July 8. Gm#’s 77, 78. Connie Mack Stadium. Pittsburgh 8,6 Philadelphia 3, 5
BUCS SIT A HALF GAME BACK AFTER SWEEPING TWINBILL WITH PHILS
The Pittsburgh Pirates are now just one half game out of first place in the National League after winning both ends of a doubleheader at Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh took the first game easily, by a score of 8-3, behind Vernon Law(8-4), then stunned the Phillies in game two by scoring five times in the top of the ninth, to pull out a 6-5 comeback win.
Maz, Hoak, Burgess, Virdon and Clemente all had two hits apiece in the opener, as the Buccos pounded out 15 hits in the first game.
Jim Umbricht started game two, and left after just three and a third innings, trailing, 3-0. The Pirates got an unearned run in the top of the sixth. Philadelphia increased their lead to 4-1, after Ruben Amaro tripled and scored in the bottom of the eighth.
That brought up the Pirates incredible ninth. Hal Smith(3) homered for the second straight day. Don Hoak and Bill Mazeroski singled, then pinch hitter, Dick Schofield doubled. Bill Virdon then singled, knocking in two runs, to tie it up. Dick Groat hit into a double play, but Schofield scored, putting the Pirates up one. With two out, Bob Skinner doubled, then Rocky Nelson singled him in to put the Bucs up two.
The insurance run proved to be important as Tom Cheney gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Pirates were able to hold on for the win. Joe Gibbon(3-2) earned the win in relief.
Milwaukee also won, defeating Cincinnati, but the Bucs are hot on their tail. Pittsburgh will take on the Phillies again tomorrow. The red hot Pirates have won seven straight games.
Other National League scores: Los Angeles 5 Chicago 3; Milwaukee 6 Cincinnati 3; St. Louis 7 San Francisco 4.
National League Standings
Milwaukee/75/44/31/.587/—
Pittsburgh/78/45/33/.577/.5
St. Louis/78/43/35/.551/2.5
San Francisco/78/41/37/.526/4.5
Los Angeles/77/39/38/.506/6
Cincinnati/76/36/40/.474/8.5
Philadelphia/79/31/48/.392/15
Chicago/75/29/46/.386/15
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