By Bobster

August 11, 1960---The second-place Cardinals (62-46), 5 games behind the Pirates, came into Pittsburgh for a big 5 game series. The first game of the series saw the Cardinals run their winning streak to 5 games by snapping the Pirates streak at seven. The hard-fought contest was won by the Cards, 3-2 in 12 innings. Cardinals’ ace Ernie Broglio (14-5) and Bucs workhorse Bob Friend (12-9) both pitched the entire 12-inning game and each notched 9 strikeouts.

By Bobster

August 10, 1960---The Pirates (65-40) won their seventh straight game with a 3-1 win over the last-place Cubs. Vern Law improved his record to 16-5 by getting his first win of the season against Chicago. The Cubs had beaten Law twice earlier. The Bucs took a 1-0 lead in the first when Virdon doubled, advanced to third on Groat’s ground out and scored on a single by Skinner. The Cubs tied it 1-1 in the fourth when Richie Ashburn doubled, moved to third on Ernie Banks’ fly out and scored on a sac fly by George Altman. But the Pirates touched Cubs starter Don Cardwell (5-12) for two more runs in the sixth when Burgess singled, Hoak tripled and Mazeroski singled.

By Bobster

August 9, 1960---The first-place Pirates maintained their 5-game lead, and Vinegar Bend Mizell ran his personal scoreless innings streak to 30 before finally yielding a run as the Pirates won their 6th straight. But a run was all Mizell gave up as the Pirates (64-40) beat the Cubs 7-1 at Forbes Field. The Pirates gave Mizell plenty of support with 5 runs in the 3rd inning as they kayoed Cubs starter Moe Drabowsky (0-1), recently recalled from Houston of the minor leagues.

By Bobster

August 8, 1960---After a 4-game sweep of SF, the Pirates (63-40) had the day off in Pittsburgh while they awaited the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates’ 4-game sweep of the Giants left Mays & Co. just a game over .500 at 51-50 and 11 games out. It was the beginning of the end for the 1960 Giants, who had been picked by many to win the NL pennant. They would never again be closer than 11 games behind. It was now a four team race between the Pirates,

By Bobster

August 7, 1960---With Roberto Clemente still sidelined with a chin injury and 35,708 in attendance at Forbes Field for a Sunday doubleheader, the Pirates (63-40) swept 2 games from the Giants. The second game of the doubleheader was the makeup of the June 28th game that had ended in a 7-7 tie due to rain. The June 28th stats counted but the tie game had to be replayed.

By Bobster

August 6, 1960---The Pirates (61-40) won a hard-fought game against the Giants (51-48) in 10 innings by a score of 8-7. Vern Law went all 10 innings to raise his record to 15-5. With SF rookie Juan Marichal on the mound, the Pirates scored a run in the first on Skinner’s 13th HR of the season. But SF went ahead 2-1 in the top of the third. The Bucs got 2 in their half of the third for a 3-2 lead when Virdon and Nelson both walked and scored on a triple by Cimoli. SF tied it 3-3 in the top of the fifth.

By Bobster

August 5, 1960---With Bob Friend and Vern Law having great seasons, the last thing the rest of the N.L. needed was for the Pirates to find another dominating starting pitcher. Unfortunately for the rest of the N.L., Vinegar Bend Mizell was becoming exactly that. Mizell pitched a 6-hit shutout over the Giants, as the Pirates (60-40) prevailed, 1-0. The shutout was the second straight for the Pirate lefty, who raised his record as a Pirate to 7-2.

By Bobster

August 4, 1960---A Thursday night game at Forbes Field matched the Pirates and George Witt against the Dodgers and Don Drysdale. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the 1st when Maury Wills singled, stole second, went to third on Junior Gilliam’s infield out, and scored on Wally Moon’s sac fly. But the Pirates answered in their half of the first when Virdon led off with a triple and scored on Groat’s sac fly.

By Bobster

August 3, 1960---The Pirates (58-40) dropped a rain-shortened 3-1 decision to the fourth-place Dodgers (53-43) at Forbes Field. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Bob Friend and added 2 more in the 3rd on a Wally Moon HR. Gino Cimoli singled home Dick Groat in the 6th after Groat had singled and taken second on a walk to Clemente to make it a 3-1 game. The Pirates managed only 5 hits against Johnny Podres (9-8), with Clemente (.315) getting 2 of them. After Gene Baker (.174) batted for Friend in the 7th,

By Bobster

August 2, 1960---Vern Law (14-5) became the majors’ first 14-game winner with a 3-0 shutout over the Dodgers. Law gave up 5 hits, walked 1 and struck out 4. All-Star Stan Williams (11-3) matched Law for 6 innings, and carried a 2-hitter into the 7th. But the Pirates (58-39) broke the scoreless tie in the 7th inning. Williams walked Burgess to start the inning and Christopher ran for the Pirates catcher. Hoak sacrificed Christopher to second and Bill Mazeroski singled to make it 1-0. Law’s attempt to sacrifice Mazeroski to second was mishandled for an error by Frank Howard, who had moved from right field to first base in the 4th inning. Groat then plated both Mazeroski and Law with a double. The 3-run rally made it 3-0 and represented all the scoring in the game.