|
APRIL 28, 1953 . . . We have our best three starters ready to start this series against Pittsburgh (7-7) over the next few nights, and we’re ready to prove that our 9-2 start has not been a fluke. Hacker started the game tonight, and it’s a COLD one ... 36 degrees at dusk, with light winds and abysmal attendance.
Hacker gave up a run in the bottom of the third, putting us down 0-1 against Pittsburgh, but Banksa and Jackson quickly got on base in the top of the fourth and McCullough hit a three-run homer that really got the home fans booing to put us up by two with no outs. Dee Fondy got on base shortly thereafter, and Cavaretta doubled to send him home as well. At the end of our share of the inning we were up 4-1. They added a run in the bottom of the fourth, but McCullough added a second homer, this time solo, in the top of the eighth to make it a 5-2 game. And Bob Kelly came in for the last two innings and pitched brilliantly to get the save and hold the Pirates off for good. Final score: Cubs 5, Pirates 2.
McCullough batted four times, hitting his two homers and reaching base on a walk, bringing his RBI count to 12 on the year so far, tied with Mays. Hacker pitched seven innings and took his third win of the season (he’s now 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA) giving up seven hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts and three walks. Bob Kelly earned his 4th save, throwing 21 pitches in two innings, with one strikeout, no hits and no walks. I think Hacker was a little miffed I pulled him after seven, but I could tell even if he couldn’t that he was starting to wear out. Throwing 115 pitches in seven innings is a lot for anyone, and on the road I didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
APRIL 29, 1953 . . . In a real pitchers’ duel early, the Pirates got on board in the bottom of the fourth with a run, and that run became three before the inning was over as Bob Rush loaded the bases and struggled to get the third out. They added two more in the bottom of the sixth and another three in the seventh, making this into a rout. And that was where we’d finish out, losing this one to the Pirates 0-8, our worst outing of the season by far.
They out-hit us 11-4 as Bob Rush fell to 2-2 (3.62 ERA) on the season. Dutch Leonard, who came in for two innings of relief, gave up a three-run homer in the eighth, giving him a 13.50 ERA for his seson debut. Cavarretta had a triple in the first inning that could have really changed things if he’d been able to get home. He reached base twice on hits, while Banks and Jackson each had a hit of their own with 11 total batters left on base including walks.
We still have a game tomorrow afternoon, so we can put this one behind us and still get the series win.
|