NLDS Game 1: 1960-PIT 5, 2004-LAD 3

GAME 1 - Dodger Stadium
Bob Veale vs Jeff Weaver
Pirates 5, Dodgers 3

Veale gave up just 1 run in 7 innings of work and handed the ball over to the normally reliable pen to protect the lead.  Roy Face fanned the first 2 Dodgers he faced in the bottom of the 8th  Beltre and Werth, LA's two top guns both went down swinging.  Paul LoDuca singled up the middle and Milton Bradley worked out a 2 out walk to put runners on 1st and 2nd for Shawn Green, who doubled to left center to give LA a 3-2 lead.  Yhency Brazoban started the 9th for LA and struggled after getting Jesse Gonder to ground out back to the box.  Matty Alou walked and stole 2nd.  Brazabon was then replaced by close Eric Gagne, who is not used to entering a game in the middle of an inning.  This scenario upset the big guy's rhythm as evidenced by the RBI single he served up to Roberto Clemente to tie the game at 3-3.  Gagne still wasn't able to find his composure and Willie Stargell took full advantage by depositing a long fly ball 340 feet from home for a go ahead 2 run blast.  Don Clendenon followed with a gapper, but got greedy trying to stretch a long single into a double.  Pete Mikkelsen came on in the bottom of the 9th to finish it off for Pittsburgh.  Itzturis hit a long fly ball that Clemente tracked down just shy of the warning track in right.  Cora grounded weakly to short for the second out.  Beltre, who would go 3 for 4 with a walk on the day, singled to keep LA's slim hopes alive.  Werth walked to bring up the go ahead run in the form of catcher Paul LoDuca.  On a 2-0 count LoDuca hit a 1 hop bullet to Gene Alley at short to to force Werth at second to end the game.
Pittsburgh leads series 1-0