June 16. Gm# 55. Candlestick Park. Pittsburgh 4 San Francisco 3 13 innings.
GROAT’S 2 RUN SINGLE IN TOP OF 13TH WINS WILD GAME AGAINST GIANTS
It was a marathon session which wrapped up a three game series for Pittsburgh at Candlestick Park.
Pittsburgh was able to take the series, 2 games to 1, winning a wild 13 inning finale, 4-3; when Dick Groat knocked in pinch hitter, Rocky Nelson and Don Hoak, with a two run single.
Bob Friend and Jack Sanford dueled much of regulation tied at one run apiece. The Giants scored first, picking up a run in the home third, then Hal Smith(1) tied it in the fifth, with his first homer of the year.
Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth. Bob Skinner singled to lead off the inning. Groat sacrificed him to second base, then Roberto Clemente grounded to Willie McCovey, at first. McCovey bobbled it into a two base error, allowing Skinner to score the go ahead run.
After issuing a leadoff double to Willie Mays in the bottom of the ninth, Friend retired the next two batters and was an out away from a complete game win, when Willie Kirkland singled, plating Mays with the tying run.
The teams were deadlocked over the next three innings, with Elroy Face shutting the Giants down. However, the Pirates couldn’t get anything going on offense either.
Finally, in the top of the 13th, the Bucs managed to load the bases after a single and two walks. Groat drove a single into right field, scoring two.
The insurance run was needed, as Skinner booted a ball in left in the bottom of the thirteenth, as the Giants scored one more time and fell one run short.
Pittsburgh’s western swing continues with a trip to Dodger Stadium.
Other National League scores: St. Louis 6 Cincinnati 5; Los Angeles 10 Philadelphia 6; Milwaukee 10 Chicago 6.
National League Standings
Milwaukee/49/30/19/.612/—
San Francisco/57/33/24/.579/1
Pittsburgh/55/30/25/.545/3
St. Louis/55/30/25/.545/3
Cincinnati/56/27/29/.482/6.5
Los Angeles/55/25/30/.455/8
Chicago/50/22/28/.440/8.5
Philadelphia/55/19/36/.345/14
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