2-HIT SHUTOUT? THE CANDY MAN CAN
Candelaria Wins 8th Straight Decision
PITTSBURGH, July 15 (AP) - John Candelaria opened the second half of the season
in style, firing a two-hit complete game shutout to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates
past the Atlanta Braves, 4-0, at Three Rivers Stadium. Candelaria (10-2)
has now won his last eight decisions, the second longest such streak in the
major leagues this year. Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies won 10
straight decisions between April 11 and June 15. The game represents
Candelaria's second two-hit shutout of the season; he also turned the trick at
home against the Montreal Expos on May 24.
Candelaria's opponent, Phil Niekro (8-5) took the loss, but deserved a better
fate. The Pirates nicked Niekro for two runs in the bottom of the
first. Frank Taveras led off with a base hit and advanced to second when
third baseman Jerry Royster booted Rennie Stennett's double play grounder.
With a 2-1 count on Al Oliver Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh put on a
hit-and-run play but Oliver swung through a Niekro knuckleball. Taveras
and Stennett, however, pulled off a double steal on the play, leaving runners on
second and third and Taveras scored when Oliver subsequently grounded out to
short. With Willie Stargell at the plate, Niekro was called for a balk,
advancing Stennett to third and the Pirates took a 2-0 lead on Stargell's RBI
ground out.
The Pirates scored two more runs in the third with the stolen base again playing
a major role. Taveras singled with one out and broke for second on a 3-2
pitch. Stennett waved at another knuckler, striking out on the play, but
Taveras easily stole second and cruised home when Oliver rolled a single into
right field. Oliver then swiped second and scored Pittsburgh's fourth and
final run of the contest when Stargell dropped a base hit into shallow center
field.
That was the last hit Niekro allowed before being removed for a pinch hitter in
the eighth inning. Coupled with reliever Mike Marshall's perfect inning of
relief, the Pirates managed only two more baserunners--a hit batsman and a
walk--over the final 4 1/3 frames.
But Atlanta never came particularly close to denting home plate against
Candelaria. After Royster led off the game with a single, Candelaria set
down nine straight batters before walking Rod Gilbreath to lead off the
fourth. Then, in the fifth, the Braves had two men reach base in the same
inning for the only time in the contest. With one out Earl Williams drew a
free pass and Darrel Chaney reached on an infield single when Candelaria
couldn't cleanly field his comebacker. Niekro sacrificed the runners to
second and third--the only time in the entire game that the Braves had one
runner, let alone two, in scoring position--but Candelaria struck out Royster to
end the threat. And that was that. Candelaria retired the final 14
batters he faced to close out the game.
On 26 occasions thus far this season, a team has been held to two hits or fewer
in a single game. This is the fourth time this has been the case for the
Braves, more than any other club in major league baseball. In fact, it's
the third time Atlanta has been two hit since June 26--a span of just 16
games. On that day, Niekro was on the wrong side of a 1-0 defeat at the
hands of Dan Spillner and the Padres at San Diego Stadium. Then, just
three days later, Tommy John and the Los Angeles Dodgers whipped the Braves 4-0
at Chavez Ravine.
7/15/1976, Atl76-Pit76, Three Rivers Stadium 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1976 Braves 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 0 1976 Pirates 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 x 4 4 0 3 0 Braves AB R H BI AVG Pirates AB R H BI AVG Royster 3b 4 0 1 0 .278 Taveras,F ss 4 2 2 0 .277 Gilbreath 2b 3 0 0 0 .264 Stennett 2b 4 1 0 0 .199 Wynn cf 4 0 0 0 .189 Oliver cf 3 1 1 2 .311 Montanez 1b 4 0 0 0 .307 Stargell 1b 4 0 1 2 .222 Paciorek lf 3 0 0 0 .317 Parker,D rf 3 0 0 0 .329 Henderson,K rf 3 0 0 0 .250 Zisk lf 2 0 0 0 .311 Williams,E c 2 0 0 0 .184 Hebner 3b 0 0 0 0 .245 Chaney ss 3 0 1 0 .272 Robinson,Bi 3b 3 0 0 0 .304 Niekro,P p 1 0 0 0 .204 Sanguillen c 3 0 0 0 .351 Gaston ph 1 0 0 0 .457 Candelaria p 3 0 0 0 .213 Marshall p 0 0 0 0 .000 29 4 4 4 28 0 2 0 Braves INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Niekro,P L 8-5 7.0 4 4 2 1 6 100 59 3.39 Marshall 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 7 5 3.92 8.0 4 4 2 1 6 107 64 Pirates INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Candelaria W 10-2 9.0 2 0 0 2 6 98 69 2.07 9.0 2 0 0 2 6 98 69 Atl: Gaston batted for Niekro,P in the 8th Pit: Hebner inserted at 3b in the 9th Robinson,Bi moved to lf in the 9th E-Royster. RBI-Oliver 2(42), Stargell 2(37). SB-Taveras,F 2(31), Stennett(12), Oliver(6). K-Royster 2, Wynn, Henderson,K, Chaney 2, Stennett 2, Parker,D 2, Robinson,Bi 2. BB-Gilbreath, Williams,E, Zisk. SH-Niekro,P. HBP-Oliver. HB-Niekro,P. BALK-Niekro,P. GWRBI: Oliver Temperature: 87, Sky: clear, Wind: in from center at 7 MPH. Attendance: 9,400 Game Time: 1:45