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BOB ELLIOTT |
BOSTON BRAVES
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SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
Bob Elliott leads the Braves hitters with two homers
July 3, 1948 ... The
Braves harshly treated a quintet of Philly pitchers, as they hammered
their way to 11 to 6 victory at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. With the
St. Louis Cardinals idle, the Braves extended their lead in the
National League to four full games. Warren Spahn had no brilliant
stuff today, but he was well supported. Nevertheless, in the eighth inning, with
two outs and in front by a 9 to 3 score, a pair of passes, a single and a triple
by Richie Ashburn was enough to make Billy Southworth pull Spahn out of the
game. With three runs in and two outs, Ernie White was summoned from the bullpen
and brilliantly put out the fire.
Bob Elliott had a great day for the Braves, producing five of their eleven
runs, as he connected for his eighth and ninth home runs of the year. He has had
four home runs in three successive games. For extra measure he belted a first
inning triple for 11 total bases.
Earl Torgeson got back in the going with a single, which drove in one, and a
home run which was good for two more. Both of Eddie Stanky's hits were singles
but he had two RBI. So consistent was the Braves attack, that one or more runs
was racked up by timely hitting in no less than seven of the Braves nine inning.
Everyone in the lineup got a hit except for Tommy Holmes and Phil Masi.
Alvin Dark, while producing no runs, continued on his splendid hitting spree.
In his four trips today, he doubled as well as singled. Starting on June 19th he
has hit safely in 13 successive games. Over that stretch he has gotten 21 hits
in 50 times at bat for a .420 batting average. In eight of the thirteen games he
has connected safely twice.
Left-hander Ken Heintzelman did not last long. He was greeted with a three
run opening inning, starting with Eddie Stanky's clean hit to left. Mike
McCormick then hit one to left and Bob Elliott placed a three bagger down the
right-field line for two runs. Frank McCormick drove a double right-center that
scored Elliott and gave the Braves a 3 to 0 lead.
After the Philly scored in the second inning the Braves got that back in the
third. New pitcher Sam Nahem walked Mike McCormick, who was nabbed as he tried
to steal second. Then Nahem gave free passes to both Elliott and Jim Russell.
Torgeson's clean base hit to centerfield scored Russell.
The Braves tacked on another run in the fifth and Bob Elliott's first home
run of the game in the Braves a 5 to 1 lead. The Braves scored one more in the
sixth, and two in the seventh. After Jim Russell walked, Earl Torgeson lined a
home run over the 331 foot mark on the sun field wall. The Braves final touch
was two runs in the ninth on a Frank McCormick triple and Elliott's second
homer. The Braves have been in first place since June 13th. |
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