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NELS POTTER |
BOSTON BRAVES
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SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
The Cardinals jump on mistakes by the Braves
July 23, 1948 ... Johnny
Sain's second attempt at his 13th win of the season was just as
unlucky as his previous effort. Tonight, a couple of infield lapses
let the Cardinals the score four runs in the third inning and chase
Sain, in a 7 to 5 decision for Al Brazle, who staggered to his
seventh win of the year. The setback cut the Braves lead over the
Dodgers to 5 1/2 games. The Cardinals belted Sain around for six
hits and his many runs, during his 2 1/3 innings of work. St. Louis is the only
club to knock Sain out of the box this year and they have done it three times.
The Cardinals opened their scoring in the second inning with a walk, two singles
and an infield out to gave Brazle a 2 to 0 lead.
Sain started a rally with two away in Boston's third, that tied the game. He
doubled off the left-field fence and scored when Tommy Holmes got a base hit to
center. A double by Alvin Dark put Holmes on third and he scored when Mike
McCormick beat out an infield hit. Dark also tried to come home on the play by
collided with Brazle about 20 feet from the plate and it was eventually caught
in a rundown.
Following a walk to Stan Musial in the third, Enos Slaughter singled to left,
as Musial held second. The disaster struck in full force when Whitey Kurowski
hit a line drive down to Dark that he fired over Phil Masi's head, trying to cut
off Musial at the plate. Slaughter took third and Kurowski walked into second.
They both scored on Nippy Jones' single and that was it for Sain. Nels Potter
came in and gave up scratch singles to Dell Rice and Ralph Lapointe, to bring in
the fourth run, before Dark threw out Marty Marion to end the inning.
Down 6 to 2, the Braves got one back in the fourth on singles by Bob Elliott,
Frank McCormick and Connie Ryan. They added another run in the eighth on a walk
to Tommy Holmes and then an infield hit by Dark down to Jones. Jones threw the
ball past Lapointe, but Holmes had broken for third late and was caught off
second, but Lapointe's throw went into left field and Holmes was able to stay
right there at second base. Mike McCormick next forced Holmes but the sacks were
loaded when Kurowski made an error. Dark finally scored as Frank McCormick
grounded out and Clint Conaster, who couldn't hit a ball out of the infield
today, grounded out to end the rally.
Potter yielded a run in the eighth with two outs on three singles, making it
7 to 4. The Braves started off hot in the ninth on two singles by Masi and Ryan.
The next two batters went out and Dark kept the Braves hopes alive by singling
in Masi. But it ended when Mike McCormick popped out to Stan Musial in short
right field.
The Cardinals now have six wins in eleven games over the Braves the season.
The Braves had won four straight here before tonight, with Sain having recorded
two of the victories. Alvin Dark has now hit safely in nine straight games and
32 of the last 33. Sain had pitched six complete games in succession, until he
was chased out tonight. He has failed to finish only five games in 21 starts.
Jim Russell's temperature was down to normal and his tooth will be removed
tomorrow when he goes back to Boston. Sibbi Sisti had a work out in his first
day back with the club today, since being released from the hospital. |
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