After the Pirates open with five runs in the first inning, the Reds answer with four tallies as Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan, the first two Reds hitters in the game, belt homers off Pittsburgh’s Steve Blass. It’s a record-setting second time this year that the duo has led off a game this way: Don Drysdale was greeted on April 7th with double dingers. It’s Pittsburgh day, however, as they win, 8 – 5.

On August 17, 1969 — After the Pirates open with five runs in the first inning, the Reds answer with four tallies as Pete Rose and Bobby Tolan, the first two Reds hitters in the game, belt homers off Pittsburgh’s Steve Blass. It’s a record-setting second time this year that the duo has led off a game this way: Don Drysdale was greeted on April 7th with double dingers. It’s Pittsburgh day, however, as they win, 8 – 5.

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Source:
Baseball Reference August 17
National Pastime
Retro Sheet
Hall of Fame
SABR Games Project
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