Looking Back at 1990

 

The 1990 season started an incredible run of three consecutive National League East titles for the Pirates. June was a tough month for the Buccos, who took a 4-game lead into the month and exited just a half-game in front of the surging New York Mets. Here's a look at the highlights of June 1990 – both in Pittsburgh and across Major League Baseball.

June 4 – The Pirates draft Kurt Miller in the 1st round (5th overall pick) of the 1990 amateur draft. Miller never played in a big league game with Pittsburgh, making 44 career appearances with the Marlins and Cubs, amassing a 2-7 lifetime record with a 7.48 ERA.

June 5 – Bobby Bonilla socks a three-run homer in the first inning, his 13th, as the Pirates down the Cubs 6-5.

June 6 – Andy Van Slyke rips a three-run homer as the Bucs put up a 6 in their third consecutive game, a 6-1 win, during a three-game sweep of Chicago.

June 8 – Darryl Strawberry clubs two home runs and the Mets three-hit the Pirates in a 7-1 New York win.

June 10 – Strawberry homers for the third consecutive game as the Mets complete a three-game sweep of the Buccos at Shea Stadium. The Pirates are out-scored a whopping 24-7 in the series.

June 11 – Nolan Ryan pitches the sixth no-hitter of his career by defeating the A's in Oakland, 5-0.

June 12 – Sid Bream raps four singles and Bobby Bonilla adds three hits as the Pirates top the Cardinals 6-3 at Busch Stadium.

June 13 – The Cardinals' Willie McGee makes three errors, leading to three unearned runs, as Pittsburgh edges St. Louis 6-5.

June 14 - It is announced that the National League will be expanding by two teams for the 1993 season.

June 15 – Darryl Strawberry continues his mastery over the Pirates by blasting a three-run shot in the first inning as the Mets win 7-5.

June 16 – The Straw goes yard again, but so does Sid Bream—and Jeff King, Don Slaught and Barry Bonds each have three hits—as the Pirates outrace the Mets 11-6.

June 17 – Pirates pitchers finally keep Strawberry in the park, but centerfielder Mark Carreon hits two long balls to lead New York to a 4-3 win over the Pirates. It's the Mets fifth win in their last six games against Pittsburgh, during which New York averaged almost 7 runs per game.

June 23 – The Expos overtake the Pirates atop the National League East standings after handing Pittsburgh their fifth straight loss, 6-1. Montreal's Zane Smith holds the Pirates to six hits and one run.

June 24 – Neal Heaton pitches six innings of one-run ball and Barry Bonds goes 3-for-4 with his 13th home run as the Pirates leap frog the Expos and reclaim first place with a 5-3 win.

June 25 – Rick Reed throws a four-hit complete game shutout as the Pirates best the Phillies 5-0 at Three Rivers Stadium.

June 26 – Jay Bell's single in the bottom of the ninth scores Chico Lind as the Pirates shut out the Phillies for a second night in a row behind Bob Patterson, Scott Ruskin and Stan Belinda.

June 29 – The Pirates just don't have it in San Francisco as they commit three errors and Neal Heaton gets rocked for eight hits and five runs in two innings in a 7-3 loss to the Giants. The Mets join the Pirates in first place at the end of the evening.

June 30 – By virtue of a 4-3 win over the Giants, the Pirates overtake the Mets for first-place as July arrives.