Cubs Take A Game Each from Phils, Bucs

Billy Williams is on a home-run tear.

A strange two-game weekday set at Wrigley with all-PA teams. The Cubs first beat up the hapless Phillies on a Tuesday and then win a tight one on Wednesday vs. the Pirates. The Cubs are finally winning, moving up to 21-19 on the season.

Game 1: Cubs 10, Phillies 3
W: Nye (2-5)
L: Wise (0-5)
MVP: Banks

Young Rick Wise was again victimized in a game that started close but turned ugly. The home runs were flying. The Cubs' power trio of  Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ernie Banks hit back-to-back-to-back shots to left in the first, followed by a two-run blow from the Phils' Rick Joseph in the top of the second. But then Banks hit another, his eighth, and so did Williams. Rich Nye pitched a four-hit complete game.

Game 2: Cubs 4, Pirates 3
W: J. Niekro (4-3)
L: Bunning (2-3)
MVP: Williams

Billy Williams hit his eighth home run, his third in two days, and Santo also chipped in another big fly, while Willie Stargell hit two of his own (6, 7). The Cubs hang on, even with Joe Niekro struggling with eight hits allowed in 6.1 innings and a 3-2 lead. Cubs reliever Jack Lamabe held down the fort in the seventh and eighth, and Glenn Beckert added an insurance run with a single in the eighth. Phil Regan almost blows it in the ninth. "The Vulture" gave up Stargell's second shot of the game and put men on first and second before Gene Alley grounded out to end it.