PAFKO'S HR IN 8TH COMPLETES DODGERS' COMEBACK
Labine, Branca Combine on 1-Hitter
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Sept. 21 (AP) - Andy Pafko's dramatic two-out, two-run homer in
the bottom of the eighth inning pushed the Brooklyn Dodgers past the
Philadelphia Phillies before a crowd of 28,381 on a chilly day at Ebbets
Field. The long ball--the 28th of the season for Pafko and his 18th since
joining the Dodgers in June--made a winner of reliever Ralph Branca (18-7), who
combined with starter Clem Labine to one-hit the Phillies. The loss was
the sixth straight for slumping Philadelphia. The win lowered Brooklyn's
magic number to five and moved the Dodgers four full games in front of the
second place Giants in the race for the National League pennant.
Despite Labine's dominance, the Dodgers trailed for most of the game and were
almost completely shut down by Phillies starter Robin Roberts (21-14).
The contest was scoreless until the top of the fourth when the Phillies picked
up their only hit of the day. With one out, Richie Asburn drew a
walk. Dick Sisler then dropped down a beautiful bunt to the left side and
beat it out for a single. Labine walked Dave Nicholson to fill the bases
with one out. Willie Jones followed with a weak roller to second.
The Dodgers forced Nicholson, but there was no chance to complete a double play
and Ashburn scored the game's first run.
Philadelphia doubled its lead in the seventh, without the benefit of a
hit. Nicholson walked again, and was replaced at first by pinch runner
Jackie Mayo. Labine then walked Jones as well. Eddie Pellagrini
sacrificed the runners to second and third. Labine retired Eddie Waitkus
on an infield pop fly and seemed poised to escape damage entirely when he
induced Del Wilber to bounce one back to the mound. But Labine muffed the
ball and his throw to first was too late to retire Wilber. Mayo scored on
the play and the unearned run gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
The Dodgers halved that lead in the bottom of the seventh as a function of an
unearned run of their own. Gil Hodges opened the frame by doubling past
Jones at third. Rube Walker then grounded to Pellagrini, but the shortstop
air mailed his throw to first. The ball ended up in the stands and Hodges
scored. Roberts avoided further difficulty in the inning, but Brooklyn had
pulled to within a single run.
But things looked bleak for the Dodgers in the eighth. After Branca set
down the Phillies in the top of the inning, Roberts easily retired Pee Wee Reese
and Duke Snider to start the bottom half. But Jackie Robinson squibbed a
ball just inside the third base bag for a two-out double. Roberts moved
ahead of Pafko 0-2 and then made the mistake of trying to slip a fastball past
the left fielder. Pafko deposited the pitch five or six rows into the left
field grandstand to give the Dodgers the lead for the first time all day and
Branca easily retired the Phillies in the top of the ninth to end the game.
The Dodgers host the Phillies twice more before completing their series; the
Giants will play the Braves in Boston for a pair of games over the weekend.
9/21/1951, PhN51-Brk51, Ebbets Field 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 1951 Phillies 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 1 4 0 1951 Dodgers 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 x 3 7 1 6 0 Phillies AB R H BI AVG Dodgers AB R H BI AVG Young,D 2b 4 0 0 0 .132 Furillo rf 3 0 0 0 .296 Ashburn cf 3 1 0 0 .326 Reese ss 4 0 1 0 .272 Sisler lf 3 0 1 0 .263 Snider cf 4 0 1 0 .297 Ennis rf 1 0 0 0 .311 Robinson,J 2b 4 1 2 0 .348 Nicholson rf 1 0 0 0 .224 Pafko lf 4 1 1 2 .249 Mayo pr 1 1 0 0 .000 Thompson,D lf 0 0 0 0 .196 Jones,W 3b 3 0 0 1 .310 Hodges 1b 4 1 1 0 .244 Pellagrini ss 3 0 0 0 .253 Walker,R c 3 0 0 0 .305 Waitkus 1b 3 0 0 0 .271 Bridges 3b 3 0 1 0 .270 Wilber c 3 0 0 0 .257 Russell pr 0 0 0 0 .000 Roberts p 3 0 0 0 .218 Terwilliger 3b 0 0 0 0 .204 28 2 1 1 Labine p 2 0 0 0 .133 Abrams ph 1 0 0 0 .328 Branca p 0 0 0 0 .186 32 3 7 2 Phillies INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Roberts L 21-14 8.0 7 3 2 0 2 122 79 2.93 8.0 7 3 2 0 2 122 79 Dodgers INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Labine 7.0 1 2 1 4 2 90 51 2.30 Branca W 18-7 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 25 18 3.50 9.0 1 2 1 4 2 115 69 PhN: Mayo ran for Nicholson in the 7th Ennis inserted at rf in the 7th Mayo moved to lf in the 7th Brk: Russell ran for Bridges in the 7th Abrams batted for Labine in the 7th Terwilliger inserted at 3b in the 8th Thompson,D inserted at lf in the 9th E-Pellagrini, Labine. 2B-Robinson,J(26), Hodges(24). HR-Pafko(28). RBI-Jones,W(120), Pafko 2(80). SB-Snider(12). K-Roberts 2, Reese, Snider. BB-Ashburn, Nicholson 2, Jones,W. SH-Pellagrini. HBP-Furillo. HB-Roberts. GWRBI: Pafko Temperature: 53, Sky: clear, Wind: in from left at 14 MPH. Attendance: 28,381 Game Time: 1:47