBI, and two runs.

8/26 From 1980: Giles-Bay Trade; Cole Train Rolls; Jordy Granny; Game Stories; HBD Eric

• 1983 - Larry McWilliams tossed a complete game five-hitter against his old teammates, the Atlanta Braves, as the Pirates romped 9-1 at TRS. The Bucs had 10 hits and were helped by a big three-run blast by Tony Pena and a couple of Bravo boots that led to three unearned scores. Pena, Jason Thompson and Johnny Ray each collected a pair of knocks to back McWilliams.

Eric Fryer - photo Positively Pittsburgh

• 1985 - C Eric Fryer was born in Columbus. He came to Pittsburgh as part of the Eric Hinske deal in 2009 and got a couple of cups of coffee with the Bucs in 2010-11, getting into 16 games as a C, PH, & OF. He returned in 2016 when injuries cut down the Pirates catching depth, went to the Cards the following season and retired in 2018.
• 1987 - The Bucs put up a three-spot against the Reds in the third inning built around John Cangelosi’s triple, but found themselves behind 5-3 going into the eighth at TRS. Andy Van Slyke tied it with two away when he singled home Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds off John Franco; they had just moved up a station thanks to a passed ball. The Pirates used the same two-out formula in the ninth against Cincinnati when Al Pedrique blooped home Johnny Ray, who had led off the frame with a double. The win went to Jeff Robinson who came in for Brian Fisher.
• 1992 - Pirate rookie Tim Wakefield defeated Tom Candiotti of the Dodgers 2-0 in the first matchup of knuckleballers in the NL since 1982 when Phil Niekro and Joe Niekro faced off in a Braves-Astros game. Wakefield scattered six hits for the victory. Jose Lind provided the offensive spark with a pair of hits, an RBI and a run scored. 
• 2003 - The Pirates shipped Brian Giles to San Diego for Jason Bay, Ollie Perez, and Corey Stewart. Pittsburgh had wanted Xavier Nady in the deal, but SD refused and threw in Bay instead. He worked out pretty well, as Bay ended up the NL Rookie of the Year in 2004 and the Bucs reeled in the X-Man in 2006 from the Mets. 
• 2014 - Gerrit Cole pitched six no-hit innings at PNC Park, but a seventh inning St. Louis rally tied the score at 2-2. Things looked bleak when both Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez left the game with injuries soon after, but Ike Davis brightened up the room in the eighth. With Gaby Sanchez and Starling Marte aboard, he crushed a two-out, two-strike change up from Seth Maness off the back fence in right center 442’ away to lead the Pirates to a 5-2 win. Tony Watson got the win and Mark Melancon earned a save. 

Gerrit Cole - 2014 Topps Heritage

• 2016 - Jordy Mercer capped off a five-run sixth inning with his first career grand slam off Milwaukee’s Matt Garza to give the Pirates a 5-3 win at Miller Park. The Brew Crew answered Jordy’s blast with a three-spot of their own in the bottom of the frame, but the bullpens shut the door the rest of the way. Mercer’s slam, which came the day before his 30th birthday, was the fourth of the season for the Pirates and made a winner of starter Ryan Vogelsong, who allowed two runs over 5-1/3 innings with Tony Watson notching the save. 
• 2017 - Gerrit Cole had no success whatsoever against the Reds in his career (he was 0-6 against them in nine outings) until he took matters into his own hands at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. Not only did he throw seven shutout innings, but he homered to do it all in a 1-0 Bucco win. Cole Train's long ball was the third of his career and the first of the year. Per Elias Sports: Cole became the only Pirates pitcher ever to homer in 1-0 win and the first in MLB since the Rays’ Nate Karns v the Phillies (July 2015). Cole also went 8-0 in his last nine road starts; the last Pirates pitcher to win eight straight road decisions was Don Robinson in 1982. Redlegs rookie Luis Castillo was his equal but for that one pitch, tossing a three-hitter with nine K in seven strong frames to take a tough loss.