1971 Pittsburgh Pirates Replay

GM# 150 SEPTEMBER 15, 1971 VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

PIRATES WIN NAIL BITER AGAINST ARCH RIVAL, CARDS, 3-2

With the National League East Division winding down, the Pittsburgh Pirates won a one run game against their arch rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2, in a game packed with drama.

Sore armed, Dock Ellis, who has not pitched since Sept 6th, toed the slab against left handed Cardinal star, Steve Carlton. Ellis had a clean inning in the first and sixth but otherwise was in trouble in every other inning he pitched.

The Cardinals drew first blood in the top of the third inning. Ellis retired Carlton, but then gave up three straight singles to Lou Brock, Ted Sizemore and Matty Alou. Fortunately, Joe Torre hit into a double play and only one run came in.

Pittsburgh tied the game in their half of the third, when, with one out, Jackie Hernandez singled. He was sacrificed to second by Ellis, then Rennie Stennett stroked a single to plate Hernandez.

The Cards took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning, when Sizemore singled, went to third on a Torre basehit, then scored on a passed ball, which got by Manny Sanguillen.

The Battlin’ Bucs tied it at three in the sixth, when Al Oliver’s sacrifice fly brought in Sangy.

That would be Carlton’s last inning, as Al Santorini came in to pitch the seventh. He held the Bucs scoreless, then Frank Linzy took over as the Cards’ moundsman. He gave up a single to Sanguillen, the catcher’s third hit of the day. Then Bob Robertson, who is faster than he looks, sent a ball careening into the left field corner. When it was finally retrieved, Sanguillen had scored and Robertson was standing on third with a triple.

Meanwhile, Ellis had gone six and a third, but exited with the bases loaded and one out. Bob Miller came in and got Torre to hit into his second twin killing of the game. Miller had done his job to say the least and Dave Giusti would work the eighth and hopefully, the ninth.

Giusti was up to the task as he held the Cardinals scoreless, striking out four in those two innings. Of course, it wouldn’t be a cakewalk. He retired pinch hitter, Dick Scofield, to start the top of the ninth, but then, Brock singled, as did Sizemore, sending the speedy Brock to third. Giusti buckled down and got Alou to line out to first, then fanned Torre to end the game. WP-Dave Giusti(6-6). LP-Frank Linzy.

The last home game against the Cardinals pits Luke Walker against Jerry Reuss.

OTHER N.L. EAST SCORES

Chicago 6 New York 2

Chicago 3 New York 2

Montreal 1 Philadelphia 0