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JEFF HEATH |
BOSTON BRAVES
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SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
Jeff Heath helps the Braves
gain an 8 1/2 game lead
July 18, 1948 ... With
Nelson Potter and Vern Bickford pitching superbly, and Jeff Heath,
Alvin Dark and Bob Elliott slamming home runs, the Braves captured
one of their most important doubleheaders of the season, as they
battered the Pirates, 10 to 2 and 3 to 1. The Braves thus zoomed into
an eight game lead in the National League pennant race. They dumped
the Pirates into fourth place, 8 1/2 games behind and gained a full
game on both the Cardinals and the Dodgers, who split a doubleheader
in St. Louis. Potter's first National League start was a brilliant
seven hitter, which landed him in the win column for the first time. He started
his major league career with the Cardinals back in 1936 and pitched one perfect
inning until he was released to Columbus. He didn't pitch again in the major
leagues until the Braves signed him as a free agent three weeks ago.
Before he even threw a pitch, Potter was presented with a five-run lead. Four
of the runs were result of Heatth's grand slam homer. That helped the Braves
chase Elmer Riddle, the Pirates starter, from the box before he had retired a
batter.
While Heath's terrific blast into the visiting bullpen in left-center, made
it easier for Potter, Bickford had to struggle to land his sixth win of the year
in the second game. He was locked in a brilliant scoreless battle with Tiny
Bonham first six innings before the Braves put them ahead on Earl Torgeson's
double and Phil Masi's single in the seventh inning.
In fact, Bonham and pitched no-hit ball over the first six innings, until
Torgeson opened the seventh with a two base hit into right-center. Dark's third
home run of the year into the Greenberg Gardens furnished the winning run, and
Bob Elliott's 11th home run to the same spot, did Bickford some insurance. He
needed it, because Ralph Kiner slammed his 100th National League home run and
26th of the year to open the ninth for Pittsburgh. Bickford then walked Frankie
Gustine but squared himself away to rub out the next three batters to end the
game.
Tommy Holmes opened the afternoon with a triple to right-center and scored on
Dark's single in the first game. A single by Torgeson and a pass to Elliott
loaded the bases for Heath. Jeff took a slow pitch for a long ride into the
extreme corner of the visiting bullpen, near the centerfield light tower, giving
the Braves a 5 to 0 lead in the first inning.
In the fifth inning, Elliott walked and scored on Heath's double off the
right-center field wall. Two walks filled the bases and then Potter doubled down
the right-field line to score two runs. That gave the Braves an 8 to 0 lead.
For four innings, Potter had pitched a perfect game. Kiner spoiled it in the
fifth with a single to left and took third on Wally Westlake's double. Danny
Murtaugh's single accounted for the only run that Potter would give up. Not only
did Potter collect his first National League triumph, but he made his first hit
in the league in his opening turn at bat. The Braves concluded their scoring in
the first game against Elmer Singleton in the ninth. Heath and Mike McCormick
both singled and a wild pitch advanced them, scoring on Connie Ryan's single to
left.
Bickford have to pitch himself out of some tough spots, as Dixie Walker
tripled to open the fourth and was stranded at third. Clyde Kluttz opened the
fifth with a double but died on second base. In the sixth, Wally Westlake
singled and was sacrificed to second, but Gustine obliged by hitting into a
doubleplay.
The Sen-Cuz Sports Club of Buffalo honored Warren Spahn and Sibbi Sisti for
the Braves and Stan Rojek for the Pirates by giving them wristwatches. Spahn's
present was given to him by his mother, who flew down for the occasion. Spahn
excepted Sisti's present, as he isn't with the club and will rejoin the team in
Cincinnati.
This was the Braves eighth doubleheader and they have won three, lost three,
split one, and also played one where a game was played to a tie. Vern Bickford
picked up his sixth win against two losses, but has finished every game that he
has won. |
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