Preacher Roe wins his 20th game against just two losses, as the Dodgers edge the Pirates, 3 – 1. Andy Pafko hits his 14th homer for Brooklyn, still six games ahead of the Giants.
The Cards play a rare doubleheader – the first in the 20th century – with two different teams, defeating the Giants, 6 – 4, in the first game in the afternoon when they score six runs against Sal Maglie in the 2nd inning. In the nitecap, against the Braves, the Cards manage just one hit – by pitcher Al Brazle – in losing to Warren Spahn, 2 – 0. The Cards’ total attendance is 8,865 – 4,160 for the Giants and 4,705 for the Braves. It is the first time since 1883 that three-team twin bill has been played.
Yankees leadoff hitter Mickey Mantle drives a Virgil Trucks pitch deep into the RF upper deck to start the Yankee scoring. Witnesses say that if Mantle had hit it more to CF, the ball would have traveled 600 feet. Mantle then K’s three times, as Trucks drives over New York for a 9 – 2 Detroit win. Trucks adds a pair of RBIs.
1951 – In Cincinnati, Lloyd Merriman hits a bases-loaded triple in the 7th, off Carl Erskine, to give the Reds a 6 – 3 win. Dodger starter Don Newcombe leaves in the 1st inning with a pulled muscle in his pitching arm and Erskine takes the loss. The Dodgers are now 5 1/2 ahead of the idle Giants whose last game of the season in St. Louis is rained out, and the National League reschedules it for tomorrow afternoon as part of a doubleheader.
In St. Louis, New York’s Dave Koslo wins the opener of a twinbill, 10 – 5, ending the Cards’ 7-game win streak. Bobby Thomson has three hits and Monte Irvin has a double and his 5th steal of home this year. He has 13 steals overall. Leading 6 – 4 in the 9th, Wes Westrum breaks an 0 for 20 skein and delivers a grand slam. The Cards win the nitecap, 4 – 3, behind Cliff Chambers to leave the Giants six games in back of the Dodgers.
Clem Labine blanks the Reds on two hits as the visiting Dodgers win, 7 – 0. Andy Pafko drives in three runs on three singles.
The Yanks hit five homers – 4 off the Nats’ Dick Starr – to win, 7 – 5. Mickey Mantle’s leadoff homer on the first pitch, which starts the scoring, slams against the bottom of the flag holder on the top of the right field stands. Vic Raschi then wins the nitecap, 2 – 0, in a game called after the 6th inning because of “darkness.” Though Yankee Stadium has lights, unlike the National League, these cannot be used on Sunday. The Yankees (88-49) remain virtually tied with the Indians (88-51).
The Indians use three 9th-inning bunts to edge the Browns, 4 – 3. Jim Hegan leads off with a bunt that rolls foul, but then drives a single past the pulled-in 3B Jack Maguire. Two more bunts and a sac fly give Mike Garcia his 19th win. Reliever Satchel Paige takes the loss.
Sal Maglie wins his 20th game to give the Giants a 2 – 1 win over the Dodgers’ Ralph Branca. Monte Irvin’s two-run homer in the 4th gives New York all its scoring, The Dodgers score in the 8th on a double by Duke Sniderand a triple by Jackie Robinson. But 3B Bobby Thomson snags a ground ball, tags Robby, and throws to first for a double play.
The pennant race heats up, as Dodger ace Don Newcombe two-hits the Giants, 9 – 0, beating Jim Hearn. Jackie Robinson has three hits and three runs, scoring one run from third base when he provokes Hearn into wild pitching. Giants pitchers contribute 10 walks.
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