Game 2 of the 79 NLCS has a pitching matchup of Jim Bibby (12-4 2.81 Grade 10YZ) for the Pirates and Frank Pastore (6-7 4.25 Grade 3YZ) for the Reds.
The Pirates would jump on Pastore for a quick run in the 1st as John Milner would drive in Dave Parker with a single. The Reds would answer with a run of their own in the 1st as George Foster would hit a sac fly scoring Joe Morgan. Pitchers would settle as innings 2-4 would have no team able to plate a run. In the 5th the Pirates would grab the lead again as Bill Madlock would deliver the 2 out RBI to make it a 2-1 game.
The score would remain 2-1 until the bottom of the 8th. An error by Ed Ott and a bunt single by Dave Concepcion would set the stage for Johnny Bench who would double to score both and give the Reds the 3-2 lead. With Riverfront in a frenzy the Reds would look to Tom Hume to get the last 3 outs. Hume worked a perfect 8th but the 9th was another story. Tim Foli would single with 1 out and Parker would take Hume deep to right off the top of the wall for a game tying triple. After an intentional walk to Stargell the Reds would try to turn 2. Bill Robinson would have none of that as he would single to center to bring in Parker and the Pirates lead would be 4-3.
Hume would escape more damage and the Pirates would bring on Kent Tekulve for the save. Tekulve would give up a quick double to lead off batter Cesar Geronimo. The Reds would try to bunt over Geronimo but it would backfire as the bunt would be caught by Madlock and he would fire to Foli for the twin killing. That would be it for the Reds as Tekulve would get a strikeout to end the game and give the Pirates a big 2-0 lead with Game 3 in Pittsburgh.
Final Score: Pirates 4, Reds 3
WP: Jim Bibby (1-0)
LP: Tom Hume (0-1)
Save: Kent Tekulve (1)
HR’s: None