Sunday, 15 April 2012 05:05

Written by Donn Frizzi

21-3K: FOLLOWING CLEMENTE'S 3000 HITS

SEAVER SHUTS OUT METS 4-0
SAT 4/15/72

NEW YORK - Tom Seaver (1-0) shut out the Pirates on five hits and got three innings of help by bullpen ace Tug McGraw as New York won their home opener 4-0.

Pirates starter Dock Ellis (0-1) gave up back to back leadoff singles in the second to Rusty Staub and Cleon Jones.  Jim Fregosi doubled home Staub for the first run and Ed Kranepool hit a sacrifice fly to score Jones from third.
Kranepool doubled the score in the sixth when he hit a two run homer with two outs against Ellis.
Roberto Clemente was 0-4 in the ballgame.  He needs only 118 base hits to reach the 3000 hit mark.

Steve Blass (15-8) will battle Gary Gentry (12-11) in Sunday’s game. Then the Pirates return to Pittsburgh to open the home season against Chicago.