Back home against St. Louis, Don Robinson threw a complete game to end the Pirates’ three-game losing streak. Dave Parker and John Milner produced much of the offense in a 3-1 win.
Robinson allowed seven hits and no walks in going the distance, and also collected a hit of his own. He fanned nine, getting Garry Templeton three times. The only damage was a fourth-inning home run by Keith Hernandez that gave the Cards a temporary lead.
The Pirates had a chance in the first, getting runners to the corners with one out. Milner, though, ended the threat by hitting into a double play. Milner was subbing for Willie Stargell, who was out for about a week.
Two more GIDPs helped keep the Bucs off the board until the sixth. They finally got through to John Denny when Omar Moreno led off with a walk, Parker tripled and Milner doubled. They added an insurance run in the eighth when Milner doubled and scored on a single by Rennie Stennett. Milner finished with three of the Pirates’ nine hits, while Parker and Ed Ott each had two.
Robinson meanwhile had little trouble after the fourth. A single and error put a runner on second in the sixth, but Robinson fanned both Templeton and Hernandez. The Cards got two on with two out in the eighth, but Robinson retired Hernandez. He then breezed through the ninth for his first win of the season.
