8/2 TRS-PNC Era: Late Comebacks, HR Derbies

• 1970 - Pittsburgh outslugged the Braves 10-7 at Atlanta Stadium behind the hot sticks of Bob Robertson and John Jeter. Robertson went long twice and drove home six runs; the other four runs were plated by Jeter, who also homered. Dock Ellis got the win, although Dave Giusti made it interesting in the ninth, giving up three runs on back-to-back Bravo home runs.

John Jeter 1970 Topps

• 1974 - The Bucs took advantage of a couple of Redbird miscues to take a 3-2, 14 inning match from St Louis at TRS, snapping a six game Cardinal winning streak. The Bucs legit run scored on an Al Oliver solo homer. Pittsburgh scored a second run when the Cards muffed a double play. The winner came home after the Cards had already cut down a run at the plate. Richie Hebner singled with two outs and Ed Kirkpatrick at second; Spanky scored uncontested when C Ted Simmons (a future Pirates GM) drifted up the line to track the throw home when he should have stayed at home. 1B Joe Torre slid over to cut the offline peg and spun to relay the ball only to find Simmons nowhere near the dish, but still 10’ up the baseline. Ramon Hernandez got the win, following Larry Demery and Dave Giusti.
• 1977 - The Pirates scored twice in the ninth inning to tie the score 3-3 against Houston at the Astrodome before Bill Robinson hit a two-out, game-winning three-run homer off Dan Larson in the top of the 10th to win it. Robinson had tied the game with a single with Dave Parker aboard the frame before; the throw to third to try to get The Cobra went through third baseman Enos Cabell and both Parker & Robinson scored on the misplay. Larson threw a complete game in a losing effort, giving up just six hits, with five coming in the final 1-2/3 innings. Grant Jackson pitched the final three innings for the Pirates and allowed just one hit to earn the win.

Nill Robinson 1977 Topps

• 1993 - The Cubs beat the Pirates‚ 12-10‚ at Wrigley Field in a game marked by seven HRs‚ six ejections‚ three brushbacks and a brawl. Carlos Garcia had a pair of homers for the Bucs‚ and was beaned in his next at-bat in the sixth by Bob Scanlon, instigating the meet-at-the-mound scrum. Lloyd McClendon and Al Martin also went long for Pittsburgh.
• 2002 - The Bucs walked off with a 6-5 win over the SF Giants at PNC Park. Down a run with two outs in the ninth, Jason Kendall lined a single and Jack Wilson followed with a bloop. Brian Giles drilled Rob Nenn’s 1-2 pitch into left center to plate them both for the win. Adam Hyzdu and Rob Mackowiak homered for the Bucs while Brian Boehringer got the win.
• 2007 - It took 11 innings, but Pittsburgh whipped the SL Cards 6-5 at PNC Park. With two down, Jose Castillo's single scored Ryan Doumit from second. Ronnie Paulino had a homer and double while Salomon Torres picked up the win after two innings of shutout ball.