4/6 From 1990: Openers & Duels, Game Tales & Giles, AVS Signs, Help Wanted, MLB TV; HBD Alex
- 1991 -The Pirates and OF Andy Van Slyke reached agreement on a three-year contract extension for 1992-94 worth $12.65M, the fourth-richest pact in MLB at the time. The average of $4,216,667 per year fell behind only Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden and Jose Canseco’s deals. AVS agreed to a $750K signing bonus and salaries the first two years of $4M and $4.6M, leaving $3.3M at risk in 1994, a potential lockout/strike year as the CBA expired at the end of 1993 (and there was an August strike that ended the season, so the front-loading paid off for Andy).
- 1992 – Doug Drabek outdueled Montreal’s Dennis Martinez to carry the Pirates to a 2-0 win over the Expos at TRS in the Bucs Home Opener in front of 48,800 fans. Drabek helped his own cause with a two-out, RBI single in the second, and that run was later padded by Spanky LaValliere’s sac fly to eke out a victory, with Roger Mason working the final frame for the save. The Bucs began the day as the defending two-time NL East champs and would repeat again in ‘92.
- 1993 – In his first Opening Day start, Tim Wakefield allowed three runs in seven innings to post a 9-3 decision against San Diego at Three Rivers Stadium before 44,103 rooters. The Pirates broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by Kevin Young’s bases-loaded, bases-clearing double; he ended the day with four RBI. John Candelaria registered the final four outs of the contest in what was the 39-year-old lefty’s final career save during 19 MLB campaigns.
- 1993 – RHP Alex McRae was born in West Allis, Wisconsin. The Pirates drafted him out of Jacksonville University in the 10th round of the 2014 draft. He worked his way through the levels and was rewarded with a July call up from Indy as a bullpen insurance policy in 2018. He returned to Indy without getting into a game after a three-day stay, but saw action during his second promotion to the show, making his debut in August and giving up a run in three innings against the Cubs. He got some more work in 2019, but went 0-4/8.78 in 11 outings. He was outrighted after that campaign, selected free agency, and signed on with the Chicago White Sox. They released McRae after the ‘21 season and he pitched two years of indy ball; now he’s a free agent.
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| Brian Giles – 2003 Donruss Diamond Kings |
- 2000 – The Pirates beat the Astros, 10-1, at TRS. Brian Giles went 5-for-5 with two homers, a triple, four RBI and three runs scored. Righty Francisco Cordova was every bit as hot as Giles; he didn’t give up a hit until after one was out in the eighth inning (a Mitch Meluskey double).
- 2003 – Kris Benson, with late help from Scott Sauerbeck and Mike Williams, shut out the Phillies, 2-0, at Veterans Stadium on six hits and ended Jim Thome’s streak of 60 consecutive games on base, the longest since Mark McGwire reached base 62 games in a row in 1995-96. In a well-pitched game (Philadelphia’s Brett Myers K’ed 11), Brian Giles and Pokey Reese drove in the Bucco runs. Giles’ came on a potential double play ball that the Phils couldn’t turn because of Jason Kendall’s take-out slide and Reese chased a run home on a broken-bat flare to right.
- 2009 – Down by a pair of runs in the ninth at Busch Stadium, the Pirates rallied with two outs against Jason Motte to beat the Cards, 6-4. With two away and Freddy Sanchez aboard, Adam LaRoche singled and pinch-hitter Eric Hinske doubled home Steady Freddy. Brandon Moss got plunked to jam the sacks, and Jack Wilson put the cherry on top when he banged a three-run double to unjam them. Matt Capps got the save for John Grabow’s win in the season opener.
- 2013 – AJ Burnett lost a pitching duel to Clayton Kershaw, 1-0, at Dodger Stadium. Burnett gave up the only run in the third on an infield single, stolen base and two-out grounder through the SS hole. Four Buc pitchers combined for 11 K, but Kershaw and friends countered with a two-hitter.
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| AJ – 2013 Gypsy Queen |
- 2015 – “MLB Central” debuted on MLB Network. Not only was it the network’s first original content morning show, but it was the first to be aired from the channel’s state-of-the-art set, Studio 21, named in honor of Roberto Clemente and his number 21, which was retired OTD in 1973.
- 2021 – It was a pretty forgettable night for the rebuilding Bucs as they were taken behind the woodshed by the Reds at GABP for a 14-1 spanking, but Phil Evans pulled his weight even if his teammates took the evening off. His homer provided the only run the Pirates could muster, and the jack-of-all-trades, who started the game in right field after playing the hot corner the night before, capped it by pitching a 1-2-3 final frame, serving up just five pitches (and four were strikes!).
- 2022 – The Bucs went outside the org for bench depth with the signings of C Andrew Knapp and OF Jake Marisnick. Knapp was a 30-year-old who spent five years with Philly, where he posted a .214 career BA; in ‘21, he hit .152 and struck out 38% of the time. The Bucs claimed him after both the Phils and Reds had released him, inking him to a one-year/$800K+incentives contract as Roberto Perez’s back-up. 31-year-old Marisnick’s signing the next day filled the roster after injuries to Greg Allen and Anthony Alford; the nine-year, five-team vet was a good glove, soft bat (.228 lifetime BA) guy. He played all three pasture spots and filled the fourth outfielder role. He agreed to a one-year/$1.3M deal. Both deals became official the next day. To clear 40-man roster space, Allen was placed on the 60-day IL (hamstring) and RHP Adonis Medina was DFA’ed and sold to the Mets. Neither proved much help – Knapp was released in mid-May and Marisnick in early August.
Source: https://oldbucs.blogspot.com/2025/04/46-from-1990-openers-duels-game-tales.html
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