[rpriske]

May 9th, 1988

We had heavy delays heading into Pittsburgh. We made it in time for the game, but not much more!

I led off, facing Jeff Fassero. I struck out.

Bruce Ruffin was pitching for us. Bip Roberts led off with a triple and then scored on a Sid Bream sac fly.
I caught a Kirk Gibson pop for the 2nd out.

Pirates lead 1-0

In the 2nd I threw away what should have been the 3rd out. We have got to get it together.

I led off the 3rd by grounding out to Fassero.

In the 3rd I threw away ANOTHER easy out. What is going on?
Roberts - who I should have thrown out - scored on a Ken Phelps single.
We should have gotten out of it with a Priske - Thompson - Aldrete double play, but Bream scored on the play. Then Gibson scored on a Brian Giles error.

Pirates lead 4-0

Bob Brenly tried to fire us up by hitting gone over the fence in the 4th.

Pirates lead 4-1

I finally made a play on a grounder, getting Charlie Montoyo for the 1st out in the bottom of the 4th. I then got Roberts out for the 3rd out.

I led off the 5th by grounding out to Frank White at 2nd.
Chili Davis launched a solo shot.

Pirates lead 4-2

We lost what we had made up, and more, when Phelps hit a three-run homer in the 5th.
Andy McGaffigan came in after that.
He did no batter as White hit a two-run dinger.
We managed a Thompson - Priske - Aldrete double play to get Pete Rice and Montoyo.

Pirates lead 9-2

I came up with two out in the 7th, now facing John Tuozzo. I grounded out to Montoyo at short.

Bobby Thigpen came in for us with one out and one on in the 8th.
I caught a Bream pop for out #2.

In the 9th Bob scored on a two out double by pinch hitter Chris Brown. I came up next and flew out to Phelps in right.

This disaster game is over. We lost 9-3. We made four errors, and two of those were me. I also went 0 for 5.

Tomorrow has got to be better than today.