Saturday, 09 June 2012 02:19

Written by Donn Frizzi

21-3K CLEMENTE'S 3,000 HITS PIRATES 5, LA 1
7TH WIN IN A ROW, NOW 1/2 GB
CLEMENTE RBI - 63 HITS FROM 3K
Thursday, June 8, 1972

LOS ANGELES- First inning errors by Bobby Valentine, Steve Garvey and Bill Russell led to 5 Pirate runs, 3 unearned as the Bucs beat the Dodgers 5-1.

The Pirates have won 7 in a row and, with the Mets' 4-2 loss to Houston, are just 1/2 game back of New York.
Roberto Clemente was 3-5 and drove in his 22nd RBI of the year. He is now 63 hits away from 3,000.

Willie Stargell (44), Al Oliver (36) and Jackie Hernandez (7) also drove in a run each in the 1st.

Steve Blass (7-1) got a complete game win. He gave up just 3 hits. Blass lost a shutout when Frank Robinson hit a solo HR in the 6th. Don Sutton (8-1) took the loss.
Saturday, Luke Walker (2-1) faces Claude Osteen (6-3).

In memory of Mr. Les Banos.