Rodney Smith, probably as shocked as anyone to get the start, threw three perfect innings Sunday before giving up an unearned run in the 4th, and Jerry Solomon wiggled out of a 7th-inning jam to help the Giants edge the Pirates at Bethlehem.
Solomon finished up the final three innings with 4 K's, but not before the Pirates pushed across a run to tie it at 2 in the top of the 7th. Then with runners on 1st and 3rd, Jerry induced a pop-up to 3rd and struck out the next batter to end the inning.
That set up the dramatics. Carlos Llera led off with a walk. After a pop out to 1st, Jim Keegan drew a walk. Then Pat Alston crushed a pitch to left center to win it.
Rodney also led off the game with a line-drive double and scored on Billy Smith's single to put the Giants up 1-0. Billy's sac fly plated Mike Aiello in the 3rd to make it 2-0. Jim Konstantakis