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BOSTON BRAVES
...
SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
The Braves
lose their home opener
April 23, 1948 ... The
fans of Boston are still waiting to see their first major league
triumph of the season at a home ballpark today. The Braves lost their
home opener by a score of 3 to 1, to the pitching of Ray Poat and the
New York Giants before 11,553 frigid fans. Until he raised a
blister on his pitching hand in the fifth inning, Poat pitched one-hit, runless
ball. The lone base hit was a drive that Earl Torgeson lofted in the third
inning that was too far back for the infield and to close for the outfield, a
Texas Leaguer. From the fifth inning on, Poat threw nothing but fastballs and an
occasional changeup.
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MGR MEL OTT AND
BILLY SOUTHWORTH |
Warren Spahn, who beat the Giants more times than any other National League
pitcher last season, was the victim today. After the delayed opening ceremonies,
Spahn was even colder than the icicles that hung from the rafters. After
retiring the first two Giants with ease, Spahn lost his bearings and with it the
ballgame. He walked Sid Gordon, Johnny Mize singled to left, a pass was given to
Walker Cooper and the bases were loaded. Willard Marshall then sent two runners
back into the dugout with a tremendous single to right to give the Giants a 2 to
0 lead. But what got Spahn out of the inning was a magnificent catch by Danny
Litwhiler, only one step away from the left-field fence. The last Giants' run
was made on Sid Gordon's fence-clearing clout in the third inning.
The Tribe's lone run was recorded in the sixth inning. With one out, Earl
Torgeson walked and Jeff Heath lined a single to right that put Torgy on third.
Litwhiler came up and lined one off shortstop, Bobby Rhawn's shoulder for a base
hit that brought Torgy home.
The fans had hopes of further scoring when Rhawn juggled Phil Masi's ground
ball, but he recovered in time to get Phil at first on a close play.
Tommy Holmes, the Braves rightfielder, still as a sore leg which he had
x-rayed at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, but no report was available as to the
results. |
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