[kenyan_cheena]

The Pittsburgh Gazette

Tuesday, 27 June, 1959

CLEMENTE BAGS FIVE HITS
AS PIRATES DEFEAT DODGERS
IN 15-INNING MARATHON

Story by Michael Thomas

Pittsburgh Pirates leadoff hitter Roberto Clemente recorded five hits and scored three of his team's four runs in a 4-3 15-inning victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers yesterday. The five-hour, 25 minute epic finished just before 8.30pm local time, with every one of the 30,443 in attendance at Forbes Field staying until the victorious ending. Clemente batted 5-for-7 with an RBI and those three runs but he wasn't even the Player of the Game. That honor went to Pirates starting pitcher George Witt, who produced 9.1 innings of brilliance. Witt held the Dodgers to just three hits and one earned run, striking out five and walking five on 141 pitches.

This game was the definition of a pitching duel, 33 year-old Dodgers starter Ned Garver going nine innings and giving up seven hits. It was scoreless through the first seven innings before Clemente doubled and then scored on a throwing error by 3rd baseman Don Zimmer in the 8th. But the New York ballclub stayed in the game in the top of the 9th when Johnny Roseboro crossed home plate from 3rd on a fielder's choice, he and Walt Moryn both drawing walks earlier in the inning. Roseboro had advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch from Witt before Ron Fairly grounded to shortstop.

The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the 11th when 3rd baseman Bubba Phillips reached on an error in the outfield, made it to 2nd on an Elmer Valo single and then beat the throw to home after Carl Furillo's single into left. But Clemente tripled for his fourth hit of the game leading off the bottom of the frame, scoring on a Ted Kluszewski grounder that dribbled halfway up the line to 1st. The Dodgers had another chance in the 11th when their first two batters reached safely, Julio Becquer then finding himself at 3rd on a Red Schoendienst sacrifice bunt. But Roseboro grounded out to 2nd to end the threat. Veteran Duke Snider hit a solo blast over the left field wall to lead off the 15th but once again the Pirates responded. Gene Baker singled and then moved to 2nd on a sac bunt from pitcher Curt Raydon before Clemente brought him in, singling to centrefield and taking 2nd on the throw home. Dick Groat then singled down the right field line and Clemente almost ambled home without a throw, the game over, the crowd jubilant and the Pirates 4-3 winners.

"That was an incredible one," said Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh. "I'm amazed we pulled it out, to be honest. Roberto was fantastic for us today. I can't speak highly enough of him."

The Puerto Rican native's five hits followed up the four he recorded in a 7-1 win over the Reds on Sunday and saw his average improve from .342 to .349. It also ran his streak of multi-hit games to five, Clemente batting 16-for-26 during the period. He's certainly been one of the major factors in the Pirates' presence in the pennant race as he's 1st in the NL in batting average and 2nd in runs scored (67) behind Chicago's Bobby Thomson (73).