8/5 TRS-PNC Era: Maz Record, Cobra Bomb, What Book, S-God, Game Stories

• 1970 - 2B Bill Mazeroski set a modern-era NL record for putouts at his position with the 4,781st of his career in the Pirates 4-0 win over the Phillies at TRS. Maz ended his career with 4,974 putouts, eventually surpassed on the leaderboard by Joe Morgan. Luke Walker spun a two-hitter and Al Oliver provided the muscle with a homer and three RBI. 

Maz 1972 (Pirates Picture Pack)

• 1971 - The Pirates rolled over Montreal 7-2 at Parc Jarry behind homers by Willie Stargell, Al Oliver and Jose Pagan plus a pair of Gene Alley triples. The Bucs lost Pagan when his arm was broken by a pitch, but he returned to shine in the Fall Classic. Bruce Kison, who would also shine in the WS, went the distance for the win. 
• 1977 - Cincinnati native Dave Parker became the first player to reach the red seats in right field at Riverfront Stadium when he homered off Fred Norman in a 12-1 win in the opener of a twin bill. Parker added another long ball and had five RBI to back Jerry Reuss’ four hitter. The match featured a one-sided ninth inning fight between Frank Taveras and Joe Hoerner after a beanball; Reds’ catcher Bill Plummer held Taveras while Hoerner slugged him. Both benches emptied, with Dave Parker and Bill Robinson trying to get to Hoerner, but order was restored. Reuss didn’t even brush anyone back in the Reds’ ninth because Sparky Anderson had taken out all his regulars. The fired-up Pirates also took the nitecap, winning 10-6. Taveras banged an inside-the-park grand slam (the first of two homers that he’d hit in the MLB), and Bill Robinson smacked a three-run shot in the win. The sweep moved the Bucs to one game behind first place Philadelphia. 
• 1979 - Chuck Tanner threw out the book when he sent up lefty John Milner to bat against Phils’ southpaw Tug McGraw to hit for C Steve Nicosia, who was 4-for-4 on the day and RH. Against the book, maybe, but it worked as Milner banged a walk off grand slam on the first pitch to win it 12-8. Nicosia later said “I'm a .220 career hitter. What were my odds of going 5 for 5?" Another sidebar: Hall of Famer Steve “Lefty” Carlton had an 8-3 lead in that game and couldn’t hang on to it. In the second game of a double dip at TRS, the Bucs prevailed 5-2, scoring four times in the fourth inning. Omar Moreno and Phil Garner each drove in a pair of runs off Dickie Noles in the frame.

Chuck Tanner 1978 Topps

• 2010 - James McDonald only lasted six innings, but he surrendered just four hits and whiffed eight Rockies as the Bucs defeated Colorado 5-1 at PNC Park. He was backed with homers from Garrett Jones and Ronny Cedeno. 
• 2016 - The Pirates had lost 4-of-5 and looked liked they were going to let another game slip through their fingers before Sean Rodriguez's walkoff homer in the ninth off ex-Bucco Ross Ohlendorf gave Pittsburgh a 3-2 victory over Cincinnati at PNC Park. Righties Jameson Taillon and the Reds Anthony DeSclafani handed a 2-1 Bucco edge to the bullpens. Cincy scored in the first on three singles; the Bucs tied it with John Jaso’s double (Billy Hamilton almost pulled it in and an Oscar performance earned an out call, but a review gave JJ the hit) the key blow. The Redlegs tied it in the ninth off Tony Watson with a leadoff walk, bunt, stolen base and sac fly. But before the Bucs could mope, S-Rod sent a 2-0 heater into the left center seats to claim the win.