The Pirates returned from a 14-game road trip — they went 8-6 — to make their first appearance at Forbes Field in 18 days. They did get the benefit of a day off at the end, as the scheduled final game of the trip, in New York, was rained out yesterday. They started a seven-game homestand today by beating Chicago, 5-3.
Jughandle Johnny Morrison gave the Pirates a complete-game effort, holding the Cubs scoreless until the seventh inning. Morrison retired the first 11 batters he faced, allowing just two singles through the first six innings.
The Cubs got to Morrison only in the seventh. With two on and two out, former Pirate Charlie Grimm singled in a run, then shortstop Ike McAuley doubled in another. Morrison then issued his only two walks of the game, forcing in a third run. With the bases still loaded, Bill McKechnie stuck with the righty, and Morrison got center fielder Jigger Statz to fly out.
By that time, the Pirates had four runs of their own. In the second, singles by Clyde Barnhart and Pie Traynor put runners at the corners. Glenn Wright brought one in with a sacrifice fly. Boots Grantham followed with a single and took second when right fielder Tommy Griffith tried to throw Traynor out at third. Earl Smith followed with a single to drive in both runners.
Cubs’ starter Guy Bush got tougher after that and the Pirates didn’t threaten again until the bottom of the sixth. By that time, Bush had left for a pinch hitter. Against reliever Elmer Jacobs, Eddie Moore walked and came all the way around on a Barnhart double.
After the Cubs closed the gap to 4-3, the Pirates picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh. Grantham singled and went to third when Smith doubled. A ground out by Max Carey brought in the run.
Morrison set the Cubs down in order in the eighth and allowed just a harmless single in the ninth. The Cubs’ Rabbit Maranville, recently returned from an injury, made his first appearance against his ex-teammates and struck out as a pinch hitter to end the game.
Morrison gave up seven hits and improved his record to 5-4. The Pirates pulled to within a game of .500.
