The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 66

fa Cesfeft i uh L.iwii-iiiiiiuiii-ii jjpupL ymniwiy j.wyim.1 -v'f Tt. fr -a 4 yl (Six 66 April 25, 1973 or 30 pounds overweight by Padre Presl-, dent Buzzie Bavasi, was playing May to pull the ball to right field. He said he knew he had a chance at catching the ball. "I had a good jump on it and I was going after it all the way," he said. The one who had some explaining to do was Stargell.

When the ball was hit, he figured it would take an exceptional effort by Gaston merely to reach it, let alone make the catch. He took off on his own judgment. "I thought the ball was hit hard enough to be in there," Stargell said. Pirate Manager Bill Virdon did not. disagree with Stargell's reasoning.

"Did I think Gaston could get it?" he repeated. "No, not where the ball was. By JEFF SAMUELS Everyone was braced and ready. The organ was blaring. The scoreboard was flashing.

It was time for another of those fabled Pirate rallies. Standing out there at second base was Willie Stargell, who had ignited these eighth-inning theatrics by coaxing a walk from a rookie pitcher named Rich Troed-son. The count had been 0-2 on Stargell, but the kid got too careful and lost him. Over at first base was Richie Hebner, the recipient of four straight Troedson deliveries that missed the plate and brought to the mound the roly-poly manager of the San Diego Padres, Don Zimmer. His team was holding a 7-5 advantage, but the rookie was finished.

In from the bullpen strode American League refugee Vincente Romo, an established redeemer of ball clubs in distress. Promptly he disposed of Bob Robertson with a called third strike that grabbed the outside corner as if brought in by radar. But there were still two more outs to be obtained and moving toward the plate was Milt May, a young man for whom batting under pressure is no more mind-shattering than a trip to the dentist. "I didn't care about being a hero or anything like that," he said. "All I knew was that we had a chance to tie up the game." May jumped on the chance.

He tore Into a pitch and rocketed it on a low line to right field, where Clarence Gaston seemed to be involved in a losing race with the baseball. It was fading toward the foul line and sinking fast. In the meantime, Stargell had taken off with the crack of the bat. He was already around third base when Gaston miraculously reached across his body on the run and came up with the ball just before it touched down on the artificial turf. There was no retreating for Stargell.

He simply stopped, flipping off his protective helmet as Gaston straightened and zinged a throw to second base that killed the rally and the Pirates as well. The life had been drained from them and the 7-5 deficit last night became their first loss of the season at Three Rivers Stadium. "That's the ball game," said Zimmer afterward. "May ends up with a triple if the ball goes underneath Gaston. It rolls to the wall." Gaston, whose poor performance last year has been attributed to his being 20 -Press Photo by Edwin Morsan Padres' Jerry Mercies it safe at fhrrf as throw from outfield eludts Richie Hebner in eighth inning.

little Brothers' Hull, Richard Shine In NHL I i 7 by their older brothers but each held the spotlight last night by leading their teams to the championship finals. The Hawks, accustomed to "big game" performances from Bobby Hull before his jump to the rival World Hockey Association, got a goal and three assists from Dennis to beat the New York Rangers, 4-1, at Chicago and close out their semi-final series, four games to one. Richard's tie-breaking goal with less than eight minutes left to play enabled the Cana-diens to beat Philadelphia, 5-3, United Prtis International It was a night for "little" brothers in the National Hockey League. Dennis Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks and Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadi-ens. nine and 18-year veterans of the NHL, respectively, will never escape the shadows cast hit.

It's just one of those things that happen. I'm sure Willie thought it was a hit." Gaston's splendid play was the death act for the Pirates, but suicidal tendencies also played a large part. After jumping off to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, the Bucs allowed the Padres to get close and then squandered the game in the eighth inning, when San Diego scored four times to lock its first road victory of the year. A bases-loaded double by Rich Hebner and a two-run single by Gene Alley gave the Pirates their big start, and it looked like San Diego starter, Steve Arlin was not long for the action. He settled down a bit after that, however, allowing just three more hits in the five subsequent innings he worked.

One of those hits was a tremendous home run in the fifth inning by Stargell, his sixth of the year, which made the score 5-3. San Diego had scored a run in the fourth inning when Leron Lee blasted the first hit off Pirate starter Bob Moose, a home run to right field. The Padres added two runs in the fifth, the second created by Moose's errant throw to sec-; ond base on what should have been the start of an inning-ending double play. In the eighth, the Padres exploded. Following a walk to Jerry Morales, Lee and Nate Colbert banged singles and Moose was gone in favor of the usually reliable Dave Giusti.

This time, however, he was something less than reliable. Gaston socked a single to left field that tied the score and Fred Kendall rammed a base hit off the glove, of second baseman Dave Cash that scored Colbert with the winning run. Dave Hilton then singled in some im-. portant insurance. "That was not one of Giusti's better outings," Virdon understated.

The Pirates came up with one last try in the ninth as Gene Alley led off with-a double but he was stranded at He was the last Pirate to go. The rest of them had been killed off by Clarence Gaston one inning earlier. LINE DRIVES Hebner's two RBIs in the first inning were his first since opening day Troedson, a non-roster I player this spring who a year ago was i pitching for the University of Santa Clara, gained his first major league victory Alley had thr.ee of the, Pirates' eight hits. Stargell's seven homers last year against the Padres were more than he hit against any other club coached at third base last night Giusti gave up his first earned run in six appearances Nelson goes 4 against lefthander Mike Caldwell in to- night's 8:05 game. at Montreal and eliminate the Flyers in five games.

The Hawks-Canadiens final playoff begins Sunday afternoon with a nationally-televised contest from Montreal. Hull, considered by many to have the hardest slap shot in the NHL since Bobby left, scored on a 35-foot shot late in the second period and assisted on two goals by Stan Mikita and one by Cliff Koroll. His four points raised his 1973 league-leading playoff total to 17. "I've never seen Hull look any better," said Ranger Coach Emile Francis, and New York defenseman Brad Park added: "Hull is playing the best hockey I've ever seen him play. He's scoring goals Enter Tfie Flyer1 ance which, with the Steelers, wouldn't have earned him a cup of soup, but with the forlorn Saints might have obliterated the talent of a Mercury Morris.

What was eye-catching, though, was that In the college draft last January, the Steelers went all the way down to the sixth round before they selected a running back, an oversight which was construed, naturally, as indicating Coach Chuck Noll's satisfaction with his young backfield. Oh we'll, surmised ana setting them up just like Bobby used to." The Scoreboard "Hull played great. said mm. Chicago Coach Billy Reay, I XI US 'Wli "but heck, everyboi dy did. -vyvw That's the secret of winning in the draft watchers, who needs running backs.

We were wrong, it seems. Chuck Noll a a ntly knew something the rest of us didn't know. Joe Gordon, lers' energetic publicity man, has completed his preseason brochure, a mimeographed fact-sheet which is designed to give the press an advance rundown on what to expect from the Steel tnis game." "We have to play for the breaks and it worked well this series," Hull said. "We'll try to play Montreal the same way, because it's the only way we can. We're not as explosive as Montreal, but we've beat Robinson could score.

He scored once on a four-yard sweep against Cleveland, and in a 26-20 upset of the San Francisco Forty-Niners, it was Robinson who wound up in the end zone clutching the last-second, game-winning pass. Then, just before the 1972 season started, The Turk struck again. Robinson was cut. "That was a big surprise to me," said Tim Rooney, one of the Steeler talent scouts. "I scouted the Saints a week before we played them, and Robinson had a great game.

He broke off a 57-yard touchdown run and I thought for sure he'd make the team." Ironically, that touchdown run, too, came against the Forty Niners. Is it significant that the Steelers may go down to the wire against the Forty Niners next fall? Cause For Excitement Frankly, I'm excited about the Grambling Flyer joining the Steelers where he will have blockers who ream daylight out of any defense. With Robbie's speed, it's possible he may do for the Steelers what he never really had a chance to do for the Packers or Saints. By Pat Livingston Sperd Editor Hawks' Pat Stapieton (left), Rangers Mikz Murphy battle for puck. Baseball Roundup Chicago 'Sox' It To Yankees them and we can again." Richard, the 37-year-old captain of the Canadiens who has played for 18 years in front of fans who will never forget his brother, Maurice, assured Montreal of another appearance in the championship finals when he rammed a backhander past Flyers' goalie Doug Favell.

"(Serge) Savard got the puck back to (Frank) Mahov-lich and he couldn't control it," said Richard, describing his i i goal. "Savard came back and picked it up again before he backhanded it to me. I cut in in front of their goalie and got it past him." Richard picked up seven stitches in his forehead during the second period when he was struck by a slapshot from teammate Larry Robinson. Marc Tardif, Jacques Le-maire, Frank Mahovlich and Yvan Cournoyer also scored for the Canadiens who posted four straight victories after He not a real tough inside runner," said Rooney, hedging a bit. "But he's got the kind of speed that makes him a game-breaker.

If he can match his speed with his opportunity, I think he might make this team." Before returning to struggle with the sink Noll confirmed another of Joe Gordon's revelations in the brochure: Warren Bankston, the 240-pound fullback from Tulane, will play tight end next summer. "We want to give Warren some work as a receiver," explained Noll. "Then if we do Minnesota took over the lead ers next fall. There was one name on the roster which took me by surprise. Virgil Robinson.

"Where in the world did you get Virgil Robinson?" I called to ask Noll, mercifully pulling him away from a plumbing job on a balky kitchen sink. Noll was looking for an excuse to answer questions. "He was a free agent," said Noll. "New Orleans waived him last year." As a name, Robinson may mean little to you, but he is one back who is going to generate some excitement around the Steelers' training camp next fall. Had he lasted another round the Green Bay Packers took him as their second choice in 1971 Robinson might have been with the Steelers two years earlier, so impressed were Noll and his scouts with what this slender 5-11, 195-pound breakaway runner had done in college.

First, he was the top kick-return man at Grambling, a team which also had Frank Lewis available for those duties. In addition, Robinson was the Tigers' heavy-duty running back, rushing for almost 900 yards in his senior season. "He went to camp with the Packers," said Noll, recounting the travels of the fleet-footed vagabond, "but they used him as a defensive back and a wide receiver. The Packers didn't use him as a running back at all. "He's kinda small, not a real big kid," Noll continued, "but we're going to give him a chance at running the ball." United Press International New York's drought has been Chicago's flood.

Eddie Leon drove In three runs with a homer and a single and Bill Melton and Carlos May added homers to power the sock-laden Chicago White Sox to an easy 8-4 win Pirate Box a key three-run homer. Jim Spencer's single in the 10th to score Bobby Valentine won it. Jerry Bell, going the route for the first time in his major league career, stopped Kansas City on three hits as Milwaukee rolled to a 9-1 victory and into second place in the American League East. over the New York Yankees yesterday. Chicago now has 12 homers in 12 games, while the Yanks have eight homers in 15 games.

Revenge was sweet in victory as Frank Robinson helped California beat his former teammates Baltimore's Orioles in 10 innings, 6-5, with return him to fullback, the work with the ends will help his receiving coming out of the backfield. He'll give us more flexibility if he plays more than one position." Flexibility. That may keynote the Steelers' training camp next July. Obviously, there will be more experiments as In The Majors Wednesday, April 25, 1973. losing the series opener.

Ross Lonsberry, Simon Nolet and Bill Flett scored for the Flyers. Summaries on Page 71. American League EAST National League EAST Cut By Pack the year moves along. BANKSTON Pittsburgh got the scare of its life last December when all three guards were injured simultaneously, and Noll was forced into a gerrymandered lineup to edge the Houston Oilers In one of the most critical games of the season. It was a coincidence, of course, losing three men at one position.

But it convinced Chuck Noll that pure talent is not enough. To be safe, a team must even be flexible. Pittsburgh 8 Chicago 8 New York 8 Philadelphia 7 Montrea 7 in the AL West from KC as Larry Hisle's fourth homer; triggered a five-run third in-, ning outburst that loped the; Twins past Boston, 6-4." mm 1 Designated hitter Rico Carty, was the hero in Texas' 2-1 3 victory over Detroit. He drove' in one run and scored in only the Rangers' third win' of the season. Oakland, yet to win two, games back-to-back, downed Cleveland, 4-0, with the "help Ted Kubiak's solo homer in; the seventh and RBI singles') by Sal Bando and Jay' John-t stone.

i Rick Wise pitched a six-hit-j ter, enabling St. Louis to break an eight-game losing' streak with a 2-0 triumph oven, Los Angeles. St. Louis is 2-12! and Wise has won both games. Bob Watson, hitting jn hia; 16th straight game, hit doubles, drove in a run and.

scored one as Houston beat1 the New York Mets, Consecutive two-run double by John Boccabclla and Pepe? Frias off reliever Tom HalJ highlighted a seven-run ninth inning that carried Montreal past Cincinnati, 7-2. 5 Winning pitcher Carl Morton and Catcher Johnny Oatex each drove in three runs ana Dave Johnson added a two-run) single to pace Atlanta to an 11-2 victory over Philadelphia I San Francisco rolled to its seventh win in its last eight games by downing the Chica go Cubs, 4-2, with a two run outburst In the 10th inning. Green Bay's final cut. the home-bred Louisiana halfback was quickly claimed by New Orleans and he finished the 1971 campaign with the Saints. As a ball-carrier.

Robinson averaged 3.3 yards, a standard of perform Pet. GB Pet. GB .727 Baltimore 9 6 .600 .571 IVi Milwaukee 7 6 .538 1 .533 2 Detroit 8 7 .533 1 .500 22 Boston 6 8 .429 2'a .500 2V3 New York 6 9 .400 3 .143 Cleveland 6 9 .400 3 WEST Pet. GB Pet. GB .737 Minnesota 9 4 .692 .647 2 Kansas City ..10 6 .625 Vt .579 3 Chicago 7 5 .583 1 .389 California 7 6 .538 2 .368 7 Oakland 5 9 .357 iVz .313 7a Texas 3 8 .273 5 SAN DIEGO PITTSBURGH ab bj ob bi Thomos.ss 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 Morales, ct 4 10 0 Songuilln.e 4 110 Lee.lf 4 2 2 1 Oliver.cf 4 110 Colbert.lb 5 111 Stargell, If 2 2 11 Kendcill.c 5 12 1 3 12 2 Goston.rf 5 12 1 Robertsn.lb 4 0 0 0 CamoblUb 4 12 1 Mav.c 3 0 0 0 Hilton, 3b 4 0 11 Alley, 4 0 3 2 Arlin.o 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 Worsnoll Dh 1 0 0 0 Giusti, 0 0 0 0 Troedson.p 1 0 0 0 Davalllio.ph 10 0 0 Romo.p 0 0 0 0 Totals 39 7 12 7 Totals 33 11 1 San Dieoo 000 H0 O40-7 Pittsburgh 400 010 000-5 Moose.

DP San Dieoo 2, Pittsburgh I. LOB San Diego 8, Pitts-burah 6- 2B Hebner, Altev, Campbell. 3B-Kendoll. HR Lee (1st), Stargell (6th). SB Thomas.

IP ER BB SO Arlln i 7 5 5 2 3 Troedson (W.1-0) 1 0 0 0 2 0 Romo 2 I 0 0 5 2 Moose (L2-I) 7 6 5 2 9 Giusti lfc 5 1 1 I 1 Troedson pitched to two batters In Ith. Save Romo (2nd). HBP Bv Troedson (Sanguillen). How They Scored PIRATE FIRST Singles bv San-ouillen ond Oliver ond a walk to Stargell loaded the bases with one out. Hebner's double aft the rightfield wall scored Sanguillen ond Oliver and moved Staraell to third.

Alley singled up the middle, scoring Slorgtll and Hebner. PADRE FOURTH With one out, Leron Le homered to right field for the Podres' first hit ond hit first home run ol the season. PADRE FIFTH Kendall tripled over Sanguillen's head in right field. Campbell singled up the middle, scoring Kendall. Hilton wound up safe at first when Moose fielded his grounder and threw errantly in on attempt to begin a double play at second, Campbell reaching third on the ploy.

One out later, Thomas' tingle to center scored Campbell. PIRATE FIFTH S'aroell hit hit sixth home run with two outs, lust milling the upper deck In right field. PADRE EIGHTH With one out. Morales drew walk ond advanced to third on Lee tingle. Colbert tingled to left to drive in Morales, Lee stoo-bina nt tM-nnd.

Giusti realaced Moose. St. Louis 2 12 WEST San Francisco 14 5 Cincinnati 11 6 Houston 11 8 Los Angeles 7 11 San Diego 7 12 Atlanta 5 11 76ers Draft Trade Plans Clemente's Dad Dead At 92 SAN JUAN, P. R. (UPD-Melchor Clemente, father of the late Pirates baseball great Roberto Clemente died today in San Juan Municipal Hospital.

He was 92 years old and had suffered a heart attack last Sunday. Roberto was killed last New Year's Eve in a plane crash. The elder Clemente is survived by his widow, Luisa, and four children, Osvaldo, Justino, Andres and Rafaela. Sports On Air Radio TONIGHT San Diego at Pirates, 8:05 p. Television TONIGHT NBA, New York at Boston, 8 p.

m. 4. YESTERDAY San Diego 7 Pittsburgh 2 San Francisco 4 Chicago 2 Montreal 7 Cincinnati 2 St. Louis 2 Los Angeles 0 Atlanta 11 Philadelphia 2 Houston 4 New York 2 10 innings. TODAY Son Dleoo (Caldwell 0-1) Of Pittsburgh (Briles t-1), 8:05 p.

m. San Francisco at Chicago. Montreal (Moore 1-1) of Cincinnati (Billingham 2), night. Philodelohla (Lonborg 1-2) at Atlanta (Dobson 1-2), night. New York (Koosmon 2-0) at Houston (Wilson 1-2), night.

Los Anaeles (Downing 1-1) at St. YESTERDAY Chicago 8 New York 4 Texas 2 Detroit 1 Milwaukee 9 Kansas City 1 Minnesota 6 Boston 4 Oakland 4 Cleveland 0 California 6 Baltimore 5 10 innings. TODAY Chicago at New York. Cleveland (Tldrow 1-3) at Oakland (Blue 1-1), night. Baltimore (McNally J-l) at California (Sinaer 2-1).

night. Detroit (Frymon 14) of Texas (Hand 0-1), nloht. Mllwoukee (Sloton 1-0) at Kansas City (Simpson 1-1), nioht. Minnesota (Hands 2-1) at Boston (McGlothen 1-1), night. NEW YORK (UPI) The Philadelphia 76ers, needing all the help they can get after finishing with the worst record in the National Basketball Association this season and losing Kevin Loughery as coach just prior to the college draft, were prepared to use No.

1 choice Doug Collins as trade bait today to secure experienced players. Collins, a big guard at 6-6 whose value is doubling at forward, was the first of 165 players selected yesterday in 10 rounds of drafting by the 17 NBA teams. Ruben Montanez, a 6-2 guard and Duquesne Vniver-sity's leading scorer last season, was chosen by the Chi-cago Bulls on the ninth round. Former Penn Hills High star George Karl was a No. 4 pick of the New York Knicks.

Philadelphia picked Collins after a deal with Chicago that would have given the Bulls the 76ers' opening pick for center Clifford Ray and Guard Bob Weiss was voided. The trade was contingent upon Ray passing a Phildadelphia team physical. The right to the No. 2 choice did change hands, however, as Cleveland sent Rick Roberson and John Johnson to Portland in a last-minute trade for the Trail Blazers' right to pick second. Cleveland chose Minnesota's Jim Brewer.

NBA drajt by rounds, Page 69. Gaston tingle to left tcored Lee with the tylna run, Colbert stooping at second. Kendall ripped a single off Cosh glove, bringing Colbert home with Gaston ttopplng of second. After the second out, Hilton singled up the middle to score Gaston. uouis (Minus g-zj, mom.

Box scores on Page 72. 7 'i A i i i i.