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BILL VOISELLE |
BOSTON BRAVES
...
SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
Bill Voiselle
shuts out the N.L. champs
April 26, 1948 ... The
Braves handcuffed the National League champion Brooklyn Dodgers, 5 to
0 on the brilliant three hit pitching of Bill Voiselle. Bob Elliott
blasted a long line double off the left-field fence to drive home the
first and only run Voiselle needed to give the 8000 Boston fans their
initial taste of victory this chilly spring day. Eddie Stanky was
at his best they as a Boston Brave, picking on his old teammates for a walk that
led to Boston's first run, a triple and a single. He scored twice besides
setting up the winning run. In the field the handled eight chances without a
miscue. Jim Russell also belted a two-run insurance homer in the seventh inning.
It was Voiselle pitching the way he did that made the Braves look like the
ball club that a lot of experts picked to win the National League pennant this
year. He scattered three singles and only one Dodger advanced is far as second
base, being rubbed out on a doubleplay started by Danny Litwhiler in left field.
Leo Durocher made his first Boston appearance since 1946 and used four
pitchers. He started Jack Banta who yielded three runs before he was removed in
the third. Eddie Stanky started the game by walking but was forced at second by
Russell. Gene Mauch made a dandy stop to rob Earl Torgeson of a hit, as Russell
legged it to third base. Then Bob Elliott rifled a two bagger to bring in the
first run.
In the second inning, a walk to Phil Masi, his steal of second base and Alvin
Dark's single, scored the Braves second run. Then a triple by Stanky and a
double by Torgeson brought home run number three and sent Banta to the showers.
Willard Ramsdell was brought in and held the Braves in check through the fifth
inning when he was removed for a pinch-hitter.
Jack VanCuyk was the victim of Jim Russell's home run. With two outs, Stanky
singled to center and, batting right-handed against the southpaw, Russell
knocked the cover off the ball and sent, what was left of it, over the fence in
left field for his first home run of the year.
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LEO DUROCHER &
BILLY SOUTHWORTH |
The only time the Dodgers had a man in scoring position was in the second
inning. Pee Wee Reese led off with a single and took second as Bruce Edwards
rolled out to Torgeson. Dick Whitman hit a low liner to left and Litwhiler raced
for it as Reese headed for third. After Danny grabbed the ball he fired to
Stanky, who got Reese in a close play.
Heath made a fine running in catch of a sinking liner by Arky Vaughn in the
first inning. He rifled the ball to Torgeson at first and was able to double up
Billy Cox, who had walked.
Tommy Holmes ran for 15 minutes in the outfield and said his ankle is okay.
Jackie Robinson was not in the Dodger starting lineup and worked around second
base shagging balls in the infield. He reported to spring training 20 pounds
overweight. His greatest asset is his speed and manager Durocher will not play
him until he takes the weight off. |
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