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kenyan_cheena · 04-05-2008, 03:08 AM

The Pittsburgh Gazette

Saturday, 15 May, 1959

PIRATES' STREAK HITS EIGHT
IN VICTORY OVER CARDINALS

Story by Michael Thomas

The Pittsburgh Pirates continued their impressive winning streak yesterday with a 15-2 thrashing of the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. It was the eighth consecutive victory and tenth in eleven games for the Pirates (23-11) who maintained their two-game lead over Pennsylvanian neighbours Philadelphia (21-13) at the top of the National League. Batting at number eight in the lineup Pittsburgh centrefielder Bill Virdon had a great afternoon hitting 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI, his hits a two-out three-run homer in the 1st and an RBI triple in the 8th.

The result was put beyond doubt early with the Pirates leading 6-0 after the 1st and 9-0 in the middle of the 4th before adding six more in the eighth. Ten minutes after Virdon's triple 3rd baseman Gene Baker hit one of his own, a two-out bases-loaded line drive that hit the wall in right on the full. It was Baker's only at-bat of the game but produced three RBI. Starting pitcher George Witt did a perfect job of complimenting Pittsburgh's explosive offense, going the distance and giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out nine.

Pittsburgh are the hottest team in the majors right now and have received great service from a number of players. All-Star rightfielder Roberto Clemente is batting .384 with four home runs and fourteen RBI while Cuban native Roman Mejias (.347, 4 HR, 15 RBI), leftfielder Bob Skinner (.344, 4 HR, 20 RBI), 3rd baseman Frank Thomas (.285, 4 RBI, 18 RBI) and 2nd baseman Bill Mazeroski (.311, 5 HR, 15 RBI) have all made excellent contributions. The roster is one of the youngest in the league so if the ballclub's management can keep this group of players together they look set to be a contender for a number of years to come.

"I'm happy with the progress we're making," said 2nd year manager Danny Murtaugh. "We surprised a lot of people last year, but I don't think we'll be able to do that now. They'll be ready for us so it's really satisfying to be leading the league at the moment. But we can't let ourselves be too satisfied 'cause if we ease up we'll find ourselves looking up again."

The Pirates play two more games in St. Louis before heading home for a big series against the Phillies, which starts Monday...

04-05-2008, 03:08 AM	#92 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,611	*The Pittsburgh Gazette* Saturday, 15 May, 1959 PIRATES' STREAK HITS EIGHT IN VICTORY OVER CARDINALS Story by Michael Thomas The Pittsburgh Pirates continued their impressive winning streak yesterday with a 15-2 thrashing of the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. It was the eighth consecutive victory and tenth in eleven games for the Pirates (23-11) who maintained their two-game lead over Pennsylvanian neighbours Philadelphia (21-13) at the top of the National League. Batting at number eight in the lineup Pittsburgh centrefielder Bill Virdon had a great afternoon hitting 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI, his hits a two-out three-run homer in the 1st and an RBI triple in the 8th. The result was put beyond doubt early with the Pirates leading 6-0 after the 1st and 9-0 in the middle of the 4th before adding six more in the eighth. Ten minutes after Virdon's triple 3rd baseman Gene Baker hit one of his own, a two-out bases-loaded line drive that hit the wall in right on the full. It was Baker's only at-bat of the game but produced three RBI. Starting pitcher George Witt did a perfect job of complimenting Pittsburgh's explosive offense, going the distance and giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out nine. Pittsburgh are the hottest team in the majors right now and have received great service from a number of players. All-Star rightfielder Roberto Clemente is batting .384 with four home runs and fourteen RBI while Cuban native Roman Mejias (.347, 4 HR, 15 RBI), leftfielder Bob Skinner (.344, 4 HR, 20 RBI), 3rd baseman Frank Thomas (.285, 4 RBI, 18 RBI) and 2nd baseman Bill Mazeroski (.311, 5 HR, 15 RBI) have all made excellent contributions. The roster is one of the youngest in the league so if the ballclub's management can keep this group of players together they look set to be a contender for a number of years to come. "I'm happy with the progress we're making," said 2nd year manager Danny Murtaugh. "We surprised a lot of people last year, but I don't think we'll be able to do that now. They'll be ready for us so it's really satisfying to be leading the league at the moment. But we can't let ourselves be too satisfied 'cause if we ease up we'll find ourselves looking up again." The Pirates play two more games in St. Louis before heading home for a big series against the Phillies, which starts Monday... __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 04-06-2008 at 08:43 PM.