Scoring the winning run without the benefit of a base hit, the Pirates edged the Cubs, 3-2, in 14 innings to move within one and a half games of the East division-leading Phillies. The score was 2-2 entering the 14th when pinch-hitter Rennie Stennett drew a leadoff walk. Matt Alexander, running for Stennett, stole second, continued to third when catcher Dave Rader's throw went into center field and scored when center fielder Bobby Murcer's throw got by third baseman Rodney Scott. The Cubs had tied the contest in the bottom of the ninth when Pirate second sacker Phil Garner threw wildly to first attempting to complete a double play.

The Cubs used 27 players, tying the N. L. record set September 13, 1971, by Philadelphia in a 17-inning game against St. Louis. [The Sporting News]

Pittsburgh Pirates 3, Chicago Cubs 2

Game Played on Thursday, September 21, 1978 (Day game) at Wrigley Field

Pirates 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 3 10 2 Cubs 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 16 3 Pirates AB R H RBI BB SO AVG Cubs AB R H RBI BB SO AVG Taveras ss 7 0 1 1 0 1 .279 De Jesus ss 6 1 4 0 0 0 .276 Moreno cf 5 0 2 0 2 2 .230 Murcer cf 5 0 0 0 2 0 .282 Parker rf 5 0 1 0 2 0 .324 Buckner 1b 4 0 2 1 0 0 .320 Stargell 1b 4 0 1 0 3 0 .296 White pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264 Ott c 6 0 0 0 1 2 .266 Putman 1b 2 0 0 0 1 0 .250 B. Robinson 3b,lf 6 1 1 0 0 1 .248 Kingman lf 3 0 1 0 0 1 .261 Milner lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .278 Meoli pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .115 Berra 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 .207 Gross lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 .270 Garner 2b 6 1 2 1 0 1 .271 Clines ph,lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 .265 D. Robinson p 3 0 1 0 0 1 .225 Vail rf 6 0 1 0 0 1 .316 May ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .190 Trillo 2b 6 0 1 0 0 0 .258 Tekulve p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .095 Blackwell c 2 0 0 0 0 1 .224 Jackson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Rader ph,c 4 0 0 0 0 1 .197 Boyland ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Kelleher 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 .243 Whitson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182 Thompson ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .400 Stennett ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 .245 McGlothen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083 Alexander pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .000 Roberts p 1 0 1 0 0 0 .327 Bibby p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .129 Sember pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 Moore p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 Johnson ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .230 Geisel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Pagel ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Sutter p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .077 Lamp p 2 0 1 0 0 1 .200 Hernandez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Biittner ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .260 Scott pr,3b 3 0 2 0 0 1 .278 Totals 50 3 10 2 9 8 Totals 54 2 16 1 3 7 Time of Game: 4:40 Attendance: 2,423 Left on Base: Pirates 14, Cubs 14 DP: Pirates 2, Cubs 1 Errors: Taveras, Garner, Murcer, Putman, Rader Doubles: Moreno (14), B. Robinson (34), Garner (25), Roberts (3), Vail (6) Stolen Bases: Garner (25), Taveras (43), Moreno (66), Alexander (2), De Jesus (38) Caught Stealing: Moreno (18), De Jesus (11) Sacrifice Hits: De Jesus (13) GIDP: Stargell (8), De Jesus (12), Murcer (12) Pirates IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP ERA D. Robinson 9 9 2 1 0 4 0 34 3.47 Tekulve 0.2 2 0 0 1 0 0 5 2.14 Jackson 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3.05 Whitson W(5-6) 3 4 0 0 1 3 0 13 3.08 Bibby SV(1) 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 5 3.55 Totals 14 16 2 1 3 7 0 58 Cubs IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP ERA Lamp 7.2 8 2 2 2 1 0 30 3.18 Hernandez 0.1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3.77 McGlothen 1.2 1 0 0 0 3 0 6 3.36 Roberts 0.1 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 5.26 Moore 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 4.21 Geisel 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 8 3.79 Sutter L(8-10) 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 6 3.26 Totals 14 10 3 2 9 8 0 59 Umpires: HP - Satch Davidson, 1B - Ed Vargo, 2B - Paul Pryor, 3B - Terry Tata PIRATES 1ST: Taveras grounded out (third to first); Moreno doubled to left; Parker singled to first [Moreno to third]; Stargell grounded into a double play (second to shortstop to first) [Parker out at second]; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Pirates 0, Cubs 0. CUBS 1ST: De Jesus singled to right; De Jesus stole second; Murcer flied out to right [De Jesus to third]; Buckner singled to shortstop [De Jesus scored, Buckner to second (error by Taveras)]; Kingman lined to left; Vail grounded out (pitcher to first); 1 R, 2 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Pirates 0, Cubs 1. PIRATES 2ND: Ott popped to second; B. Robinson lined to left; Milner flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 0, Cubs 1. CUBS 2ND: Trillo grounded out (shortstop to first); Blackwell struck out; Kelleher grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 0, Cubs 1. PIRATES 3RD: Garner singled to center; Garner stole second; D. Robinson struck out; Taveras grounded out (shortstop to first); Moreno grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Pirates 0, Cubs 1. CUBS 3RD: Lamp struck out; De Jesus singled to pitcher; De Jesus was caught stealing second (catcher to shortstop); Murcer flied out to center; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 0, Cubs 1. PIRATES 4TH: Parker grounded out (second to first); Stargell grounded out (second to first); Ott grounded out (first to pitcher); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 0, Cubs 1. CUBS 4TH: Buckner lined to shortstop; Kingman struck out; Vail struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 0, Cubs 1. PIRATES 5TH: B. Robinson doubled to left; Milner grounded out (shortstop to first) [B. Robinson to third]; Garner doubled to left [B. Robinson scored]; D. Robinson singled to left [Garner to third]; Taveras forced D. Robinson (shortstop to second) [Garner scored]; Taveras was picked off first (pitcher to first); 2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 1. CUBS 5TH: Trillo grounded out (second to first); Blackwell grounded out (pitcher to first); Kelleher grounded out (pitcher to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 1. PIRATES 6TH: On a bunt Moreno singled to first; Parker grounded out (first unassisted) [Moreno to second]; Moreno was caught stealing third (catcher to third); Stargell singled to right; Ott walked [Stargell to second]; B. Robinson flied out to center; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 1. CUBS 6TH: Lamp singled to center; On a bunt De Jesus grounded into a double play (catcher to shortstop to second) [Lamp out at second]; Murcer popped to shortstop; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 1. PIRATES 7TH: Milner flied out to center; Garner grounded out (third to first); D. Robinson grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 1. CUBS 7TH: BERRA REPLACED MILNER (PLAYING 3B); B. ROBINSON CHANGED POSITIONS (PLAYING LF); Buckner lined to center; Kingman singled to left; MEOLI RAN FOR KINGMAN; Vail flied out to right; Trillo popped to catcher in foul territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 1. PIRATES 8TH: GROSS REPLACED MEOLI (PLAYING LF); Taveras popped to left; Moreno walked; Parker grounded out (third to first) [Moreno to second]; HERNANDEZ REPLACED LAMP (PITCHING); Stargell was walked intentionally; Ott forced Stargell (second to shortstop); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 1. CUBS 8TH: RADER BATTED FOR BLACKWELL; Rader grounded out (second to first); THOMPSON BATTED FOR KELLEHER; Thompson grounded out (shortstop to first); BIITTNER BATTED FOR HERNANDEZ; Biittner singled to left; SCOTT RAN FOR BIITTNER; De Jesus singled to right [Scott to third]; Murcer flied out to left; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 1. PIRATES 9TH: RADER STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING C ); SCOTT STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING 3B); MCGLOTHEN REPLACED THOMPSON (PITCHING); B. Robinson struck out; Berra flied out to left; Garner struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 1. CUBS 9TH: Buckner singled to left; WHITE RAN FOR BUCKNER; Gross singled to second [White to second]; Vail forced Gross (shortstop to second) [White scored (error by Garner) (unearned)]; Trillo flied out to center; Rader flied out to center; 1 R (0 ER), 2 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 2. PIRATES 10TH: PUTMAN REPLACED WHITE (PLAYING 1B); MAY BATTED FOR D. ROBINSON; May grounded out (shortstop to first); Taveras singled to center; Taveras stole second; Moreno struck out; ROBERTS REPLACED MCGLOTHEN (PITCHING); Parker was walked intentionally; Stargell walked [Taveras to third, Parker to second]; Ott struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 2. CUBS 10TH: TEKULVE REPLACED MAY (PITCHING); Roberts doubled to center; SEMBER RAN FOR ROBERTS; Scott singled to center [Sember to third]; De Jesus forced Scott (third to second) [Sember stayed at third]; Murcer was walked intentionally [De Jesus to second]; Putman forced Sember (shortstop to catcher) [De Jesus to third, Murcer to second]; JACKSON REPLACED TEKULVE (PITCHING); CLINES BATTED FOR GROSS; Clines flied out to right; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 2. PIRATES 11TH: MOORE REPLACED SEMBER (PITCHING); CLINES STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING LF); B. Robinson lined to center; Berra singled to center; Garner grounded out (third to first) [Berra to second]; BOYLAND BATTED FOR JACKSON; Boyland grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 2. CUBS 11TH: WHITSON REPLACED BOYLAND (PITCHING); Vail doubled to left; On a bunt Trillo reached on a fielder's choice [Vail out at third (third to shortstop)]; Rader was called out on strikes; JOHNSON BATTED FOR MOORE; Johnson singled to center [Trillo to second]; Scott was called out on strikes; 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 2. PIRATES 12TH: GEISEL REPLACED JOHNSON (PITCHING); On a bunt Taveras grounded out (second to first); Moreno walked; Moreno stole second; Parker was walked intentionally; Stargell forced Parker (second to shortstop) [Moreno to third]; Ott struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 2. CUBS 12TH: De Jesus singled to left; Murcer grounded into a double play (second to shortstop to first) [De Jesus out at second]; Putman walked; Clines lined to left; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 2. PIRATES 13TH: B. Robinson grounded out (third to first); Berra grounded out (second to first); Garner popped to catcher in foul territory; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 2. CUBS 13TH: Vail grounded out (second to first); Trillo singled to center; Rader flied out to center; PAGEL BATTED FOR GEISEL; Pagel struck out; Debut game for Karl Pagel; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Pirates 2, Cubs 2. PIRATES 14TH: SUTTER REPLACED PAGEL (PITCHING); STENNETT BATTED FOR WHITSON; Stennett walked; ALEXANDER RAN FOR STENNETT; Alexander stole second [Alexander scored (error by Rader) (error by Murcer) (unearned)]; Taveras struck out; Moreno struck out; Parker reached on an error by Putman [Parker to second]; Stargell was walked intentionally; Ott grounded out (second to first); 1 R (0 ER), 0 H, 3 E, 2 LOB. Pirates 3, Cubs 2. CUBS 14TH: BIBBY REPLACED ALEXANDER (PITCHING); Scott singled to left; De Jesus out on a sacrifice bunt (first to second) [Scott to second]; Murcer was walked intentionally; Putman flied out to left; Clines grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Pirates 3, Cubs 2.

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