Reds stay alive in Game 3 with a big win and they start Fred Norman (11-13 3.64 Grade 8Z) to the mound opposite Bruce Kison (13-7 3.19 Grade 10YZ).
It would be the Pirates this time with the big inning as they get 3 runs in the first. Willie Stargell would drive in Omar Moreno with a single and then Bill Robinson would hit a long moonshot to left. In the 3rd Stargell would drive in another run as he would single in Dave Parker to make it 4-0.
The story of this game would be Kison. He would allow only 2 hits through 8 innings. In the 9th the Reds would finally get a run as Johnny Bench would hit a sac fly to drive in Joe Morgan. With the tying run at the plate Tanner had the decision of leave Kison in or bring in Tekulve. He sticks with Kison and Ray Knight drives a ball deep to right field but Parker would make the grab and the Pirates are moving on to the World Series!
Final Score: Pirates 4, Reds 1
WP: Bruce Kison (1-0)
LP: Fred Norman (0-1)
HR’s: Bill Robinson (1)
So the Pirates win the series as they did in 1979. The Reds did pick up a game, but losing both games at Riverfront was too much to come back from. Pirates move on to face the winners of the ALCS between the California Angels and Baltimore Orioles.