Sunday, 06 May 2012 23:10

Written by Donn Frizzi

21-3K CLEMENTE'S 3,000 HITS
CLEMENTE 3-5, 2 RBI's
STARGELL 2 HR's
PIRATES 9, REDS 6
Sunday, May 7th, 1972

CINCINNATI - The Pirates got 4 runs in the 7th and held off a 2 run Reds rally to squeak by Cincinnati 9-6. Roberto Clemente was 3-5 with 2 RBIs, pulling within 96 base hits of 3,000.

Clemente's single in the 1st drove in Rennie Stennett with an unearned run. Stennett reached 1st on an error by 2B Joe Morgan.
Morgan rebounded with a 2 run homer in the 3rd, in which the Reds took a 4-3 lead. Willie Stargell tied the game with a solo homer in the 6th.
Pittsburgh rallied when Stennett and Al Oliver got 2 out singles. Clemente singled home Stennett. Stargell followed with a 3 run homer, his 2nd of the game. The Bucs held off another Reds rally when Bobby Tolan and Cesar Geronimo hit solo homers to make it 8-4, Pirates. Clemente got a run back when he doubled in the top of the 9th and scored on Richie Hebner's single.
Nelson Briles (2-0) got the win. Jack Billingham (0-5) took the loss.
 
The Pirates will now move to Atlanta for a 2 game series. Game 1 on Tuesday features Dock Ellis (2-1) vs Tom Kelley (1-2).

In memory of Mr.Les Banos.