The Pirates end the Giants’ 16-game winning streak defeating New York, 2 – 0. Due to the consecutive victories, Leo Durocher and his club were able to narrow the Dodgers’ lead from 13 1/2 to 6 games.
The Dodgers edge the visiting Reds, 3 – 1, behind rookie Clem Labine. Duke Snider provides the offense off Howie Fox with a single and two-run homer, the latter breaking a tie in the 8th.
The Giants’ 16-game winning streak comes to end when Howie Pollet six-hits the team in the Pirates’ 2-0 victory at the Polo Grounds. The consecutive victories enable Leo Durocher and his club were to narrow the Dodgers’ lead from 13.5 to six games.
The Giants win two more from the Cubs, including a 5 – 4, twelve-inning complete game victory for Larry Jansen. It is his 17th win. The Cubs score in the top of the 12th, but the Giants score two off Dutch Leonard to win. Behind Al Corwin’s pitching, the Giants take the nitecap, 6 – 3.
“The two fine Italian arms of Branca and Furillo had a no-hitter running for eight innings” writes columnist Dick Young; in the 3rd inning, Ralph Branca’s no-hitter seems broken by a one-hop shot to RF by pitcher Mel Queen, but Carl Furillo guns him out at first. Branca, pitching on two days rest, finally gives up two Pirate hits in the 9th before winning, 5 – 0. In the nitecap the Pirates jump on Erv Palica for three runs in the first inning and hold on for a 5 – 3 win behind Bill Werle and Vern Law. Clyde McCullough is the “Big Un” with a two-run double and a two-run homer. The Pirates continue to be the only team with a season edge on the Dodgers.
A prolonged delay occurs at Olean’s (NY) Bradner Stadium when a skunk refuses to leave the infield during a Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League game between Batavia and the hometown Oilers. The minor leaguers try to shoo the crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) mammal away but result in the players running off the field with the uninvited guest staying put for an hour before moving on, allowing the contest to resume, albeit with a lot fewer fans in the stands.
Rookie hurler Niles Jordan of the Phillies blanks the Reds, 2 – 0, in his first major league start. Jordan gives up three hits, the same number allowed by loser Willie Ramsdell. The Reds win the opener, 4 – 2, as Ewell Blackwell bests Robin Roberts.
In the second game against the Yanks, veteran infielder Bert Haas hits a pinch homer in the 6th for the White Sox, his last major league at bat. The Sox will release the 37-year-old tomorrow. The Yanks win, 8 – 6, to remain a game behind the Indians. The Sox take the opener, 3 – 2, behind Saul Rogovin.
At the Polo Grounds, the Giants tie the Cards in the 9th on three singles, and with the bases loaded, Bobby Thomson scores the winner on a fielder’s choice play at the plate. New York wins, 6 – 5, its 12th in a row and 4th in a row in coming from behind.
At Ebbets Field, the Dodgers’ Ralph Branca outduels Cubs pitcher Paul Minner to win, 1 – 0. Branca strikes out 10 Cubs, walks none, and gives up three hits.
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