MON, SEPT 5TH TO TUES, SEPT 6TH. GM’S 132-134, FORBES FIELD, PITTSBURGH
The Pirates record setting fifteen game win streak finally ended at the hands of their arch rival, Milwaukee Braves, but not before the Bucs took both ends of the Labor Day doubleheader at Forbes Field.
They took the opener easily, behind Bob Friend(17-6), by a 7-2 score. Friend moved into the #1 slot in the rotation and Vernon Law, who had been in that spot, was moved to # 2. Friend showed why he deserved the promotion, as he limited Milwaukee to just two hits. Unfortunately, one of those hits was a two run homer, by Bill Bruton. Yet after the mistake to Bruton, Friend settled down to retire the next 21 batters, until Al Spangler reached on an error in the ninth. Bill Virdon had two hits and scored twice; Dick Groat tripled and Hal Smith doubled in the win.
Pittsburgh came from behind in game two, winning in dramatic fashion by scoring twice in the last of the ninth. It looked as if the streak would end, as Bob Buhl was leading Milwaukee to a 4-2 advantage, heading into the bottom of the eighth. But the Pirates got a run to close within one, then came the wild ninth.
Juan Pizzaro fanned Dick Stuart to start the inning, but Roberto Clemente tripled, putting the tying run just 90 feet away. Smokey Burgess was walked intentionally, to try and set up a game ending double play. The move backfired, as Don Hoak singled, scoring Clemente with the tying run. Bill Mazeroski then knocked in Burgess with a game winning single, giving Pittsburgh the 5-4 victory. Fred Green(6-3) won in relief.
The Pirates luck finally ran out in Tuesday’s game. Milwaukee’s Lew Burdette hung a 1-0 whitewash on the Bucs, scattering six hits. Al Dark singled in Ed Mathews in the sixth, with the game’s only run. Joe Gibbon(4-3) was the losing pitcher in a spot start.
Pittsburgh has a somewhat choppy schedule coming up. They play the Cardinals in a single game, before Chicago comes back into town.
National League Standings
Pittsburgh/134/81/53/.604/—
Milwaukee/132/75/57/.568/5
St. Louis/132/74/58/.561/6
San Francisco/133/71/62/.534/9.5
Los Angeles/131//69/62/.527/10.5
Cincinnati/134/61/73/.455/20
Chicago/132/51/81/.386/29
Philadelphia/132/48/84/.364/32
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