The Pirates couldn’t hold a three-run, eighth-inning lead in Boston and then lost in the tenth inning, 9-8. The Giants won, dropping the Bucs a game out of first.
Initially, the Pirates took a three-run lead against Braves’ starter Rosy Ryan. Kiki Cuyler singled in one in the top of the first after Eddie Moore singled and moved up on an outfield error. The same combination worked again in the third, when Cuyler drove Moore in with an inside-the-park home run, his 11th round-tripper of the year. At the end of the play, Cuyler slid into catcher Frank Gibson, who had to be removed. That put the Pirates up, 3-0.
Boston quickly tied it in the bottom of the third. Specs Meadows, not having one of his better starts, gave up singles to three of the first four hitters. That produced one run and, after a second out, an infield hit loaded the bases. Dick Burrus singled to center, driving in two more.
The Bucs quickly got the lead back in the top of the fourth when George Grantham doubled and Earl “Oil” Smith singled. Cuyler made it 5-3 in the fifth when he singled, stole second, took third on a wild throw and scored on a ground out by Clyde Barnhart. The Braves cut that to 5-4 on a hit batsman, two ground outs and a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning.
In the sixth, the Braves tied the game again on two singles and a sacrifice fly. After an error loaded the bases, Bill McKechnie replaced Meadows with Babe Adams, who got a double play to end the inning.
The Pirates got three walks to load the bases in the eighth, but failed to score. In the eighth, though, they put three runs on the board to go up, 8-5. Smith reached on a one-out error and Kremer beat out an infield hit. Max Carey doubled in one run and Eddie Moore singled in two.
Kremer, however, couldn’t hold the lead. A single, a double and a two-run triple by Dave Harris made it 8-7, then backup catcher Oscar Siemer, who’d replaced Gibson, singled to tie the game, 8-8.
The Pirates had a chance to get the lead back in the top of the ninth. Glenn Wright beat out an infield hit, then took third on a double by pinch hitter Stuffy McInnis. An intentional walk loaded the bases to Kremer and McKechnie chose to let him hit. Kremer hit into a force at the plate and Carey followed with a ground out.
Boston also had a chance to go ahead in the bottom of the ninth. Burrus led off with a double and William Marriott singled with one out. Carey, however, threw Burrus out at the plate.
The Pirates failed to score in the top of the tenth and the game soon ended after that. Kremer hit the leadoff hitter and, after a sacrifice attempt resulted in a force play, a ground out moved the runner to second. With two out, Abie Hood grounded through the middle for a walkoff, 9-8 Boston win.
Kremer fell to 8-6. Moore was 4-for-5.
