GM# 41 MAY 23, 1971 AT MONTREAL EXPOS
RUSTY STAUB’S GAME WINNING SINGLE SPOILS STARGELL’S BIG DAY
Montreal’s Rusty Staub singled in pinch runner, Ron Woods, with the game winning run, as the Expos edged the Pirates, 5-4, in the third game of their most recent series.
Staub’s hit and the Expos win, took the sheen off what was a great day at the dish for Pittsburgh left fielder, Willie Stargell. The big left hander blasted two home runs, the second multi homer game he has had this season. He scored three of Pittsburgh’s four runs.
Expos starter, Ernie McAnally had a mixed day. He allowed both of Stargell’s home runs and also made two errors on the mound, however, the hits by Stargell were the only ones McAnally gave up in seven innings.
Montreal got three quick runs in the first off Bob Johnson, then Pittsburgh chipped away, with Willie’s solo shots in the second and fourth, pulling them within one run. Expos closer, Howie Reed was brought in early in the eighth, but Al Oliver led the inning off with a pinch-hit home run, tying the game at three all.
With 3 out of 4 lefties coming up for Montreal, the Bucs went to Bob Veale, who couldn’t get the job done. He surrendered two singles and a double and the Expos were back in front, 4-3.
The wild game continued in the top of the ninth. Pittsburgh retied it, when Stargell reached on a two base error by center fielder, Jim Gosger. One batter later, Bob Robertson singled him in.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jim Nelson was on the mound for Pittsburgh, to see if he could pitch in a high leverage situation. He could not. Mack Jones pinch hit and drew a walk. He was replaced by Ron Woods as a pinch runner. Sutherland laid down a succesful sacrifice. Gosger atoned for his error by hitting a single to right field, but Clemente came up with it quickly and Woods had to stop at third.
Staub then ended the drama with his game winning single. WP-McGinn. LP-Jim Nelson(0-3). HR-Willie Stargell 2(11), Al Oliver(7),
Pittsburgh doesn’t play tomorrow, then heads back home for a 13 game homestand.
TODAY’S OTHER N.L. EAST SCORES
Los Angeles 4 Chicago 3
New York 4 Atlanta 0
Cincinnati 4 Philadelphia 3
St. Louis 6 San Diego 1
Montreal 5 Pittsburgh 4
N.L. EAST STANDINGS END OF PLAY, MAY 23
Pittsburgh/41/27/14/.659
St. Louis/42/25/16/1/.595
New York/39/21/18/.538
Chicago/41/20/21/.488
Montreal/34/16/17/1/.471
Philadelphia/39/14/25/.359
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