Vic Aldridge pitched around ten hits and Glenn Wright hit a walkoff single to give the Pirates a 2-1 win over Boston. The Bucs swept their three-game home series against the Braves and have now won six straight. The Giants lost to the Cubs, so the Pirates’ magic number is now four.
Aldridge had to pitch much of the game with runners on base, but he was helped by three runners being caught stealing. The first of those, Andy High, was caught breaking off third by catcher Earl Smith and thrown out after a rundown in the second inning. The Braves got their only run in the third when Mickey O’Neil led off with a triple and scored on a single by Aldridge’s mound opponent, Jesse Barnes. The Pirates got a double play when the next batter, Doc Gautreau, struck out and Smith caught Barnes stealing on the play. Bernie Neis followed with a single and Smith threw him out stealing.
The third-inning run tied the score, as the Pirates got one off Barnes in the first. They loaded the bases with one out on a walk to Max Carey, a single by Kiki Cuyler and an infield hit by Clyde Barnhart. Pie Traynor followed with another infield hit to bring in the run. Wright struck out, though, and George Grantham was also retired.
Like Boston, the Bucs had plenty of chances. They got 13 hits but stranded 14 runners. In the bottom of the third, Wright again failed to get a runner in from third with one out. In the eighth, they got runners to second and third with nobody out, but Wright, Smith and Aldridge failed to get a run in.
In the top of the ninth, Aldridge ran into more trouble. An error by Wright loaded the bases with one out, but Aldridge got Barnes to pop up and Gautreau to ground out.
In the bottom of the inning, Wright got a last chance to avoid being the goat. A single by Eddie Moore and two walks loaded the bases with two out. This time, Wright came through with a single to left, ending the game.
Aldridge has won eight straight games and is now 15-6. During that stretch he has an ERA of 2.10. Cuyler was 4-for-4 with a walk for the second straight day. He’s reached base in 12 straight plate appearances and is batting 357/424/598.
The Bucs are off tomorrow. The next day they begin a three-games series at Forbes Field against Philadelphia.
