4/6/73: Gibby outduels Blass on Roberto's Day, 2-1

They retired Roberto Clemente's number on Opening Day, but turns out, Bob Gibson had the Pirates number, outdueling Steve Blass in a 2-1 thriller at Three Rivers.

Despite recording 1 strikeout, Gibson induced 3 double play balls and withstood some late rallies, including 1 in the 8th when Al Oliver doubled with 2 outs and Willie Stargell bounced to Joe Torre. Oliver also doubled home the lone Pirate run early in the 3rd, scoring Rennie Stennett, who had walked. 

Gibson also had control issues, walking 5, but so did Blass with the same number of walks, 3 of which came in the 4th. Ted Sizemore led off the inning with his 2nd of 4 hits on the afternoon. After Jose Cruz flied to Stargell in left, Joe Torre reached on a E-5, advancing Sizemore to 2nd. Ted Simmons walked to load the bases. then Ken Reitz hit a slow roller to 1st, scoring Sizemore with the tying run. Blass's wildness walked Bernie Carbo to reload the bases, then Ray Busse walked home what would prove to be the game-winning run, scoring Torre.

Gibson would get Gene Alley to fly out to Lou Brock in left for the final out, giving the Cards the hard-earned win. Blass pitched 6-2/3 innings, leaving Dave Giusti and Ramon Hernandez to pitch the final 2-1/3 innings, retiring all 7 Cardinals they faced. 

STL 2-6-0 PIT 1-5-1 WP-Gibson (1-0) LP-Blass (0-1) STL 1-0 PIT 0-1

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