[ifspuds]

Pirates Fade After Early Lead, Drop Game 3
by Jack McKinley
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (issue of October 8, 1966)

Despite back-to-back homers from Asa Booker and Fletcher Jones and an early 3-0 lead over the Red Sox in game three of the World Series, the Pirates could not hold their advantage and allowed the Red Sox to gain back one game. Hipolito Castillo, who had beguiled batters for so long this season until a late season injury, could not maintain the early surplus of runs and pitched just six mostly ineffective innings before departing. The offense proved to be of little help after those three early runs, though they did manage to creep back within a run in the middle innings. With the loss, the Pirates still hold a slender two games to one lead, but with two games looming in Boston, it is a precarious position to say the least.

"We came out flat," agreed manager Vic Gorin. "It wasn't Hippo (Castillo)'s fault, it wasn't anyone's fault in particular. We just need to remember that the series isn't over after two games. You can bet we'll come out tomorrow more focused. Anyone that's not ready to play can just head back to Pittsburgh, because I don't want them in my dugout."

Castillo struggled early, hitting Boston's leadoff batter of the game, George Adams, with a pitch. The second inning started off even worse, with former St. Louis Cardinal Jim Alan making his old rivals pay to the tune of a solo home run. The crafty Pirate was able to work out of trouble, despite allowing two more singles in the inning, but Alan came back to haunt Castillo and the Pirates in the bottom of the 3rd with a booming home run over the bullpen in right-center field. While the Pirates would eventually get a fourth run in the game, it was Alan's blast that set them back on their heels, a wobble they would never straighten in this contest. Some of the Pirates looked a little awestruck to be visiting Fenway Park for the first time in their careers, and the early run advantage seemed to make them complacent after the two solid efforts in games one and two of the series.

Pirates right fielder Cap Marcrum, who has struggled at the plate thus far in the series, got right to the point. "We stunk. You could look around the dugout after Fletcher's home run, and we all thought it would be easy. Looking back on it, it makes us all sick to think we let our guard down that quickly."

When asked about Castillo's availability for the rest of the series, should he be needed again, pitching coach Bob Bussman said, "Hippo's a tough customer. You might not guess it from that easygoing smile, but he's spitting nails he's so angry at the way he pitched today. We'll take a look at him on his throw day and see how he's feeling, and make a decision when the time comes."

A rematch of game one's wild ride is on tap for tomorrow, with Charley Harrington facing Levi Sellers. After the excitement of the series opener, it's anyone's guess what will transpire in game four. Has the early success gone to the Pirates' heads? Will the Red Sox climb back and tie up the series? Or will Levi Sellers and the collection of Pirates bats put the team one step closer to the land Pirates fans have been dreaming of for these long decades?