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VERN BICKFORD |
BOSTON BRAVES
...
SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
The Braves
slam the Cubs, 11-1
June 8, 1948 ... Vern
Bickford threw a four hitter, giving the Boston Braves a lopsided 11
to 1 demolition of the hopeless Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The
victory put the Braves in the third place, two percentage points
ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Braves teed off on a quartet
of Cubs pitchers for 13 hits. Bickford faced only 30 batters. Three of the four
singles, the Cubs collected, were scratch hits. Bickford retired the first 16
men he faced and only one ball was hit out of the infield during that stretch.
Dick Culler ruined the no-hitter by bouncing a drive off Bickford's glove
that Eddie Stanky threw into the visitors dugout. He was credited with a base
hit and took second on the throwing error. The shutout was ruined in the seventh
when Bickford issued his only walk and then Eddie Waitkus, Hall Jeffcoat and
Bill Nicholson singled.
For three innings, Cubs starter Johnny Schmitz matched Bickford pitch for
pitch. He started his own downfall when he walked Earl Torgeson in the fourth,
followed by Bob Elliott. Jeff Heath slammed a single to left that scored Torgy.
Elliott reached third on the throw as Heath waltzed into second base. Jim
Russell's long fly brought home Elliott and Phil Masi knocked out a base hit to
score Heath with the third Braves run.
In the sixth the Braves added two more when, with the bases loaded, Tommy
Holmes singled to center. Three more were scored in the seventh on a couple of
free passes, an error and base hits by Masi and Sibby Sisti. The scoring was
concluded in the ninth when Jeff Heath doubled off the wall in left, Russell
walked, Masi sacrificed and Sisti was given first base. With the bases loaded
both Eddie Stanky and Holmes came through with base hits to make the final score
11 to 1. |
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