Thursday Getaway Day: Tyler Anderson Closes v Kyle Hendricks

Today's Game: The match begins at 12:35 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet, MLB Network (out of market) and KDKA 101 FM/1020 AM. 

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B; Ben Gamel LF; Bryan Reynolds CF; Gregory Polanco RF; Erik Gonzalez 3B; Will Craig 1B; Michael Perez C; Kevin Newman SS; Tyler Anderson P. Strike out four times one day, bat cleanup the next; such is the state of the Pirates roster.

Michael Perez is behind the dish today - image AT&T SportsNet

Pitchers: LHP Tyler Anderson  (3-4/4.73) finishes up against RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-4/4.47). In his past two starts, Anderson has given up 13 runs and five dingers in 10 innings (he surrendered five in 59 IP last year) after a strong start. so we'll see where he settles in. He's 1-2 against the Cubbies, though his last outing against them two weeks ago was strong, going eight innings and giving up two runs on four hits. Hendricks has put a horrible April behind him by limiting long balls, but his only bad outing this month was against the Bucs, losing 6-5 and giving up all the runs (four earned) in five innings. He's 0-2/4.50 against Pittsburgh this year in three starts.

Notes:

• Ben Gamel has gone 7-for-18 (.389) with a pair of doubles and a triple in his last five starts.
• Ka'ai Tom (wrist) is running and taking BP.
• The Pirates have lost five straight, 8 of 9 and are 6-17 for May.

Tomorrow's Game: The Rockies come to town for three games. The opener starts at 6:35 and will be aired by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. Mitch Keller goes for the Pirates.

5/27: Vinegar Bend For Javier; Brett Da Bomb; Coop On A Roll; HYPO; Big Bats & Game Tales; HBD Tanner, Jacob, Ross, Terry & 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. 
• 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. 

Kiki - 1927 photo via Detroit Public Library

• 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. 
• 1949 - Terry Collins was born in Midland, Michigan. He started as an infielder in the Pirates system from 1971-74, and eventually the former manager of the Houston Astros, Anaheim Angels and New York Mets ended up the skipper of Pittsburgh’s AAA Buffalo squad from 1989-91 (he won 246 games with the Bisons and was inducted into the Buffalo Sports HoF). Collins then replaced Gene Lamont on Jim Leyland’s staff in 1992, serving for two seasons before landing the ‘Stros head job in 1994. 
• 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 “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. 
• 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 to set the record. Following that appearance, he hurried back to Pittsburgh and banged one in his eighth consecutive contest against Brooklyn, adding to his streak. 

Vinegar Bend - 1961 Manny's Baseball Land

• 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. 
• 1963 - The Pirates and Indians held an interleague exhibition game at Forbes Field to help the Pirates Youth Organization program HYPO - “Help Young Players Organize” - with a special pregame ceremony for the Tribes’ Sam McDowell and Tito Francona, both local guys. The Pirates returned the favor in August, playing in Cleveland to help its youth baseball. The Bucs won the contest 10-9, in what the paper described as a “sandlot game” (seems appropriate, considering) that featured six errors between the clubs. 
• 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 Clyburn. He hit .268 in Pittsburgh before being dealt to Toronto for a minor league player. 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 perfect game 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. 

Ken Brett - 1974 photo Focus On Sports/Getty

• 1993 - RHP Tanner Anderson was born in Boynton Beach, Florida. The Bucs drafted him in the 20th round of the 2015 draft as a senior from Harvard. Tanner worked his way through the system as both a starter and reliever; from the pen, he was 1-1-1/2.86 for AAA Indianapolis and got a call to the big club in late June of 2018. He was rocked in his first outing against the LA Dodgers, and sent down. He won his first MLB game against the Brewers after being recalled in July. Tanner was sent to Oakland in an off-season minor-league deal (the Pirates got 19-year-old RHP Wilkin Ramos), and is still with that organization.
• 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. 
• 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 insurance 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 from 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. 

Cutch - 2017 Topps Silver Pack

• 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 Pirates bullpen worked five innings of two-hit ball, retiring 12 in-a-row at one point, to earn Tony Watson a true team win.

Buc Bats Remain In Deep Freeze; Cubs Take 4-1 Decision

Today's Game: Despite the rain, the game started at 7 PM, not too terribly late. Wil Crowe gave up a knock and walk with two away, but a called K on a full count got him into the dugout safely. Ben Gamel stayed hot, tripling with an out against Trevor Williams, but the Pirates left him stranded. The Cubs got a homer from David Bote after a leadoff walk in the second. Three of the next four hitters singled, making it 3-0 and bringing in Duane Underwood, who calmed the waters. The Pirates went down peacefully. Three grounders around a rap carried Duane Jr. through the third. Willy picked up his third and fourth punch out in the Bucco half. Chicago hit into a couple of hard hit outs in a 1-2-3 fourth while Pittsburgh's batters went down routinely. The Cubbies worked a two down walk in the fifth for their efforts and the Bucs went down in order once again. Chris Stratton got the call in the sixth, and a one-out two bagger and single by Williams put Cubs on the corners; the Baby Bruin 7-8-9 hitters are 5-for-9 with a homer and double. It bit Stratton when Anthony Rizzo knocked in a run with two gone. Kevin Newman opened with a two-bagger and Erik Gonzalez's rap sent him home. A 3-6-3 DP and K ended the rally.

Chris Stratton's month-long run came to an end - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Chris returned the favor in the seventh, erasing an opening free pass via a 4-3 DP and then serving up a swinging strikeout. Tommy Nance climbed the slope and left a leadoff walk stranded at first. Chasen Shreve was handed the ball in the eighth. An opening free pass was negated by a strike 'em out, throw 'em out DP and another whiff finished the frame. Dan Winkler gave up a K-Man knock, and with two outs, Andrew Chafin was waved in to face Adam Frazier. He K'ed him. Clay Holmes surrendered a harmless knock in the ninth. Craig Kimbrel came in looking for the save and was welcomed by a Gamel double; he was left aboard again.

Crowe suffered through another three-run inning, and with the Pirates offense in the shape it's in, that was all she wrote.

Notes:

• Ben Gamel had a double & triple; Kevin Newman also had two hits. E-Gon had the only other Bucco rap.
• Chris Stratton gave up his first run of the month; he had tossed scoreless ball in eight outings (10 IP) before a two-out single ended the string.
• Craig Kimbrell has 11 saves; five are against the Pirates.
• Chad Kuhl and Ke'Bryan Hayes are feeling fine after their rehab work so far, with no soreness issues. Key is about week from being eligible to come off the IL while Kuhl, if the FO decides he's ready (a big maybe as of now), lines up for the Sunday start against Colorado. Travis Swaggerty's injury is a dislocated shoulder; the medicos & Swags are still debating rest v surgery to treat it. 

Tomorrow's Game:  The matchup has Tyler Anderson closing out the set against Kyle Hendricks. The getaway game is scheduled for 12:35 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet, MLB Network (out of market) and KDKA 101 FM/1020 AM.

Wednesday: Wil Crowe v Trevor Williams; Ponce Optioned, Mears Called Up

Today's Game: Game time is 6:35 and the contest will be on AT&T SportsNet PITT2 & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B; Ben Gamel LF; Bryan Reynolds CF; Jake Stallings C; Gregory Polanco RF; Will Craig 1B; Wilmer Difo 3B; Kevin Newman SS, Wil Crowe P.

Ben Gamel is back in the two hole - photo MLB.com

Pitchers: RHP Wil Crowe (0-2/4.91) meets RHP Trevor Williams (2-2/5.97). Crowe has to figure out a method of damage control against the big inning; in three of his last four outings, a three-run frame has skewered his final line. Wil's one 2021 start against the Cubs was solid, giving up two runs on four hits in six innings. Willy hasn't gone five innings this month, so patience is a key. He's 0-1 in two starts against his old roomies, surrendering seven runs on 15 hits in 7-1/3 innings against Pittsburgh this season.

Notes:

• Cody Ponce was sent back to Indy and RHP Nick Mears was called up.
• Fast starter: Adam Frazier has collected a hit in the first inning in each of the last five games and owns a 10-game hitting streak.
• Clay Holmes has made nine straight scoreless appearances (8 IP) and has been charged with just one earned run over his last 16 appearances (18-1/3 IP). Five of the eight earned runs he has allowed this season came in his outing on April 6th at Cincinnati. 
• The Pirates have allowed a multi-homer game by an opposing player in four straight games, tied for the longest such streak all-time per Stats by STATS.
• Power outage: Pittsburgh is last in homers (30), slugging % (.341), ISO (.113) and 29th in soft contact (20.7%) per Fangraphs.

Tomorrow's Game:  The matchup has Tyler Anderson closing out the set against Kyle Hendricks. The getaway game is scheduled for 12:35 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet, MLB Network (out of market) and KDKA 101 FM/1020 AM.

5/26: Haddix Gem; Long Goes Long; Ward Cycle; Rooter Riot; Basebrawls & Game Tales; HBD Dann, Chuck & 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 who 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. The two teams had exchanged accusations of dirty play the day before; after today’s donnybrook, 50 fans escorted the Pittsburgh club to its train as some added Steel City muscle. Red Ehret got the win, backed by an 18-hit Bucco attack. 

A walk is as good as a homer - 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 a rough 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 Williams. 
• 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. It was familiar territory as the Grays won the league title nine times, although this season the Newark Eagles ran away with the crown. 
• 1952 - The Pirates were a pretty poor excuse for a baseball team this season, but they were feisty. Bucco P Ron Kline whizzed one over Cincy C Andy Seminick’s noodle in the second inning of the game at Forbes Field, which led to words between the backstop and Pirates coach Bill Posedel. They were close to blows and a crowd gathered, but peace was restored. Kline batted in the second and escaped without wearing a baseball, but Seminick and Posedel kept at it, started brawling, and both gangs joined in. George “Catfish” Metkovich was exchanging love taps with various Reds when he was wrestled to the ground by Cincinnati trainer Dr. Wayne Anderson (it ends up they were old buds and the doc was trying to keep his friend out of harm’s way, per Catfish). The doc, Metkovich, Seminick and Posedel were all shown to the door. The Bucs won 6-3, with the win going to Bob Friend, in relief of Kline. Ralph Kiner paid a price, getting ticked by pitches twice after the melee, but he had the last laugh with a homer. 

The Catfish turned into a shark - 1952 Topps

• 1956 - Dale Long became the first player to go deep in seven straight games when he took the Phillies' Ben Flowers deep in the eighth inning during his final at-bat as the Bucs dropped Philadelphia 6-2 at Connie Mack Stadium. Frank Thomas and Hank Foiles also homered to give Vern Law the complete game win. Dale also doubled, and still wasn’t quite done with his streak. 
• 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 out his time at indie Winnipeg in 1994. 
• 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. 

Manny won it on one swing - 1978 Topps

• 1978 - Montreal’s Steve Rogers spun a four-hitter at TRS, but he gave up two of them back-to-back in the seventh, Rennie Stennett’s single followed by Manny Sanguillen’s homer off a hung curve, and that was enough to carry John Candelaria and the Buccos to a 2-1 victory. Candy Man dodged raindrops throughout the contest, stranding 11, with the only blemish a Larry Parrish solo shot. Sangy, who was playing off the bench, manned first base (he got into 40 games at the spot in ‘78), replacing Willie Stargell who had a sore back. 
• 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 home runs 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. Womack’s homer was a legit gapper with a copacetic bounce; Sosa got his when Jose Guillen ran into Adrian Brown, who had briefly gloved the ball; after the collision, it rolled away into right field and Sosa won a bang-bang call at the plate. 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 behind Cordova’s four-hitter. 

Daryle Ward joined his dad in the cycle club - 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.

Joc Pederson's Two Homers Push Cubs Past Bucs 4-3

Today's Game: The Cubs got a two-out single off Cody Pence for a quiet first frame. Adam Frazier opened with a rap off Jake Arrieta followed by a Ben Gamel two-bagger. A passed ball got in one run and Jake Stalling's one-out knock plated a second tally. Chicago started off with back-to-back singles in the second, but a fly and around-the-horn DP cleaned that up. Will Craig doubled with one away and with two gone, Fraze was plunked in the foot before Gamel singled home Craig to make it 3-0. Well, it had to happen: Joc Pederson dropped a solo shot into the Clemente seats in the third. The Pirates went down in order. Cody kept the Cubs at bay in the fourth; a one down infield rap was erased via a 6-4-3 DP. Pittsburgh's bottom of the order went down after eight pitches. Arrieta singled with an out in the fifth and it cost; Pederson went deep again to tie the game. With two away, a Javy Baez double and Anthony Rizzo single (an "excuse me" flare against the shift) put the Cubs up, 4-3. Gamel walked with an out for the Pittsburgh response.

Ben Gamel broke out today - image Pgh Pirates

Clay Holmes came on in the sixth and tossed a clean frame. Keegan Thompson took the hill for Chi-town and walked Gregory Polanco; Erik Gonzalez rolled into a 6-4-3 DP and a K put it to bed. Sam Howard worked the seventh. A walk and one-out dying quail brought on David Bednar, who closed it down routinely. A walk and Wilmer Difo double with two outs, but Andrew Chafin, in for Thompson, fanned Bryan Reynolds; it was B-Rey's third whiff of the night and he's left six Bucs aboard. Chasen Shreve was the eighth inning choice and served up a 1-2-3 frame. Ryan Tepera did the same for Chicago. Richard Rodriguez gave up a double to the sizzling Pederson but still put up a goose egg in the ninth. Craig Kimbrell was greeted by a  Cole Tucker double to lead it off and Will Craig's fly moved him to third. But Ildemaro Vargas K'ed and Fraze's grounder closed it out.

Notes:

• Ben Gamel had two hits and a walk; Fraze posted a knock, walk and bop.
• Colin Moran, who has been out since May 9th, still leads the team in RBI with 19.
• The Pirates drew 6,750 to tonight's game.
• RHP Chad Kuhl went 3-1/3 IP in his second rehab outing for Indy. He gave up a run on a hit, two walks, and four strikeouts after 64 pitches. Hi-A Greensboro prospect RHP Quinn Priester tossed five shutout innings tonight; he did the same in his last start, also over five frames.

Tomorrow's Game: Game time is 6:35 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. The matchup is Wil Crowe going against Trevor Williams.

Tuesday: Cody Ponce Opens Cub Series v Jake Arrieta

Today's Game: The PNC park match begins at 6:35 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan.

Lineup: Adam Frazier 2B, Ben Gamel LF, Bryan Reynolds LF, Jake Stallings C, Greg Polanco RF, Erik Gonzalez 3B, Cole Tucker SS, Will Craig 1B, Cody Ponce P. Shelty borrowed the bottom of the order from Indy, and no, we have no idea what to do with the two hole, especially with likely suspect Ka'ai Tom on the IL.

Hey, guess who is at short? - 2020 Donruss

Pitchers: RHP Cody Ponce will kick off the series against RHP Jake Arrieta (4-4/4.46). Cody, 27, picked up Trevor Cahill's start. He was the return for the Jordan Lyles deal with the Brewers, and did well enough in five outings (three starts, 1-0/2.63) last year, going 1-1/3.16, although he has a penchant to give up the long ball, surrendering five homers in 17 IP. He faced Chicago for all of 1/3 of an inning last year, giving up a hit and losing in extra innings. Arrieta has had long ball woes lately, giving up six bombs in his past 14-1/3 IP. But he already has two wins against the Pirates this year, giving up three runs in 12 frames, and has a career 14-6/2.88 slash against the Buccos.

Notes:

• To make roster room for Cody Ponce, RHP Kyle Keller was returned to Indy.
• The Pirates have lost six-of-seven after being thumped on their recent road trip.
• Mars Area's David Bednar is the sixth player from the WPIAL to play for the Pirates in the PNC Park era (since 2001). The only other players from the WPIAL who have also played for the Pirates since 2001 are Uniontown's Terry Mulholland, Pine-Richland's Neil Walker, Upper Saint Clair's Sean Casey, Mount Lebanon's Don Kelly and Freedom Area's Josh Sharpless. (S/O Pirates PR)
• Ke'Bryan Hayes went 3-for-4 with a homer and double in his last rehab game. To those impatiently tapping their feet, he's not eligible to come off the IL until June 3rd. 
• Altoona RHP Roansy Contreras was named the AA Northeast League Pitcher of the Week. He went 6-2/3 IP, giving up two hits and fanning six last week.
• Yes! Zambelli fireworks are back, along with giveaways, free tee Fridays, block parties and all that jazz starting in June. The 2021 promotions schedule is here. The Bucs also said PNC will be at 100% capacity starting in July (55% for June) and tickets are on sale for all remaining dates starting tomorrow instead of being doled out in monthly dribbles.

Tomorrow's Game: Game time is 6:35 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. The matchup has Wil Crowe going against Trevor Williams.

5/25 Through the 1950s: Abrams For Littlefield; Babe's Final Bomb; Long Streak; Kiner 300; Casey's Bird; Basebrawl & Game Tales; HBD Jim, Jimmie, Chet, Martin & John

• 1863 - RHP John Hofford was born in Philadelphia. His MLB career consisted of two short stays with the Alleghenys in 1885-86, posting a 3-9/4.16 line in 12 starts. Though he didn’t play the field, John was pretty handy with a stick, hitting .262 with five runs, five RBI, four extra-base hits and even stealing a couple of sacks in his dozen outings. Hofford was a minor league hotshot; the Alleghenys got him from the Southern League’s Augusta after the season ended in 1885 where he had slashed 38-13/0.59 with 389 strikeouts. 
• 1906 - Martin Dihigo was born in Matanzas, Cuba. Best known for his play in the Mexican League, he spent time in the Negro Leagues and in 1927-28, he played with the Homestead Grays. Dihigo was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977. The multi-talented Dihigo played all nine positions as a pro, usually as a pitcher or second baseman. He’s the only player ever to be inducted to the American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican and Venezuelan Halls of Fame. 

Chet Williams - undated photo via Seamheads

• 1906 - IF Chester “Chet” Williams was born in Beaumont, Texas. Chester’s beginnings are misty; he also has Lake Charles, New Orleans and rural Mississippi cited as birthplaces. But his Negro League career is certain when the infielder played from 1931-39 for the Pittsburgh Crawfords. It was tough at first to make a name for himself (and that was literally true - when he joined the team, other infielders on the roster were Bobby Williams, Harry Williams and Bucky Williams! He, Harry and Buck stayed together throughout his Crawford years.) He overcame that, earning several All-Star spots with the Crawfords and was a starter for the 1935 championship club, considered by many to be the best Negro League team ever assembled. Chet turned down an offer to skip to the Dominican in 1937 (though many of his teammates did take the money), but he did jump ship in 1940 to play in the Cuban League. He returned locally in 1941-42 to play for the Homestead Grays and retired after the 1943 campaign. Known as a free spirit, he opened a Lake Charles night spot after he hung up the spikes and on Christmas Day, 1952, he was shot to death in the club. 
• 1910 - OF Jimmie Crutchfield was born in Ardmore, Missouri. He played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1931-36 (with a brief stop with the Homestead Grays in 1932), jumping when the Crawfords offered him $150 per month, after he was pulling down just $90 per month with the Indianapolis ABCs. The lil’ guy (he was 5’7”) combined speed, defense and clubhouse leadership, and according to the StateMaster Encyclopedia “Teamed with Ted Strong and Cool Papa Bell, they formed what is considered the best outfield in the Negro Leagues. During this time, his performance earned him three appearances in the East-West All-Star game.” He played until he was 45, eventually retiring and taking a job with the Post Office. 
• 1919 - Casey Stengel, who had been traded to Pittsburgh by the Brooklyn Dodgers, returned to Ebbets Field and his old fans gave him the raspberries. Bowing to the grandstand in a seventh-inning at bat, he doffed his cap to the 18,000 present, and out flew a sparrow (described as "irate but much relieved") that he had somehow corralled. That prank lightened the crowd, and was the highlight of Stengel’s day as he went 0-for-4 against Sherry Smith in a 5-0 loss. 
• 1931 - 1B Jim Marshall was born in Danville, Illinois. Jim spent five years in MLB as a bench 1B/OF, closing out his career in 1962 as a Pirate with a .220 BA. He played in Japan for three years after that and returned stateside to manage farm clubs for the Cubs, Expos, A’s, Yankees and White Sox. He also got a couple of big league managing gigs in between minor league jobs with the Cubs (1974-76) and Oakland (1979). He’s now a senior advisor for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

• 1935 - Babe Ruth hit his 714th and final home run off Guy Bush at Forbes Field in an 11-7 Boston Braves loss to the Pirates, a career record that would stand for almost 40 years before Hammerin' Hank claimed the crown. The Bambino went 4-for-4, hitting three home runs (the first off Red Lucas, the next off Bush) and driving in six runs. The final drive, launched in the seventh inning, cleared the right field roof, the first time that feat was ever done. Per local lore, the Babe’s ball landed on Joncaire Street and from there, its fate is debated although it did eventually make its way to the Hall of Fame for display. But the Bambino couldn’t outpace Tommy Thevenow and Pep Young, who combined to chase eight runs home. 
• 1940 - The Bucs broke an 18-for-21 losing spell with a 12-7 win over the Cubs at Forbes Field. Arky Vaughan had a HR, triple, four runs scored and three RBI to lead the Pirate charge. Although he was roughed up, Joe Bowman went the distance for the win. Despite the dismal streak, the Pirates did end up with a 79-74 record at season’s end. 
• 1947 - Pittsburgh got two very different pitching performances in splitting a twin bill against St Louis at Sportsman Park. Hank Behrman, who the Bucs had recently obtained from Brooklyn, gave up two homers in a 10-5 loss, making it five gopher balls surrendered in the 12-⅓ IP as a Pirate. He gave up one more in his next 12-⅓ frames, but was returned to Brooklyn with a 0-2/9.12 line. The Pirates then snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win in the nightcap as 39-year-old lefty Fritz Ostermueller fired a three-hitter, backed by an Eddie Basinski homer and Frankie Gustine RBI knock. 
• 1953 - Ralph Kiner became the 12th MLB player to hit 300 HRs with a three-run, fifth-inning blast off the NY Giants Al Corwin in a 6-3 loss at Forbes Field. The Hall of Famer would swat 369 long balls in an injury-shortened 10-year career. 
• 1954 - Pittsburgh traded 30-year-old outfielder Cal Abrams to the Baltimore Orioles for LHP Dick Littlefield. Abrams was a good-hitting ball chaser, batting .273 for Pittsburgh in a year and some change; he hit .272 in his two-season Bird stay and hung up the spikes a year later. In two years with Pittsburgh, Littlefield went 15-23/4.26 before becoming a piece of the Bill Virdon deal in 1956. 

Dick Littlefield - 1955 Bowman

• 1956 - Dale Long tied the longest HR streak in MLB history at six games by homering, going 3-for-5 and driving in three runs in an 8-5 win over the Phils at Connie Mack Stadium. His fourth-inning blast helped make a winner of Nellie King, with George Munger closing it out. 
• 1958 - One of the largest bench clearing brawls in Bucco history erupted when manager Danny Murtaugh charged the mound after Giants hurler Ruben Gomez began headhunting with Maz at the dish. Gomez grabbed a bat, but coach Herman Franks stepped in. Then Orlando Cepeda, the Baby Bull, joined the melee, also waving some lumber, before he was tackled by teammate Willie Mays, helping to quiet the war drums. Murtaugh was ejected and Mays got an ovation. The bad blood started the year before when Gomez drilled Vern Law, rupturing his eardrum, and the animosity carried over, most recently during a Candlestick Park up-and-in duel between pitchers Curt Raydon and Marv Grissom. It apparently fired up the G-Men more than Pirates as they swept the doubleheader at Forbes Field 5-2 and 6-1.

5/25 From 1960: Freddy 6-For-6; Bunning 200, Rhoden 100; Barger Honored; MO HoF For Quail; Game Tales; HBD Brad, Will & Randall

• 1968 - OF Will Pennyfeather was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Pennyfeather turned down a football scholarship with Syracuse to play baseball for the Orangemen, and after his sophomore year signed with the Pirates in 1988. Will played in short stints for the Bucs in 1992-94, getting into 40 games and batting .196. Afterward he played in the minors, in Taiwan & Mexico, and notably in the indie leagues, where he carved out a long local career before retiring after the 2006 season. He now runs the Sweet Spot Baseball and Softball Academy in his native New Jersey. 

Jim Bunning - 1969 Topps

• 1969 - Jim Bunning won his 200th game, scattering five hits and striking out eight in a 2-1 victory over Gaylord Perry and the Giants at Candlestick Park. It was a good day for the Bucs as they also took the twin bill's nightcap by a 6-2 score behind Bob Moose. Matty Alou was the catalyst in both games. He scored the winning run in the eighth inning of the opener, chased home by a Willie Stargell double, and had three hits, including a double and triple, while scoring twice in the nightcap. Carl Taylor added a two-run long fly and Bill Mazeroski poked a solo shot in the second game. 
• 1975 - 1B Randall Simon was born in Willemstad, Curaçao. He played for six teams in eight big league seasons, including stops in Pittsburgh in 2003 and 2004. He hit .245 as a Bucco and received more acclaim for his sausage-swat in Milwaukee than he did on the field. He played briefly for the Rays and Phils after his Pirates days, finishing his career with stops in the minors, Mexico, Japan and the indie leagues. 
• 1979 - Due to fog, the Buc-Met match ended in a 3-3 tie after 11 innings and a 73-minute delay. The umps gave up when Bill Robinson lost a routine fly ball in the Shea Stadium mist. The runner ended up on third, Robinson chewed out second base umpire Billy Williams over the playing conditions, and the boys in blue called everyone in. After a long wait, they declared it a tie to be replayed in its entirety. 
• 1983 - In the third inning of an eventual 6-0 loss to the Braves at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Pirates' starter Jim Bibby (4) and reliever Jim Winn (3) combined to walk seven consecutive batters to tie a major league mark set back in 1909 by Washington’s William Gray and establish the NL high water mark. The free passes all came after two were out and accounted for four of the Bravos’ six tallies.

Rick Rhoden - 1985 Topps

• 1985 - Rick Rhoden won his 100th career game and SS Bill Almon hit his first grand slam while driving in five runs as the Pirates thumped the Braves 8-2 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Rick tossed a seven-hitter with three whiffs, earning his fourth victory of the year and lowering his ERA to 3.12. As for the Pirates eighth hitter’s big day, Almon had entered the game with no homers and seven RBI in 108 bats. 
• 1985 - RHP Brad Lincoln was born in Lake Arthur, Texas. A first round (fourth overall - $2.75M bonus) draft pick of the Bucs in 2006 with Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum and Max Sherzer selected behind him, his career was detoured by TJ surgery in 2007. He came back to toss for the Pirates from 2010-12, slashing 7-9-1/4.62 for Pittsburgh before being traded to Toronto for Travis Snider, both highly rated prospects (he was also a 2006 #1 pick) in need of a change of scenery. It didn’t help Brad much, and in the next three years he made 48 appearances before his MLB career ended in 2014. He tried to come back with the Bucs and spent 2015 at Indy where he had pedestrian numbers. He hasn’t tossed professionally since. 
• 1993 - Steve Cooke threw the first shutout of his big league career, only giving up four hits, in the Pirates 2-0 victory over the Florida Marlins at TRS. It was truly Cooke’s day as he also hit a two-run double, providing the Pirates with their only scoring. 
• 1993 - A bronze bust in memory of Carl Barger was unveiled at TRS’ Allegheny Club during Florida’s visit to the ‘Burgh. Barger helped keep the Pirates in Pittsburgh as John Galbreath’s attorney and served as Bucco prez from 1987-91, when he left to join long-time friend and Marlin owner Wayne Huizenga as their first president. Barger died of an aneurysm at the GM meetings in December. 

Jonah Bayliss - 2007 Upper Deck

• 2007 - The Pirates, mired in a hitting slump and losers of five straight games, used some small ball, soft raps and Cincy gifts to score eight runs in the 10th inning as they collected six hits and took advantage of a hit batter, walk and error. They sent twelve players to the plate in a 10-4 victory over the Reds at Great American Ballpark. Ronny Paulino and Xavier Nady each had a pair of RBI in the extra frame, while Nady and Jay Bay added regulation homers. Jonah Bayliss picked up the win after facing two batters in the ninth. 
• 2008 - The Bucs came from behind to take a 6-5 win from the Cubs at PNC Park, scoring with two outs in the ninth to knot the score when Nate McLouth’s two-bagger plated Brian Bixler, and then again in the 11th on Jason Bay’s two-out knock scoring Chris Gomez with the winner. To add insult to injury, the Cubs intentionally walked McLouth to get to Bay for a righty matchup with Jon Lieber. There were lots of hitting heroes - McLouth had three hits, Bay two, Luis Rivas homered twice, Adam LaRoche had two doubles, Jose Bautista added two more raps and Xavier Nady went deep, although with 11 stranded, the Pirates left a lot of ducks on the pond. Damaso Marte got the win; Frankie Osorio and Paul Maholm worked ahead of him. It was the Bucs second straight walk-off win against the Cubs; both times the Baby Bears were done in by Bay after a McLouth intentional walk. 
• 2009 - The Pirates beat the Cubs, 10-8, at Wrigley Field. Freddy Sanchez went 6-for-6 with four runs, three RBI, a double and a homer to become the first Pirate in 19 years (since Wally Backman in 1990) to have six hits in a game. The Bucs had just finished an interleague set against the White Sox, and became the first team in major league history to play back-to-back series against the Cubs and White Sox in Chicago. 
• 2013 - The Bucs hit four homers, two by Pedro Alvarez, and Jeff Locke ran his scoreless streak to 14 frames in a 5-2 win at Milwaukee’s Miller Field. For Locke, it was his sixth start out of the last seven giving up three or fewer hits. 

Jeff Locke - 2013 Topps Heritage

• 2016 - David Freese’s two-run homer capped a four-run fifth inning and proved the game-winner as the Pirates squeaked past the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 at PNC Park, overcoming an early 3-0 deficit in front of 20,696 fans. Clint Hurdle earned his 475th win as manager of the Pirates, tying him with skipper (and Hall of Fame 3B) Pie Traynor for the sixth-most victories in franchise history. Gregory Polanco had three hits and Sean Rodriguez also homered for the Pirates, while Mark Melancon earned his 16th save to ice Jeff Locke’s win. 
• 2017 - The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame unveiled a statue of the 1955 NL Rookie of the Year and 1960 World Series Champion CF’er Bill Virdon on its Legends Walkway. The Springfield HoF statue was created by St. Louis artist Harry Weber and models Virdon as a Bucco making a catch of a Yogi Berra drive during the 1960 WS. The Quail is a native of West Plains, Missouri.

5/24 Through the 1960s: Roberto #21; Bucs Walk Off Twin Bill; TSN Gravedigger; Mack Hack; Lucky #13 For Kuehne; Game Tales; HBD Jeff, Giant Killer, Gene & Sam

• 1859 - 2B Sam Barkley was born in Wheeling. After a contract kerfuffle (he had signed with Baltimore, but had been sold by his old club to the Alleghenys), he played for Pittsburgh from 1886-87. In his opening year, he hit .266 with 31 doubles and stole 22 bases while playing in 122 games. His performance dipped in 1887, playing in 89 games and hitting .224. After the season, Pittsburgh sold him to the Kansas City Cowboys of the American Association. Sam retired to Wheeling after the 1889 campaign to become a cigar maker. 

Sam Barkley - 1886 scorebook cover boy

• 1878 - LHP Jack “The Giant Killer” Pfiester was born in Cincinnati. Jack spent eight years in the show with his first two (1903-04) as a seldom-used Bucco. In six games, he slashed 1-4/6.69 and spent 1905 in Omaha before he took off as a Cub from 1906-09, winning 63 games in four years before arm woes ended his career two seasons later; the curve-baller ended his days with a 2.02 ERA. He got his nickname for his success against the NY Giants, going 11-5 against them (he was only 1-5 against his old mates in Pittsburgh). 
• 1884 – Al Atkinson of the Philadelphia Athletics retired the final 27 batters in pitching a no-hitter over the Pittsburgh Alleghenys at the Jefferson Street Grounds. Atkinson hit leadoff batter Ed Swartwood, who stole second, moved to third on a grounder and scored on a wild pitch. He was the only Allegheny baserunner in the 10–1 Philly victory. 
• 1889 - Bill Kuehne converted 13 chances at the hot corner, handling three putouts and 10 assists without an error (“...a remarkable game” per the Pittsburgh Press)‚ for a MLB record. His stellar work in the field helped Harry Staley and the Alleghenys to a 9-7 win over Washington at Swampoodle Grounds. It was an outlier; Kuehne wasn’t exactly noted for his glove work. He had 34 errors that season and finished with a .908 fielding average, making his feat remarkable indeed. Jake Beckley led the hit parade with three knocks including a pair of doubles while Billy Sunday and Pop Smith, who homered, collected a pair of hits each. 
• 1893 - Before the days of the infield fly rule, C Connie Mack intentionally allowed a popup in front of home plate to fall and then started a triple play against the Browns, and the play was one that eventually led to an infield fly rule in 1895 (the current version was adopted in 1901). He later drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth to lead Pittsburgh to an 8-7 win over St. Louis at Exposition Park. Mack was a backup catcher who hit .286 for the Pirates that year, and later entered the Hall of Fame as a manager. 

Red Ehret - Ars Longa

• 1894 - The Pirates rallied to beat the Cleveland Spiders and Cy Young 6-5 at League Park. Down 4-0 early and 5-2 late, the Bucs scored twice in the seventh and twice more in the eighth for the win. Red Ehret (“Ehret never pitched better ball in all his life” gushed the Pittsburgh Press) went eight innings for the victory in relief of Lefty Killen, who was rocked for four first-inning runs. Jake Stenzel had two hits and scored three runs while Jake Beckley added three knocks. 
• 1918 - Ol’ vet Jimmy Archer set a record with seven assists from the catcher’s spot against the Boston Braves, but it didn’t help as the Pirates went down 6-3 at Forbes Field. Boston hit the ball on the ground all day; the Pirates ended up with 27 assists as a team, with first baseman Fritz Mollwitz registering 17 putouts. 
• 1955 - The Bucs broke an 11-game losing streak in style by pounding the Brooklyn Dodgers 15-1 at Forbes Field. Jack Shepard had four hits, Preston Ward had a single‚ triple & HR while Gene Freese added three raps to lead the attack. Ward, Freese and Roberto Clemente each had three RBI with Bob Friend getting the win in relief of Vern Law by tossing 4-1/3 innings of no-hit ball. One of the Dodger relievers the Corsairs tortured was future manager Tommy Lasorda, who gave up five runs in two innings of work. The Pirates had 19 hits and batted around three times. However, the good times were fleeting; the club lost six of its next seven games. A highlight: it was the debut of Roberto Clemente wearing #21; he had been #13 but claimed OF’er Earl Smith’s old number after Smith was sent down. 
• 1959 - The Bucs swept a pair from the Reds at Forbes Field by 2-1 and 5-4 scores; both games were won by walk-off, pinch hit doubles. Danny Kravitz drove home Don Hoak to give Ron Kline, who had surrendered a go-ahead unearned ninth inning run on a Ducky Schofield boot, the win. Pittsburgh had tied the game a batter before when Bill Mazeroski beat Johnny Temple’s throw home to knot the score. The Pirates were down 4-2 in the nightcap and down to their last out when Rocky Nelson tied the game with a two-run homer. Pittsburgh won it in the tenth when Smoky Burgess doubled home Roman Mejias to give Ron Blackburn the win. The Bucs took the four game series from Cincinnati, winning by a run each time. 

Roberto Clemente - 1961 Topps

• 1961 - Roberto Clemente homered in back-to-back at bats against Dick Ellsworth and drove in four runs to lead the Pirates to a 7-3 win at Wrigley Field. Dick Stuart also went long and added a triple to help Vinegar Bend Mizell to the victory, closed by a Clem Labine save. The Bucs needed Clemente’s big day; they hit into three twin killings and committed a pair of errors during the afternoon. 
• 1966 - Coach Jeff Livesey was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Livesey was a catcher in the Yankees system for eight years, retiring in 1995 and spending two years with Montreal as a minor league coach. He joined the Pirates as an organizational hitting coach, becoming the skipper of the GCL club in 2005. After that, he went to Japan for five years as a bench coach, returning to the Pirates in 2011. After three seasons as the Minor League Hitting Coordinator, he was called up to the big team as an assistant hitting coach in 2013 until he was replaced after the 2018 campaign. He’s with Miami now. 
• 1969 - Richie Hebner was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Pirates Pin-Up Prize.” In his first full season as a Pirate, he hit .301 after inheriting the hot corner from Maury Wills. The Gravedigger would play through 1976 for Pittsburgh, then return again in 1982-83 during his 18-year career.