Game 1: Pirates 1, Expos 7

(Nov 21) Montreal, Quebec—Steve Rogers allowed just one run as he pitched into the eighth and Tony Perez knocked in four to help the Expos run away from the Pirates in Game 1 of their 5-game series. Pirates ace Bert Blyleven cruised early but ran into trouble in the fourth when his defense let him down. Larry Parrish doubled and then Gary Carter reached when his bouncing ball to first ricocheted off the palm of Stargell’s glove at first base. Andre Dawson followed with an RBI single to plate Parrish. Another Pirates miscue—this a passed ball by catcher Ed Ott—loaded the bases for Tony Perez, who promptly delivered a two-run single. Parrish scored again in the fifth on another Dawson single. The dagger came in the seventh when Perez, this time with the bases loaded, singled off ace reliever Kent Tekulve to plate two more. The former Red finished 2-4 with 4 RBI. The Pirates, meanwhile, could get nothing going against the righty all-star Rogers. Ott drove in the lone Bucs run on a sacrifice fly after Garner had doubled to lead off the seventh.

The teams will stay in Montreal for Game 2 before moving on to Pittsburgh to finish the series. Bill “Spaceman” Lee will start for the home team; Pittsburgh has not yet announced a starter.

W: Steve Rogers (1-0)

L: Bert Blyleven (0-1)

Co-Players of the Game: Steve Rogers (7.1 IP, 6H, 1R, 4K) & Tony Perez (2-4, 4RBI)

Game 2: Pirates 2, Expos 3

(Nov 23) Montreal, Quebec—Kent Tekulve would love to have this one back.

With one out and Tony Bernazard on third in the bottom of the eighth inning, the tying run already having just scored on a Larry Parrish bases-loaded single, Gary Carter hit a sharp grounder back to Pirates closer. Feeling the runner at third hold, Tekulve turned quickly and fired to second to attempt the double play. Bernazard broke for home. Pirates shortstop Tim Foli received the throw a bit to the third-base side of second and had to re-direct his momentum. He threw to first, but it was late. Carter was safe. First baseman Willie Stargell, never known as a great glove man, never even attempted a throw home. Bernazard scored the go-ahead run and the energy in the stadium soared. The Expos went on to win 3-2.

"Ces gars ne perdront pas!" said fan Jaque-Phillippe Bonaparte, expressing the feeling of so many clad in blue in red. "Zeze stinking Pirates can ferry on home. We will overcome zem zere too."

For most of the game it was the Jim Bibby show. Earning a Game 2 start in this important series with his season-long dominance (2.81 ERA in 1979), he shut down the Canadian Comrades through seven. allowing just five singles. The fifth one, though, by Chris Speier in the eighth, got Montreal off the schneid. Ellis Valentine followed with a pinch-hit single of his own after Tekulve relieved Bibby. Bernazard walked, leading to Parrish’s big hit.

For their part, the Pirates couldn’t muster much offense for the second straight night. A 3-4 night (2 1B, 1 3B) by Bill Robinson led the way, but ultimately the Bucs failed to string together enough hits to win.

“We have to do better,” said Manager Clint Carlson, clearly agitated at Tekulve’s failed attempt at a double play. “We are FAMILY! And we WILL GET SOME HITS IN PITTSBURGH!”

W: Woody Fryman (1-0)

L: Kent Tekulve (0-1)

S: Elias Sosa (1)

Players of the Game: Jim Bibby (7 1/3 IP, 5H, 1R, 8K) and Larry Parrish (3-4, 2RBI, game-tying RBI)

Game 3: Expos 3, Pirates 6

(Dec 8) Pittsburgh, Pa.—The Pirates scored early and often while Bruce Kison dominated on the mound to get the Pirates back in the series with a 6-3 win on Tuesday.

The Buccos ambushed Montreal starter Dan Schatzeder in the first. Four out of the first five reached—including a bases-loaded walk—and Steve Nicosia hit a 2 RBI-single to put the Pirates up 3-0. He hit another in the third to put the Pirates up 4-1. He finished the day 2-3 with a walk and three RBI.

Schatzeder did his part at the plate to get the Expos back in it, homering just over the left field fence in the third. But his offense didn’t follow suit, managing just four more hits the rest of the way.

Kison was just too good for the Expos, and now the Buccos look to even the series. They will have home field advantage for games four and five, if it’s necessary.

W: B. Kison (1-0)

L: D. Schatzeder (0-1)

S: Romo (1)

Player of the Game: B. Kison (7 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 5 K)