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JIM RUSSELL |
BOSTON BRAVES
...
SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
Warren Spahn and Jim Russell
pace the Braves in Brooklyn
May 15, 1948 ... For
the third straight game, a Boston Braves pitcher has thrown a
shutout at the opposition. Today it was Warren Spahn's turn to dish
out the goose eggs. He blanked the Dodgers 1 to 0, thanks to Jim
Russell's first inning home run at Ebbets Field.
The Braves run came early. Rex Barney had retired Tommy Holmes and Alvin Dark
to open the game. Then Russell stepped up and caught the first pitch
and sent it 400 feet into the lower portion of the centerfield bleachers for
third homer of the year. The Braves had several fine chances to score later, but
couldn't come through at the right moment. Tommy Holmes, who hit hit safely in
all of the 12 games he played this year, had his batting streak stopped, and
twice closed an inning with the bases loaded.
Tremendous clutch pitching by Barney prevented the Braves from scoring in the
fourth. A walk to Jeff Heath an infield hits by Torgeson and Salkeld loaded the
bases. Barney then got Ryan on strikes and threw three past Spahn.
Spahn joined Johnny Sain and Bill Voiselle, who also limited the opponents to
no runs in the last three games. Spahn limited the Dodgers to four hits and
faced only 31 men again his second win of the year and second shutout. But one
run was all that Spahn needed. His control was splendid, walking only one and
striking out four. The Braves pitchers have now gone 28 innings without allowing
a run. Spahn was the last one to be scored on in the seventh inning of his
losing game in St. Louis. Spahn is the only major league left-hander to win 21
games last season. He beat the Dodgers three times, and lost to them only once 1
to 0. The avenged that one loss today. |
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