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SIBBI SISTI |
BOSTON BRAVES
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SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
The Braves' seven run 7th inning nets a victory
June 4, 1948 ... The
Braves found a better way to win a baseball game rather than through
an official protest by their manager Billy Southworth. The team was
hopping mad at a reversed balk call ruled by home plate umpire Lou
Jorda and then exploded with a seven run seventh inning that enabled
them to wipe out a Pirate lead and score a 10 to 7 victory before
37,355 at Forbes Field. With Tommy Holmes on third and Bob Elliott
on second, Pirates starter Bob Chesnes committed a balk that permitted Holmes to
score and Elliott to take third. Then the pitcher appeared to make another balk
and third-base umpire Babe Pinelli waived home Elliott. But then Chesnes fired
the ball to Gustine who tagged Elliott out. Jorda had reversed Pinelli's
decision claiming that the pitcher was not on the rubber. Southworth announced
that he would play the game under protest, but the Braves took care of business
on their own.
Jim Russell's three run homer climaxed the tribes uprising. Hitting
left-handed, Russell stroked a towering drive that hit the left centerfield
brick wall and bounced into the Braves bullpen, for his fourth homer of the
year.
During the Braves big seven run inning, 13 men went to the plate. Sibbi Sisti
and Eddie Stanky tied a record by each walking twice in the same inning. Sisti
walked to start things off and after Hogue sacrificed, Stanky doubled both men
across to tie up the game at 5 to 5. Earl Torgeson greeted relief pitcher
Forrest Main with a double to bring Tommy Holmes across. After Bob Elliott
struck out, Heath walked and Russell walloped his home run. A final run then
came on bill Salkeld's single, a second walked to Sisti and Hogue's looper
double down the right-field line. Seven runs across the plate and the Braves led
the game 10 to 5.
Southworth used four pitchers to land the victory with Bobby Hogue winding up
receiving credit for his first major league win. He was rescued by Bill Voiselle
with the bases loaded and two out in the seventh. Voiselle came in and struck
out pinch-hitter Max West.
Hogue had pitched 3 2/3 innings of good relief to keep the Braves in the
game. After the big seventh inning he gave up a run to make it 10 to 6, when
Ralph Kiner smacked his 13th home run of the year far over the left-field wall.
Then Wally Westlake and Ed Stephens both singled and Danny Murtaugh drew a walk
to fill the bases. Voiselle then came in and fanned West to preserve the
victory.
In the first inning Tommy Holmes got the Braves into a baserunning jam which
backfired in favor of his team. Holmes was on second and Torgeson on first when
Heath lined a single to right. Holmes rounded third and then changed his mind,
but saw Torgeson coming to third-base also. Fortunately for the Braves, Walker
fumbled the ball in right field, allowing Holmes to score with Torgeson in hot
pursuit, to give the Braves an initial 2 to 0 lead. Holmes continued his hitting
streak through 16 games, accounting for half of the Braves runs by scoring three
and knocking home two others.
Alvin Dark had been benched for defensive reasons and Sibbi Sisti, who
started the season at shortstop, was given another chance. Clint Conaster donned
the gear to catch during batting practice. Eddie Stanky, who was still nursing a
blistered heel, felt well enough to play and was restored to his leadoff spot. |
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