By Wilbur Miller
The Pirates took a serious drubbing at the hands of the Cubs in Wrigley Field, losing 15-2. Chicago pounded out 20 hits, with seven different players, including pitcher Rick Reuschel, getting at least two. Reuschel threw a complete game, giving up eight hits.
Jim Rooker started for the Pirates. He has a 6.25 ERA in his last six starts and this game didn’t improve it. Rooker gave up three runs in the first inning, then departed with two outs in the third, having allowed one more run and left two on. Joe Coleman let those runners score, leaving Rooker charged with six runs, and then let two of his own come in.
From that point on, Coleman “took one for the team.” He stuck around for five and a third innings, giving up nine runs, eight earned, on 13 hits.
The Pirates’ offense came in the third and fourth. Dave Parker tripled in Tim Foli with two out in the third. John Milner led off the fourth with his 13th home run of the year.
That’s really all that’s worth reporting. Rooker dropped to 2-6. Montreal lost, so the Pirates remain in first by half a game. The Cubs are three and a half back.
