Giants led 7-1 before the Pirates rallied with 2 in the 4th and 4 in the 6th to tie it. Lounello and Comenski each hit doubles (would have both been HRs in many fields with fences) to drive in the tying runs.
The Giants squeezed out the winning run in the 7th. Rodney Smith reached on an error to start the inning, stole 2nd, was sacrificed to 3rd by Dan Maguire and scored on Jimmy Keegan's single to right.
But the Pirates didn't go quietly in the bottom of the 7th. With runners on first and second and one out, hobbled third-baseman Mike Aiello made a sensational play to save the game. Todd Calhoun hit a blooper that appeared would fall between him and Walter at SS. Racing toward the back of the infield on an angle toward CF, Aiello made a great stretch and catch for the second out, then fielded a grounder by the next batter to end it.
Billy Smith had 3 hits for the Giants; and Keegan, Jimmy Walter and Mike Kravitz each had two hits to pace the Giants attack off a gutsy Mike Kane who went the distance for the Pirates.
But the most impressive aspect of this game was the condition of the field. The Pirates did a magnificent job getting that field ready for play. On Thursday, you could have gone water skiing. Thanx much guys. Without that effort, more games would have been PPD.
Oh, and this is my first win against the Pirates since I left the team 6 years ago! And it didn't feel as good as it should have. They are still among the classiest guys in the league. And also note, the Bucs were without perennial all-star Ron Smaka, who injured his calf in a 47 game the night before. Godspeed, my friend. Hope you are back on the diamond soon.
Thanks, Jim. You guys put up quality at-bats all game long, top to bottom, and banged out 11 hits in addition to numerous (painful!) Pirate miscues. That's a deep, talented roster you've assembled -- and you guys come to play with a sense of purpose. Great job, we'll see you next time. Also, Jerry Solomon is always tough -- a guy Jim Jordan would blithely describe, between puffs on a cigarette, as "a professional pitcher" -- and that cursed Rodney Smith seems forever in the middle of some play I don't particularly enjoy.
And yes, missing Ron Smaka is far worse than losing a game. There's no one I know who loves playing baseball more than Ron and his real gift is that he infuses those around him with that same boyish spirit. Losing last night was tough; but looking at Ron on the bench in street clothes, a pained expression on the big lug's mug, helped put it in perspective. We, at least, were playing.
