The Pirates picked up their first win of the season, beating Chicago in Cubs Park, 8-4. Specs Meadows overcame eight walks to get the win, while Kiki Cuyler hit a pair of triples and drove in three runs.
The Bucs took a big lead early against former teammate Wilbur Cooper and reliever Vic Keen. They jumped on Cooper in the second for three runs. Cuyler led off with a triple. Jewel Ens, playing first against the left-hander in place of George Grantham, homered to left. Glenn Wright made it back-to-back longballs and it was 3-0.
Cooper left for Keen after the second, but the Pirates got after the reliever in the third when Cuyler again tripled, driving in Clyde Barnhart. In the third, Keen walked three of the first four hitters, including Meadows to start the inning, and left for Guy Bush. Bush walked Pie Traynor to force in a run, then gave up a two-run single to Cuyler. That made it 7-0.
Meadows meanwhile was sailing along. He stranded two runners in both the third and seventh, and allowed just one hit and three walks.
The Pirates stretched their lead to 8-0 in the top of the seventh when Glenn Wright and Earl Smith singled to put runners on the corners. Meadows was credited with a sacrifice fly when left fielder Hack Miller dropped his line drive.
Meadows seemed to run out of gas in the bottom of the eighth, giving up three runs on three walks and two singles. In the ninth, a walk and a one-out double by pinch hitter Gabby Hartnett made the score 8-4. One more walk led to Meadows’ departure and brought on Johnny Morrison. He got a ground out and then gave up a walk to load the bases. He finally got the last out when catcher Bob O’Farrell grounded out.
Meadows got the win and Morrison was credited with saving the game. Cuyler had three hits, as well as two steals to go with his two triples. Wright also had three hits.
