Borowy exits in the 8th. Bob Carpenter relieves. The Dodgers begin inserting bench players. The Cubs score a run. 9-1.
Branca gets a CG win. Borowy loses.
New York sweeps a doubleheader from Pittsburgh, and the Cardinals now lead the NL by a half game. The Dodgers are two back.
Jackie Robinson now is batting .319, with 11 doubles and 12 stolen bases. Some sportswriters are starting to call him "Ty Cobb in technicolor". He leads the Dodgers with 21 RBI, and he's the leadoff man.
St. Louis, May 20. We play two against the mighty Cardinals. They have the leading batter in the NL in Stan Musial. He's hitting .400, with 4 HR and 27 RBI.
Hatten faces Ken Burkhart. The wind is blowing out to RF@13 mph.
1st Inning. Robinson leads off with a double. He steals 3rd. Jorgensen singles, and Jackie scores. 1-0. Furillo singles. Runners at 1st and 3rd. Snider singles. 2-0.
3rd Inning. Hatten gets in trouble. He loads the bases, and walks in a run. He gets out of it. 2-1, Dodgers.
5th Inning. Hodges singles, is maneuvered over to 3rd base, and Robinson drives him in with a single. 3-1. Jackie steals second. Jorgensen doubles, and it's 4-1!
The Cards make it 4-2 in the 6th. The Dodgers have committed two errors.
7th Inning. Pee Wee Reese hits his first homer, and it's 5-2. Burkhart is relieved by Ted Wilks.
8th Inning. Wilks is relieved by Gerry Staley. Walker singles. Snider doubles. Miksis singles, and Walker scores. 6-2.
9th Inning. Robinson hits his 3rd HR of the year, a solo shot to LF. 7-2. Dixie Walker triples in another run. 8-2.
Hatten gets the CG win. Burkhart loses.
The Cardinals reveal their weakness -- the bullpen. The Dodgers gain a game on the Cards. The Braves beat the Pirates. 1 game separates the top three teams.
In the AL, the Yankees lead the Indians by 1.5.
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Wednesday, May 21. Taylor (1-2, 4.59) vs Dickson (5-3, 2.71).
1st Inning. Reiser singles and steals second. Furillo triples. 1-0.
The Cards take a 3-1 lead in the 7th.
8th Inning. Reiser hits a HR to RF. 3-2. Casey relieves Taylor.
Dickson gets the CG win. Taylor loses.
Brooklyn has Thursday off, as we travel back for a weekend series at home.
Brooklyn, Friday May 23. Branca (4-3, 3.60) vs Rowe (2-2, 2.63).
Bottom of the 8th. Pitchers' duel. No score, but Philly replaces Rowe with Jurisich.
We go scoreless through 9 innings.
King relieves Branca in the 10th. Freddy Schmidt relieves Jurisich. He walks Jorgensen. Reiser singles. Eddie Stanky triples, and in the bottom of the 10th the Dodgers win 1-0! King gets the win, Schmidt loses.
The dogfight continues, as the Pirates and Dodgers are 1.5 games behind the Cardinals.
Saturday, May 24. Lombardi (5-3, 3.21) vs Heintzelman (0-3, 4.50).
1st Inning. Dixie Walker hits a sac fly. 1-0. Stanky hits an RBI single. 2-0.
The Phillies make it 2-1 in the 2nd. They tie it in the 8th. Schmidt relieves Heintzelman.
Gil Hodges hits a sac fly in the bottom of the 8th. 3-2, Brooklyn.
Casey enters in the 9th to attempt the save. He blows it, and the Phillies tie it up.
We go to extra innings. Hal Gregg now pitching for Brooklyn. Blix Donnelly takes over for Philly. Walker singles, Hermanski doubles. Eddie Stanky singles, and the Dodgers win 4-3! Gregg wins, Donnelly loses.
Trade: I started looking around for a reliable starter, and the As were willing to talk. So, Hugh Casey was shipped to the Athletics in exchange for starter Dick Fowler. The exchange was regarded as fair, so that's good enough for me. Fowler will go into the rotation, and Harry Taylor moves to the bullpen.
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Sunday, May 25. Hatten (4-1, 2.21) vs Judd (1-8, 5.59).
6th Inning. With runners at the corners, Stanky slaps the ball to left. 3B Jim Tabor bobbles it, and Hermanski scores on the error. 1-0, Dodgers. Judd walks Hodges, loading the bases. Reese singles, and 2 runs come in. 3-0.
Jurisich relieves Judd in the 7th. Robinson singles, steals second. Lavagetto bunts him to 3rd. Walker is intentionally walked. Hermanski doubles, and it's 4-0. Snider is intentionally walked. (Why?) Stanky walks in a run. 5-0. Hermanski walks. 6-0.
Hatten spoils a shutout by allowing a run in the 8th. 6-1.
Bottom of the 8th. The Phils commit another error. Walker hits a sac fly. 7-1.
Hatten gets the CG win. Judd loses.
The Pirates beat the Cardinals, and the Dodgers are now just a half-game behind the Cards.
Monday is an off day.
The Cubs defeated the Cardinals, and the Dodgers are now in a tie for 1st place.
New York, Tuesday May 27. First of three vs the Giants. Dick Fowler (3-6, 5.35 with the As) starts his first game as a Dodger. He faces Dave Koslo (5-1, 3.13). The wind is swirling @19 mph.
1st Inning. Robinson singles, Lavagetto walks, and Reiser hits a HR. 3-0.
Walker Cooper homers. 3-1.
2nd Inning. Fowler (.308) hits a single in his first AB. Koslo loads the bases, and walks in a run. 4-1. Stanky singles, and it's 6-1.
Rigney homers. 6-2.
7th Inning. Bases loaded, 2 outs. Reese doubles and clears the bases! 9-2. Fowler doubles, and Reese scores! 10-2. Koslo is removed. Beggs relieves. Lavagetto doubles, and two more runs score. 12-2.
8th Inning. Trinkle now pitching for NY.
9th Inning. Reese homers. 13-2. Trinkle exits, and Iott comes in.
Fowler gets the CG win. Koslo loses.
In St. Louis, the Cubs beat the Cards. This puts the Dodgers in sole possession of 1st place!
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Wednesday, May 28. Branca (4-3, 3.16) vs Kennedy (3-3, 5.01). A mild wind blowing out to CF.
Bottom of the 1st. Kerr leads off with a HR to RF. Cooper scores on a grounder. 2-0. The Giants are seeking revenge for Tuesday's drubbing.
3rd Inning. Robinson doubles. He steals 3rd. Reiser singles, and it's 2-1.
4th Inning. Stanky and Hodges hit back to back homers, and Brooklyn takes a 3-2 lead.
6th Inning. Hodges smacks his 2nd HR, a 2-run shot to RF. 5-2, Dodgers.
7th Inning. Thompson relieves Kennedy. Branca starts to tire. He gives up a HR, and the Giants tie the game.
8th Inning. Hodges reaches first on an error. Reese bunts him to 2nd. Pinch-hitter Furillo hits a 2-run HR to LF. 7-5, Brooklyn. King relieves Branca.
9th Inning. Sheldon Jones now pitching for NY. Walker and Hermanski hit back to back doubles, and it's 8-5. The Dodgers have become a hitting machine. Reese gets an RBI single. 9-5.
Mize hits a 2-run HR. 9-7. Taylor enters to earn the save for Branca. Jones takes the loss.
It's Brooklyn's 5th consecutive victory.
In the AL, the Red Sox have won 7 straight, and are a half game behind the Indians. The Yankees trail by one.
Minor league report: LF Marv Rackley is hitting .392, with 4 HR and 13 RBI. The eventual successor to Dixie Walker might be this guy.
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Thursday, May 29. Lombardi (5-3, 3.23) vs Jansen (2-5, 5.99).
Jansen was injured early in the game, and replaced by Junior Thompson.
5th Inning. No score. Sheldon Jones relieves Thompson. Jones singles, and Bobby Thomson hits a 2-run HR. 2-0, NY.
6th Inning. Furillo homers to LF. 2-1.
7th Inning. Robinson singles, then steals second. Jorgensen doubles, and we're tied.
Taylor relieves Lombardi.
8th Inning. Andy Hansen replaces Jones. Reese singles. He steals second. Edwards singles, and Pee Wee scores! 3-2, Dodgers.
Bottom of the 8th. Rigney doubles, tying it up.
It stays deadlocked through the 9th, and we go to extra innings.
10th Inning. Hooks Iott on the mound for the Giants. Hank Behrman now pitches for the Dodgers. The Giants load the bases, and win the game 4-3. Iott wins, Behrman loses.
We hold a narrow margin in the standings, and travel to Boston. The Dodgers, Pirates and Cardinals are neck and neck.
4th Inning. Snider singles. He steals second. Stanky hits a HR to LF! 2-0, Dodgers.
Despite committing an error, the Brooklyn defense is stellar, pulling off timely double plays and making necessary catches.
Spahn is pulled in the 7th. Walt Lanfranconi relieves. King relieves Gregg.
8th inning. Furillo hits an RBI single. 3-0. Stanky singles, and it's 4-0. Clyde Shoun relieves Lanfranconi. He walks in a run. 5-0. King singles, and 2 runs score. 7-0.
The Braves prevent a shutout by scoring two runs. 7-2.
9th Inning. Andy Karl replaces Shoun.
Bob Elliott hits a 2-run HR, and it's 7-4. Rex Barney gives up a run, but manages to end it. The final is 7-5.
Gregg wins it, and Spahn loses.
Game 2. Hatten (5-1, 1.99) vs Sain (3-4, 3.73).
4th Inning. Stanky hits a sac fly. 1-0. The Braves tie it.
5th Inning. Jorgensen and Snider hit back to back doubles. 2-1, Dodgers.
7th Inning. Frank McCormick ties it with a HR.
8th Inning. Snider singles, and then steals second. Furillo singles, and Snider scores. 3-2, Dodgers.
Si Johnson relieves Sain in the 9th.
Hatten gets the CG win. Sain loses.
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Saturday, May 31. Fowler (4-6, 4.97) vs Barrett (5-4, 3.51).
1st Inning. 2 on, 2 out. Walker hits an RBI double. 1-0, Dodgers.
5th Inning. Furillo gets an RBI single. 2-0.
7th Inning. Lavagetto smacks a solo HR to CF. 3-0.
9th Inning. Si Johnson relieves Barrett. Furillo goes 5 for 5 with a single.
Brooklyn, Sunday June 1. Branca (5-3, 3.44) vs the Cardinals and Jim Hearn (4-3, 2.51). 83 degrees, with the wind swirling @15 mph.
1st Inning. Robinson singles, and then steals second. Jorgensen brings him in with a single. 1-0.
The Cards tie it in the 4th.
5th Inning. Hearn loads the bases. Robinson hits a 2-run single. 3-1, Brooklyn.
St. Louis makes it 3-2 in the 6th. Burkhart relieves Hearn in the 7th.
Branca gets the CG, and defeats Hearn.
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Monday, June 2. Lombardi (5-3, 3.21) vs Pollet (2-0, 3.41).
Bottom of the 1st. Robinson leads off with a HR. Lavagetto follows with a triple. Snider singles. 2-0.
3rd Inning. Pollet loads the bases, and then Northey commits a 2-base error in LF. 4-0, no outs. Reiser grounds out, and a run scores. 5-0. Walker grounds out, and the bases are emptied. 6-0.
Ken Johnson relieves Pollet in the 7th.
The Cards prevent the shutout by scoring two in the 8th. Burkhart makes another appearance.
Lombardi gets the 6-2 CG win. Pollet loses.
In Boston, the Braves defeat the Pirates. Brooklyn now leads the NL by 1.5 games over Pittsburgh.
Tuesday, June 3. An important series with the second-place Pirates. Hatten (6-1, 1.99) vs Sewell (4-3, 2.25).
3rd Inning. Reese singles. Edwards doubles. Hatten singles! 1-0. Robinson doubles. 2-0. Jorgensen hits a sac fly to deep right. 3-0.
5th Inning. 2 out, 2 on. Furillo hits an RBI single. 4-0. Hermanski singles. 5-0. Walker singles. 6-0. Sewell issues two consecutive walks, and it's 7-0. He finally strikes out Edwards to end the inning.
7th Inning. Bloodworth homers. 7-1. Jim Bagby relieves Sewell.
8th Inning. Bagby loads 'em up, and Jorgensen hits a sac fly. 8-1. Furillo singles, and it's 10-1. Bagby is hopelessly outmatched.
Hatten gets a 4-hit CG win over Sewell.
Brooklyn now holds a 2.5 game lead over Pittsburgh.
As of today, Hatten leads the majors with a 1.86 ERA. Robinson leads in stolen bases with 26.
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Wednesday, June 4. Fowler (5-6, 4.47) vs Higbe (6-4, 2.60).
Fowler gets shredded in the 2nd, as Pitt scores 6 runs. They get three more in the 3rd. 9-0.
4th Inning. Edwards hits a 2-run HR. 9-2.
6th Inning. Gregg relieves Fowler.
7th Inning. Robinson singles and steal second. Jorgensen doubles. 9-3.
Taylor relieves Gregg in the 8th. He strikes out the side!
9th Inning. Taylor throws a 4th consecutive strikeout. He then gives up a run. 10-3.
Higbe gets a CG win against his former teammates, and the Pirates gain a game. Fowler loses.
In Boston, the Braves defeat the Cardinals in 13 innings.
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Thursday, June 5. Branca (6-3, 3.20) vs Bonham (8-3, 3.60). 74 degrees. No, the lazy, hazy days of summer haven't yet arrived.
1st Inning. 21-year-old Branca is still learning. He walks the first batter, and then fireballs three consecutive strikeouts.
3rd Inning. Furillo singles. Walker walks. Stanky doubles. 1-0. Hodges walks. The next two batters are out. Robinson then comes to the plate. He's been the object of vicious abuse in certain cities, but now he stands, implacable, a cold look of determination on his face. He singles, and two runs score. 3-0. A roar erupts. Here, in Brooklyn, they love him.
The Pirates come back and take a 4-3 lead in the 6th. Preacher Roe relieves Bonham.
King relieves Branca in the 7th.
In the bottom of the 7th, Reiser hits a HR to tie the game!
8th Inning. Billy Cox hits a 2-run homer, and the Pirates lead 6-4.
Elmer Singleton pitches the 9th for Pitt.
Roe gets the win and Singleton earns a save. King loses. The Pirates move to within a half-game of us.
Friday, June 6. The 7th place Cubs visit for three. Lombardi (6-3, 3.09) vs Lade (2-2, 3.25).
1st Inning. McCullough hits a 3-run homer. 3-0, Cubs. Lavagetto responds with an RBI double. 3-1.
5th Inning. Waitkus hits a solo HR to RF. 4-1.
6th Inning. Cavarreta rips an RBI double. 5-1.
7th Inning. With 2 on and 2 out, Reese singles, and both runners score. 5-3.
Behrman relieves Lombardi in the 8th. Cavarreta gets an RBI single. 6-3.
Bottom of the 9th. Again, 2 out, 2 on. Hermanski singles in a run. 6-4. Robinson flies out.
Lade gets a CG win. Lombardi loses.
The Pirates shutout the Phillies and now hold a half-game lead.
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Saturday, June 7. Hatten (7-1, 1.86) vs Erickson (0-5, 6.33). Robinson is rested, and Lavagetto plays 1B.
2nd Inning. Hodges scores Hermanski on a sac fly. 1-0.
3rd Inning. Jorgensen doubles, Lavagetto bunts him to 3rd, and Furillo brings him in with a groundout. 2-0.
6th Inning. Hodges hits a 2-run double. 4-0.
7th Inning. Jorgensen reaches second on an error. Lavagetto brings him in with a double. 5-0.
Bob Chipman relieves Erickson in the 8th.
Hatten ends with a 4-hit CG shutout. Erickson loses.
The Phillies defeat the Pirates.
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Sunday, June 8. Fowler (5-7, 5.09) vs Schmitz (3-5, 5.38).
The Cubs take a 1-0 lead in the 1st.
2nd Inning. Hodges hits a 2-run double, and advances to 3rd. 2-1, Dodgers.
Chipman relieves Schmitz in the 7th. Brooklyn scores two runs. 4-1.
King relieves Fowler in the 8th. He pitches two strong innings and earns his 5th save.
Minor-league news: the Dodgers sent RP Phil Haugstad to the Athletics in exchange for 2B Nellie Fox. We also signed SP Dick Koecher. C Bobby Bragan was released.
Brooklyn, Monday June 9. The homestand ends with three vs the Reds. Branca (6-3, 3.38) vs Blackwell (6-6, 2.91).
The Reds strike quickly, scoring a run in in the 1st.
Ray Mueller hits a 2-run HR in the 2nd. 3-0, Reds.
Cincy makes it 4-0 in the 7th.
8th Inning. Jorgensen hits an RBI single. 4-1. Reiser doubles and Jorgensen scores. 4-2.
Taylor relieves Branca in the 9th.
Blackwell gets a CG win over Branca.
The Giants win their 10th straight with a victory over Pittsburgh. The Pirates and Dodgers are in a tie for the lead. The Giants are 3 GB. The defending champion Cardinals have fallen to 4th place.
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Tuesday, June 10. Lombardi (6-4, 3.05) vs Raffensberger (5-6, 3.09).
1st Inning. Robinson singles, and then beats an attempted pitchout to steal 2nd. He scores on a sac fly by Walker. 1-0.
2nd Inning. Hodges scores on a hit and run. 2-0. Raffensberger loads the bases with 1 out. Reese scores on a sac fly by Reiser. 3-0.
The Reds take a 4-3 lead in the 3rd. We tie it on a sac fly by Hodges. An RBI single by Lombardi gives us a 5-4 lead.
Cincy regains the lead in the 5th. 6-5. Grady Hatton triples in the 6th, and it's 7-5. Galan singles. 8-5.
Brooklyn battles back. Furillo hits a 2-run double in the bottom of the 6th. 8-7. Hodges singles, and we're tied!
The Reds continue the seesaw affair by going ahead 10-8 in the 7th. Lombardi's finished. Behrman relieves. Two more runs score. 12-8.
Raffensberger is relieved by Erautt in the 7th. PH Snider singles, and then steals 2nd. Robinson advances him, and he scores on a Lavagetto sac fly. 12-9.
8th Inning. Taylor takes the mound for Brooklyn.
Peterson pitches the 9th for Cincy. He earns the save for Raffensberger and Lombardi loses.
In NY, the Giants win their 11th in a row, beating the Pirates. They move to within 2 games of the Dodgers & Pirates.
In the AL, the Red Sox have won 4 in a row, and are in the thick of it with the Indians and Tigers. The Yankees are in 4th, 3.5 GB the Indians.
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Wednesday, June 11. Hatten (8-1, 1.64) vs VanderMeer (4-6, 3.87).
1st Inning. Robinson singles, and Walker hits a 2-run HR to RF. 2-0.
2nd Inning. With 1 out and runners at the corners, Robinson hits an RBI single. 3-0.
3rd Inning. The Reds score two. 3-2.
4th Inning. Hatten executes a successful bunt single, and Robinson doubles him to 3rd. Lavagetto doubles, and it's 5-2.
The Reds score one in the 6th. 5-3.
Gumbert replaces VanderMeer in the 7th.
8th Inning. Hatten shocks and pleases the crowd by hitting an RBI double. 6-3.
Hatten goes 9-1 with the CG win over VanderMeer.
The Giants win their 12th straight by beating Pittsburgh.
We have a travel day as we head to St. Louis. On this day, the Cubs hand the Pirates their fourth consecutive loss. The Dodgers now hold a 1.5 game lead over Pitt.
St. Louis, Friday June 13. The wind is blowing out to CF @17 mph. Fowler (6-7, 4.83) vs Hearn (4-5, 3.34).
The Redbirds take a 1-0 lead in the 1st.
2nd Inning. With the bases loaded and 1 out, Fowler hits a 2-run single. 2-1.
3rd Inning. Snider hits a solo HR. 3-1. Fowler dodges a bullet when he loads the bases but leaves them stranded.
The Cards score 5 runs in the 5th, taking a 6-3 lead.
Taylor relieves Fowler in the 6th. He gives up 4 runs in the 8th, and it's 10-3.
Hearn gets a CG win, and Fowler has a very unlucky Friday the 13th.
The Pirates lose their 5th straight.
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KG Notes: We're in need of a solid fourth starter, but no GM is willing to give up anyone worthwhile. Many teams expressed interest in Clyde King, but he is gonna stay with Brooklyn.
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Saturday, June 14. Branca (6-4, 3.46) vs Dickson (7-6, 3.05).
St. Louis takes a 1-0 lead in the 3rd.
7th Inning. Jorgensen hits a 2-run double! 2-1, Dodgers. Del Rice responds with a solo HR, tying it.
8th Inning. Reese executes the hit & run, scoring Snider. 3-2.
Burkhart relieves Dickson in the 9th.
The Cards come back and win it 4-3. Burkhart wins, Branca loses.
The Giants win their 13th straight, and the Pirates lose their 6th. NY is now within a half-game of Brooklyn.
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Sunday, June 15. Lombardi (6-5, 3.92) vs Brecheen (6-4, 2.70).
In a scoreless game, Brecheen suffers an injury in the 5th. Ted Wilks replaces him.
Pollet relieves Wilks in the 8th. Lavagetto homers to the corner of RF. 1-0, Dodgers.
Lombardi gets a CG shutout, and Pollet loses.
In Cincinnati, the Reds snap the Giants' win streak, beating them 4-0 in the first game of a DH. The Giants win the second game 4-2.
Chicago, Monday June 16. Hatten (9-1, 1.79) vs Schmitz (4-6, 5.10).
2nd Inning. Hodges hits a 2-run HR. 2-0, Dodgers. Reese singles, and Robinson hits an RBI double. 3-0. Robinson steals 3rd. Lavagetto singles, and it's 4-0.
The Cubs score 2 in the 3rd. 4-2.
In the 4th, Schmitz strikes out the side.
In the 5th, Reiser scores when Walker hits into a DP. 5-2.
6th Inning. Bob Scheffing homers. 5-3.
Chipman relieves Schmitz in the 8th.
9th Inning. Lavagetto gets an RBI on a double. 6-3.
King earns the save for Hatten and Schmitz loses.
The Dodgers hold a 1.5 game lead over the Giants.
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Tuesday, June 17. Gregg (3-2, 5.66) vs Borowy (3-7, 5.18).
The Cubs take a 4-0 lead in the 5th.
Taylor relieves Gregg in the 7th. The Cubs score again. 5-0.
Borowy gets a CG shutout. Gregg loses.
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Wednesday, June 18. Branca (6-5, 3.54) vs Lade (4-3, 4.15). A 19mph wind is blowing IN from CF.
1st Inning. With the bases loaded and 2 out, Stanky hits a 2-run single. 2-0, Dodgers.
2nd Inning. Furillo gets a groundout RBI. 3-0. The Cubs score twice. 3-2.
3rd Inning. Edwards hits a sac fly, and it's 4-2.
5th Inning. Edwards gets another RBI with a clean single. 5-2.
The seemingly ubiquitous Bob Chipman relieves Lade in the 8th. Furillo hits an RBI single. 6-2. Hermanski hits a sac fly. 7-2.
Chicago scores a run in the 9th, but Branca gets a 7-3 CG win. Lade loses.
In the AL, the defending champion Red Sox hold a half-game lead over the Indians.
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Thursday, June 19. Lombardi (7-5, 3.61) vs Erickson (2-6, 4.66).
2nd Inning. Erickson singles, bringing in two runs. The Cubs take an early lead.
3rd Inning. Furillo gets an RBI single. 2-1. The Cubs score again. 3-1.
Taylor relieves Lombardi in the 7th. The Cubs get two runs. 5-1.
8th Inning. Chicago scores on an error by Jorgensen. 6-1.
Cincinnati, Saturday June 21. Hatten (10-1, 1.92) vs VanderMeer (4-7, 3.98).
1st Inning. Dixie Walker hits a 2-run double. The Reds come back with one. 2-1.
3rd Inning. Reiser hits an RBI single. 3-1.
8th Inning. Gumbert relieves VanderMeer. He loads the bases, and walks in a run. 4-1.
9th Inning. Robinson and Lavagetto hit back to back doubles. 5-1.
Hatten gets a CG win over VanderMeer.
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Sunday, June 22. Doubleheader.
Game 1: Fowler (6-8, 5.11) vs Walters (5-7, 3.59).
The Reds take a 1-0 lead in the 1st.
In the 2nd, Fowler doubles, scoring a run and tying it up.
Cincy takes a 3-1 lead in the 3rd.
Fowler hits an RBI single in the 4th. 3-2. Robinson doubles, and it's 3-3.
Stanky hits an RBI double in the 5th. 4-3, Brooklyn. Reese singles, a run scores. 5-3.
King relieves Fowler in the 8th. Peterson relieves Walters in the 9th.
Fowler wins it, King gets the save, and Walters loses.
Game 2: Taylor (1-3, 4.64) vs Blackwell (7-8, 3.00).
1st Inning. Snider hits an RBI single. 1-0.
5th Inning. Furillo gets an RBI groundout. 2-0.
The Reds score in the 7th. 2-1. Peterson relieves Blackwell in the 8th.
Gregg pitches the 9th and earns the save for Taylor. Blackwell loses.
Pittsburgh, Tuesday June 24. Branca (7-5, 3.50) vs Bonham (10-4, 3.44).
1st Inning. Reiser hits an RBI single. 1-0. Bonham loads the bases. Billy Cox commits an error, and a run scores. 2-0. A run walks in. 3-0. Reese triples, and the bases empty! 6-0. Branca singles and Reese scores. 7-0. The fans in Forbes Field are stunned and subdued. "How are the Bums doing this? Are they stealing signs?" Pitt's GM suspects this, and has people walking through the stands, the walkways and the scoreboard. Of course, they find nothing to support their suspicions.
2nd Inning. Bonham strikes out Furillo, and a weak cheer erupts. Stanky scores a run on a sac fly. 8-0. The crowd is now getting agitated. Edwards hits an RBI double. 9-0. The Pirates load the bases in the bottom of the inning, but come up empty. The Pitt fans start booing their own team.
3rd Inning. Robinson comes to the plate, and the catcalls come to a crescendo. He pops out. The abuse from the stands is just awful. Bonham is having a terrible day. He loads the bases. Hermanski smacks an RBI single. 10-0. I hold a quick dugout meeting. "Pour it on these b*stards, and don't let 'em score!"
5th Inning. Hermanski hits an RBI single. 11-0. The fans get fed up and start leaving in droves. Edwards doubles. 13-0. Reese singles. 14-0. The Pirates score four. 14-4.
Pitt scores three in the 6th. 14-7.
Ostermueller relieves Bonham in the 7th. Behrman relieves Branca.
Al Lyons replaces Oestermueller in the 9th. Only a few hundred fans remain. Reiser triples. Stanky brings him in on a hit & run. 15-7.
Behrman gives up three in the 9th. The final is 15-10.
Branca wins, Bonham loses.
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Wednesday, June 25. Hatten (11-1, 1.84) vs Sewell (5-5, 3.25).
Pitt takes a 1-0 lead in the 2nd. Kiner homers in the 5th. 2-0.
Jorgensen hits an RBI double in the 6th. 2-1. Gregg relieves Hatten in the 7th.
Brooklyn, Thursday June 26. A one-day stopover at home, before heading to Boston. Lombardi (7-6, 3.65) vs the Braves' Spahn (7-5, 4.22).
The Braves take a 1-0 lead in the 2nd.
3rd Inning. The Dodgers tie it with an RBI double by Reiser.
Boston takes a 2-1 lead in the 7th. Si Johnson relieves Spahn.
Barney relieves Lombardi in the 8th.
Bottom of the 9th. Hodges homers, tying the game. Reese singles. PH Hermanski singles. Ed Wright relieves Johnson. No outs. Robinson grounds into a DP, but Reese advances to 3rd. Lavagetto walks. Furillo strikes out, and we go to the 10th.
Taylor now pitching for Brooklyn. He strikes out the side in the 10th.
Boston takes a 6-2 lead in the 11th. Lanfranconi relieves Wright. That becomes the final, as Wright wins and Taylor loses.
The Giants are now within a half-game of the Dodgers.
In the AL, the Yankees (41-32) are now in the lead, with the Tigers, Indians and Red Sox all a half-game back.
Boston, Friday June 27. Fowler (7-8, 5.03) vs Sain (6-8, 4.11).
The Braves take a 2-0 lead in the 2nd, and 3-0 in the 3rd.
Behrman relieves Fowler in the 8th.
Sain pitches a 4-hit CG shutout. Fowler loses.
In NY, the Phillies defeat the Giants.
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Saturday, June 28. Branca (8-5, 3.83) vs Barrett (8-7, 3.30).
Furillo hits an RBI single in the 1st. 1-0, Dodgers. Barrett loads the bases with no outs. Hermanski scores Lavagetto on a sac fly. 2-0. Reese singles, and two runs score. 4-0. Braves' 3B Bob Elliott commits two errors.
Boston scores two in the 2nd. 4-2. Torgeson homers in the 3rd. 4-3.
Robinson scores on a sac fly by Furillo in the 4th. 5-3. The Braves make it 5-4.
The heat and humidity combine to provide sloppy defensive play on both sides. The Braves have committed three errors, the Dodgers one.
6th Inning. Hermanski hits an RBI single. 6-4. The Braves respond with a 2-run HR by Ryan. We're tied at 6.
Johnson relieves Barrett in the 7th. Wright relieves Johnson in the 9th. Boston commits their fourth error.
Branca is relieved by Barney. Barney gives up a HR, and loses the game 9-6. Wright wins. It's the Dodgers' fourth straight loss.
The Giants defeat the Phillies, and take a half-game lead over the Dodgers. This sets up a critical doubleheader between NY and Brooklyn tomorrow at the Polo Grounds.
