The Pirates took a three-run lead and then withstood a two-run rally in the ninth to beat New York, 7-6. The win was their third in a row over the first-place Giants and brought them to within three and a half games of the top spot.
The lead changed hands several times in the early going as the Giants’ Jack Scott, who came in with a 9-2 record, and the Pirates’ Johnny Morrison weren’t at their best. New York scored first as left field Irish Meusel led off the top of the second with a double and came around on a ground out and a sacrifice fly.
The Pirates took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Clyde Barnhart and Pie Traynor both singled, and a force out scored Barnhart. George Grantham doubled Traynor to third and the Giants walked Earl Smith to get to Morrison. The strategy almost worked as Morrison popped out, but Max Carey doubled to left, scoring two and putting the Pirates up.
The lead didn’t last long, as George Kelly homered to left following a walk to Bill Terry with two out in the top of the third. That tied the score, 3-3, but the Giants took the lead in the top of the fourth. Morrison walked Ross Youngs, who stole second. With two out, Scott singled to make the score 4-3, Giants.
The Pirates quickly tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Smith doubled home Glenn Wright. Morrison left for a pinch hitter in the inning, so Babe Adams took over in the top of the fifth with the score 4-4.
After Adams set the Giants down in order in the top of the fifth, his teammates gave him a lead. Eddie Moore led off the bottom of the inning with a triple, sliding into third baseman Doc Farrell hard enough that he had to be replaced. One out later, Barnhart doubled to drive in Moore.
The Bucs stretched their lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Grantham started the inning by getting hit with a pitch and had to be replaced on first by Jewel Ens. With two out, Carey singled Ens to third and took second on the throw. Eddie Moore then doubled home both runners.
Through his first four innings, the only runner against Adams reached on an error. He had trouble, though, in the ninth. With one out, Travis Jackson doubled and catcher Frank Snyder homered, leaving the Pirates with a 7-6 lead. Adams gave up two singles sandwiched around a fly ball, but got Terry to ground out, the seconds straight game in which Terry made the last out.
Adams’ record improved to 2-2. The Pirates go for a four-game sweep tomorrow.
