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WARREN SPAHN |
BOSTON BRAVES
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SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
Warren Spahn conquers the slug-less Cubs
September 15, 1948 ... The
Chicago Cubs bowed before Warren Spahn, who spun a 5 to 2 victory at
Braves Field, allowing his team to retain its five-game margin over
the Pittsburgh Pirates. Winning his third straight and seventh of his
last ten, the southpaw spotted the Cubs only nine hits, while his
teammates took advantage of inept Cubs fielding to rout starter Doyle
Lade. Spahn walked only one and struck out three while the Braves
hitters brought home five runs on seven base hits, including two doubles and
four errors by the Cubbies.
It was a close ballgame for five innings with the Tribe holding a 2 to 1
margin, when Jeff Heath opened with a single to center and reached second when
Peanuts Lowrey fumbled the ball. Lade walked Bill Salkeld on four straight
pitches and then Mike McCormick hit a nubber off the end of his bat that spun
out of the reach of secondbaseman Emil Verban, who was near second base and had
the double-play in front of him. That loaded the bases for young Ray Sanders,
appearing in his first major-league game this year, batting for Sibbi Sisti. He
hit a ground ball down the Phil Cavarretta , who in his hurried attempt, failed
to pick up the ball and all runners were safe, with Jeff Heath coming across for
the third Braves' run. Spahn then grounded one down to Cavarretta who got
Salkeld at the plate, but Spahn beat the throw to first. Tommy Holmes hit a
ground ball to Cavarretta again, who could make no play at the plate and Mike
McCormick scored, putting the Braves up 4 to 1.
The Cubs came back with a second run in the top of the seventh but the Braves
countered that in the bottom half of the inning. Earl Torgeson and Bob Elliott
both walked against reliever Bob Chipman. They moved up on Heath's sacrifice
bunt and Phil Masi, pinchhitting for Salkeld, was intentionally passed to fill
the bases. Mike McCormick hit a fly ball out to Bill Nicholson in right and
scored Torgy with the day's final run.
A smile came to all the Braves and even the Cubs when Andy Pafko caught Bob
Elliott's line drive in the webbing of his glove above his head. He failed to
realize the ball was there and looked anxiously around the ground looking for
it. Elliott parked himself on first, while Pafko finally discovered where it
was.
The win was the Braves 12th in their last 15 games, showing how well they
have been playing since they dropped three straight in Pittsburgh. Al Dark saw
his 19 game hitting streak come to an end, as he failed to get the ball out of
the infield. He batted at a .368 clip with 31 hits in 85 trips during the
streak.
It was announced that the first game of the 1948 World Series will be played
on October 6 in the home city of the National League pennant winner. If played
at Braves Field, the top price for a box seat will be eight dollars. Grandstand
reserve seats will be six dollars and general admission to the bleachers at one
dollar. Pavilion seats will be priced at five dollars. |
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