As has been the history when these two teams hook-up, the outcome usually comes down to the final at-bats! Same story, different script on the B-Diamond on Tuesday. Peppers were determined to avenge two earlier defeats, and brought it in a big way! Pirates got on the Board first, with a three-spot on the strength of singles by Jim Jazz, Wayne Newcomb, and Paul Peters, followed by a Fred Pidgeon 2-rbi knock, and the Buccos looked to have Peppers starter Dave Plew on the ropes! Plew shut it down getting a comebacker force play, and a backwards "K"....Pirates would only get 1 more hit off Plew in the next two scoreless frames. The Red Peppers had a game plan, to sit on Pirates hurler Jimmie Dalton, that worked to perfection, as they came out hotter than habaneros, and taking advantage of an uncharacteristically wild Dalton, who got into deep counts, and Peppers put great swings on balls in the zone! A Charlie Freer lead-off walk (always the lead-off walk that bites) followed by Ben Phillip's single, a Chuck Rebuhn two-bagger, and singles by Adam Zafran, Dan Durback, and Plew made it a quick 5-run inning and took a 2-run lead. Dalton continued to labor in the second, and after a punch out sandwiched by Tony Mogavero, and Frank Kerbein singles, ended his night in favor of Bill Farrell. After being staked to an 8-3 lead, Peppers were quieted by the lefty Farrell with and unearned tally in the 3rd and a singleton in the 5th.
Pirates who had walked the plank to this point against Plew, broke through for 2 in the 4th and 1 in the 5th against reliever Phillips, as Peters notched 2 more hits, and help from Mike Hart, Pidgeon and Newcomb, to get back to 10-6. A Howard Becker rbi single, behind a Jim Denney base hit, in the 6th cut the deficit to 10-7. Peppers looked to answer back on consecutive hits by Mogavero, and Tom Japour, but were kept off the board on a long running, late reach grab by Jaziewicz in LF. Farrell escaped the bases loaded jam, setting up the critical 7th.
Pirates used a combo of solid hitting and wheeling around the sacks as Jasiewicz, Newcomb, Peters accounted for 3 knocks and the swipe of 3 bags and a clutch single by Jim Ansel knotted the score at 10-10. Plew and the Peppers remained resilient and were not done. A lead-off single by Rebuhn (3-4, 3 runs, a ribby, a SB) set the stage. Manager Dalton elected to Intentionally Pass Zafran and Durback, and played infield in and OF shallow for a play at the plate. Plew spoiled that plan, as he jumped on the first pitch for a line single, game winning RBI! Peppers walk it off 11-10!
WP Durback LP Farrell
Peppers: Rebuhn 3-4 3 R, Mogavero 3-3 R, Plew 2-4, Bill Gannon 2-4 Pirates: Jasiewicz, 4-4, 3 R, Peters 4-4 3 R and 2 rbi, Newcomb 3-4, 2 R
R H E Pirates 10 15 2 Peppers 11 18 2
-- Edited by jdalton on Thursday 5th of August 2021 12:49:39 PM
-- Edited by jdalton on Thursday 5th of August 2021 01:16:13 PM
Great report Jim Dalton. Sounds like a good game. You made it come alive . Always nice to read an in depth account of the action. People are interested. We know those guys !
