| 1960 Revisited - October 1 |
By Bobster
Saturday, October 1, 1960---Bob Friend won his 18th, defeating 21-game winner Warren Spahn by a score of 7-3. The Pirates took a 1-0 first inning lead when Clemente singled and Stuart tripled. The Braves tied it 1-1 in the third on singles by Spahn, Bruton and Crandall. But the Bucs (94-59) chased Spahn (21-10) with a 6-run fourth to go up 7-1. The rally began with consecutive singles by Smith, Hoak and Mazeroski to load the bases. Virdon’s sac fly was dropped by Covington in LF as a run scored and the bases remained loaded. Groat followed with a single to score a pair. Clemente singled in a run. Then Stuart singled in a run. That was all for Spahn as Carl Willey relieved him. Cimoli greeted Willey with a double, scoring Clemente to make it 7-1.
Friend (18-12) left after giving up 2 runs in the seventh. Elroy Face pitched the final 2 innings and picked up his 24th save. Face also singled to raise his batting average to .412 (7 for 17). Dick Groat started for the first time since breaking his wrist on September 6th. Groat had 2 singles in 5 at bats and drove in 2 runs in the sixth inning. He had 5 assists and 2 putouts and was involved in 2 double plays. Groat’s league leading average now stood at .325. Groat’s overall flawless play, just 25 days since breaking his wrist, was encouraging with the World Series just 4 days away. Besides Groat, the Pirates also received 2 hits apiece from Clemente (.314), Stuart (.259), Smith (.295) and Hoak (.279). Despite the 12 losses, it had been an outstanding season for 18-game winner Friend. In 5 of his 12 losses, he held the opposition to 3 runs or less. Had his teammates hit well enough to win just 2 of those games, the Pirates could have featured two 20-game winners in 1960.
Starting lineup:
Virdon CF
Groat SS
Clemente RF
Stuart 1B
Cimoli LF
Smith C
Hoak 3B
Mazeroski 2B
Friend P
Groat had entered began the day batting .324 and raised his average a point to .325. Larker began the day at .323, and the left-handed batter tried to protect his average by sitting out against lefty Dick Ellsworth of the Cubs. But Ellsworth was lifted after 2 batters in the sixth inning and Larker immediately entered as a pinch-hitter and remained in the game. The Cubs won it 10-8 in 14 innings, giving Larker a chance to get 3 ABs. Larker was 1 for 3 and his average remained at .323, two points behind Groat’s .325.
Meanwhile, the Yankees (96-57) continued to roll along, winning their 14th straight, 3-1 over Boston.
Saturday, October 1, 1960---Bob Friend won his 18th, defeating 21-game winner Warren Spahn by a score of 7-3. The Pirates took a 1-0 first inning lead when Clemente singled and Stuart tripled. The Braves tied it 1-1 in the third on singles by Spahn, Bruton and Crandall. But the Bucs (94-59) chased Spahn (21-10) with a 6-run fourth to go up 7-1. The rally began with consecutive singles by Smith, Hoak and Mazeroski to load the bases. Virdon’s sac fly was dropped by Covington in LF as a run scored and the bases remained loaded. Groat followed with a single to score a pair. Clemente singled in a run. Then Stuart singled in a run. That was all for Spahn as Carl Willey relieved him. Cimoli greeted Willey with a double, scoring Clemente to make it 7-1.
Friend (18-12) left after giving up 2 runs in the seventh. Elroy Face pitched the final 2 innings and picked up his 24th save. Face also singled to raise his batting average to .412 (7 for 17). Dick Groat started for the first time since breaking his wrist on September 6th. Groat had 2 singles in 5 at bats and drove in 2 runs in the sixth inning. He had 5 assists and 2 putouts and was involved in 2 double plays. Groat’s league leading average now stood at .325. Groat’s overall flawless play, just 25 days since breaking his wrist, was encouraging with the World Series just 4 days away. Besides Groat, the Pirates also received 2 hits apiece from Clemente (.314), Stuart (.259), Smith (.295) and Hoak (.279). Despite the 12 losses, it had been an outstanding season for 18-game winner Friend. In 5 of his 12 losses, he held the opposition to 3 runs or less. Had his teammates hit well enough to win just 2 of those games, the Pirates could have featured two 20-game winners in 1960.
Starting lineup:
Virdon CF
Groat SS
Clemente RF
Stuart 1B
Cimoli LF
Smith C
Hoak 3B
Mazeroski 2B
Friend P
Groat had entered began the day batting .324 and raised his average a point to .325. Larker began the day at .323, and the left-handed batter tried to protect his average by sitting out against lefty Dick Ellsworth of the Cubs. But Ellsworth was lifted after 2 batters in the sixth inning and Larker immediately entered as a pinch-hitter and remained in the game. The Cubs won it 10-8 in 14 innings, giving Larker a chance to get 3 ABs. Larker was 1 for 3 and his average remained at .323, two points behind Groat’s .325.
Meanwhile, the Yankees (96-57) continued to roll along, winning their 14th straight, 3-1 over Boston.