|
 |
|
EMIL KUSH |
BOSTON BRAVES
...
SPAHN & SAIN and PRAY FOR RAIN ...
The Braves can't do it in the clutch and lose again
August 6, 1948 ... Emil
Kush coolly curved a third strike past Frank McCormick, in the
ninth-inning, that enabled the Chicago Cubs to pin a 5 to 4 setback
on the Braves. They had a chance to get back into the ballgame when
Bob Elliott opened the ninth with a walk. Clint Conaster sacrificed
him to second and Elliott beat the throw. So with two men on now,
Kush was called on to come in from the bullpen and stop the Braves.
Sibbi Sisti advanced his two teammates with a nice bunt and then the Cubs
deliberately walked Phil Masi to load the bases. That brought up Bill Salkeld
and the best he could do was pop out. Frank McCormick then strolled to the plate
to bat for pitcher Nelson Potter and Frank wasn't able to take the bat off the
shoulder as the count came down to three and two. Kush took his time before
delivering a deciding pitch with the customers chanting into a deafening clamor.
McCormick never offered at it and home plate umpire Art Gore raised his hand for
the out, as the Boston pinch-hitter and the Braves league lead was shaved down
to 3 1/2 games.
The Cubs drove Vern Bickford to cover the first inning under a three run
avalanche. The Braves picked up one back in their half of the first as Tommy
Holmes led off with a single but was forced at second. Alvin Dark reached on an
infield hit and then Bob Elliott grounded out, allowing Dark to score.
The Cubs picked up that run in the top of the second and the Braves countered
in their half with two singles and a sacrifice fly by Dark, making it 4 to 2.
Then the Braves went into last of the third and Jeff Heath but a spark in the
club with a double down the left-field line. He scored when Phil Masi sliced a
high drive that landed in the visitors bullpen to tie the scored four each. It
was his fifth of the year and three of them have come at the hands of the Cubs.
Red Barrett did a good job of pitching until the sixth inning when the Cubs
put together their winning run. He retired the first two Cubs batters and then
got into the hole on Emil Verban. The Cubs infielder singled to center and then
Barrett walked Eddie Waitkus. Phil Cavaretta singled to right scored Verban and
then Nelson Potter came in to stop the bleeding.
The Braves had many chances against southpaw Bob Chipman, but they couldn't
connect in the clutch. In the seventh, Potter singled to right and took second
on a sacrifice and then Dark slammed a single to center. Hal Jeffcoat picked up
the ball and fired it to the mound as Potter was held on third, only to see
Eddie Waitkus cut off the throw and nail Dark who was trying for second.
The Braves record has now dropped below the .500 mark with a 5-6 record on
the homestand. The victory was only to third by the Cubs against the Braves this
year. The Braves, who had a 6 1/2 game lead at the end of sweeping the Pirates,
now have their N.L. lead almost shaved in half. |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg)
.jpg)