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MIKE McCORMICK |
BOSTON BRAVES
...
SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
The Giants
catch Sain in the 13th,
but the Braves take the second game
July 5, 1948 ... Only
a 9th and 13th inning rally in the first game by the New York Giants,
prevented the Braves from hanging up a double holiday victory before
42,000 fans at the Polo Grounds. Johnny Sain dropped a 6 to 5
decision in four extra innings, in today's curtain raiser, and since
St. Louis won a doubleheader, the Cardinals moved to within two games
of the top rung Braves. In the second game, the Tribe finished
ahead, 4 to 1. Bill Voiselle was a winner against his former teammates. It was
his fourth win over New York this year, and he allowed only six hits. The Giants
starter, Ray Poat, received credit for the Giants overtime finish in the first
game, while the loser in the second game was Dave Koslo.
The extra inning game had an unlucky ending for Sain, who at one time had
been breezing along with a four-run lead. The fateful New York 13th inning
started when Les Layton lined a solid drive to left with one out. Mike McCormick
shot a perfect throw to Alvin Dark to try and nip Layton as he was trying for
second base. The ball arrived in time, but Dark had trouble picking the ball out
of his glove and Layton was safe. Bobby Thomson was up next and drove a fairly
low liner to McCormick's left, but the ball carried higher than Mike figured. He
finally made a desperate attempt to catch the ball, but was unable to safely
bring it in. Layton came home and was surrounded by his happy rejoicing
teammates, as the Giants walked off with a 6 to 5 victory.
Sain, who had held the Giants to four hits and five hits in a pair of earlier
wins, this time gave up 11 hits. The Braves collected 12 hits including four
home runs again six pitchers. The 13 inning marathon was a heartbreaker for
Johnny Sain, who was seeking his 11th victory. The Tribe was leading 5 to 3
because of the home runs hit by Jeff Heath, Bob Elliott, Eddie Stanky and Bill
Salkeld, until the Giants came up in the ninth-inning. Walker Cooper then
singled and Sid Gordon lofted a pitch into the left-field upper deck that tied
things up. In the four frames of extra innings, the Tribesmen twice started
things off with a single, but were unable to deliver the knockout punch.
Behind Bill Voiselle in the second game, the Braves scored in the third
inning, on the first of Mike McCormick's four hits, a blast into the left-field
covered stands. Layton matched McCormick in the sixth inning to tie up the game
at 1 to 1. It was in the seventh, that the Braves put pitcher Koslo out of
business. Stanky got a pass to start and was followed by Clint Conaster with a
single. McCormick then blasted a double and that was it for Koslo. Ken Trinkle
came in to pitch and then walked both Bob Elliott and Jim Russell to force in a
run. Mike McCormick scored on Frank McCormick's long fly out. The Giants were no
threat after that and the Braves walked off with a doubleheader split, winning 4
to 1. |
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