Week 12 Results (07/01/1957 - 07/07/1957)

Monday, July 1, 1957

Transaction list:

Brooklyn pitcher Sal Maglie returned to the mound on 07/02/1957 following his injury (?) of 05/30/1957

 

Note: While it is a travel day, there is still a full slate of games on the docket for today. After yesterday's doubleheader Sunday the NL eastern team have already departed the Midwest while in the AL is the Midwest contingent that has left their east coast hosts for some home cooking.

 

New York (AL) 5 Baltimore (H) 3

 

Still smarting from having been swept in a doubleheader at home yesterday the Yankees got off to a fast start when Tony Kubek and Gil McDougald  homered to start off the top of the first. Mickey Mantle struck out while trying to make it three in a row, but in the third Mantle popped a two-run homerun (#11) and the visitors had a lead they would not relinquish.

 

Boston (H) 5 Washington 4 (11)

 

Both teams had chances to win it in extra innings but the Red Sox came out on top when Mickey Vernon singled home Billy Klaus with the game-winner in the bottom of the eleventh. Bob Porterfield (8-1, 2.49) picked up another win in relief.

 

Kansas City 6 Cleveland (H) 3

 

The A's kept catching the Indians but couldn’t grab the lead until Johnny Groth drove in two runs with a single in the top of the ninth. Tom Morgan came into shutdown Cleveland in the ninth and got his first save of the season.

 

Chicago (AL) 11 Detroit (H) 2

 

The first-place White Sox went to visit second-place Detroit and immediately reminded them who was the top dog by scoring in each of their first five innings and building a 9-0 lead. Larry Doby led the way with a 4-for-6 day that included two runs scored, two RBI's, and a homerun in the first that got it all started. Jim Wilson (10-2, 3.24) only allowed four hits and went all the way for the win.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 8 Cincinnati 7

 

The Cubs led 2-0 early, but the Reds soon tied it up and then took a 3-2 lead when Bob Thurman hit a solo homerun (#9) in the top of the seventh. The Reds thought they had blown the game open when they plated four runs in the top of the ninth, but in the bottom half of the inning the Cubs scored six times, the final three coming on a walk-off three-run homerun (#10) by Dale Long, Long's second homerun of the game.

 

Note: The BBR Box Score shows Cal Neeman as the starting catcher for the Cubs but ATMgr has Jim Fanning.

 

Brooklyn 4 New York (NL) (H) 1

 

The Dodgers made the trip across town and jumped on the Giants early with a three-run second, the big hit being a Don Drysdale (8-5, 1.98) two-run homerun (#3). New York didn’t get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the eighth as Drysdale had things under control all day.

 

Philadelphia 4 Pittsburgh (H) 2

 

With the help of some sloppy Pittsburgh defense the Phillies scored three unearned runs in the top of the first and Jack Sanford (7-4, 2.87) held off the Pirates after that for the win.

 

Milwaukee 15 St. Louis (H) 2

 

The Braves began their two-day trip to St. Louis by thumping the hometown Cardinals quite resoundingly. The top three in the Braves lineup all had quite a day: Bill Bruton went 5-for-5, scored six runs, had two RBI's, and hit two doubles and two triples, giving him an NL leading thirteen triples for the season. Right behind him Hank Aaron went 3-for-5 with four RBI's and hit homerun #32. Eddie Mathews went 5-for-6 with seven RBI's and hit a pair of three-run homeruns (#19, #20).

 

Tuesday, July 2, 1857

 

Transaction list:

 

Milwaukee pitcher Juan Pizarro was injured (?) on 07/01/1957 and did not return to the mound until 07/29/1957

 

Baltimore (H) 5 New York (AL) 4 (10)

 

A back-and-forth game with both team having the lead during the fame, but the Orioles came out on top when catcher Gus Triandos hit a solo homerun (#7) to lead off the bottom of the tenth.

 

Boston (H) 5 Washington 4

 

The game looked to be a lock after Jackie Jensen hit a three-run homerun (#17) in the bottom of the sixth to give the Red Sox a 5-0 lead and Frank Sullivan (10-2, 2.00) dealing on the mound, but then Washington right fielder Jim Lemon hit a three-run homerun (#12) of his own and suddenly the Senators were within one. Boston hurler Bob Chakales got a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up the save.

 

Chicago (AL) 4 Detroit (H) 1

 

After two bad weeks the White Sox thumped the Tigers yesterday and then today Billy Pierce (11-4, 2.35) threw a four-hitter and didn’t allow a run until two outs in the eighth inning. Minnie Minoso became the first AL hitter to reach and pass the 100-hit plateau.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 3 Cincinnati 0

 

Reds center fielder Gus Bell fumbled a line drive in the bottom of the seventh and allowed the Cubs to break the scoreless tie and then Ernie Banks followed that with a two-run homerun (#18) and that was all Chicago would need today. Don Kaiser (4-6, 3.95) made his thirteenth and final start of the season but threw his third shutout of the campaign.

 

Brooklyn 11 New York (NL) (H) 0 (Grand Slam!)

 

Brooklyn shortstop Charley Neal batted eighth but still provided the big hits as his two-run triple in the fourth put the Dodgers up 4-0 and then his grand slam (#8) in the seventh was the icing on the cake. Sal Maglie (3-3, 2.38) made his first appearance in a month worthwhile by shutting out his old teammates.

 

Milwaukee 6 St. Louis (H) 3

 

Eddie Mathews led the way by going 2-for-3 with a triple and a homerun (#21) and drove in three runs to spark the visiting Braves offense. Warren Spahn (9-4, 3.26) has struggled these past few weeks and was happy to be back in the winner’s seat.

 

Wednesday, July 3, 1957

 

Transaction list:

 

Boston shortstop Billy Consolo returned to play on 07/04/1957 following his injury (?) of 06/23/1957. Boston pitcher Dean Stone returned to the mound on 07/04/1957 following his injury (?) of 06/20/1957

 

New York (NL) third baseman Ray Jablonski returned to play on 07/04/1957 following his injury (?) of 06/23/1957

 

Baltimore (H) 6 Washington 3

 

The Orioles blew open a tight game with three runs in the bottom of the eighth and Ray Moore (3-8, 5.50)  was able to go all the way one a five-hitter.

Cleveland (H) 11 Detroit 3

 

The Indians pounded the Tigers for eighteen hits and won easily. Don Mossi (3-7, 6.08) went all the way for the win and went 3-for-5 at the plate with a run and two RBI's to help his own cause. Backup catcher Russ Nixon chipped in with a 4-for-5 day and is hitting .395 in limited duty for Cleveland.

 

Chicago (AL) 6 Kansas City (H) 2

 

The A's got on the board first with two runs in the second, but the White Sox responded with four in the third and then added two more in the fourth. Dick Donovan (12-1, 2.16) was never really in trouble and got the win.

 

New York (AL) (H) 5 Boston 4

 

The Yankees had leads of 3-1 and then 4-2 but Jackie Jenson tied the score with a two-run homerun in the top of the eighth, all but guaranteeing some late-inning fireworks. In the bottom of the ninth Gil McDougald singled home Bobby Richardson with the game winner on a two-out single to get the Yankees a hard-fought win.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 7 St. Louis 6 (10)

 

St. Louis had leads of 1-0, 4-1, and 6-4 but couldn’t hold any of them as the Cubs just kept coming back, Finally, in the bottom of the tenth a three-base error by Cardinals left fielder Del Ennis placed Dale Long on third base and he soon scored the game-winner on a single by Bobby Morgan.

 

Milwaukee 5 Cincinnati (H) 5

 

The Reds committed two errors amongst the first four Braves batters and the visitors took a quick 3-0 lead. Lew Burdette (6-7, 3.95) not only won the game but added a homerun of his own to help the Braves winning effort. Second place Milwaukee has now made up three games in three days to the first-place Cardinals.

 

Thursday, July 4, 1957 (Independence Day)

 

Transaction list:

 

New York (NL) shortstop Eddie Bressoud made his season debut on 07/05/1957

 

Note: It's not a Sunday but it is a holiday so that means doubleheaders, six total (fourteen games in all). The pennant races have suddenly gotten interesting lately and several teams are feeling it might be their time for them to do some damage.

 

Washington 4 Baltimore (H) 1

 

Roy Sievers hit a three-run homerun (#23) in the top of the first and Chuck Stobbs (7-6, 3.77) kept Baltimore scoreless until the eighth inning to pick up the win for the Senators.

 

Cleveland (H) 7 Detroit 2 (GM 1)

 

The Tigers outhit the Indians 12-7, but Detroit pitchers walked fourteen Cleveland batters and the Indians were able to capitalize with a five-run sixth that put the game out of reach. Early Wynn (7-9, 3.55) went all the way for the win.

 

Detroit 5 Cleveland (H) 1 (GM 2)

 

The Tigers had their hitting shoes on again in game two as they outhit Cleveland 15-6 but they could only manage five runs. It was enough for Billy Hoeft (9-2, 2.51) who was happy to get the win and gain a split in the doubleheader.

 

Kansas City (H) 9 Chicago (AL) 3 (GM 1) (Grand Slam!)

 

The A's got on the board when Alex Kellner (3-5, 5.90) hit a two-run homerun (#2) in the bottom of the fifth and before the inning was over Gus Zernial had added on a three-run blast (#15). The big hit came in the seventh when Vic Power hit a grand slam (#7) and the A's easily took game one.

 

Chicago (AL) 5 Kansas City (H) 4 (GM 2)

 

The A's tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh with their fourth solo homerun of the game but it wasn't enough as Minnie Minoso drove home Nellie Fox with the eventual game-winner in the top of the ninth.

Bpbby Shantz

New York (AL) (H) 7 Boston 4 (GM 1)

 

Bobby Shantz (6-4, 2.57) had a rough start to the game for the Yankees but the New York offense responded and the home team took the game one win. Hank Bauer chipped in with a 4-for-4 day that included two runs scored and an RBI. New York and Boston are now tied for second place in the AL.

 

New York (AL) (H) 4 Boston 3 (GM 2)

 

Don Larsen (5-3, 4.77) didn't allow a run until the Red Sox scored three times in the top of the eighth but Boston couldn’t score again and the Yankees swept the doubleheader from their heated rivals. Ted Williams hit a pinch-hit solo homerun (#23) to get Boston on the scoreboard.

 

Pittsburgh 3 Brooklyn (H) 1 (GM 1)

 

The Pirates fast start can be attributed to two things: Bob Friend and their mastery over the Dodgers as they started the season by having gone 9-2 versus the boys from Brooklyn. The Dodgers were unable to do anything about either today as Friend (16-2, 2.07) held Brooklyn to only three hits and picked up the game one win.

 

Pittsburgh 6 Brooklyn (H) 5 (GM 2)

 

Brooklyn led 4-1 after the second but couldn’t hold the lead as the Pirates continued their dominance over the Dodgers. A pinch-hit single by Paul Smith in the top of the eighth scored Roman Mejias with the eventual game-winner and allowed Roy Face (1-2, 1.65) to pick up the win in relief.

 

St. Louis 4 Chicago (NL) (H) 0 (GM 1)

 

The Cardinals ended their three-game losing streak by scoring three times in the third and then turning the game over to Lindy McDaniel (13-1, 1.61) to do the rest. McDaniel now has four shutouts for the season.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 7 St. Louis 3 (GM 2) (Grand Slam!)

 

St. Louis starter Sam Jones (5-2, 2.60) experienced control problems in the first and Ernie Banks made him pay with a grand slam (#19) to give the Cubs a big early lead. Moe Drabowsky (7-2, 3.41) had a shutout going until Wally Moon hit a pinch-hit three-run homerun (#16) in the seventh that made it close, but that was all the Cardinals would do in game two.

 

Cincinnati (H) 3 Milwaukee 2

 

Eddie Mathews hit a two-run homerun (#22) in the top of the first but that was all the Reds would allow today as they slowly came back to tie the score and then win it in the ninth when shortstop Roy McMillan singled home Frank Robinson with the game-winner.

 

New York (NL) 7 Philadelphia (H) 2 (GM 1)

 

The Phillies led 2-1 after the third but the Giants came back and poured it on late to take game one. Ruben Gomez (7-9, 4.07) had a shaky start but dominated thereafter and got the win.

 

Philadelphia (H) 4 New York (NL) 2 (GM 2)

 

Sacrifice flies in each of the first two innings gave the Giants a quick 2-0 lead, but Curt Simmons (7-8, 3.14) settled down and held them the rest of the way and let his teammates come back and gain a split in the doubleheader.

 

Friday, July 5, 1957

 

Transaction list:

 

New York (NL) shortstop Andre Rodgers made his final season appearance on 07/04/1957

 

Brooklyn pitcher Johnny Podres returned to the mound on 07/05/1957 following his injury (?) of 06/16/1957

 

Baltimore pitcher Jerry Walker made his major league debut on 07/06/1957. Walker signed as an amateur free agent (bonus baby) on 06/28/1957

 

Boston (H) 4 Baltimore 2

 

Boston first baseman Mickey Vernon had a two-RBI triple in the first and then added a run-scoring single in the seventh as the Red Sox squeezed by the Orioles. Mike Fornieles (5-3, 3.53) went all the way for the win.

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 9 Cleveland 1

 

The White Sox used a five-run seventh to blow open a tight game  and make a winner of Jim Wilson (11-2, 3.06). First baseman Earl Torgeson had a pair of two-run singles to spark the Chicago offense.

 

Detroit (H) 5 Kansas City 3

 

Jim Bunning (9-4, 3.46) made only one mistake, a three-run homerun (all unearned) to Gus Zernial (#16) in the top of the eighth but the Tigers had already built a sufficient lead and got the win.

 

New York (AL) 1 Washington (H) 0

 

The Yankees scored the only run of the game in the top of the ninth when Washington right fielder Jim Lemon kicked a grounder that allowed Yogi Berra to score all the way from first base. Pedro Ramos (2-9, 4.94) was the hard-luck loser while Tom Sturdivant (7-3, 3.56) got the win.

 

Brooklyn (H) 6 Philadelphia 5

 

Duke Snider (#18) and Gino Cimoli (#6) hit back-to-back homeruns in the first but the Phillies came back with two in the third and then three more in the fourth to take the lead. Carl Furillo homered (#7) in the sixth and then Snider hit his second homerun (#19) of the game in the seventh to tie the score at 5-5. Finally Jim Gilliam dribbled a single up the middle to drive home Roy Campanella with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth to make the comeback complete.

 

Chicago (NL) 6 Milwaukee (H) 3

 

The Cubs overcame an early disadvantage by scoring four runs in the top of the fifth, the big hit being a three-run homerun third baseman Jerry Kindall (#3). Cal Neeman added a two-run homerun (#8) in the eighth to provide a little cushion which came in handy when Don Elston (2-0, 2.70) loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Turk Lown came in and got three outs for the clutch save.

 

Pittsburgh 5 New York (NL) (H) 3 (10)

 

Bill Mazeroski hit a pair of two-run homeruns (#6, #7), the second coming in the top of the tenth to continue the Pirates magical 1957 season.

 

Cincinnati 5 St. Louis (H) 4

 

Del Ennis hit a three-run homerun in the bottom of the first and Vinegar Bend Mizell (2-4, 3.64) held that lead until two outs in the top of the ninth when backup outfielder Pete Whisenant delivered a two-out pinch-hit two-run homerun to give the Reds their first lead of the day.

 

Saturday, July 6, 1957

 

Transaction list:

 

Cincinnati pitcher Claude Osteen made his major league debut on 07/06/1957. Osteen had signed as a free agent on 07/02/1957

 

Boston (H) 6 Baltimore 5

 

Boston right fielder Jackie Jensen broke open a tight game with a three-run homerun (#20) in the bottom of the fourth and Frank Sullivan (11-2, 2.16) had things under control, although he did manage to walk the bases loaded in the ninth and the Orioles were able to make it close again, but the Red Sox still came away with the victory. Ted Williams has now reached base successfully in 71 consecutive games.

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 3 Cleveland 2

 

Cleveland starter Bob Lemon pitched out of several tight spots while protecting a slim 2-0 lead, but the White Sox finally broke through with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score. In the bottom of the ninth a routine fly ball to centerfield was dropped by Dick Williams and Luis Aparicio scampered home with the winning run to the delight of the hometown fans.

 

Kansas City 6 Detroit (H) 4

 

The Tigers committed three errors on the day and allowed the A's to build up an early lead and Ralph Terry (4-0, 2.79) did the rest. Center fielder Woodie Held, who like Terry was just recently acquired from the Yankees, sparked the offense with a 4-for-4 day that included a run scored, two RBI's, and a double.

 

New York (AL) 6 Washington (H) 0

 

Johnny Kucks (8-5, 3.26) and Art Ditmar held the Senators to only four hits to win the combined shutout. Hank Bauer got the scoring started when he tripled and scored in the second and then Bauer added a two-run homerun in the fourth (#12). Left fielder Elston Howard provided some late insurance with a two-run homerun (#5) in the eighth.

 

Philadelphia 2 Brooklyn (H) 1

 

Duke Snider hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth and Don Drysdale (8-6, 1.91) was cruising towards a 1-0 win when the Phillies loaded the bases in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Solly Hemus lofted a simple fly ball to center field which should have ended the game but Snider muffed it and allowed two runs to score and just like that, the Phillies had the lead and eventually the win.

 

Milwaukee (H) 11 Chicago (NL) 2

 

The Braves scored nine times in their final three at-bats to make it look a lot easier than it was. Warren Spahn (10-4, 3.12) went all the way for the win, and Eddie Mathews hit homerun #22 in the win at home versus Chicago.

 

Pittsburgh 7 New York (NL) (H) 0

 

Pittsburgh left fielder Frank Thomas hit a pair of two-run homeruns (#13, #14), and Vern Law (8-5, 2.58) threw his third shutout of the season as the Pirates continued to fight to stay towards the top of the NL standings.

George Crowe

Cincinnati 10 St. Louis (H) 9

 

Reds first baseman George Crowe hit a three-run homerun (#14) in the top of the first to give the visitors an immediate lead, but the Cardinals came back with four in the bottom half of the inning to take a 4-3 lead. St. Louis soon led 6-4 after the third, but then Crowe doubled home two runs in a three-run fourth and then doubled another run in a three-run sixth (six RBI's in all) to put Cincinnati up 10-6. Del Ennis hit a three-run homerun (#13) in the bottom of the sixth to make it 10-9, but then both bullpens cracked down from there and the Reds held on for the win.

 

Sunday, July 7, 1957

 

Note: Another doubleheader Sunday with four doubleheaders on the schedule for today, twelve total games to be played. And after today, the halfway point of the season on the schedule, it's time for the 1957 All-Star game. I will write more on this in next week's blog post, but needless to say, most of the players will be enjoying a few days respite before resuming play later this week.

 

Boston (H) 4 Baltimore 0

 

Ted Williams, Mickey Vernon, and Jackie Jensen hit back-to-back doubles in a three-run third and Tom Brewer (8-7, 3.84) shutout the Orioles. Williams ended the first half of the season with an active 72 game on-base streak.

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 4 Cleveland 0 (GM 1)

 

The White Sox strung together enough hits to score four runs in the bottom of the second and that was all Dick Donovan (13-1, 1.99) needed to get the game one shutout win over the Indians.

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 9 Cleveland 8 (13) (GM 2) (Grand Slam!)

 

The Indians led 6-0 after the second inning but after the fourth the score was knotted at 6-6 as Chicago first baseman Earl Torgeson hit a grand slam (#2) in the third and then followed that up with a wo-run double in the fourth. The White Sox crept ahead but then Vic Wertz tied the game back up with a two-run homerun (#18) in the top of the eighth. Then both offenses went strangely quiet as neither team did much until Jim Landis finally drove home Minnie Minoso with the game-winner in the bottom of the thirteenth, completing a doubleheader sweep for the first-place White Sox.

 

Kansas City 3 Detroit (H) 2

 

The A's only had five hits, but three of them were solo homeruns as Arnie Portocarrero (2-5, 3.88) got the win with help from Tom Morgan who induced a bases-loaded game-ending double play to secure the win and get the save.

 

New York (AL) 13 Washington (H) 1

 

Left fielder Roy Sievers hit homerun #24 in the second to give the Senators a quick 1-0 lead, but after that, it was all Yankees as they accumulated twenty hits and seven walks on the day. Shortstop Gil McDougald left the hit parade with a 4-for-6 day that included two runs scored and two RBI's.

 

Brooklyn (H) 5 Philadelphia 0 (GM 1)

 

The Dodgers didn’t do much offensively but they did bunch their hits in a four-run third and Sal Maglie (4-3, 1.99) shutout the Phillies for the game one win, Maglie's second consecutive shutout since his return from injury.

 

Philadelphia 6 Brooklyn (H) 1 (GM 2)

 

Don Cardwell (3-6, 3.96) throttled the Dodgers on only five hits as the Phillies gained a doubleheader split in Brooklyn.

Bill Bruton

Milwaukee (H) 2 Chicago (NL) 1

 

The Braves scored single runs in each of the first two innings and Lew Burdette (7-7, 3.70) made those two runs stand up for the tough win. Bill Bruton hit his fifteenth triple to increase his considerable lead in this department.

 

Pittsburgh 2 New York (NL) (H) 1 (GM 1)

 

The Pirates scored two runs in the top of the first and spot starter Red Swanson (2-1. 4.38) had his best appearance of the season as he went all the way for the game one win.

 

New York (NL) (H) 2 Pittsburgh 1 (GM 2)

 

Willie Mays broke up a 1-1 tie with a solo homerun (#19) in the bottom of the sixth and Ruben Gomez (8-9, 3.88) went all the way to get the game two win.

 

St. Louis (H) 3 Cincinnati 1 (GM 1)

 

St. Louis second baseman Don Blasingame hit a solo homerun (#5) plus scored another run in support of Von McDaniel (4-1, 2.31) who didn’t give up a run until the ninth inning. Once McDaniel tired Hoyt Wilhelm came in to close out the game one win.

 

St. Louis (N) 2 Cincinnati 1 (GM 2)

 

Larry Jackson (7-2, 1.51) and Hoyt Wilhelm held the powerful Reds offense to only two hits and the Cardinals swept the home doubleheader. Don Blasingame (#6) and Stan Musial hit solo homeruns (#27) in the third inning and that was all the support Jackson would need today.