Watervliet NY, August 7 - On a picture perfect night for baseball at the picturesque and pristine Watervliet High School Diamond, the Pirates exacted some early season revenge with an 12-8 win over the Reds.
The Reds, a very good expansion team, have a familiar look with (4) ex-Buccos in the heart of the line-up. On this night however, the Dog Days of Summer caught up with both teams, as a conflict with a 55-Pirates game, left both teams scrambling for capable subs.
Both starters, Jeff Friedman for the Bucs, and Rick Knipper for the Reds were effective early, limiting opportunities as both clubs played A-B-C ball with some walks and singles, some pilfered pillows, and sac bunts and sac flys to manufacture runs, with the Pirates on top, 4-3 after 3.
The Big Red Machine greeted Pirates Reliever, and So Cal transplant, Ted Tannenbaum, unkindly, working two walks on the first 2 batters face, followed by and Ed Potash ribby single to tie the game. A 3-1 put out and E-6 gave the Reds 2 more tallies and a 6-4 advantage.
The Swashbuckers mounted threats in the 5th and 6th,but couldn't break through against Ralph Caputo and Dan Durback, while the Reds tacked on an unearned run in the 5th to grow the lead to 7-4.
A sore-armed Jimmie Dalton, came on in the bottom of the 6th, hoping to keep the Reds at bay, and encouraged by his personal rooting section, The Decker Family! An E-6 and passed ball had him in trouble, but a game saver by Joe Burns at 3B, on a scorching line shot off the bat of Doug Hall, that had two-bagger written all over it, got the Pirates a very loud out. The next Red reached on a FC, as the runner from 3rd broke and shortstop Friedman fired a strike to a waiting C Amber Ring who made a good tag play. Dalton then induced a lazy fly to left to make like Houdini and escape unscathed.
Buccos were down to their last raps, and still down 3. Teddy T. was at it again (2-2, with 2 r and a SB) led off with a a walk. It always starts with a walk. Dave (Nips) Mosely pinch-hitting for Dalton, lined a single and the Pirates had a little life. Friedman and Brad Maione followed with hits to get the deficit to two. With bases loaded, Manager Jim Jasiewicz made the call to the bullpen. After an F-7. a bases juiced walk to Jim Ansel knotted things at 8 all. A HBP (2nd of the night for Mark Meyers), consecutive walks to Burns and Bill Reagan, and a Cos DiBari FC closed out the 7-run explosion, and Pirates led 12-8.
Dalton stayed on to try and close it out. After a quick out, Luis Martinez squared up a deep double to left followed by a free pass. With 1 down, and runners at 1st and 2nd, Dalton induced a ground ball, and Burns, in the middle of things all night, turned the 5-5-3 DP, and the Pirates emerged victorious!
