The Pirates staved off elimination in the World Series by beating Washington, 6-3. Vic Aldridge survived eight hits and four walks to throw a complete game and has now picked up both of the Pirates’ wins in the Series. They trail the Senators, three games to two.
The Pirates didn’t lead all the way, as the home team got on the board first. That happened in the bottom of the first, after Washington starter Stan Coveleskie escaped the top half after the Pirates loaded the bases. Leading off the bottom half, Sam Rice singled, took second on a sacrifice and scored on a double by Goose Goslin.
The Pirates got to Coveleskie in the third, taking a 2-1 lead. With one out, Max Carey walked and stole second, and Kiki Cuyler also walked. Clyde Barnhart singled in Carey and Cuyler scored on a fly ball by Pie Traynor. The Pirates missed a chance to extend their lead in the fourth when they got two on with two out, but Carey grounded out.
The Senators tied the score in the bottom of the fourth when Joe Harris led off with a home run. Harris is proving to be a thorn in the Pirates’ side; that was his third round-tripper of the Series and he’s batting .500 after going 2-for-3.
Aldridge and Coveleskie both bore down after that. Each team went down in order in the fifth. In the sixth, the Pirates got a runner on base thanks to shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh’s fifth error of the series, but Earl Smith hit into a double play. In the bottom of the inning, the Senators got runners on first and second with one out, but Aldridge fanned Ossie Bluege and Smith caught the lead runner, Harris, trying to steal third for a double play.
The Pirates broke the tie in the seventh. With one out, Eddie Moore walked and took second when Carey singled. Cuyler singled into the hole between third and short, and the ball eluded capture long enough for Moore to score and Carey to reach third. Barnhart looped a single to right-center to bring in Carey, putting the Bucs ahead, 4-2.
Washington quickly got one run back in the bottom of the inning. Pinch hitter Nemo Leibold doubled and scored on a single by Rice. The Pirates answered in identical fashion off Tom Zachary in the top of the eighth; Glenn Wright led off with a double and scored on a single by Stuffy McInnis.
The Bucs got their final run in the top of the ninth. A walk and a single with two out put two on and finished Zachary. Reliever Firpo Marberry replaced him and gave up an RBI single to Barnhart.
Aldridge set Washington down in order in the eighth and ninth. He’s 2-0 in the Series. Wright’s double was the Pirates’ only extra-base hit, but they had a dozen singles. Every hitter in the lineup except Aldridge got at least one hit.
The Pirates return to Forbes Field for game six tomorrow. They’ll have a chance to even the Series and, if they do, game seven will also be at home. Game six will be a rematch of the game three opponents, Alex Ferguson for Washington and Ray Kremer for Pittsburgh.
