6/3 From 1970: Nate To Braves, Hero Jose, Rally Cappers, Smiley 1-Hitter, Mo & Robby Bang, Game Days, Bednar ROTM, HBD Brandon

1979 – The Bucs hit five home runs, two by Bill Robinson with four RBI, (Omar Moreno, Dave Parker and Lee Lacy hit the others) as the Pirates whipped the Padres, 7-0, at TRS. But the big story was Bruce Kison, an emergency starter who got the nod shortly before the game when Don Robinson couldn’t go. In fact, the start time was delayed 10 minutes so he could warm up. He got loose pretty quickly; he carried a no-hitter into the eighth when with two outs, Barry Evans, a .197 hitter, bounced a ball inside the third base line. Phil Garner, who was playing off the bag, took a couple of steps over, went for the backhand grab and had it tick off his mitt into left for a soft two-bagger. It was ruled a hit. Kison didn’t agree; he walked off the mound after the inning and shook his fist in frustration at the scorer, Dan Donovan, who was perched in the press box. The controversial (to Buster, anyway) grounder was the only hit he surrendered.

1987 – Bucco second baseman Jim Morrison had a career-high three doubles, drove in two runs and tied his personal best of four hits (4-for-4) in Pittsburgh’s 4-1 win over the Braves in front of just 5,368 fans at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Bob Kipper started and got the win.

1988 – The Pirates put up runs in the eighth and ninth frames to edge the Montreal Expos 2-1 at TRS. John Smiley tossed a one-hit complete game with eight K, but the lone knock was a two-out triple that RJ Reynolds couldn’t corral, followed by a balk. The Bucs knotted the score in the eighth inning on a Jose Lind solo shot. Mike Lavalliere doubled with an out in the ninth; John Cangelosi ran for him and scored on Mike Diaz’s pinch-hit, walkoff knock. In other news, the Bucs swapped shortstops – Rafe Belliard came off the DL and for the second time, Al Pedrique was sent down to AAA Buffalo to clear a spot, leaving second-year infielder Felix Fermin as the backup. They switched bullpen arms, too, bringing up LHP Dave Rucker and sending down RHP Scott Medvin.

Jeff King – 1992 Donruss

1992 – The Bucs took an early 6-2 lead thanks to a four-run third inning and held on to drop the Los Angeles Dodgers at TRS by a 6-5 score. Jeff King brought home three runs and Jerry Gleaton claimed his only Pirate victory, saved by Stan Belinda. With the win, the Pirates reclaimed first place in the National League East from the Cardinals and then held the top spot for the rest of the year, spending just eight days out of the lead.

1994 – LHP Brandon Waddell was born in Houston, Texas. A College World Series hero for Virginia, the Pirates drafted him in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. The lefty toiled in the minors until 2020, looking like an ace at Altoona but not quite getting over the AAA hump. He persevered and got his call up in August of 2020 and worked his first MLB game on the 14th, picking up his first big league K. He played in Korea and China for three years and is now with the NY Mets.

1998 - Sometimes ya do play the whole city. 19-year-old rookie Aramis Ramirez was 0-for-24 when he stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs at TRS when a funny thing happened – the 17,691 rooters stood and gave the struggling rookie some love with an ovation. The vibe had its effect; A-Ram lined a two-run double off Greg McMichaels for his first hit to give the Bucs breathing room in a 3-0 win over the Mets. It wasn’t the only first; Jason Christiansen picked up his first MLB save, finishing off Jon Lieber’s win. The Pirates also announced that they signed their top pick (15th overall), LHP Clint Johnston, to a $1M contract.

2004 – The Pirates lost a 4-2 match to the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park, but not before manager Lloyd McClendon gave the fans their money’s worth. With two away in the top of the ninth inning, Mike Gonzalez buzzed former Bucco Tony Womack. Tony LaRussa barked at Gonzo from the bench, and Lloyd took exception to the chirping, charging out of the dugout after LaRussa. Two umps had to hold Lloyd back after LaRussa stepped out to meet him. Both skippers were suspended for two games and hit with undisclosed fines. The aftermath: After the smoke cleared, the cool and calm Craig Wilson gifted his manager with “The Anger Workbook” and “Getting the Best of Your Anger,” along with a Zen rock garden, per Jerry DiPaolo of the Tribune Review.

Nate McLouth – 2009 Topps Heritage

2009 – The Bucs traded OF Nate McLouth to Atlanta for OF Gorkys Hernandez, LHP Jeff Locke and RHP Charlie Morton, clearing an everyday spot for Andrew McCutchen, who was called up from the minors that day. Hernandez was later flipped (he’s made several moves and is now playing  in the Latin Leagues) for Gaby Sanchez while Morton (who was sent to the Phillies in 2016 & now with the Braves) and Locke (he became a Marlin in 2017 and is now retired after a labrum injury) filled rotation spots. McLouth was a flop for the Braves and during a brief return to Pittsburgh but revived his career with Baltimore. He then signed with Washington, but a shoulder injury cost him the year and 2014 was his last season.

2011 – It took Pittsburgh 12 innings, but they eked out a 2-1 win over the Phillies at PNC Park. Jose Tabata drove in the first run on a sac fly and the second with a two-out walk off rap. With the bases empty in the 12th and two away, Xavier Paul singled, stole second, and came in on JT’s grounder through the right side. Danny Moskos got the win, his first MLB victory. He was one of five Pirate pitchers that scattered six hits to Philadelphia hitters.

2022 - Righty closer David Bednar, 27, was named the National League Reliever of the Month for May. In 12 outings, he posted a 2-1-7/1.65 line, holding opponents to a .170 BA and whiffing 21 batters with two walks in 16-1/3 IP. The Mars HS grad joined the Pirates in 2021 as part of the Joe Musgrove deal with the San Diego Padres. He was one of the underdog makes good tales of the MLB – Bednar was a 35th round draft pick in 2016 from Easton’s Lafayette College. A former Pirates product, RHP Clay Holmes, won the Junior Circuit award.