Ramon Hernandez not only pitched four scoreless innings of relief but doubled in the 17th for his first major league hit to spark a four-run outburst that brought the Pirates a 7-3 victory over the Astros. The Pirates were saved from defeat when Roberto Clemente singled in the ninth and Willie Stargell homered to tie the score and send the game into overtime.

In the 17th, after hitting his double, Hernandez scored on a two-bagger by Vic Davalillo. Following a wild pitch, Davalillo scored when Larry Howard dropped the throw to the plate on Clemente's grounder to Roger Metzger. Clemente advanced on a passed ball and counted on a single by Al Oliver. Manny Sanguillen then doubled to drive in the final tally. [The Sporting News]



Pittsburgh Pirates 7, Houston Astros 3
Game Played on Thursday, July      6, 1972 (Night game) at Astrodome
Pirates      0  0  1    0  0  0    0  0  2    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  4  -   7 18  2
Astros       0  0  0    3  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  0    0  0  -   3 10  3


Pirates              AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG      Astros               AB   R   H RBI    BB  SO    AVG
Stennett 2b,ss        8   0   1   0     0   3   .311      Metzger ss            8   0   1   0     0   2   .206
Davalillo lf          8   1   3   2     0   0   .351      Cedeno cf             7   1   2   0     1   0   .345
Clemente rf           8   2   2   0     0   0   .314      Wynn rf               7   1   2   0     1   2   .275
Stargell 1b           6   1   3   2     2   2   .301      May 1b                6   0   0   1     1   1   .280
Oliver cf             8   1   2   1     0   0   .319      Watson lf             6   1   2   0     1   1   .305
Sanguillen c          7   0   3   1     1   0   .336      Rader 3b              6   0   1   1     1   2   .236
Robertson 3b          3   0   0   0     0   1   .151      Edwards c             4   0   1   0     1   0   .223
  May ph              1   0   0   0     0   0   .176        Fenwick pr          0   0   0   0     0   0   .184
  Ellis pr            0   0   0   0     0   0   .100        Howard c            2   0   0   0     0   1   .232
  Pagan 3b            4   0   0   0     0   0   .278      Helms 2b              6   0   1   1     0   1   .257
Alley ss              2   0   0   0     0   0   .274      Wilson p              2   0   0   0     0   2   .069
  Hebner ph           1   0   0   0     0   0   .290        Griffin p           1   0   0   0     0   1   .231
  J. Hernandez ss     0   0   0   0     0   0   .194        Gladding p          1   0   0   0     0   1   .000
  Cash ph,2b          4   0   1   0     0   0   .270        Stewart ph          1   0   0   0     0   1   .227
Moose p               2   1   2   0     0   0   .216        York p              0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
  Clines ph           1   0   0   0     0   0   .337        Alou ph             1   0   0   0     0   0   .283
  Giusti p            2   0   0   0     0   1   .000        Ray p               0   0   0   0     0   0   .125
  Mazeroski ph        1   0   0   0     0   0   .250        Gibbon p            0   0   0   0     0   0   .000
  R. Hernandez p      1   1   1   0     0   0   .143        Culver p            0   0   0   0     0   0   .182
                                                            Stinson ph          1   0   0   0     0   0   .250

Totals               67   7  18   6     3   7             Totals               59   3  10   3     6  15

Time of Game: 4:38   Attendance: 23,540
Left on Base: Pirates 12, Astros 12
DP: Pirates 3, Astros 1
Errors: Stennett, Pagan, Howard 3
Doubles: Oliver (13), R. Hernandez (1), Davalillo (13), Sanguillen (12), Wynn 2 (13)
Triples: Moose (1)
Home Runs: Stargell (16)
Stolen Bases: Moose (1), Cedeno (24)
Caught Stealing: Oliver (4)
Sacrifice Hits: Helms (2)
GIDP: Hebner (4), May (6), Rader (11), Watson (5)


Pirates                IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Moose                   7     6   3   3   4   6   0  30   3.29
Giusti                  6     3   0   0   2   6   0  23   2.18
R. Hernandez W(4-0)     4     1   0   0   0   3   0  13   1.17
Totals                 17    10   3   3   6  15   0  66

Astros                 IP     H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR BFP    ERA
Wilson                  5     5   1   1   1   2   0  20   3.30
Griffin                 3     4   2   2   0   1   1  12   2.20
Gladding                3     2   0   0   1   0   0  12   2.49
York                    3     3   0   0   0   2   0  11   3.97
Ray L(7-3)              2.1   2   3   1   1   1   0  11   4.62
Gibbon                  0.1   2   1   0   0   1   0   3  15.00
Culver                  0.1   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   2.73
Totals                 17    18   7   4   3   7   1  70

Passed Balls: Howard (3)
Wild Pitches: Ray (4)

Umpires: HP - Frank Pulli, 1B - Tom Gorman, 2B - Bill Williams, 3B - John McSherry


PIRATES 1ST: Stennett singled to center; Davalillo flied out to
right; Clemente grounded out (pitcher to first) [Stennett to
second]; Stargell lined to right; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates
0, Astros 0.

ASTROS 1ST: Metzger flied out to left; Cedeno grounded out
(second to first); Wynn struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Pirates 0, Astros 0.

PIRATES 2ND: Oliver flied out to left; Sanguillen made an out to
third; Robertson struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 0,
Astros 0.

ASTROS 2ND: May grounded out (third to first); Watson singled to
first; Rader struck out; Edwards flied out to right; 0 R, 1 H, 0
E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 0, Astros 0.

PIRATES 3RD: Alley grounded out (third to first); Moose singled
to center; Moose stole second; Stennett struck out; Davalillo
singled to right [Moose scored, Davalillo out at second (right
to shortstop)]; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 1, Astros 0.

ASTROS 3RD: Helms made an out to second; Wilson struck out;
Metzger flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 1,
Astros 0.

PIRATES 4TH: Clemente grounded out (second to first); Stargell
walked; Oliver flied out to center; Sanguillen singled to
shortstop [Stargell to second]; Robertson made an out to
shortstop; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Pirates 1, Astros 0.

ASTROS 4TH: Cedeno walked; Wynn doubled to right [Cedeno to
third]; May grounded out (second to first) [Cedeno scored, Wynn
to third]; Watson was walked intentionally; Rader singled to
left [Wynn scored, Watson to third, Rader to second (on throw)];
Edwards was walked intentionally; Helms forced Edwards
(shortstop to second) [Watson scored, Rader to third]; Wilson
struck out; 3 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Pirates 1, Astros 3.

PIRATES 5TH: Alley grounded out (shortstop to first); Moose
tripled to right; Stennett reached on a fielder's choice [Moose
out at home (pitcher to third)]; Davalillo flied out to center;
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 1, Astros 3.

ASTROS 5TH: Metzger singled to center; Cedeno singled to right
[Metzger to third]; Wynn made an out to shortstop; May grounded
into a double play (third to second to first) [Cedeno out at
second]; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 1, Astros 3.

PIRATES 6TH: GRIFFIN REPLACED WILSON (PITCHING); Clemente
grounded out (shortstop to first); Stargell struck out; Oliver
grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Pirates 1, Astros 3.

ASTROS 6TH: Watson grounded out (third to first); Rader walked;
Edwards flied out to left; Helms singled to center [Rader to
second]; Griffin struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Pirates 1,
Astros 3.

PIRATES 7TH: Sanguillen singled to center; Robertson made an out
to shortstop; HEBNER BATTED FOR ALLEY; Hebner grounded into a
double play (first to shortstop to first) [Sanguillen out at
second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 1, Astros 3.

ASTROS 7TH: J. HERNANDEZ REPLACED HEBNER (PLAYING SS); Metzger
was called out on strikes; Cedeno flied out to right; Wynn
popped to third in foul territory; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Pirates 1, Astros 3.

PIRATES 8TH: CLINES BATTED FOR MOOSE; Clines flied out to left;
Stennett grounded out (second to first); Davalillo flied out to
left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 1, Astros 3.

ASTROS 8TH: GIUSTI REPLACED CLINES (PITCHING); May grounded out
(shortstop to first); Watson singled to right; Rader grounded
into a double play (second to shortstop to first) [Watson out at
second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 1, Astros 3.

PIRATES 9TH: Clemente singled to right; Stargell homered
[Clemente scored]; Oliver doubled to left; GLADDING REPLACED
GRIFFIN (PITCHING); Sanguillen was walked intentionally; MAY
BATTED FOR ROBERTSON; May forced Sanguillen (first to shortstop)
[Oliver to third]; ELLIS RAN FOR MAY; CASH BATTED FOR J.
HERNANDEZ; Cash made an out to shortstop; Giusti grounded out
(shortstop to first); 2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

ASTROS 9TH: CASH STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 2B); PAGAN REPLACED
ELLIS (PLAYING 3B); STENNETT CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING SS);
Edwards flied out to left; Helms struck out; Gladding was called
out on strikes; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

PIRATES 10TH: Stennett grounded out (second to first); Davalillo
grounded out (shortstop to first); Clemente singled to center;
Stargell singled to right [Clemente to third]; Oliver grounded
out (second to first); 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros
3.

ASTROS 10TH: Metzger grounded out (third to first); Cedeno
reached on an error by Stennett [Cedeno to first]; Cedeno stole
second; Wynn was walked intentionally; May reached on an error
by Pagan [Cedeno to third, Wynn to second, May to first]; Watson
struck out; Rader struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 2 E, 3 LOB.  Pirates 3,
Astros 3.

PIRATES 11TH: Sanguillen made an out to second; Pagan grounded
out (shortstop to first); Cash flied out to right; 0 R, 0 H, 0
E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

ASTROS 11TH: Edwards singled to right; FENWICK RAN FOR EDWARDS;
Helms out on a sacrifice bunt (first unassisted) [Fenwick to
second]; STEWART BATTED FOR GLADDING; Stewart struck out;
Metzger struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

PIRATES 12TH: HOWARD REPLACED FENWICK (PLAYING C ); YORK
REPLACED STEWART (PITCHING); Giusti struck out; Howard dropped a
foul fly hit by Stennett for an error; Stennett struck out;
Davalillo singled to catcher [Davalillo to second (error by
Howard)]; Clemente grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 2
E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

ASTROS 12TH: Cedeno grounded out (second to first); Wynn doubled
to right; May was walked intentionally; Watson grounded into a
double play (shortstop to second to first) [May out at second];
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

PIRATES 13TH: Stargell singled to center; Oliver forced Stargell
(second to shortstop); Sanguillen made an out to first; Oliver
was caught stealing second (catcher to second); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0
LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

ASTROS 13TH: Rader flied out to center; Howard flied out to
center; Helms made an out to first; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Pirates 3, Astros 3.

PIRATES 14TH: Pagan grounded out (pitcher to first); Cash
singled to left; MAZEROSKI BATTED FOR GIUSTI; Mazeroski forced
Cash (third to second); Stennett grounded out (second to first);
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

ASTROS 14TH: R. HERNANDEZ REPLACED MAZEROSKI (PITCHING); ALOU
BATTED FOR YORK; Alou made an out to second; Metzger grounded
out (pitcher to first); Cedeno made an out to second; 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

PIRATES 15TH: RAY REPLACED ALOU (PITCHING); Davalillo grounded
out (second to first); Clemente grounded out (second to first);
Stargell walked; Oliver made an out to third; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

ASTROS 15TH: Wynn struck out; May struck out; Watson grounded
out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros
3.

PIRATES 16TH: Sanguillen grounded out (pitcher to first); Pagan
grounded out (pitcher to first); Cash grounded out (third to
first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

ASTROS 16TH: Rader flied out to right; Howard struck out
(catcher to first); Helms grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0
H, 0 E, 0 LOB.  Pirates 3, Astros 3.

PIRATES 17TH: R. Hernandez doubled to left; Stennett struck out;
Davalillo doubled to left [R. Hernandez scored]; Ray threw a
wild pitch [Davalillo to third]; Clemente reached on a fielder's
choice [Davalillo scored (error by Howard) (unearned) (no RBI)];
GIBBON REPLACED RAY (PITCHING); Howard allowed a passed ball
[Clemente to second]; Stargell struck out; Oliver singled to
left [Clemente scored (unearned)]; Sanguillen doubled to left
[Oliver scored (unearned)]; CULVER REPLACED GIBBON (PITCHING);
Pagan flied out to left; 4 R (1 ER), 4 H, 1 E, 1 LOB.  Pirates
7, Astros 3.

ASTROS 17TH: STINSON BATTED FOR CULVER; Stinson flied out to
right; Metzger grounded out (pitcher to first); Cedeno singled
to right; Wynn grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1
LOB.  Pirates 7, Astros 3.