Friday, October 11, 2019

10/11 Postseason: Bucs Win in '79 & '09; Drop Games in '71 & '25 WS; Stay Alive v Bravos, Eliminated by Reds in NLCS

  • 1909 - Honus Wagner became the first player to steal three bases in a World Series contest as Pittsburgh beat Detroit at Bennett Park, 8-6, in Game Three of the Fall Classic to go up two games to one. The next player to swipe three sacks was LA’s Willie Davis, who matched the feat in 1965 (the Cards’ Lou Brock in 1967 and the Rays’ BJ Upton in 2008 also scored the hat trick). Nick Maddox struggled, but went the distance for the win, buttressed by a five-run first inning outburst by the Bucs against Ed Summers; all the opening runs were unearned as Motown made three errors in the inning. It was a sloppy affair as 11 of the 14 runs were unearned; Motown had five boots and the Bucs committed a pair. Honus Wagner had three hits with three RBI, and Bobby Byrne, Tommy Leach and Bill Abstein each added two more knocks. 
Hans was a Flying Dutchman OTD - photo via MLB.com
  • 1925 - The Big Train, Walter Johnson, shut out the Pirates 4-0 on six hits at Griffith Stadium to give the Senators a three-games-to-one lead in the World Series. Washington scored all four runs in the second inning off Emil Yde, the big blow being a three-run homer by Goose Goslin, with Joe Harris adding another long ball. Johnson was in complete control; only one Pirate runner reached second all day. 
  • 1971 - In a game that was delayed a day by rain, Brooks Robinson set a World Series record by reaching base five consecutive times (three hits, two walks) against the Pirates as Baltimore won 11-3 in Game Two. Bob Johnson and Bob Moose were hit hard at Memorial Stadium - the O’s scored nine times in the fourth and fifth frames and belted three homers in the laugher. The Bucco runs came in the eighth on Richie Hebner’s three-run shot. 
  • 1972 - Bob Moose's wild pitch in the ninth inning allowed George Foster to score the winning run with two outs as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Bucs 4-3 to capture the NLCS and a World Series berth at Riverfront Stadium. The Pirates had entered the ninth inning with a 3-2 lead but couldn’t hold on. Johnny Bench's lead-off solo homer against Dave Giusti tied the game before Foster’s scamper won it. Cincy pitching was the difference. Pittsburgh led the NL with a .274 team BA, but hit just .190 during the NLCS, scoring only 10 runs in the final four games. The Reds lost the World Series to the Oakland A’s in seven games. 
  • 1979 - Pittsburgh pushed a run across in the ninth to knot the World Series with Baltimore at a game apiece, taking a 3-2 win at Memorial Stadium. Bill Madlock and Ed Ott drove in second inning runs while Eddie Murray homered and doubled to plate a pair. Jim Palmer and Bert Blyleven started the game and left it to the bullpens to decide. Both teams left the bases loaded in the seventh. Bill Robinson singled to start the ninth against Tippy Martinez, and Matt Alexander came in to run, only to be caught stealing. With Don Stanhouse on the mound, Bill Madlock drove one deep to center, but it was a loud out. The Bucs kept on, though, as Ed Ott hit a ground ball single, Phil Garner drew a four pitch walk, and pinch hitter Manny Sanguillen singled to right for the lead. Don Robinson got the win and Kent Tekulve the save, striking out a pair of Orioles in the ninth to ice the victory. 
Walk kept it alive - 1992 Leaf  
  • 1992 - Pittsburgh stayed alive against the Atlanta Braves at TRS, as they scored four times in the first inning to chase Steve Avery and rode a three-hitter by Bob Walk to a 7-1 win. Lloyd McClendon and Jeff King each had three knocks, and the Bucs drilled five doubles among their 13 hits. The Bucs returned to Atlanta down three games to two in the NLCS. Deion Sanders flew to Pittsburgh for the game after playing for the Miami Dolphins that afternoon looking to become the first player to take part in two pro games in different sports on the same day, but even in a blowout didn’t get into the lineup.

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