September 13. Gm# 137 Forbes Field Pittsburgh 8 Philadelphia 7
KINER HITS 50TH HR TO SET STRATBALL RECORD; BUCS WIN, 8-7
Pirate fans at Forbes Field showered Ralph Kiner with a six minute standing ovation, after the slugging left fielder clobbered a three run home run, his record setting fiftieth of the season, in the fourth inning, against Hank Borowy, in an 8-7 Bucs win over Philadelphia.
It was the second time during the record chase that Kiner made Borowy a victim of his powerful bat. Asked how he felt after the game, Borowy replied, “He was going to get the record eventually. I’m not as sorry about giving up the home run as I am about losing the game.”
Despite Kiner’s heroics, he also had two singles and a sacrifice fly, Pittsburgh allowed Philadelphia to hang around and they nearly came back to win.
The Pirates put up 8 runs over the first four innings. Along with Kiner’s record blast, starting pitcher, Bob Chesnes, who swings a pretty mean bat himself, also hit a two run home run in the bottom of the second.
The trouble was, Chesnes was shaky at best on the mound. He lasted only four innings, allowing three runs on four hits and walked an astounding six Phils in that short span.
Pittsburgh used three more pitchers out of the bullpen, Ray Poat, Hal Greer and Elmer Riddle, as the Phillies chipped away, scoring two in the fourth, two more in the fifth and two in the top of the ninth.
Riddle got pinch hitter, Eddie Waitkus to line out to first to end the game, and notch a save for himself. Because Chesnes didn’t go at least five innings, Poat(3-7) was credited with the win.
However, Kiner was the big story. On a team that is solidly second division, Ralph has give the hometown fans much to cheer about in an otherwise dismal season. Fans leave the park in droves when it is likely he won’t come to bat again in the game.
Along with the new single season home run record, Kiner also has set new season records for runs scored and runs batted in. He has a better than even chance to break Mickey Mantle’s season record for walks in a season as well.
Kiner will have a well deserved day off tomorrow.
National League scores: Brooklyn 6 Cincinnati 3; St. Louis 1 New York 0; Bost at Chicago was postponed due to wet grounds.
Standing of the Clubs
St. Louis/141/94/44/3/.677
Brooklyn/141/84/55/2/.603
Philadelphia/140/72/68/.514
New York/140/69/69/2/.500
Boston/141/66/73/2/.475
Pittsburgh/137/62/75/.453
Cincinnati/139/56/82/1/.406
Chicago/139/51/88/.367
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