Pirates "buc" Dodgers take 3 of 4

The series featured two teams headed in opposite directions. The Pirates were slumping as of late and the Dodgers had found new life with new manager Mike Roberts. Both were slugging it out for the 3rd playoff spot in the NL.

GAME 1 (Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA): This matchup featured two pitcher who had a lot in common, except the most important thing: winning. Dodger ace Don Drysdale is tall and imposing and can hit like a regular player, so can Pirate starer Don Robinson. Drysdale on most days is the ace of his team's staff. Robinson is not. Popular thought would have this matchup favoring the Dodgers' Don. Popular opinion is not worth the parchment it is printed on. Don Robinson gave up 2 runs in 6 innings of work, which is more than acceptable for a 4th or 5th starter. Don Drysdayle gave up 4 runs in 5 innings, which is not acceptable for any pitcher, least of all a man who is his staff's ace. The big inning was the top of the 5th, where Pittsburgh got to Double D and scored all 4 runs and hastened his exit. There was no "long ball" that inning. The Pirates manufactured runs and tested the Dodger defense. Grant Jackson and Kent Tekulve came on in relief of Robinson to shut out LA.


GAME 2: Another popular opinion is that when Sandy Koufax is on the mound all is right in Dodgerland. The problem with this opinion is that Sandy's automatic years were 1963-66. This is 1962, a season where Koufax began to emerge as a dominant, but injured force. The Pirates are a very balanced hitting team and they forgot to be intimidated. Sandy was able to strike out 8, but he did give up 5 runs (3 earned). The Dodger defense let him down. The Dodger offense did not since they were able to compile 4 runs, which is usually 3 more than Koufax needs. The win was a true testament to the resolve of the Steeltown 9, since they were down 4-0 after the first and they were facing a man who was on the verge of greatness. Curiosly, both Ed Ott and Dave Parker (lefties) hit homers. The Pirates chipped away with 2 in the 4th and 6th and 1 in the 8th to win this one.

GAME 3 (Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA): This 6-5 offensive oriented contest needed 10 innings to be decided. By this time both staters, Jim Bibby (PIT) & Stan Williams (LA) were long gone. With one out in the bottom of the 10th Pirate left fielder Bill Robinson hit a walk off homer to send the Pirate faithful home happy and chanting "sweep". Ron Perranoski took the loss out of the bullpen after tossing 2 1/3 shutout innings and attempting to stretch it to a 3rd. Grant Jackson also went 2 and 1/3 shutout innings, but he never had to face that "8th guy", nor did he give up the long ball.


GAME 4: With the Pirate faithful chanting sweep the Dodgers came out determined to not let that happen. Having Johnny Podres on the hill helps. Podres, who won game 7 of the 1955 World Series vs the hated Yankess has always been known to be cool on the hill. The crafty lefty has an ability to rise up on big occasions and frustrate even the best hitter. Podres wasn't great, nor was he dominating, but he did give his team 9 innings and he never let the Pirates think they could come back after going down 6-0. Clutch pitchers know how to pitch to the scoreboard and Podres did. The Dodgers got homers from both Davis' (Willie and Tommie) and Jumbo Frank Howard as part of a 8 run, 10 hit onslaught of the Bucs.