FRI, SEPT 23 TO SUN, SEPT 25. GM’S 149-151. COUNTY STADIUM, MILWAUKEE
PITTSBURGH PIRATES CLINCH NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT
One gut wrenching loss and two blowout victories marked Pittsburgh’s latest series with arch rival, Milwaukee, as the Pirates clinched the National League pennant on Sunday.
FRI, SEPT 23RD
The Bucs entered the series on Friday, having dropped three games in a row. Bob Friend(18-7), Pittsburgh’s bell cow all season, dueled with Bob Buhl of the Braves. The game was a pitcher’s battle all the way, with Friend coming out on the short end of a 1-0 decision. Errors cost the Pirates dearly in this one, as three miscues were marked against the team, including one which forced in Del Crandall in the sixth, with the game’s only run. Don Hoak had a rough day, committing two errors and going 0-4 at the plate, with two strikeouts. Bill Mazeroski also had an error.
SAT, SEPT 24TH
Saturday’s game would turn the tide. Having lost four in a row, could doubt be creeping into the minds of the Pirates? Milwaukee scored one in the first, but Geno Cimoli doubled in Bill Virdon in the top of the third to tie it. The good feeling would be short lived however, as Henry Aaron belted a two run homer in the fourth inning. The fifth was scoreless, but then Pittsburgh exploded for 8 runs in the top of the sixth, six of those runs coming with two outs. Lew Burdette walked Cimoli to begin the inning, then Dick Stuart smacked his (23rd) home run, tying the game. Burdette retired both Dick Schofield and Dick Groat, but then the wheels came off. A single by Smokey Burgess, a walk to Maz, then pinch hitter, Rocky Nelson batted for starter, Vernon Law(14-4) and reached on an error by Joe Adcock. A walk to Virdon forced in a run and Burdette’s day was done. Joey Jay came on in relief and hit Roberto Clemente, forcing in another run. Cimoli, who led off the inning, singled, as did Stuart and the plug was pulled on Joey Jay. Carl Wiley replaced Jay and gave up a base knock to Schofield, before retiring Groat to finally end the inning. In all, eight runs crossed the dish for Pittsburgh in the inning. Roberto Clemente stroked his (9th) homer for Pittsburgh in the top of the eighth, just for good measure. Milwaukee would add three more runs, including a second homer from Aaron, but in the end, the Pirates won, 10-6, ending a four game skid and reduced their magic number to just 2.
SUN, SEPT 25TH
Knowing they could wrap up the pennant with a win today, the Pirates got right to work, hanging a 3 spot on Warren Spahn, in the first inning. A Dick Stuart sac fly and a two run single by Hoak, did the damage. Clemente’s two run triple in the second, meant an early shower for Spahn. Another sacrifice fly, this time by Hal Smith, put Pittsburgh on top, 6-0 in the fourth. Milwaukee finally got on the board when Ed Mathews homered in the bottom of that inning. Pittsburgh would go on to add one in the sixth, three in the seventh and two in the eighth to win a 12-3 laugher, sewing up the flag with ease. Behind winner, Vinegar Bend Mizell(15-10); Bob Skinner(12) and Clemente led the offense with four hits, followed by Cimoli, Stuart and Schofield, with three each. Skinner set a Stratball record for runs scored in a nine inning game with 6.. He singled and scored in the first; doubled and scored in the second; walked and scored in the fourth; singled and scored in the sixth, homered and scored in the seventh and walked and scored in the eighth.
The remainder of the season will be just playing out the string, as the best Milwaukee can do is 90 wins. The Pirates return home to finish out the season. They have one game with the Cincinnati Reds, then three with Milwaukee, yet again, to close out the year.
National League Standings
Pittsburgh/151/91/60/.603/—
Milwaukee/149/85/64/.570/5
St. Louis/149/84/65/.564/6
San Francisco/149/81/68/.544/9
Los Angeles/147/77/70/.524/12
Cincinnati/149/66/83/.443/24
Chicago/151/58/93/.384/33
Philadelphia/149/55/94/.369/35
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