77 Phil vs. 77 Pit

Sept 6 - Pirates 2, Phillies 1

John Candelaria went 8 innings and made two 2nd inning runs stand up as he bested Steve Carlton 2-1. With one out and two on, Ted Sizemore's error in the 2nd extended the inning and allowed Pittsburgh to plate two runs. The first on a bases loaded walk to Frank Taveras; the 2nd on a ground out. Carlton walked 5 on the day, two in the 2nd inning. Philadelphia's lone run came on Ted Sizemore's solo HR in the 1st.

Sept 7 - Phillies 11, Pirates 6

The Phils pounded everyone - Jerry Reuss, Odell Jones, Kent Tekulve, and even

Rich Gossage - for an 11-6 win. Bob Boone and Garry Maddox each homered and drove in 3 runs. Mike Schmidt also homered for the Phillies. For Pittsburgh, Phil Garner, Dave Parker, and Bill Robinson combined for 9 hits, but the rest of the club accounted for just 4. Larry Christenson went the distance for Philadelphia, with no

walks helping to stay in the game.

Sept 8 - Pirates 9, Phillies 3

A five-run 5th broke open a tight pitching duel between Jim Lonborg and Jim Rooker, and the Bucs coasted to a 9-3 win. Rooker threw a complete game and helped his own cause with a pair of hits and and RBI. Battery-mate Ed Ott had 3 hits and 3 RBI. Lonborg suffered through a 15-hit, 9-run outing (in 7 innings).

Sept 9 - Pirates 4, Phillies 3

Ed Ott's 2-out, 2-run single in the 8th inning off Warren Brusstar vaulted the Buccos to a 4-3 win to take the series 3 games to 1. The Phillies took a 3-0 lead in the 4th when Bake McBride smacked a 3-run HR off Bruce Kison. Pittsburgh got a run in the bottom of the 4th on Rennie Stennett's single, but couldn't get any closer until the 8th. Ron Reed got the first out, then surrendered a double to Dave Parker. Bill Robinson's single put runners on the corners and chased Reed. Tommy Underwood walked Al Oliver to load the bases, bringing Brusstar in to face Rennie Stennett. Stennett flied to right, scoring a run to make it 3-2 Phils. Willie Stargell pinch hit and drew a walk to load the bases again for Ed Ott. Ott delivered the game winning hit, a 2-run single to put the Bucs up 4-3. Rich Gossage, who had also pitched the 8th, worked a scoreless 9th to preserve the win.

--submitted by Jesse Elicker--