In a typical match up between these two clubs, a seesaw affair, with whoever could score last would come out on top. In a game that featured the Peppers furnishing the Buccos 4 errors, 5 walks and 2 HBP, with the Pirates reciprocating with 4 walks and 6 errors as both teams tried to shake off winter rust on a nite with winter-like conditions! The Pirates struck first, with a 3-spot on a Jim Ansel rbi single and a Jim Denney rbi ground out. SP Jimmie Dalton coughed 2 of the 3 up in the bottom of the frame, on (2) singles by Chuck Rebuhn and Dan Durbek Peppers big right-hander Durbek settled in and got a 1-2-3 2nd inning with 2 punchouts. Dalton struggled with command and gave up the lead, with a 2-run double by Ted Witting the big blow. The Swashbucklers were not walking the plank easily, as they retook the lead against the Peppers reliever with a 5-run rally on 2 hits (Ansel and Ken Shaw), sandwiched around 3 walks, a HBP and 2 Pepper miscues. Peppers tied it up at 8 all, as Dalton could not get out of the 3rd giving up 2 hits, a walk, and 2 more errors, before Rick Knipper put out the fire. Dave Plew came out of the pen, and after a lead-off double by Mike Stammel, got nicked for a singleton on a Cos DiBari rbi ground out, to retake the lead. Knipper got touched for a run in the 4th, after an E-4, a single, and couple of free passes, as the Peppers again answered back to knot things at 9-9. Plew worked in and out of trouble, holding the damage to 1-run in the 5th, on a Shaw ribby knock, after an Ansel base hit, to retake the lead. As has been the history with these two squads, it's never over 'til its over! A lead off hit by Brad Maione, followed by a Tony Mogajero knock had the Pirates looking at ways to get out if the inning. After an error and walk, Bill Gannon came up big with a 2-run difference maker that capped the Peppers comeback and walk-off!!
