Monday’s “First Call” features a strange occurrence surrounding a former Pittsburgh Pirate in the Major League Baseball playoffs. The Cleveland Browns are making a trade. A Cincinnati Bengals star is struggling.

And a Pitt versus Penn State alumni battle lives up to the billing.

Messin’ with Musgrove

Former Pirate Joe Musgrove pitched a gem as his San Diego Padres eliminated the New York Mets in the first round of the Major League Baseball playoffs Sunday. The Padres won 6-0 to advance past New York 2-1 in the best-of-three series.

Musgrove retired the first 12 batters of the game — the longest perfect-game bid in Padres postseason history. The right-hander went seven innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out five batters to get the victory.

Meanwhile, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Mets manager Buck Showalter requested a mound check on Musgrove. Pictures of what appeared to be a shiny substance on Musgrove’s right ear had popped up online.

Not that I pay a lot of attention ppls’ ear sweat, but this doesn’t look like Joe Musgrove’s sweat to me. pic.twitter.com/taZ5JUjjCK

— Ryan (@downsr30) October 9, 2022

So umpires went to check it out, sticking their fingers inside and around Musgrove’s ears.

Eargate. pic.twitter.com/xqaclYMjbA

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 10, 2022

“We found nothing,” umpire Alfonso Marquez said.

The Padres will now move on to play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round. Their first game is in L.A. on Tuesday night.

Pitt vs. Penn State

Two of the best defensive players in the NFL were in uniform Sunday on opposite sidelines.

Linebacker Micah Parsons and his Dallas Cowboys beat Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams 22-10. Parsons went to Penn State. Donald went to Pitt.

Parson battled through a nagging groin injury to get two second-half sacks, one of which included a forced fumble from Rams QB Matt Stafford with less than two minutes to go.

Micah. Parsons. just. did. that. ???? #DALvsLAR pic.twitter.com/A6gw9kOwFa

— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2022

Aaron Donald had two sacks as well, to go along with six total tackles.

Like elite defense?

Head over to @SkySportsNFL NOW! pic.twitter.com/N9sdL14aUu

— NFL UK (@NFLUK) October 9, 2022

Donald has four sacks on the season. Parsons is tied with San Francisco’s Nick Bosa and New England’s Matthew Judon with six for the NFL’s lead.

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Trying to upgrade

The Cleveland Browns lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 30-28 on Sunday. And they didn’t waste much time looking to get better on defense after the game.

Cleveland allowed 465 yards in total offense to the Chargers — 238 on the ground (7.0 yards per rush) — so they are trading for Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones. That’s according to ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter, who says the clubs are swapping late-round picks to make the trade happen.

Cleveland’s hope is that Jones can buffer the loss of Anthony Walker, who suffered a quad tear in the Thursday night game against the Steelers two weeks ago.

Jones has been on injured reserve all year after treating a shoulder injury during the offseason. Over 85 games in Atlanta, Jones totaled 652 tackles, 11 interceptions, 44 passes defended and 8.5 sacks. He has five defensive touchdowns.

The Browns have yielded more than 200 yards rushing the past two weeks. They host New England next week. The Patriots are ninth in the NFL in rushing.

The Browns and Cincinnati Bengals are now both 2-3, a game behind the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens (3-2). The Steelers are in last place at 1-4.

‘Chasing’ last year

After a Rookie of the Year trophy in 2021, Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase is fighting to find his stride in 2022.

Chase got off to a great start against the Steelers with 10 catches for 129 yards and a score. His high for receiving yards in the four games since then was two weeks ago against Miami when he had 81.

Against the Baltimore Ravens on “Sunday Night Football” this week, Chase caught seven balls, but for just 50 yards. Baltimore was able to load up coverage against Chase, with Tee Higgins getting limited time due to an ankle injury.

The Ravens ended up winning the game 19-17. The loss wasn’t without some tension for the Bengals. Head coach Zac Taylor and tackle La’el Collins seemed to have a spirited exchange after a failed fourth-down attempt.

Here's the video of the interaction, from the broadcast: https://t.co/ao2xT4LbCC pic.twitter.com/QbQag5v5D6

— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) October 10, 2022

The Bengals are in New Orleans next week to play the 2-3 Saints.

A.B. over the line

Former Steeler Antonio Brown is still taking shots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. And it is extremely personal.

Brown went online to mock Brady’s recently revealed marital problems with his wife, Gisele Bundchen. The couple is reportedly heading for a divorce after hiring attorneys.

Over the weekend, the ex-Bucs teammate of Brady posted an altered image of “Daddy Doesn’t Live Here Anymore: A Book About Divorce.” Brady’s face was photoshopped onto one of the characters.

Brown has taken shots at Brady since he was dismissed from the team following his shirtless sideline meltdown late last season.

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