Vic Aldridge threw the Pirates’ second consecutive shutout to give them the rubber match of their three-game series in Boston. The righty allowed just four hits and didn’t walk anybody. A spell of wildness by Braves’ starter Larry Benton accounted for the only run in a 1-0 Pirates’ win. It was a tough series for hitters: The two teams scored just six runs combined in the three games.
Both pitchers were outstanding, allowing just four hits apiece, all of them singles. The Braves never threatened. They got two-out singles in the first and fifth, and one-out singles in the eighth and ninth. Their only other runner reached on an error with two outs in the seventh. Nobody reached second until Doc Gautreau got an infield hit with one out in the ninth and moved up on a ground out. Aldridge got the next hitter on a ground out to first.
The Pirates didn’t do a lot better against Benton, but they did benefit from some wildness. Benton got away with two walks in the top of the second. In the third, he walked Eddie Moore and Johnny Rawlings singled with one out. Benton fanned the ever-dangerous Kiki Cuyler, but walked Clyde Barnhart to load the bases. That brought up Pie Traynor, who also walked to force in Moore.
The Bucs’ other chances were limited. Cuyler singled with two outs in the fifth and stole second, his 31st steal of the year, but Barnhart lined out. In the eighth, Cuyler singled with one out and took third on a single by Barnhart, but Barnhart was thrown out trying to advance on the throw to third. Traynor then struck out.
In the end, Aldridge made the one run stand up. He’s allowed only one run in his last 24 and a third innings, and his record stands at 10-6. The Giants lost to Cincinnati, leaving the Bucs six and a half games in front. They move on to Philadelphia for five games starting tomorrow.
