Phightin’s take 2 of 3 from Buc-os

8/11-8/13 - Veterans Stadium
Phillies 3, Pirates 2
John Candelaria vs Steve Carlton
This matchup of premier lefties did not disappoint.  Roberto Clemente's solo shot with one out in the 5th broke the ice of a scoreless deadlock.  The "Candyman" was posting goose eggs for 6 innings, but hit a bump in the road in the 7th when one Michael Jack Schmidt went yard to tie it up.  Dave Giusti relieved for the Bucs and looked good, but Philly rallied for a solo run on a Greg Luzinski pinch hit RBI single to take a 2-1 lead.  Tug McGraw couldn't hold the Bucs down in the 9th thanks to an error by Richie Allen in left and back to back singles by Jay Bell and pinch hitter Donn Clendenon.  With the game tied at 2-2 Jim Rooker toed the rubber for the bottom of the 9th.  Rooker struck out Schmidt to start the inning, then got Granny Hamner to ground out to third, but Bill Madlock rushed his throw and pulled Stargell off the base to allow Hamner to reach safely.  Larry Bowa was  immediately inserted to pinch run for Hamner.  Pete Rose singled to put runners on 1st and second.  It looked like everyone would be stranded when Richie Ashburn flew out to his counterpart (Clemente) in center for out number 2.  With Cookie Rojas due up the "secretary of defense", Garry Maddox, was called on to pinch hit.  Rookers 2-1 offering to Maddox was lined right back through the box to score Bowa with the winning run.

Phillies 5, Pirates 4
Terry Mulholland vs Bob Friend
Pittsburgh nibbled their way to a 3-0 lead by scoring solo runs in each of the first 3 innings off of Mulholland.  The Phightin's answered back with solo runs in the 4th, 6th and 8th innings, but still faced a 1 run deficit.  Two runs in the bottom of the 8th off of Bob Veale and Dave Giusti put Philly ahead for good.  Veale started the 8th and walked Pete Rose.  Giusti relieved him to face a righty, Mike Schmidt.  It doesn't matter what arm you pitch with when it comes to Schmitty, who tagged Giusi's 2-0 offering and sent it deep into the second deck at the Vet.  Tug McGraw would get his second save of the season with a perfect 9th.  Woodie Fryman would get the win by pitching a scoreless 8th.  Giusti took the loss and blown save.

Pirates 7, Phillies 0
Vern Law vs Chris Short
Three runs in the first and 3 in the 7th led to Short's demise and a blowout win for the Buc'os.  The "Deacon", Vern Law was in such a groove it didn't matter how many runs his teammates gave him.  Law would throw a tidy 4 hit shutout despite walking 3 and not striking out a batter.  The "Cobra", Dave Parker, would fire the opening salvo with a 3 run shot in the first.  Clemente would add a 2 run shot in the 7th, which ultimately knocked Short out of the game.