The Dave Plew led Peppers faced off against the Pirates in Bethlehem on a soupy, sultry Tuesday night. At 4:30, the skies over Bethlehem monsooned, and it looked like a rainout was in the offing. As the home team manager pulled into The Elm Street Park facility, the rain was coming hard in the parking lot, pooling and puddling. However, the Baseball Gods smiled, and the field was never touched and remained bone dry despite storms all around. As is the case when these two teams meet up, some type of fire works ensue. This one's controversy started before game time with the Pirates protest of an eligible sub player (which is probably an issue for the Commissioner to rule on).
Both teams were working shorthanded, missing key starters, but both came to play! Pre-game fireworks continued at the expense of Pirates SP Jimmie Dalton. The top of the Peppers line-up treated Dalton like their red-haired stepchild, or like Mike Tyson on a heavy bag! Charlie Freer, Brad Maione, and Dan Durback knocked out a combined 6 hits (2 - 2-baggers) and none quiet, with ringing shots. After 3 hits to start the top of the first, the Buccos used an infield fly, and two flyouts to center to escape with just a single run. A couple of Pirate errors, and consecutive 2B - 1B - 2B by the big three again, scorched Dalton for more leaving the Pirates in a 6-1 hole after two frames. Meanwhile, Durback was on cruise control allowing 1 hit (a hard Jim Ansel single) and 2 runs over three. Durback was a one man gang, getting 5 assists on the first 9-outs recorded. Dalton settled in, but left in the 4th with a man on and the big three lurking. Bill Farrell came on andg got out of the jam with last out on a nice play by Jazzy Jasiewicz on a foul-pop back to the screen. Dave Plew took over in the bottom of the 4th, and the Pirates threatened as did Mother Nature, using and E-3, and Rick Knipper single and an E-6 to cut the lead to 7-3. Then Mother Nature put on a light show, and roared with thunder to set the game into a delay. After :15 minutes of rolling thunder, the skies opened up, and Mother Nature won this one!
Nice nights by Freer 2-2 (2B) 2 r and 2 sb, Maione with 3-3, and 2 rbi, and Durback 2-3 with a 2B, rbi and sb
Game was not official, as it was stopped with 2-outs in the bottom of the fourth.
