HEANEY SPINS A GEM AS BUCS TAKE SERIES FROM NATS

The Pirates have strung together solid pitching performances with just enough hitting this week, and yesterday they took their third win in four games against the Nationals.   Joe Block has the story.

Manager Derek Shelton says Andrew Heaney knows what he’s doing on the mound.

Heaney says he modeled his approach to the Nationals on fellow lefty Bailey Falter’s outstanding start on Wednesday.

On the 70th anniversary of Roberto Clemente’s first Major league hit, the Pirates dedicated a plaque yesterday to the superstar’s last big league hit, his 3,000^th, on the exact spot where second base was located at Three Rivers Stadium.  Roberto Clemente Jr. recreated his father’s famous pose by doffing his cap, which is near the plaque that commemorates Franco Harris’s Immaculate Reception, which also was at Three Rivers Stadium.  The Pirates also unveiled plaques where home plate and the pitcher’s mound were located in their old stadium.

ALTOONA CURVE

Altoona pitchers struck out fourteen batters and the Curve stole five bases in a 6-4 win over Somerset.  Mitch Jebb had two hits and drove in two runs.

Left-hander Anthony Solometo starts for the Curve tonight, looking for their third straight win.